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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Kitten advice please

157 replies

Cocopogo · 21/08/2023 21:08

I asked a few weeks ago whether I should get one or two kittens, as the single kitten I was to get from rescue had been bonded with another kitten.
Now I have two kittens and they are completely different and def not bonded. One is a typical boisterous kitten and the other barely moves. He sleeps all day and struggles to clean himself.
Both don’t seem to be eating much. How much should a kitten eat?
They are having 1/4 to 1/2 a pouch each, each day.

OP posts:
Cowlover89 · 22/08/2023 00:18

fetchacloth · 21/08/2023 23:36

Both kittens should be seen by a vet ASAP as they are too young to away from mum. Normally they are not weaned until about 12-13 weeks old.
They will need a special diet prescribed by the vet for a few weeks until they're old enough to stomach kitten food
Please take them to the vet as soon as you can, it's the right thing to do for them. 🙂💐

My kitten was weaned at 5 weeks. That's when I took her.

TenPenceMix · 22/08/2023 04:22

@Cowlover89 starting to eat solid food and being weaned are totally different things. They should be getting mum's mum at 5 weeks. They'll feed right up to 13-14 weeks if allowed by mum.

urbanbuddha · 22/08/2023 04:34

Ideally kittens should stay with mum until they’re 12 weeks. At 8 weeks they’ll probably manage away from mum. Your kittens are too young to have been separated from their mother. The rescue is badly at fault here.

Remaker · 22/08/2023 04:40

Agree with PP kittens that young should be with an experienced foster career until they are old enough to be adopted. We adopted our two rescue kittens at 8 weeks. They had been hand reared as they had been dumped without their mum. At 8 weeks they were fully litter trained, could clean themselves and had good appetites. They ate special kitten food for the first couple of months at least.

I’m glad you are taking them to the vet. The rescue organisation is definitely at fault.

CurlewKate · 22/08/2023 04:52

What on earth sort of rescue rehomes at this age? Would the RSPCA investigate?

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 22/08/2023 05:55

What sort of rescue did you get two sick, severely underage kittens from? Confused

They need to see a vet. Today.

GardeningIdiot · 22/08/2023 05:59

Cocopogo · 21/08/2023 23:07

The smaller quiet one still has bright blue eyes so I’m guessing he’s 4-5 weeks. The other possible 6-7 weeks.

What on earth?? They should be with an experienced foster carer. This is putting them at risk.

How do you adopt kittens without knowing their ages? This is so sad and concerning.

GardeningIdiot · 22/08/2023 06:04

This is is good advice but it's for kittens old enough to be homed. Looking after a 4-5 week old is not for inexperienced people. What rescue would do this?

icatcare.org/advice/helping-your-new-cat-or-kitten-settle-in/

fetchacloth · 22/08/2023 08:23

The rescue sure has a lot to answer for here. 🙄

Justonedayatatime11 · 22/08/2023 08:36

I have a litter of 5 week old kittens at the moment and although they're starting to wean, they're also still feeding from Mum 3-4 times a day. There's no way that poor little thing should have been rehomed. Please get it to the vets asap, and if you're going to buy kitten milk it needs to be the formula stuff you make up, not kitten milk sold in a bottle

TenPenceMix · 22/08/2023 12:05

Any updates OP?

Original poster
Cocopogo · 22/08/2023 22:41

They are booked in the vet on Friday. I was tempted to try a different vet that might have space sooner but the little one perked up a bit today. Just to be clear they didn’t have a mum at the rescue and the rescue knew I could give them a lot of attention and care albeit inexperienced with kittens. I spoke to the rescue today who weren’t concerned and think I’m doing everything right and that the little one just needs settling in time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cocopogo · 22/08/2023 22:42

Also bought some James wellbeloved kitten food whilst I wait for the zooplus order and they have eaten a lot more today

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 22/08/2023 23:02

OK. If the little one really is only 5 weeks old then it needs significantly more care than you're giving it. It needs the vet urgently. I think you are being irresponsible.

Original poster
Cocopogo · 23/08/2023 00:18

@CurlewKate did you mean to be so rude?
You don’t know what care I’m giving him. Only on mumsnet are vets and doctors seen to be the be all and end all as though common sense, advise from experienced people and Google count for nothing.

OP posts:
AndTheSurveySays · 23/08/2023 00:24

I spoke to the rescue today who weren’t concerned and think I’m doing everything right and that the little one just needs settling in time

Why would you trust the word of a rescue that let you take kittens that are way to young to be looked after by an inexperienced owner? You didn't even know they needed formula kitten milk! You must take them to a vet asap. Do you know you need to feed them the milk at intervals throughout the night?

Those poor kittens.

verdantverdure · 23/08/2023 04:31

Cocopogo · 23/08/2023 00:18

@CurlewKate did you mean to be so rude?
You don’t know what care I’m giving him. Only on mumsnet are vets and doctors seen to be the be all and end all as though common sense, advise from experienced people and Google count for nothing.

Ok then google hand-rearing 5 week old kittens.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 23/08/2023 06:20

I spoke to the rescue today who weren’t concerned and think I’m doing everything right and that the little one just needs settling in time.

Of course they would say that Hmm

The rescue have behaved appallingly - five week old orphaned kittens need to be in the care of an experienced foster until at least eight weeks of age so they can be socialised and looked after properly.

I know you have good intentions but your kittens need to see a vet today - you can't risk waiting until Friday when they're so young and the smaller one has been so lethargic. They also need proper prescription kitten formula not the stuff you can buy online, as well as food suitable for 5 week old animals which most commercial pet food isn't.

Potentialmadcatlady · 23/08/2023 06:29

Im v worried that Friday is too far away to get health checked. I also think the rescue have been irresponsible. Please try and get them checked sooner. If the younger one is that young there is so much that can go wrong esp around 6weeks of age and that would break your heart. I know you are absolutely doing your best but kittens that age can literally go within hours with experienced fosterers and it’s heartbreaking. Fading kitten syndrome is real.
Has the littlest one been wormed? Because if she/he is that young then that is also a danger period and he/she might need sub cut fluids to see her through

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 23/08/2023 06:54

I wouldn’t wait till Friday, you’ve got a lethargic kitten.

Google does count for nothing, the internets unregulated. I could build a website today spouting any old rubbish and no one can shut it down.

upanddown22 · 23/08/2023 07:04

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 23/08/2023 06:20

I spoke to the rescue today who weren’t concerned and think I’m doing everything right and that the little one just needs settling in time.

Of course they would say that Hmm

The rescue have behaved appallingly - five week old orphaned kittens need to be in the care of an experienced foster until at least eight weeks of age so they can be socialised and looked after properly.

I know you have good intentions but your kittens need to see a vet today - you can't risk waiting until Friday when they're so young and the smaller one has been so lethargic. They also need proper prescription kitten formula not the stuff you can buy online, as well as food suitable for 5 week old animals which most commercial pet food isn't.

Completely agree

GardeningIdiot · 23/08/2023 08:15

Cocopogo · 23/08/2023 00:18

@CurlewKate did you mean to be so rude?
You don’t know what care I’m giving him. Only on mumsnet are vets and doctors seen to be the be all and end all as though common sense, advise from experienced people and Google count for nothing.

That's a classic Mumsnet line, very useful in the right situation. This isn't it.

Kate was right. You don't know what you are doing, but worse you don't appear to care. You're ignoring all the posters who have experience. I've fostered kittens from four weeks. You are putting them at risk.

Wolfiefan · 23/08/2023 08:19

This kitten is lethargic. Kittens aren’t lethargic unless they are very poorly. It needs a vet. Today. There could well be serious infection. If you don’t want it to suffer and die it needs help.

birdglasspen · 23/08/2023 08:21

If it is only their first day or so then they probably won’t eat much. They will be scared and adjusting to their new home. I wouldn’t worry about too I take in first few days. I would always have new kittens checked over by vet though. I think they sound young for dry food I’d stick with wet and kitten milk for a little while yet. As long as you are providing a warm safe space for them to find their feet you may just be seeing their different characters, we had two kittens last year and one was very fearful the other lovely and cuddly immediately. Exactly same upbringing, brothers totally different cats. Good luck you’re in for some fun!

GardeningIdiot · 23/08/2023 08:21

The rescue think you're doing everything right but didn't even send you off with kitten food concentrate? Have they asked you to weigh regularly and daily if there are any concerns? Talked you through any problems with urinating/pooing and the need to stimulate?

I was certain they would be orphans. So they need an experienced fosterer.

They simply can't be a decent rescue - must be someone out of their depth with no clue.

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