omg, was that bad for my kitten?

Question

omg,i posted another question and like everyone answered with dont give him regular milk...well since he wouldnt eat anything....
i did give him regular milk and thats all he would drink so.....was that bad? will it affect him at all?(as you can see this is my first kitten)so should i stop giving him the milk even though thats all he will drink?(cuz he wont eat cat food)also he does not like his cage ,and sleeps on my bed,but he`ll keep me up all night with his moving around and climbing all over me,i want him to like his cage,i mean he has everything in his cage,he has his toys,its carpeted and soft and his food dishes and stuff,litter box,but when i put him in it he crys and jumps aroung trying to climb the walls of it(its a huge cage)so i have a couple problems as you can see.all answers are much appreciated!

Answer 1

Stop giving him regular milk. It shouldn't hurt that you have done it this far, but long term drinking of cows milk can be damaging to the kidneys. Go to a pet store if he only wants milk and get a supplement used for abandoned kittens. You can also use this supplement to soften the kitten chow and he/she might be more likely to take to it.

How old is this kitten? Was it weaned from it's mother?

Answer 2

Cats tend to be lactose intollerant which means they have a hard time digesting the sugar that occurs naturally in milk. What usually happens is the cat develops diaharrea. Not pleasant to have to clean up. However, the cat won't become deathly ill because you gave him milk. He'll just have an upset stomach.

You don't mention how old the kitten is, but it sounds as if he might be quite young. The reason he cries when you put him in the cage is that he is accustomed to having other cats around him (his mother, brothers and sisters) and he is very lonely and a bit scared being put in a cage with no company. He needs company and to feel secure in his new surroundings.

I don't think you should confine him to a cage, though. If you must keep him in one area of the house (a good thing to do when introducing a kitten to a new home), keep him somewhere comfortable with a warm bed, food, water, toys and litter. The bathroom is fine, but maybe your bedroom or a spare room would be better. Your kitten can then get used to the sounds and smells of his new home.

Yes, he will cry. He would prefer being with you. And he should be with you. You need to give him attention so that he will develop mentally and emotionally. Kittens are natually active and will play at all hours of the day and night, but if you can tollerate his being with you in your bedroom at night, you may want to keep him there. He is less likely to cry if he has a companion (you). And getting used to each other's habits will help you bond.

Taking care of a kitten is a big responsibility, but you sound like you are off to a good start. There is a lot to learn if you've never had a cat before, but learning is fun and you will find that as time goes on, you and your kitty will be great friends!

As for feeding him, you might want to give him specially formulated milk for cats (you can find this in the pet food section of your supermarket or at a pet store). It will be easier for him to digest and it will give him necessary vitamins and minerals.

Also, the reason he's not eating regular food right now is probably because he is trying to adjust to his new home and cats have a hard time with changes to their environment. He was plucked out of his familiar surroundings and brought to a strange new place. Cats will often lose their appetites when they are brought to a new home. After a few days of settling in, he should find his appetite again and start eating. Be sure you are feeding him food appropriate for a kitten, like a commercial kitten food.

If after several days, he still hasn't started eating, be sure to take him to the vet for a check up. You will want to have the vet look at your kitten soon, anyway, just to give him a good start and to start him on vaccinations. Your vet will also be able to suggest a good time for having the kitten neutered and will also be able to tell you if the kitten is healthy and developing properly.

You have made a commitment to take care of your kitten for the rest of his life. He will be best your friend and companion and you will learn a lot from each other. Good luck!

Answer 3

Try giving the kitten some soft, freshly cooked chicken. Or try human babyfood meat variety.

And please don't put the little kitty in a cage. It is a free spirit and needs all the room to play and feel loved.

Kittens climb and play and meow (for its mother, if its really young). That 'swhat they do. If you cage the cat it can't run around and use up it's energy. Kittens usually sleep a lot because when they are awake the are very active.

If the kitten is only drinking milk, then it may start to have health problem from not getting enough vitamins, minerals, etc.. If it doesn't eat food for several days, you may have a health issue and need to take it to the vet.

Answer 4

I doubt you will ever get your cat used to a cage. A cat will never get used to the idea of having it's play, feed and litter area in the same spot. He will calm down eventually...so let him sleep with you. My Maine Coon sleeps at the foot of my bed.

Now as for the milk issue...not sure how old the kitty is, but ahve you tried making him "cereal"? Float some dry food in the milk, I have had success with cats that do not want to eat dry food by giving them "cereal". As other informed posters have said...it is more of a lactose intolerance problem than anything. Some of my cats can drink cow milk - so they get a treat of cow milk every now and again...others cannot without a massive case of the runs - so no milk for them.

Answer 5

First, you don't say how old he is. You might want to add that information as it can make a big difference. I'm going to assume he's still very young.

Cats can be lactose intolerant. As such straight milk might upset his stomach. Instead look for "cat milk". You might find this in the petfood isle. I know PetSmart carries it. That would be much easier on his system.

As for bed or box, again, he's a baby! He gets lonely and wants to be with "mom". Of course being a baby he's more active and, well, you know where that goes. It is important that you give him as much affection and attention as possible. That said, if you can't have him in your bed he'll be OK. Just try to make up for it at other times.

Finally, kittens are very active and playful by nature. It's a big new world for them and they need to EXPLORE! (And they will!!!)

Answer 6

there is a milk you can get at the store in the pet area that is okay for cats use that, most cats are actually lactose intolerant,
also..the only way to get him to like his cage is to put him in it...the same as a puppy that wants to sleep on a bed...you will have to deal with the crying if you really want him to only sleep in his cage...
just so you know cats are very interesting animals...they will almost always do what they want in the long run...but the putting him in the cage thing may work
good luck

Answer 7

Stop giving your cat milk,they might love it but it's not good for them. I'm sure when your cat is hungry it will eat. If he doesn't eat in a couple of days take it to a vet, it might mean he's sick.

Don't put your cat in a cage, he will hate it . Cats need to roam and explore their new home.

When I got my 2 cats they loved to sleep under my chin at night. It didn't take long for me to get used to it, now I really enjoy their company.

Take the time to play with your kitten, you will be amazed how good it will make you feel. Good luck with the kitty!

Answer 8

Cow milk isn't going to give him the nutrition he needs as a growing kitten. Get a kitten formula wet food. You can add a bit of milk at first to encourage him to eat it. He will have all kinds of nutritional deficiency problems if you don't get him some proper kitten food. They sell kitten formula at most pet stores if he won't eat the wet food.

Also make sure you get him to the vet for his kitten shots. This is very important.

As for the kitten cage, can you put it in another room? Otherwise you'll either have to deal with kitten crying or kitten playing.

Answer 9

Okay right off the bat STOP FEEDING YOUR KITTEN MILK. Cats are LACTOSE INTOLERANT. They love dairy products but their systems cannot handle it. A little bit of dairy here and there is great for a treat, hell, my kitten fights with me when I have ice cream. But it's every few months.

Why are you keeping your kitten in a cage? I've never heard of that before. You need to bond with your kitten. If he or she is sleeping on your bed it means they love you, and want to be near you. You're their mommy, like it or not!!!

If you want your kitten to sleep through the night, try playing with her for an hour before bedtime. She will get tired and most likely want to sleep. Kittens spend about 14 hours a day in their first year sleeping. They need the rest, their little bodies are growing.

Also try putting the kitty bed on your bed, next to your pillow. Most likely kitty will curl up next to you and fall asleep. The first few weeks, the kitten will be adjusting to your house / apartment and WILL make a lot of noise. After the first few weeks, though, he / she should get used to their surroundings and be comfortable.

Put the cage away!!! Love the kitten, play with it, talk to it, pet it, feed it, give it fresh water, pamper it!

Answer 10

Cats like to be in open areas not closed in cats first off do not belong in cages if you cant leave him free to roam the house then you probably should not have him and milk is not good for cats it can cause diarrhea and you can have a real mess to clean and it can be upsetting his stomach as well which could be part of the crying!