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Cats/stray kitten

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Expert: - 11/11/2009


Question
Hi I just got a stray kitten the other day. When I brought her home everything was going great but today I noticed that she had blood in her poop and it was runny (which was fine before). I have had her for a week she is eating good and drinking and playing fine. I also noticed that she had some crusty stuff on her nose and sneezes sometimes. I thought that she would just sneeze because of the litter since she never used it before. I know that she has had cat food because she was found outside my father-in-law house and he fed her. I just want to know if this is normal for her to be doing since it has only be a week. I have an appt with the vet on the 18th. I have 2 dogs and 2 kids so i want to make sure she cant any of them sick. Any advice you would have would be great. Thanks


Answer
Allison,

This kitten really should see a vet ASAP, she likely has some sort of heavy parasite burden causing the blood in her stool which can be rapidly fatal in young kittens. It's also possible that this baby has ingested a foreign body that's causing irritation within her intestinal tract. If your vet isn't able to see you sooner I'd recommend asking clinic staff to recommend another vet that might see you sooner, as I'm sure you're aware intestinal parasites can be passed on to kids and dogs so they should be treated ASAP. If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to contact me again and I will do my absolute best to help you out.

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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