Please help me!

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  • #809280
    Kayla Ford
    Participant

    My boyfriend’s mother recently gave me a kitten- she doesn’t know how old she is, but did say she was eating hard food, so I’m assuming around 5-6 weeks? She also told me she has been using the litter box, but little Ellie hasn’t gone to the bathroom at all since I got her, anywhere. My kitten has been eating, but just recently has began throwing up everything she takes in, including liquids. Any suggestions? I also need some help as to introducing her to my other pets- two dogs and a tomcat. She is okay with my Pug, after a day of hissing and howling whenever she saw him. I know introducing her to my Boxer will be another story all together- he is very curious and investigative, and doesn’t understand that he is bigger than everyone else and I’m concerned. I haven’t let my tomcat anywhere near her as of yet- he’s never been around another cat before besides one that lives next door, and he fights with that one endlessly. I am also concerned about her behavior- for example, right now she is lying in my lap looking up at me and purring away, and just a few minutes ago, she scratched and clawed at me to the point where my hands are dripping blood and I’m going to scar. I’ve had kittens that have scratched before, but not to this extent. She also starts howling out of nowhere and I don’t know what to do. My mom has agreed to give me a month to fix everything before I have to find a new home for little Ellie. Please help! What do I do?

    #809289
    jcat
    Participant

    Kayla, you must keep her away from your tomcat unless you get your tomcat neutered. If he is still whole, there is a good chance he may try to hurt or kill your kitten. It’s nature, and we have just had a very sad poster who has lost a little kitten to a tomcat which injured her very badly.
    There is another reason you need to keep them apart which is that it sounds like your kitten may be sick and if your tomcat hasn’t had all his shots, she could pass the sickness on to him.
    The other thing is that vomiting everything up is very dangerous for a small kitten, she is in danger of becoming dehydrated and that can kill her. You need to take her to the vet. In the meantime, I will give you the tent test to test for dehydration. But she needs a vet visit ASAP. I hope your mum will help you to take her. Also click on the pink tag ‘vomiting’ (top of the page) to see other posts on this subject with links to good information.

    #809290
    jcat
    Participant

    The tent test is to test for dehydration:

    Tent test: pick up a good pinch of kitten’s skin at the neck and let go.If it snaps back immediately, she’s hydrated okay. If it takes a little time to go back down, or, worse, it stays up in a ‘tent’ shape, she needs fluids, such as pedialyte (from the supermarket, children’s aisle) or home-made pedialyte below.

    Note, in the United Kingdom, pedialyte is called Dioralyte. Also known as rehydration salts.

    Home-made pedialyte formula (from World Health Organization)…no preservatives so short life-span

    * 1 cup water (boiled then cooled)

    * 2 tsp sugar

    * 1/8 tsp salt

    * 1/8 tsp baking soda
    (this Pedialyte formula gives needed electrolytes & some sugar for energy)

    Combine all ingredients and warm slightly.

    Make new after 24 hours.

    #809310
    Kayla Ford
    Participant

    Thank you, jcat! The tent test turned out fine- it went right back. she has even gone to the bathroom now, and the vomiting has lessened a lot. I am keeping my kitten in my room with me and my tomcat is staying in another part of the house. Thanks again for your help, i really appreciate it!!

    #809604
    krazikat
    Participant

    Glad to hear Ellie is doing better Kayla. I am sure there is some advice here for teaching her how not to claw you so badly. Please be careful and wash any scratches and apply an antibiotic ointment. When you have a moment please send a picture of Ellie to Kitten Of The Day so we can all see her. Welcome to TDK!

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