having a nightmare with poor kitty & diarrhea

[jeanswithatwist]

had kitten for a week, seems fine, including today. did a poo (possibly two) earlier today, all fine although she has a habit of getting it all over her (leg and or rear area, is this normal for a kitten?). she overly buries it and gets it on her/treads on it. i have to keep giving her a bath, something she doesn't exactly enjoy, so upsetting for both of us. anyway, she has, as i suspected as she had been too many times this evening, just had an upset tummy and i think there was possibly some blood in it. i called the emergency vet number and spoke to a nurse who thought it didn't sound like an emergency and should take her to the vet tomorrow if i am still concerned. kitty seems fine in herself, still running around playing (all be it with wet fur), even started eating from her food bowl. could be a change in diet since we have had her although she is on a diet of food, that she now enjoys and has been fine, as per vet recommended last saturday. all very stressful/worrying. just venting really, i will take her to the vet even if she seems fine on monday (as i work tomorrow although dh has strict instructions to take her if she seems either unwell and/or runny poo especially if blood in)

[thecatneuterer]

How old is she? It doesn't sound like an emergency and it's not too uncommon and could well be down to the change of food. If she seems lively in herself then I wouldn't worry too much, but it's great that you're not taking any chances with her health.

[hoobypickypicky]

My first thoughts would be a change of diet, stress or worms. Any one of those can cause an upset tum.

thecatneuterer knows her stuff and I agree with her (not that you need my seal of approval, tcn!). It's lovely that you are making her health a priority but try not to worry tonight.

[jeanswithatwist]

Thanks for yr messages. Actually, I am feeling really depressed about it all. I love her so much, we all do. I have only had her a week, she is 4 months old. She is a Persian (long fur) and keeps getting poo on her bum/legs as she spends too long over burying her poo in the litter tray as she stands It. Breeder diet was odd for a kitten to say the least so vet has put her on a regular diet. She has been eating well for the last week on new diet, no upset tummy. I feel really upset additionally as I feel I am gettinh hardly any 'love' time with her. Seems like I am constantly fiddling with her doing either giving worm pill, flee treatment, eye drops, bathing her, wiping eyes, cutting long claws whereby dd gets all the love as she does bugger all.
I know it sounds child like but I worry kitty will view me with suspicion and avoid me as I always seem to b connected with something negative. We have only had her a week and in that time turns out she has flees, eye infection and now an upset tummy. It is like having s baby all over again (sorry to vent, kitty is lying next to me in bed, with wet fur from latest bath, all curled up sleeping whilst I am too stressed for sleep, she may need me again although she seems fine)

[thecatneuterer]

Ah, I fostered some persians (horrible, horrible breeder cruelty case - and still allowed to carry on unfortunately), and still have one left, and they do seem to be particularly prone to stomach upsets and certainly to getting poo stuck in their long fur. They also seem to have the memory of a goldfish when it comes to me doing unpleasant things to them, and certainly never harboured a grudge, so I don't think you need to worry on that score. Even 'normal' cats seem to forgive that sort of thing if you're generally kind and loving to them, and persians seem to forget it instantly.

[jeanswithatwist]

Thank you

[cozietoesie]

What litter are you using, jeans ? (I'm thinking that her current litter might not be absorbing smell enough and be too easy for her to throw around if she's got smelly deposits.)

[jeanswithatwist]

its pets at home non clumping clay. i actually really like it as as opposed to the wood chip i used to really like for my previous cat, this clay stuff allows you to easily scoop up each individual wee! as it kind of moulds it in one lump, something woodchip doesn't do. i have watched her bury her poo. unlike my last cat that would dig a small hole, poo in it, then quickly cover it over, kitty goes MENTAL scooping up ALL the litter in the tray into out moutainous hill as thus, gets some on her (in varying amounts). just got in from work. she hasn't pood today and seems really playful and happy. dh has cooked her plain chicked instead of fancies cat food to try and settle tummy. i have a sense of dread every time she goes to the loo. i have trimmed hair at the back but still not short enough, have given thought to getting just the botty area/inside top back legs cut short to see if it helps.......i am such a virgin at this kitten stuff but learning fast. thanks for all your advice everyone

[jeanswithatwist]

& sorry for all the typo's, am very tired as didn't gt much sleep last night. she has her paws on the keypad and is going for my fingers whenever i type using the letter 'p'

[code]

from the vets you can get a tube of pro kolin + which is great at settling diarrhoea if she has another bout. The vet can also send off some poo samples if it continues as might be parasite infection which can be treated with medication. I sympathise, kittens can be a lot of work at the beginning.

[jeanswithatwist]

thanks code

[mayfridaycomequickly]

ours got the runs when we tried feeding her kitten food in gravy - seems she can only stomach food in jelly.

[DidoTheDodo]

Hi jeans, so glad to hear you have a new kitty and hope the runs clear up very soon!

[BlackNoSugar]

Hi Jeans we had a similar problem but at the other end of the age spectrum - my cat was longhair and ancient, and towards the end of his life had constant diarrhoea. We had to use clippers to clip the hair really short from his bum right down the backs of his back legs. It made a huge difference.

I used unscented 'sensitive' baby wipes on him too for a quick clean-up.

[jeanswithatwist]

that's a great idea polter, i may well ask the vet to do that. i have cut a bit off a few times but it has made hardly any difference & she still has loads there (of fur). i do tend to rush in when i hear the digging sound. she gets carried away hiding it and tends to get alot on her then although i have worked out that this tends to happen mostly if she has had loose poo and i think that is when she has had wet/gravy food. her tray is by the loo so i quickly flush the poo away. she did a poo today (sausage/normal shape) and there was no mess, i was so excited . thanks dido, we love her to bits, she is brilliant fun, all be it a bit of a handful but i don't care. how are your two new babies? thanks for your post black, it does help reading other posters similar experiences. i tried some wipes i bought from pets @ home although they didn't work. her coat isn't shiny type fur, it is like kitchen towel, it absorbs the poo in that there is no way it can be wiped off hence BATH TIME , i am quickly becoming the master of bathing a cat, last time i did it (around 1am a few nights ago), i didn't even have any help and managed, lord knows how, holding her with my left arm (in bowl in sink) and using the jug/cloth with the other . may, i agree, i think i will have to stick to jelly pouches although i think ....she is ok with encore small tins (vet recommend this, said he gives it to his cats)

[jeanswithatwist]

i just took this, she likes to sleep on her back, often with her eyes open