Just Answer Pet Health Care

Ask Your Cat Question. Cat Experts Answer You ASAP
(Not a Cat Question?)

Question

I got a kitten 3 days ago had shots on 29 of sept He ...


Sent to Cat Experts October 06, 2006 9:17 p.m.

I got a kitten 3 days ago had shots on 29 of sept He has been sick since I brought him home now he is sick I am feeding him with a syringe every couple of hours but he is not getting better He takes 3 cc of water every other hour and 3cc of formula every hour he has runny stools but will not eat on his own he is lathargic and just wants to be held he is very skinny and somewhat dehidrated his runny stools are only about 4 times a day no vomiting

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status: Closed   Value: $15   
Info Request
October 06, 2006 9:26 p.m. (9 minutes and 55 seconds later)
REPLIED to Info Request Check Mark

How old is your kitten?

Which shots did he get on Sept. 29th?

Has the vet seen the kitten since he's been sick with these symptoms?

Where did you get the kitten from?

Thanks for any and all additional information.

Cher

__________________
If you found my answer helpful, please click ACCEPT so I may be compensated for my work. A Bonus is always welcomed & appreciated! Thanks for the opportunity to help!
PictureJessesmom  -- Feline Specialist Health/Behavior -- 100% Positive Feedback on 4875 Cat Accepts
Feline Healthcare and Behavior Specialist 40+ years Experience
6/25/2008 to 7/2/2008
Reply to Jessesmom
Sent October 06, 2006 9:35 p.m. (8 minutes and 5 seconds later)

the kitten was born on august 19th I dont have the records in front of me but it was a shot with everything but the lekemia shot and rabies I just picked him up froma breeder because I dont think she takes care of her cats good I have gotten about 4 from her and everyone has had a problem but I have always been able to get them over it and they are very healthy after a while it is kinda a mission to save the kittsns I have not tooken it to a vet yet because by the time I realized it was not just stress from being in a new home it was fri afternoon and vets were filled up and I dont have a ;ot of money for an afterhours call
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 06, 2006 10:11 p.m. (36 minutes and 8 seconds later)
ACCEPTED Check Mark

Hi again,

I'm sorry to hear that this breeder's cats are all in bad condition, but I'm very glad you're trying to save them! You are to be applauded!

Vaccinations usually begin when the kitten is 8 weeks old, so I'm surprised this kitten was immunized at such a young age. Do you know if he was tested for FeLV (feline leukemia), FIV, and FIP?

At this age, the kitten should be eating a slightly watered down mixture of canned cat food with kitten milk replacer (KMR) or bottled distilled water. You could also give him some children's unflavored Pedialyte in place of some of the water, to replace the electrolytes he's losing through the runny stool, and this should help with the dehydration.

Another alternative is also to water down some jarred plain chicken baby food (no spices added, especially no onion) with plain bottled distilled water, so it's thin enough to go into the dropper, and feed him some of this instead of the cat food. Give him one dropperful every 20 minutes for an hour, then alternate with the water and/or Pedialyte every 15 minutes for an hour. Then, let him rest and repeat in 2 hrs. Don't overdo it with the Pedialyte, though. As you know, he WILL need cat food to satisfy his complete nutritional needs after his stomach straightens out.

Is he urinating normally? Does he use the litterbox on his own? Does he walk around at all by himself or do you always hold him, and when you're not holding him, is he's sleeping? Are you keep him warm enough? Even though he's not a newborn, he's still quite young, and if he's been neglected at the breeder's and is skinny, he may not have enough fat insulation to regulate his body temperature. A cold kitten cannot properly digest food, so make sure he's always warm enough.

He may have intestinal parasites or an intestinal viral or bacterial infection, so you should definitely bring him to the vet to be evaluated if they're open tom'w. You shouldn't have to pay for an ER visit, as you already know how to care for him, and most vets are open on Sat. If you don't know one who is, just look in your phone book. Tell them he's a RESCUE and they will most likely charge you less.

Please keep me posted and tell me what the vet says. I hope he starts feeling better very soon!

Cher

__________________
If you found my answer helpful, please click ACCEPT so I may be compensated for my work. A Bonus is always welcomed & appreciated! Thanks for the opportunity to help!
PictureJessesmom  -- Feline Specialist Health/Behavior -- 100% Positive Feedback on 4875 Cat Accepts
Feline Healthcare and Behavior Specialist 40+ years Experience
6/25/2008 to 7/2/2008

Think you can answer this question?
 Login or  Become an Expert









DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the Just Answer service comes from those individuals, not from Just Answer!, and that Just Answer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on Just Answer! are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. Just Answer! is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.
   Just Answer! > Cat Breed Info and Feline Health Care > Kitten Questions