Got new kitten but she's not eating...

annaangeluk_2 · 26 August 2007 at 12:28PM

I picked up the new kitten yesterday (Poppy!) and bought her home. I've set her up in my bedroom and she seems quite happy but she doesn't seem to be eating or drinking.

I've put the bowls well away from the litter tray (which she uses brilliantly thankfully!) but she doesn't seem to be using them. She had a little nibble at some wet whiskas tuna pouch and will eat the dry stuff off my finger but won't drink the water. Obviously I'm not in the room with her all the time but she hasn't had any water while I've been in there.

She seems to be pooing and weeing ok and she seems happy! She's taken up residence on the corner of my bed in the sunny spot and wouldn't sleep last night unless she was next to my feet! Between 2am and 4 am she just chased her tail and kept me up! Worse than having a new born baby!!

Is there anything I can do to make her eat and drink some more? Is it possible she doesn't have a sense of smell so isn't interested in the food? The lady I got her from was an extemely heavy smoker so might this be the problem? (Btw, I don't smoke so hopefully Poppy's little lungs will recover!)

Also I think she has fleas but she's only 10 weeks old and flea stuff says from 12 weeks. Will it be safe to use?

I'm making an appointment in the week for her first vacinations but until then I'm not sure what to do about the fleas and should I get her worming stuff??

Thanks

sandy2_2 · 26 August 2007 at 12:38PM

Poppy's only tiny so er stonach won't be very big therfore it won't take long for it to be full, so at the moment she'll only eat little and often. As she's eating 'wet' food it might be she's getting enough moisture from that, you could mix a little more water to it if you want. Was she with her mother before, if so she'll also be trying to get used to not having the 'milk bar' on tap. Just be patient with her.
Ring you vet and ask if they can suggest anything for the fleas , frontline etc will be too toxic for her at the moment. Get one of those small plastic 'nit' combs now and get her used to being combed, that will let you get rid of some of them. Also at this time get her used to having her teeth brushed and mouth gently opened by you. May seem strange but easier for her to get used to it now rather than you having to cope with scratches and worse when she's older and needs pills etc. Enjoy her

patchwork_cat · 26 August 2007 at 12:44PM

Do you know what she was weaned on?She should have a kitten food, but it could just be the upset. Try her on a bit of poached white fish and the water it was poached in. I just get value white fish fillets frozen from Asda about £1.50 a pack and just cover with water and microwave for a minute or so. When cool just flake it and put it in a saucer with some of the water- I'll be surprised if she doesn't lap that up. Don't only feed her on fish as a) it isn't balanced and b) it'll spoil her, but for these first couple of days it won't hurt.

nealallen · 26 August 2007 at 12:50PM

You can't make her eat or drink if she's not hungry. Remember, she is a kitten with a small tummy. A little to you might be a lot to her. You don't know what she has eaten in the past few days, if she's pigged out she won't want to eat.

I can understand you worrying, but try not too. By what you have said she sounds like she is fit and well. Worry when she starts sleeping ALL day. Not wanting to play, looking lethargic, then there might be something wrong with her.

If you have any other worries feel free to PM me. We have 10 and all from kittens

floyd · 26 August 2007 at 2:21PM

Sorry to sound crude, but as long as there is regularly something liquid and solid coming out the other end then there is enough liquid and solid going in

The fact that she is playing is the only sign you need that she is OK, thats the first thing to stop if cats get sick

I am so jealous, I want another kitty but OH isn't keen

annaangeluk_2 · 26 August 2007 at 7:33PM

Thank you for everyones advice!

i bought a different box of kitten dry food and she has eaten three little bowls of it!! She's also been weeing so she seems fine!

She's definitely not lethargic! She's spent the last hour running and jumping off the bed and chasing her tail!! The donut!!:rotfl:

Thanks again! I'm sure I'll be having more panics over the coming weeks so I'm sure I'll be posting again soon!

x

nealallen · 26 August 2007 at 8:53PM

annaangeluk wrote: »

Thank you for everyones advice!

i bought a different box of kitten dry food and she has eaten three little bowls of it!! She's also been weeing so she seems fine!

She's definitely not lethargic! She's spent the last hour running and jumping off the bed and chasing her tail!! The donut!!:rotfl:

Thanks again! I'm sure I'll be having more panics over the coming weeks so I'm sure I'll be posting again soon!

x

Any chance of some pics?

sharon_currie · 27 August 2007 at 1:32PM

meeps wrote: »

my kitten had fleas when I got her and after combing about 20 of the blighters off over a couple of days I went and found tablets called 4fleas, for cats and kittens over 4 weeks of age, I gave one to her and she went to sleep on my lap on a white towel and I could see the fleas abandoning ship!! they were from jolleys and about £6.
mine also didn't seem to eat too much to begin with and I was hand feeding her biscuits and holding water in my palm- after 4 weeks she is now drinking out the sink, the bath, glasses..anywhere but her bowl!!

Just seen these 4flea tablets on ebay for £4.40 with free postage so their abit cheaper

mandarinduck · 27 August 2007 at 1:41PM

meeps wrote: »

after 4 weeks she is now drinking out the sink, the bath, glasses..anywhere but her bowl!!

Hurray - my crazy cat is not alone! Despite having a cat bowl for water so will only drink it out of a mug. We have to have a designated 'cat mug' for her. I'm glad to hear she is not the only one drinking out of odd things.

And we have to guard cups of tea like hawks. The second you put it down, she's sniffing around it to see if she can nick it. But my grandma's cat always loved tea as well, so she's not alone in that either (and she lived until 21 so it can't be too bad!).

They are strange (but lovable) beasts!

nealallen · 28 August 2007 at 7:21PM

We have 2 large bowls of fresh water down for our cats, we change them twice a day. Lucky, the spoilt one, no matter what we do he won't use them. He waits for us to go upstairs and runs after us and stands at the bathroom door. He will only drink for the tap in the sink

He thinks he's better than the others

We went away for the night once and when we got back he was already waiting. He was drinking from the tap for about 5mins. We can't leave him long now because we know he would just go without water than share a bowl with the others.

sandy2_2 · 29 August 2007 at 8:02AM

our cat prefers to drink from the pond or the dish of water left outside for he stray cats than use his own bowl in the kitchen...cats don't you just love them!

Got new kitten but she's not eating...

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