Anyone have any ideas?

cascy · 02-12-2008, 10:43 PM

My little kitty needs to gain some weight. I think alot of it has to do with being weaned to early. She's about 5 1/2 weeks old now, was weaned not long after 4 (her eyes wear barley open) and while she's fluffy, I can feel her little bones and I want to get some weight on her. Anyone know what I could give her to help out? Is there a "kitty version" of weightbuilder?

roberts617 · 02-12-2008, 10:53 PM

What are you giving her now? I don't have much experience with kittens, but I'd say she's probably wormy too.

cascy · 02-12-2008, 10:56 PM

Special kitty kitten food, mixed with canned food to help soften it up for her. I thought she might need wormed, but didn't know if she's old enough yet

roberts617 · 02-12-2008, 11:08 PM

I think she is, but I'm gonna let someone else come in and say for sure. I'd hate to tell you wrong. Does she eat well when you feed her? You probably don't happen to have any kitten formula around do ya? Poor little kitty, I hope she gets better.

Amykatrina · 02-12-2008, 11:19 PM

She is old enough to be de-wormed just make sure that you tell your vet how young she is. A farm cat at my mom's had a litter of kittens that were born with worms from the mom and she rejected them so they started to die. We caught on a day or two later and got liquid dewormer for them, as they weren't near old enough to swallow a pill. It was just a couple drops on the tongue and everything was fine after that. We did the mom too at the same time and it made a big difference in all of them. Hope that helped

Chic · 02-13-2008, 12:10 AM

We had some kittens that the Mom had gotten hit in the road... they were about a month old then. We used kitten food and some Similac. (We had some left over from when son was a baby) We put about a tablespoon of just the dry powder on thier food and mixed it in plus gave them a little of it mixed with water to drink every day. They all made it.

NoniMe · 02-13-2008, 12:31 AM

Some KMR (powdered) mixed in with the wet food...I'd wait on the wormer, not because of her age, but because she's skinny. Worms might be there, but if she's less than 2 months old, it's not quite as bad as you think. Free feed her softened kibble (mix it with some liquid KMR, or plain yogurt if you have it, but make sure you change it several times a day if you use yogurt; it spoils really fast). Give her several cans of wet food, and a scoop of the KMR powder mixed in. When she's full, her little belly should poof out, and she should sleep. This recipe saved my Boog's life when I got him at about 3 weeks old...and he's now a fat, happy, sassy boy who is, at the moment, fussing at the ceiling.

Look at her poop. Are there small rice-looking particles in it? Blood? If so, she's got wormies. If not, then she still might have wormies, but they're not so bad. Again, I'd really wait on the wormer (and vacs right now, too, if you can), until she gets a little plumper...try the recipe and KMR for about 10 days, and you should see a serious difference in her, wormies or not.

How old is she?

Best-
Noni

sundancer maiden · 02-13-2008, 12:52 AM

Please get her checked out by a vet. Only a vet can know when she's healthy enough to be wormed and vaccinated. Over-the-counter wormers are not safe for kittens, ever.
Noni's recipe sounds great, that will give her very digestable nutrition!

NoniMe · 02-13-2008, 12:59 AM

Echoing what Sundancer said, please don't worm her with OTC stuff...I wrote my post above thinking you'd take her to the vet to do it, and didn't even consider OTC stuff.

And Sundancer, that recipe is wonderful to cats, stinky to us humans, and my fussy boy is now in my lap, happy and fat and just all around a big ol' booger.

It works wonders, that KMR stuff...and it's made for babies as a milk replacement, so it has high calories and all the right nutrients in the general proper amount that kittens need. I always have a can or two on hand...

Best-
Noni

tallyho · 02-13-2008, 06:40 AM

Just an addition that may be re-stating the obvious....the kibble should cetainly be the kitten stuff. I used something similar to Noni's recipe for a litter of tiny feral kittens, and when I mixed in the teeny tiny baby kibble (brand I cannot recall, but got it at the pet shop... was about 18.00 for a 4 lb bag)..anyway, the point is, the kibble made all the difference........they couldn't eat it fast enough, and eventually just ate it dry. Now the vet can't get over how big they are for their age.
good luck

cascy · 02-13-2008, 07:44 AM

Ok, I'm gonna try to cover all questions in this post so bare with me if I miss something.

I believe she's about 5 weeks old now

She does have dry "kitten formula" special kitty kibble mixed with soft food and she it's it fine. That's not a problem for her

She also drinks water just fine as well.

She had some dihrea sp? The first few days she was home but that is getting better day by day and no blood or worms in poo....

I'm gonna call the vet today and see what he says as well.

Thanks!

sundancer maiden · 02-13-2008, 08:34 AM

That is so young. Why did she get weaned so early? Do you have any other cats that can help her learn how to be a cat? She's missing some important socialization time.
We would love some pictures!!!!

Crazy4paints · 02-13-2008, 08:46 AM

I tell you what we used to do,and it works.Give her milk replacer (dry powder)mixed with her canned food, and in no time she will be a little porker, as far as worming I would wait until she is a little heavier and older, it might do more harm than good. oh yes, and where are the pictures of this teeny kitty

cosmo · 02-13-2008, 09:10 AM

Get your hands on a tube of Nutri-Cal for kittens,maybe your local feed store or vets office.Its a high-calorie dietary supplement,once you get some in their mouth they just LOVE it!I give this to my Chihuahua puppys when i start weaning and then a tube to the buyers when i sell them,if you can't find it get on line it's made by Tomlyn the phone number on the tube is 1-800-267-5707.Hope this helps GOOD LUCK (o:

NoniMe · 02-13-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascy

Ok, I'm gonna try to cover all questions in this post so bare with me if I miss something.

I believe she's about 5 weeks old now

Wee little thing...bless her. Thanks for taking on the role of Mama.

Quote:

She does have dry "kitten formula" special kitty kibble mixed with soft food and she it's it fine. That's not a problem for her

Good deal. Add some KMR in it, or yogurt, and she'll gobble it up and have that little belly poofed out in no time.

Quote:

she also drinks water just fine as well.

Excellent. That's something that is a hard thing to teach a kitten, so well done on that account. I remember syringe waterings...and that was so tough on both Boogs and me...

Quote:

She had some dihrea sp? The first few days she was home but that is getting better day by day and no blood or worms in poo....

Then I'm not too worried about wormies. At her age, the worms would not have had time (for the most part) to go through a full growth cycle and be a detriment quite yet. I'm going to bet that the diarrhea will abate over time; babies have that, it's sort of like how our babies work...until they are on solid food constantly.

Quote:

I'm gonna call the vet today and see what he says as well.

Thanks!

Best idea yet.

FYI, KMR can be found in every pet store I've ever been in. Like I said, I always have a can or two of the powdered stuff on hand, just in case.

Go ahead and supplement her wet food, and keep up with the kibble mixed, and add the KMR, and she'll get round fast.

Good luck, and let us know what the vet says...

Best-
Noni

farmergal · 02-27-2008, 01:33 PM

I give my kittens evaporated milk or fresh goats milk if I have it. To this you can add 1 well beaten egg to 1 cup of milk. I soak the kitten's kibble with it. It boosts the nutritional level of the cat food unlike plain water. Never feed the kitten food cold from the frig. warm it first.

So how is the kitten doing? Is it a butter ball yet?

cascy · 02-27-2008, 01:39 PM

Oh, yes... she is a butter ball now and a mean one at that

She's gotten a good thump on the nose three times today already for bitting and clawing the living tar out of me

Now the real question.... Who stole the sweet little kitty I brought home and left me with this monster!

sundancer maiden · 02-27-2008, 02:49 PM

Nose thumping, any physical punishment doesn't work on cats.
Squeel, and I mean squeel, ouch; then walk away. Not responding to her play is really the best punishment. But, do reward good play! She's feeling good and has more energy to burn. Use a pole type, or long string type object, and wear her out. (if you can

)

kshnooks · 02-27-2008, 03:11 PM

obviously she is feeling better! Sounds like she is ready for some serious play!

OSUJillyBean · 02-28-2008, 08:57 AM

A bunch of feathers on the end of a stick is an awesome cat toy in that it keeps your fingers out of clawing range. Lu will drag around her feather-stick all over the house and often sleeps with it.

Btw - Where's the pics?!

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02-12-2008, 10:43 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,409	Anyone have any ideas? My little kitty needs to gain some weight. I think alot of it has to do with being weaned to early. She's about 5 1/2 weeks old now, was weaned not long after 4 (her eyes wear barley open) and while she's fluffy, I can feel her little bones and I want to get some weight on her. Anyone know what I could give her to help out? Is there a "kitty version" of weightbuilder? __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

02-12-2008, 10:53 PM
roberts617 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 5,153	What are you giving her now? I don't have much experience with kittens, but I'd say she's probably wormy too. __________________ He who never made a mistake never made a discovery! Samuel Smiles

02-12-2008, 10:56 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,409	Special kitty kitten food, mixed with canned food to help soften it up for her. I thought she might need wormed, but didn't know if she's old enough yet __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

02-12-2008, 11:08 PM
roberts617 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 5,153	I think she is, but I'm gonna let someone else come in and say for sure. I'd hate to tell you wrong. Does she eat well when you feed her? You probably don't happen to have any kitten formula around do ya? Poor little kitty, I hope she gets better. __________________ He who never made a mistake never made a discovery! Samuel Smiles

02-12-2008, 11:19 PM
Amykatrina Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 583	She is old enough to be de-wormed just make sure that you tell your vet how young she is. A farm cat at my mom's had a litter of kittens that were born with worms from the mom and she rejected them so they started to die. We caught on a day or two later and got liquid dewormer for them, as they weren't near old enough to swallow a pill. It was just a couple drops on the tongue and everything was fine after that. We did the mom too at the same time and it made a big difference in all of them. Hope that helped

02-13-2008, 12:10 AM
Chic Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,345	We had some kittens that the Mom had gotten hit in the road... they were about a month old then. We used kitten food and some Similac. (We had some left over from when son was a baby) We put about a tablespoon of just the dry powder on thier food and mixed it in plus gave them a little of it mixed with water to drink every day. They all made it. __________________ Jewlery For Your HorseThe Kelley Square "I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Hale

02-13-2008, 12:31 AM
NoniMe Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,245	Some KMR (powdered) mixed in with the wet food...I'd wait on the wormer, not because of her age, but because she's skinny. Worms might be there, but if she's less than 2 months old, it's not quite as bad as you think. Free feed her softened kibble (mix it with some liquid KMR, or plain yogurt if you have it, but make sure you change it several times a day if you use yogurt; it spoils really fast). Give her several cans of wet food, and a scoop of the KMR powder mixed in. When she's full, her little belly should poof out, and she should sleep. This recipe saved my Boog's life when I got him at about 3 weeks old...and he's now a fat, happy, sassy boy who is, at the moment, fussing at the ceiling. Look at her poop. Are there small rice-looking particles in it? Blood? If so, she's got wormies. If not, then she still might have wormies, but they're not so bad. Again, I'd really wait on the wormer (and vacs right now, too, if you can), until she gets a little plumper...try the recipe and KMR for about 10 days, and you should see a serious difference in her, wormies or not. How old is she? Best- Noni __________________ "His name is Tango," said I. The wee boy, in his childish lisp, replied "no, his name is Bongo Mountain."

02-13-2008, 12:52 AM
sundancer maiden Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Udall, KS Posts: 1,211	Please get her checked out by a vet. Only a vet can know when she's healthy enough to be wormed and vaccinated. Over-the-counter wormers are not safe for kittens, ever. Noni's recipe sounds great, that will give her very digestable nutrition! __________________ You don't have to be crazy to be my friend, but it helps!!!

02-13-2008, 12:59 AM
NoniMe Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,245	Echoing what Sundancer said, please don't worm her with OTC stuff...I wrote my post above thinking you'd take her to the vet to do it, and didn't even consider OTC stuff. And Sundancer, that recipe is wonderful to cats, stinky to us humans, and my fussy boy is now in my lap, happy and fat and just all around a big ol' booger. It works wonders, that KMR stuff...and it's made for babies as a milk replacement, so it has high calories and all the right nutrients in the general proper amount that kittens need. I always have a can or two on hand... Best- Noni __________________ "His name is Tango," said I. The wee boy, in his childish lisp, replied "no, his name is Bongo Mountain."

02-13-2008, 06:40 AM
tallyho Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Trappe, PA Posts: 1,157	Just an addition that may be re-stating the obvious....the kibble should cetainly be the kitten stuff. I used something similar to Noni's recipe for a litter of tiny feral kittens, and when I mixed in the teeny tiny baby kibble (brand I cannot recall, but got it at the pet shop... was about 18.00 for a 4 lb bag)..anyway, the point is, the kibble made all the difference........they couldn't eat it fast enough, and eventually just ate it dry. Now the vet can't get over how big they are for their age. good luck

02-13-2008, 07:44 AM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,409	Ok, I'm gonna try to cover all questions in this post so bare with me if I miss something. I believe she's about 5 weeks old now She does have dry "kitten formula" special kitty kibble mixed with soft food and she it's it fine. That's not a problem for her She also drinks water just fine as well. She had some dihrea sp? The first few days she was home but that is getting better day by day and no blood or worms in poo.... I'm gonna call the vet today and see what he says as well. Thanks! __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

02-13-2008, 08:34 AM
sundancer maiden Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Udall, KS Posts: 1,211	That is so young. Why did she get weaned so early? Do you have any other cats that can help her learn how to be a cat? She's missing some important socialization time. We would love some pictures!!!! __________________ You don't have to be crazy to be my friend, but it helps!!!

02-13-2008, 08:46 AM
Crazy4paints Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 1,699	I tell you what we used to do,and it works.Give her milk replacer (dry powder)mixed with her canned food, and in no time she will be a little porker, as far as worming I would wait until she is a little heavier and older, it might do more harm than good. oh yes, and where are the pictures of this teeny kitty __________________ Offering for your pleasure and enjoyment,exceptional AQHA and APHA Palomino horses.

02-13-2008, 09:10 AM
cosmo Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 11	help for kitten Get your hands on a tube of Nutri-Cal for kittens,maybe your local feed store or vets office.Its a high-calorie dietary supplement,once you get some in their mouth they just LOVE it!I give this to my Chihuahua puppys when i start weaning and then a tube to the buyers when i sell them,if you can't find it get on line it's made by Tomlyn the phone number on the tube is 1-800-267-5707.Hope this helps GOOD LUCK (o:

02-27-2008, 01:33 PM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,926	I give my kittens evaporated milk or fresh goats milk if I have it. To this you can add 1 well beaten egg to 1 cup of milk. I soak the kitten's kibble with it. It boosts the nutritional level of the cat food unlike plain water. Never feed the kitten food cold from the frig. warm it first. So how is the kitten doing? Is it a butter ball yet? __________________

02-27-2008, 01:39 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,409	Oh, yes... she is a butter ball now and a mean one at that She's gotten a good thump on the nose three times today already for bitting and clawing the living tar out of me Now the real question.... Who stole the sweet little kitty I brought home and left me with this monster! __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

02-27-2008, 02:49 PM
sundancer maiden Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Udall, KS Posts: 1,211	Nose thumping, any physical punishment doesn't work on cats. Squeel, and I mean squeel, ouch; then walk away. Not responding to her play is really the best punishment. But, do reward good play! She's feeling good and has more energy to burn. Use a pole type, or long string type object, and wear her out. (if you can) __________________ You don't have to be crazy to be my friend, but it helps!!!

02-27-2008, 03:11 PM
kshnooks Coming two Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,927	obviously she is feeling better! Sounds like she is ready for some serious play!

02-28-2008, 08:57 AM
OSUJillyBean Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,121	A bunch of feathers on the end of a stick is an awesome cat toy in that it keeps your fingers out of clawing range. Lu will drag around her feather-stick all over the house and often sleeps with it. Btw - Where's the pics?! __________________ "And speaking of Italy and sports cars that I stole there, you still owe me a yellow Porsche." — Alice Cullen