New 5 week old kitten. Help!

Sounds like you’re doing fantastically well, Ariann, and that you have rescued a lovely and lively kitten from being put down. The diarrhea and stinkiness is probably a result of the change in food. Try to keep feeding him wet kitten food as well as dry kitten food, even if he likes the latter better, as dry food 24/7 for male cats is not good for them.He probably does have worms, most stray kittens do (they get them from their mums) and that’s probably another reason for the stinky stools. However, if they go on being really stinky, take him back to the vet and ask him to test for coccidia and giardia if he hasn’t already. Little and often is the best way to feed him at the moment. If you want to, you can mix some kitten milk replacement formula into his wet food; he doesn’t need to be on it now he’s weaned but if he likes it, it will help feed him up a bit. You can also get a supplement called Nutrical for kittens, it’s a paste that is specially designed to provide extra nutrients for malnourished or sick kittens or those that aren’t eating. As long as he keeps putting on weight steadily, keeps being alert and playful and keeps eating, you don’t have much to worry about.

Gentle nipping is playful and a sign of affection, and possibly what he would do to his mum to get her to give him some milk — because he doesn’t have any mum or siblings to teach him manners, you are going to have to gently dissuade him from biting you because if he grows into an enormous boy, it’s not going to be so much fun for you later down the line! Try to quickly dissuade or distract him.

Otherwise just keep doing what you’re doing. At about 8 weeks, he’ll probably need to start his shots (talk to your vet about this) and it’s a good idea to get him microchipped. Good luck with your little one, sounds like you’re doing it right!

Ariann,

Great work on rescuing this wee kittah. Are you still giving him milk or milk replacement? That causes loose stools in kittens and most adult cats. I hope this solves the issue.

Nipping is a means of getting your attention but you need to nip it in the bud (no pun intended). He is learning what he can get away with and you want to teach him good manners while he’s a kit. Do get him a scratching board and toy to chase around.

Best of luck
shayna

Blimey, don’t feel bad about not knowing stuff, the only things I know come from some years spent volunteering at a local shelter, fostering kittens for them and having had cats all my life, anything out of the ordinary and we all need a vet! I would leave off the pumpkin, he’s very young for that and it sounds like he might have been straining a bit too much on the poop side, hence the sore red bottom. I would also try to feed him wet food, it has plenty of water in it to replenish what he’s losing through the diarrhea, whereas dry food sucks the moisture out of his system and can dehydrate him more quickly. But as long as he’s still eating and drinking, those are good signs.

I do think you should try and get him back to the vet ahead of his scheduled appointment if you can but if he’s playing and feeding normally in the meantime, then there can’t be anything too wrong. I wonder if he has blocked anal sacs or something, they smell dreadful. It could be that he has a little cold, just wipe his eyes and nose gently (cold tea is soothing and antiseptic for his eyes) and check it out with the vet when you can. At only five weeks, he is bound to have some issues, and you are entitled to worry, you are his mum now. He is not suffering! He is eating and playing and has a wonderful new mum who is doing everything possible for him.

If I understand correctly, you’re taking your kitty to a vet tomorrow? I hope so and that they can help your kitty to a full and speedy recovery.

Hopefully you can get him to the vet today, as per his scheduled appointment, because it does sound like he is getting sicker. Not playing and sleeping a lot are definitely signs that he should see the vet sooner rather than later. Please let us know how it goes, we will be worried about him. He looks like a wee darling in your photo. Does he have a name?

Frankenstein – I love it!!! Big scary name to live up to! Maybe Frankie for short? ;-). Hope all goes well at the the vets. And congrats to his Dad for serving his country.

Yay for Frankie!