Expert: Dr. Christina Chambreau - 3/28/2010

Question
i found a kitten only days old outside my apartment complex crawling towards the road and i brought it into my home lasting. it hasn't pooped until about an hour ago. he was given kitten formula from a bottle room temp. when he was pooping he stared out pooping a tar black and it ended with a brown/yellow. like i said it is only days out, the umbilical cord is scabbed and his eyes are shut. i just want to know if i have a medical emergency.. if you could give me any and all information as possible, i do have a vet appointment on monday but i want to make sure he isn't dying..

Answer
It does not sound like he is ill. Stools in newborns come out in many different colors and consistencies. If he is eating and moving around, he should be fine. I would warm the formula to 100 degrees, not room temperature. Go to a book store and buy the recently issued Natual Cat by Anitra Frazier. She has wonderful suggestions for caring for newborn orphans. Also buy rescue remedy from the health food store. Put a drop on your hands and rub them together before handling the kitten (thank you so much for saving this kitten) and a drop on the blanket or towel the kitten is on. Keep the kitten warm.

Spend time today seeing if there is an integrative veterinarian near enough to you to become your regular veterinarian. This is a person trained in many different approaches, including using conventional drugs only when absolutely needed. Working with one can increase the chance that your cherished companion can live a long and healthy life after recovering from this current problem. There are good ones and great ones, and a few homeopathic veterinarians will consult by phone or email.
You can go to the web sites for each type of holistic practice and use their referral list to find one near to you:
1. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine: www.IVAS.org & www.TCVM.com
2. Homeopathic veterinarians (these can often help you by phone if no other holistic practitioners are nearby that you like): www.theAVH.org  We offer an introductory class before the conference.
3. Chiropractor - www.animalchiropractic.org
4. Wide range of other treatments: www.AHVMA.org, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association

Also, please start this right away to help the kitten stay healthy:
From the book, Healthy Animal's Journal - "Reiki: Personally, I think every person who lives with or works with animals must know at least Level I Reiki. The practitioner places her hands upon the animal (or it can be done from a distance as some animals are too sensitive for direct touch) with the intent for healing to occur. The energy flows through the healer into the animal. This is based on directly applying Chi (energy) to rebalance the energy field so it no longer needs to produce the physical symptoms. It is a very good adjunct to any healing modality, especially to relieve pain and inflammation. It also "takes the bad out of" things. By doing Reiki on smelly water in restaurants I have been able to drink sweet tasting and smelling water. Use Reiki anytime that you must give injections, vaccines, drugs, flea or heartworm drugs, or other substances with potential toxicity. Do you work in a grooming salon, or kennel, or veterinary clinic, or barn or anywhere animals are being seen? Use your Reiki on any treatments to be given and to calm the animals. People have reported getting animals to eat by doing Reiki on their food.  http://www.reiki.org  . Get a free treatment at www.interdimensionalhealing.com. Great information on Reiki - http://www.reikicourse.org Kathleen Prasad is a wonderful teacher and works with my favorite sanctuary and holistic education center, BrightHaven www.brighthaven.org. She just had an article on Reiki in Feline Wellness. Kathleen leads a free monthly telechat for anyone trained in Reiki and using it with animals. http://www.animalreikisource.com/ If you cannot find a Reiki Class near you (same class for people and animals as it connects you through an "attunement" to the healing energy of the universe, making you a channel of healing), three groups offer long distance, free, attunements. http://theholisticcare.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13 http://www.freereikiattunement.com   Another group that offers Reiki attunements, classes and training on-line www.ReikiBlessings.com and animal classes, too www.animalhealers.homestead.com/  A Reiki Class will be part of the PGFFD summer health classes in June in Bowie, www.HomeopathicAnimalCare.org. A client of mine is using Christine, Her name is Christine at cbearse@earthlink.net, www.awakeningrainbows.com. To receive free distance Reiki send her your first name only, city and state, and whether or not you have had any Reiki training.  She invites you to include your pets as well.  She uses a teddy bear and does a full body Reiki distance treatment for one hour each Sunday evening from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. EST. Another very experienced Reiki practitioner is Barbara Mariano, in CA (remember they do this from a distance) - http://www.barbaramariano.com/ Another wonderful healer, Deena Spears works long distance with Tuning, which is similar to Reiki. www.Singingwoods.com. I have seen many animals and the people in a home be healed by her work.


When you are settled into raising the kitten and over the emergencies, email me at HealthyAnimals.com and look at the archives at this site to learn even more about holistic ways you can use to help this kitten live a long and healthy life.