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Original poster

New kitten advice

58 replies

Holidaystress11 · 13/08/2023 22:43

Hello! Have posted on the litter tray too but it's quiet this evening.

we have a new little kitten. 16 weeks tomorrow and we have had her for about 1 week. Everything has been fine but today I thought she looked a little too sleepy. She hasn't touched her food much the last few days and she doesn't seem to touch her water since she's been here.

The day after we brought her home we found fleas. I registered her at the vets and managed to get a same day appointment and they gave her her first injections and flea treatment via a tablet and booked in for 4 weeks time. Vet said he stomach was a little swollen but said it was quite common in kittens and he said otherwise she seems healthy. All good!

I mentioned to the breeder a couple of days ago that she's not eating much and not drinking. She said she forgot to tell me she gives her goats milk before bed. So I thought maybe her food routine is out. So I bought some and sure enough she lapped that up but still not eating. She hasn't touched her biscuits (kibble) breeder gave some and I bought the same. I asked for the brand of wet kitten food she's had and she just said use any.... so I bought whiskers junior. She was fine fir the first couple of days. But now gone off it. My nan suggested trying the adult food also whiskers and she wolfed that down but not sure if its good for her.

This evening she had some diarrhea but she did it on the kitchen floor. I'm thinking it's the goats milk!! So I have taken it away. After she had her accident she seemed much chirprier and ate the (adult) whiskers. Still no biscuits though!

Can any one advise please? I will try and speak to the vet tomorrow.

Sorry that was long but didn't want to drip feed

OP posts:
mrsjackrussell · 13/08/2023 23:02

Hi, not much advice but there's no need to give kittens milk after they're weaned from mum. I gave mine kitten milk for a few days and then swapped for water and she drank that happily when she was thirsty.

I agree with seeing your vet if your kitten has stopped eating. I'm of the notion that they will eat when they're hungry. Do you leave the dried food out?

Original poster
Holidaystress11 · 13/08/2023 23:07

Thank you. So it wasn't kitten milk. It was just normal goats milk as per the breakers instructions. So I'm thinking that's the cause. Dry food is out all the time. She doesn't eat it so I replace it regularly . She's also wormed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Holidaystress11 · 13/08/2023 23:08

Breeder not breaker

OP posts:

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Cats
Typz · 13/08/2023 23:09

Any kind of milk / cheese, even the special ‘cat milk’, will probably give diarrhoea.

They usually get a lot of their liquid from wet food, so I’m not so worried you haven’t seen her drink, but it is worrying if she isn’t eating.

For kitten food have you tried the applaws tuna tins? Mine adore it. It isn’t a complete food but might get her interested.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Applaws-Natural-Food-Kitten-Tuna/dp/B00N4UF3ZK/

or maybe James Wellbeloved turkey with gravy?

If that’s too expensive I’d suggest Royal Canin inatead of Whiskas.

You might need to tey a few different flavours eg she mught hate Whiskas chicken but accept Whiskas tuna.

Other than trying different, ideally more luxury, foods and asking the vet I’m not sure what to suggest.

It does usually take them a few days to settle down, hising would be normal with a new kitten, but she should be eating.

Typz · 13/08/2023 23:10

Ps after their vaccines my kittens were very sleepy for two days so that mught be a cause as well. She may just be feeling a bit poorly from the vaccines.

PriamFarrl · 13/08/2023 23:12

I would speak to the vet as soon as possible tomorrow. Not eating, swollen tummy and diarrhoea are all signs of FIP.
Might well not be but I’d be concerned and at the vets first chance I got.

Original poster
Holidaystress11 · 13/08/2023 23:14

Thank you everyone. OK, I've taken the milk away now and I have tried a different dish for water. Although she lapped up the milk in the normal dish. Her biscuits are royal canin but she hasn't touched them at all.

I tried a different food actually but she didn't touch that either. I have just been to check on her and she's now finished half a pack of adult whiskers so that's good. I will try again with kitten food tomorrow. Maybe the diarrhea has cleared her out. Vaccinations where 6 days ago so not sure if it would still be that.

I will try a few different brands as suggested. Thank you and call the vet too.

I'm thinking it's the milk but wanted to check with others too. She still plays with her little light thing we have and jumps about with that and sits on me for cuddles. Although she hasn't wanted it today. No hissing either.

OP posts:
Original poster
Holidaystress11 · 13/08/2023 23:14

@PriamFarrl thank you. OK will call first thing tomorrow

OP posts:
PriamFarrl · 13/08/2023 23:17

Holidaystress11 · 13/08/2023 23:14

@PriamFarrl thank you. OK will call first thing tomorrow

I’m almost certainly wrong but I am a very over anxious cat parent.

Original poster
Holidaystress11 · 13/08/2023 23:18

I appreciate it. @PriamFarrl not worth the risk. I will call in the morning x

OP posts:
howaboutthistime · 13/08/2023 23:25

Dry food is really bad for kittens/cats as is whiskers. Grain free/sugar free high meat content is best.

Cats don't generally drink much water so wet cat food is best. I add a tiny bit of water to my cat's bowl before I put his food in but I always have a water bowl as well. If a cat is fed a wet did diet and still drinks a lot that could be an indication of a problem.

Kittens should be fed little and often, maybe try shredded boiled chicken. It's also not a good idea to keep changing the food. New food needs to be introduced slowly, mix a bit of new food with old food, gradually increasing the new food.

Probably best to go back to the vet tho so they can advise properly.

How kitty feels better soon

Original poster
Holidaystress11 · 13/08/2023 23:32

Thank you @howaboutthistime ok I am listening. The problem is breeder wouldn't tell the brand of food and I think just fed whatever. Can you please advise on a brand? And I will take a look.
Thank you so much

OP posts:
Typz · 13/08/2023 23:50

With brands I basically went to a pet shop, discovered thst for 12 pouches of wet food the prices were all either around £4 or around £8 or around £13, and decided I’m an £8 kinda girl.

Check the label: anything with sugar in is a bad idea (and will cost you money in dental fees later).

Once you have a brand she likes shop around as it may be cheaper online. Petsathome do good deals sometimes.

Anyway brands I have found good were
James Wellbeloved (turkey not the chicken)
Applaws
Blink
Nature’s Menu

Good luck!

howaboutthistime · 14/08/2023 00:10

I don't have a kitten, my cat is 6 but through doing a lot of research over the years I've learnt a lot.

Go onto Zooplus and look for kitten food. You can start giving cat food at 1 year old. They sell alot of German food which are much better quality. Not sure what kitten food they have. They do trial packs and when you find something your kitten will eat you can buy in bulk which works out cheaper. If you don't want to order online, pets at home do some fairly decent food. Whiskers, Felix and other cheap food is like giving your pet a McDonald's every day! For now tho I would try boiled chicken just so your kitten is eating. Don't give milk of any kind. The vet may try and get you to buy royal canin or science plan. This is not great food either, vets get a commission for selling it. Maybe try Blink (sold in supermarkets). It's human grade food.

I know dry food is a hotly debated topic but it's really bad. You also need to buy food that is labelled complete food and it's best to have about 3 or 4 different makes. This is for several reasons 1) if one is discontinued/recepie changed you have other food you know your kitten will like 2) each food has different proteins, vitamins etc so by giving a variety of food your kitten will be getting a bit of everything in their diet 3)rotating food will hopefully stop your kitten getting bored.

I don't leave food out for my cat, I feed morning and evening (you should feed kittens 3 or 4 times a day) just put a little bit of food in your kittens bowl and add a few drops of water so kitty doesn't get dehydrated. Slowly introduce new food as I mentioned earlier.

I'm not an expert but I always try to look after my pets and do a lot of research so if you have any questions please ask. Sorry for long post

howaboutthistime · 14/08/2023 00:17

Just had a look on Zooplus, maybe try kitten food Smilla, Wild Freedom, Nature's Menu, these are foods I give my cat and blink from the supermarket

Killingmytime · 14/08/2023 00:40

I accidentally gave mine adult food, it gave the two of them diarrhoea as the food isn’t designed for kittens.
mine have kitten milk with no problems.

Killingmytime · 14/08/2023 00:43

Mine have had Ian’s kitten food, now moving on to hames well beloved
wet food- webbox, Iams delights

Killingmytime · 14/08/2023 00:43

Mine have had dry- Iams kitten food, now moving on to James well beloved
wet food- webbox, Iams delights

GeraldTheGoodMouse · 14/08/2023 00:49

Dry food is not 'really bad'. Plenty of cats thrive on it. Cheap dry food like Go Cat is not great especially for male cats as it might contribute to UTIs but beyond that it's fine. Several of mine have lived long and healthy lives on dry food.

Frequent changing of food can be a problem though so you do need to pick one and stick with it, OP, and if she has a preference for wet, stick with that. I would stick with commercial cat foods as they are balanced, and chicken breast won't have enough taurine so should only be used short term or as an occasional treat, not as a main food.

Definitely no milk.

Keep her water bowl separate to her food and both away from her litter tray.

Don't use clumping litter as kittens sometimes eat it and it can cause blockages as it is so absorbent.

The breeder sounds awful. Make sure you have good insurance.

Furries · 14/08/2023 01:39

Kittens really should have kitten food, so please avoid giving her adult food.

Also, you shouldn’t just be swapping brands of food regularly as this can upset their stomach. If you’re introducing a new brand, do it slowly by mixing both together and gradually increasing the new and decreasing the old in the mix.

Definitely get her back to the vets. Get them to check that there’s no more evidence of fleas - she’s still really young and fleas munching on her could be making her feel pretty rubbish!

Toddlerteaplease · 14/08/2023 06:24

Stop changing her food and let her settle down to one thing. She's probably still a bit stressed if she only moved in a week ago. The breeder doesn't sound very responsible.

Original poster
Holidaystress11 · 14/08/2023 08:04

Thank you everyone. I have taken it all on board!

OP posts:
Original poster
Holidaystress11 · 14/08/2023 09:23

Happened again about half an hour ago and she vomited phlegm too. Called the vet and she has an appointment for this afternoon. Have to work out how to get there now as my car is in the garage! Hopefully a taxi won't mind.

OP posts:
howaboutthistime · 14/08/2023 09:28

Awww, keep us posted

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