Posted on 09/27/2010 10:54:34 PM PDT by MeekMom
Needing help!
Month old kittens will not eat mushy kitty food or go potty in a little box made into a litter box! Suggestions appreciated and much needed!
They are too young to be away from their mother. Is she available?
...
Slings?
They should still be suckling at one month old. Where’s Mama Kitty?
A small wok. JUST KIDDING.
Now I slink away to play with my Tigger...
Yes, but the vet I talked with told me anytime during the 2nd month they can be introduced to mushy kitten food and potty trained.
And since the mother hasn’t been nursing as often as previously I’ve been trying to get them to eat the kitty food and they turn their heads from side to side and wont’ lick my finger or sniff the food if I leave some on a small plate on the floor. Nor will they go potty in the small box on the floor. And they’ve peed on the floor twice already.
“Slings?”
Arrows? Outrageous misfortune?
http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/kitten1.php
You will also have to help them move their bowels and pass urine. They are not quite old enough to do it on their own. Wet a cotton ball and gently wipe their behinds after every feeding. Try to simulate the mother licking them. Keep them warm, young kittens can chill very easily.
I thought they would be too young for them to be on their own as well. I’ve told Meekmom to “prime” the kittens with the mushy food on the finger tip. Get them used to the look, taste and smell.
Yes they can be introduced, but that does not mean that they will instantly start eating it. Mama will naturally start to slow down her feeding of them. Offer the food and let mama take care of the rest. As long as they are gaining weight and still nursing from her they will be fine. Make sure mama has plenty of food and water.
Kitties usually get the hang of the litter box by themselves okay. Sometimes you can catch them just before they're getting ready to go and put them in the box.
Should be able to get a kitten bottle and some kitten formula at any pet store. Not as good as momma but better than nothing if mom isn’t available. Kittens probably aren’t quite ready to eat food even if mushy and still want to suckle.
Far as the cat box goes...dunno on that one. Kittens I’ve had seemed to be born cat box trained.
Try powdered goat milk [Meyenberg, if you can get it] with a bit of sugar in it or kitten formula from PetSmart or PetCo.
You’ll need a blunt feeding syringe and much patience.
They can aspirate the formula if you force them.
IMO, they’re much too young to be trying to feed “mushy” solid foods, yet.
re: post #9
good link but doesn’t tell me how to get them to eat the kitty food or potty train them.
You might have to milk the cat. LOL
Isn’t that on the movie “Meet the Fockers”?
I too am a horrible person who adds nothing to the discussion. Sorry :(
Wow. That’s a good site. Bookmarked.
ok thanks Salamander.
re: post #11
ok
If mama is not ill and is still nursing them, give them back to her. You can’t potty train them if they cannot move their bowels on their own yet. They are too young for solid food, even mushy food. Give them back to their mother. I’ve raised quite a few orphan litters and trust me, mama can do a better job than we can.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.