Kitten with Sick Tummy

Angel, i haven’t heard anything against Whiskas and I believe my Mother feeds her cat Whiskas pouches. The problem may be just changing from one type of meat pouch to another. Try and keep her on the pouch that doesn’t upset her tummy.

She might be better on kitten food for a while yet as it has more of what she needs to grow strong and healthy.

I hope she gets over her diarrhoea quickly.

Hi Everyone, I’m new here and a first time cat owner. We have two kittens (brother and sister) who have been with us for almost three weeks. The problem is with Karl. About a week ago he started having really bad diarrhea (watery) and over the weekend he stopped eating. We’ve been to the vet twice and this evening I’m bringing him again. He does drink but I literally have to feed him food on my fingers before he’ll even think about eating. He eats a lot less than his sister (Mona) and she looks like a monster next to him. It’s breaking our hearts!

They are 11 weeks old and had their first vaccinations. Karl also got an injection last Saturday that should help boost his immune system but he didn’t get any better. My husband and I have never talked so much about poop and it’s color and consistency :). Poor Karl is also incontinent so there are plenty of messy things waiting for us in the morning and throughout the day.

I guess I’m here looking for support. Although they’ve only been with us for the last three weeks we love them both already and want both to be healthy and happy. I’d really appreciate it if anyone has had a very poorly kitten that got better, bigger and stronger. I could really do with some happy stories :).

N did u give him any medicine?? Did he drink cow milk it may b lactose

Hi Rocky

1. We bought them from a private family and they told they were 16 weeks old. The vet straight away said that’s impossible and that they were no older then 10 weeks (which makes them 13 weeks now).

2. The vet dewormed them twice.

3.I’m very happy to say that Karl turned a corner and has started eating more. When I wrote the first post he was eating 20 grams if we were lucky.

4. The vet ran tests and we now know he has/had distemper. We’ve had to bring him to the vet everyday so that he can be put on a drip for a few minutes. He dropped down to only 740 grams and at 13 weeks he was a little bag of bones (Mona 1,600 grams). Today’s weight was a beautiful 860 grams.

5. The vet has been giving him anti serum injections along with a pain killer and today his poop is darker in color (it was yellow/white) and it’s starting to take form although it’s still far from solid.

6. We have to bring him again tomorrow for his fluids and if his weight is up again then the vet said he has a very real chance of surviving but he’s still unwell.

To Blu, thanks for the idea – I must have looked at over a hundred websites since he got sick and I saw that cats are lactose intolerant. We did give them watered down cat milk a couple of weeks ago and Mona had stomach problems within a few hours so they’ll never get that milk again.

Thanks Jeankit for the links, I saw two of them earlier and they’ve been a great help, thank you!

When I wrote the first post I really thought he was going to die and then that evening the vet said that he probably wouldn’t make it but that we’d give him a chance with the fluids and injections and hope for the best. He’s a long way from being healthy but after two weeks of cleaning up poop, constantly washing towels and sheets and watching him getting smaller and weaker I’m really happy that he’s gained some weight.

Thanks guys for your posts. I was a very lonely feeling and hopefully he’ll pull through.

I don’t have much experience with sick kittens as I only have one cat, but my boyfriend and I had rough times with our Tzeetzee when she was very little, and experienced something of a miracle. I found her on the streets, she was alone and a horrible winter was just rolling in… I didn’t even plan on having any pets but seeing her like that, I decided then and there to take her home. All was well for a week until she got really ill. The vet suspected it was an infection that had incubated in her little body and had started wreaking havoc. I carried her to the vet on my arms every day for about 10 days (didn’t have a transporter or car available), the poor thing was like a pincushion from all the shots she received. She hadn’t even licked any food for a week, vomited a lot and had diarrhea (her tummy was so upset from all the antibiotics), she became skin and bones and wasn’t moving much at all. Like you, I felt like I was going crazy, couldn’t sleep I was so worried and felt very, very alone. The vet, bless her for trying so hard, wasn’t very optimistic. And there were nights when I would just lay next to her, checking if she’s still breathing, bawling my eyes out, and even then, when things were so bleak, there was a piece of me that just wouldn’t give up, and I would tell my Tzeetzee everything would be just fine, and she would grow up to be healthy and strong. And she did… One day she decided she would eat a teaspoon of food, slowly the vomiting went away, then she started eating a little, then a bit more, the diarrhea went away and my little trooper was, very slowly, on her way to recovery.

I guess what I learned from all this was to always be positive when things are rough, I’m sure cats can sense this optimism. And even though situations like these are so frustrating and tiring to us humans, it’s the cats that are going through the worst, and they really need us to not feel alone in it. And patience… Neverending bucketloads of it. Think to yourself that no matter how horrible things can be, it all HAS to pass and better times MUST be ahead. Rewinding the film on what went on with Tzeetzee I have tears in my eyes, but it was all so worth it now that she’s happy and healthy.

Keep up with all the good you’re doing for your kits, and remember that with A LOT of patience and TLC, the vet visits and diarrhea will all be a thing of the past, and you will be able to enjoy many happy times together… Let us know how things are going, and good luck! Lots of positive thoughts being sent your way.

Hello, sorry it took me so long to check this thread too. It is good to hear that Karl made it, and that Mona-though recovering, she will pull through too. She has a good mama who is watching out for her and i am sure she will do just fine. I know it looks bleak, but you have to have confidence and faith.

I had a similar experience with Rocky. I found him in the street, it was maybe 30 degrees F outside. At first i didn’t know what he was, didn’t know if it was a kitten or what. i stopped my truck and called out. This tiny little thing came weeble wobbling over to me and when i picked him up i was aghast. his eyes were crusted shut, he couldnt breathe out of his nose as it was all crusted, he was covered in filth and dried snot- he was a mess. I called in to work and took him immediately to the vet who told me his chances of making it were slim. he gave him a shot of antibiotic and after that i was on my own. I fed and watered Rocky with an eye dropper and cleaned him up. for the first week he would not eat on his own, i had to feed him with an eye dropper. There were times when i really didnt think he would make it. He turned a year this August. He is a long lean bird hunting machine. He had cataracts and one eye cleared up but the other is still milky and has limited vision in that eye, but it doesnt stop him from stalking and playing. he was the first to accept my rescue kitten June Bug and my foster kitten Free.

Hang in there, I know it’s scary, especially when we really cant control the outcome… But have faith (especially in yourself)

Tzeetzee, thank you for sharing your story. it is amazing how finding one little ball of fur can change your life forever! You never think you could care that much for one little four legged creature.

@Tzeetzee’s mama and @Rocky. Thank you so much for all the support! We’re having another bumpy time at the moment. The weekend before last Karl and Mona had their second vaccinations. It’s wasn’t an easy decision for the vet but the risk of not getting it outweighed the risk of giving it especially as he’d just have to get the first all over again.

They got the shots on Saturday morning and Sunday morning Karl had vomiting and diarrhea at the same time before falling on his side and having a seizure. I thought he was dying and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was terrifying. I picked him up in a towel and sat with him. The seizure only lasted 30 secs and for the rest of the evening he didn’t eat, just slept and drank some water. Mona was very concerned for him and got distressed so we separated her and my husband played with her in the other room for the evening. We rang the emergency vet who didn’t answer his phone or leave on the answering machine (big thanks to that jerk). We rang our own vet the next day and thankfully Karl at that stage had started eating again. The vet said that of course it wasn’t good but it could be part of the virus and once he’s eating and drinking it would be less stressful to keep him at home and if anything changed to just call him. Our vet has been incredible!

(I should also say that they didn’t get the rabies vaccination and the shots they got had dead viruses in them not live ones).

So from last Monday he was eating like a trooper and he gained weight although the diarrhea continued. Then last Thursday his diarrhea got worse (became watery) and his appetite decreased to the point where today he won’t eat anything including freshly boiled chicken which he usually loves. Guess whose off to the vet later?!

The bizarre thing is that the timing is exactly the same as with the first vaccination. For the first day he was slow then he came round but about a week after he lost his appetite. I’m hoping that a few days on the drip like the last time and he’ll bounce back again.

I’m sorry I don’t have good news and it’s causing a strain being so worried about him all the time. If I knew he’d definitely survive then I’d shut up and put up but I don’t want to lose him and it’s the lack of control as you said Tzeetzee’s mama that’s the hardest.

On a more positive note Mona is fantastic. She’s big and bold and talks all the time. She’s sitting on my lap at the moment, watching the screen and pawing at my fingers.

At the start of the thread I asked for positive stories and you’ve both given me those, thank you so much. You’re also both wonderful special people to take in stray sick kittens. I really appreciate you sharing your stories with this very worried first time kitten mama!!

I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks again.

I’m the same as you Rocky; I randomly check in and look at other threads as well. Even if I haven’t a clue about the medical side I think maybe it’ll help someone else to know they’re not alone with their problems – moral support. Plus after all the hassle with Karl I feel like an expert in diarrhea and incontinence :). We’re lucky to have a great vet so I can comfortably leave Karl’s care in his hands but earlier I felt like I was going crazy from poop everywhere and thinking he wasn’t going to make it which is why I asked for positive stories.

I love this site and I really believe that it’s saved cats’ lives – at the very least it’s helped train the owners how to be good parents :).

Your poor little pirate Rocky! The good thing about cats is how resourceful they are so I’m sure he’ll learn to adjust to his limitations. We were told it could happen to Karl because of his distemper so it’s possible that other viral infections cause blindness too.

Karl went to the vet last night who gave him a combi injection with an antibiotic inside (he had a high temperature). The vet said that afterwards he’d feel marvelous and should eat like a horse. Man was he right!!! After days of hoping Karl would eat 5grams of food it was incredible to see him eat a 100gram pouch over a couple of hours.

Thank you for your support and the time you’ve taken to write your post. I don’t know about eye infections but maybe there’s a chance, however small, that it’ll heal? Whatever happens with his eye Rocky is a survivor. He had a lot of help from you but he did make it against the odds. His start in life wasn’t easy but somehow you two met and he got a chance to live. I really hope you can get a clear answer about his eye though. I’ll be thinking of you two and sending you both good wishes! Thanks again!!

As always, big thanks for the posts! Karl ate like a monster today and it was just wonderful to see. We’re back at the vet tomorrow with him to bring a poop sample as he may have a parasite (giardia is the name used but we live in Germany so maybe theres a different name in English). He was tested before for parasites and they came back negative but because it was so watery (sorry) the vet thinks the results were inconclusive. The good news is that if it is that virus then it’s relatively easy to treat. It would also explain why Mona was poorly awhile back – she may also have it but is bigger so better able to cope.

You’re absolutely right Tzeetzee’s Mama, he has an incredible spirit hidden in his frail little body! I really enjoyed watching him swipe at Mona this evening, especially seeing her shocked expression at him fighting back for once – usually we’ve had to rescue him from her, ha ha.

I’ll certainly keep you posted – thanks so much for your interest and kindness. I’m Irish and it hasn’t been easy talking to the vet about Karl in another language – I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be discussing kitten diarrhea in German, ha ha. It’s a whole other world. It’s also been lonely worrying about him and not having friends here to talk it over. I have great friends at home but none have cats and so I’ve turned to this website for help. Thank you all so much, you’re wonderful!!!

Oh my, I’m sorry for the diagnosis, poor babies… But I’m glad that at least you now know 100% what it is. I’m not familiar with feline parvovirus, is it possible to treat it completely or is it something that comes and goes?

Don’t worry about the assist feeding, even though they may not like it now, it’s for their good and they will eventually (my vet assured me of this) realize that it does help them feel better, no matter how much they b*tch about it.

I also had to assist feed Tzeetzee, and in no way did it ruin the bond we have. The only thing is, my bf tried to assist feed her a couple of times instead of me, and honestly he was kinda rough when he did it, so I think Tzeetzee associated this roughness with the kind+brand of food that my bf tried to give her, and now she won’t even smell this food, let alone eat it :/

So I guess patience, and being as gentle as possible is very important.

I’ll still have you guys in my thoughts, and hope that Karl and Mona, with their strong spirits and your wonderful love and care, can fight this virus off!!