problem with kitten eating

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  • This topic has 15 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 16 years ago by CSBM.
Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)
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  • #16759
    jeff
    Participant

    Have a new kitten,approx 8 weeks old I was told. good, cute,active, healthy…

    problem is, it won’t eat ANYTHING…. I’ve tried bottle w/cat forumla, all canned foods, finger feeding, putting nose in,,, it acts scared of food… hasn’t eaten in about two days…. has two siblings at my sons and they are eating great, and growing… maybe mine was the runt and not weaned… what can I do to get it to eat something? have tried to force feed it the bottle, it fights that….. need help. thought about taking it to be with siblings for a few days to see if it could learn from them… ideas? thanks

    #209614
    caroline
    Participant

    Try KMR in a syringe. Sometimes human baby food will get kitties to eat. (chicken flavor)

    Good luck!

    #209615
    TheKnittingNinja
    Participant

    get some chicken or beef baby food, squeez on the side of of the jaw (on the hinge it will pop his mouth open) and put a fingerfull food into his mouth and let go. I would also take the baby to the vet ASAP. Are you also leaving food available for him all the time? He may just not be eating around you, some cats are just that way. Good luck with the baby

    #209616
    kittymom
    Participant

    Jeff, is it drinking anything?

    #209617
    anncetera2
    Participant

    Jeff, I’d consider putting your kitten with your sons. With all the things that have been tried to get this kitten to eat, it may now be thoroughly frightened. The kitten may not know how to lap up food. Its sibling’s actions may well cause imitative behavior, which is what you want. If you take the kitten to your sons, to imitate its littermates, I think it may be the most positive way to encourage eating.

    High-quality wet food, offered on a plate, not a bowl, with KMR mashed in loosely all over it, can often get a kitten to eat. Don’t worry if the kitten goes tromping through the food, and ends up wearing a lot of it. The kitten can always be cleaned up later.

    If the kitten is growing listless or dehydrated, take it to the vet; two days of not eating can send a tiny kitten downhill pretty quickly.

    #209618
    kittymom
    Participant

    I agree with BHM, Jeff, a trip to the vet Monday latest seems to be in order!

    #209619
    Tigerlilly
    Participant

    Please listen to the above advice, especially making a soupy mix with wet kitten food and KMR…and a check with the vet ASAP is in order. Best wishes, keep us poste.

    #209620
    jeff
    Participant

    Ok, thanks to all;I think it will make a trip to see it’s siblings tomorrow, and even stay a few days…and yes, food, water and now formula are near it’s sleeping quarters etc. and I can tell, it hasn’t touched the food (which I change out daily)…. at all.

    thanks for the suggestions.

    #209621
    Tigerlilly
    Participant

    Make sure it at least stay hydrated with water and KMR.

    #209622
    ailuromaniac
    Participant

    jeff, you did not give us kitty’s name?

    You have been given all the advice I would have except to try to be calm and confident when offering the food. Kitty will pick-up on your fear.

    We will all be anxious for reports on the little one’s progress.

    #209623
    kittymom
    Participant

    Jeff, please keep us posted on how the kit is doing tomorrow with its sibs… my kitties and I have our fingers and paws crossed for you and the little one.

    #209624
    tutti-bella
    Participant

    Hi jeff,

    Welcome to TDK. Everyone above has given really good advice. The syringe method is the easiest but make sure you allow the formula to go in slowly as not get into the lungs.

    Good Luck with the trip to see your son and hopefully, kitty will feel better and start eating. Keep us posted, will you.

    #209625
    ailuromaniac
    Participant

    Is Kitty getting any nourishment?

    #209626
    MadcatwomanintheUK
    Participant

    Hi jeff, welcome to TDK. Any progress with your little kitten?

    #209627
    cricketsmama
    Participant

    Hi Jeff, welcome. Hows the baby kitty?

    #209628
    CSBM
    Participant

    also please consider the distance between its food and its litter box. if they are right near each other, a kitty often will get disgusted and turn off its food.

    it’s another thing to consider…

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