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Question
Hey Norm,
My son found a female kitten almost three weeks ago on his way home from school. She's the sweetest thing, was very playful and active. Then overnight, she changed. She sleeps A LOT, her fur/skin is hot and she barely eats or drinks. (I went and bought some pedialyte and a baby syringe) The weird thing about her is, the first night she came to live with us, she would suck on her belly. I don't know if she was doing it like a child would suck their thumb or if she was trying to nurse herself. (I would guess she is about two to three months old)I guess my question is, if she is trying to nurse herself, could it make her sick?
Please help. Thanks for your time.
Marcia,
Sucking on her belly is a lot like sucking her thumb, but I suspect that is not what made her sick. It is likely she was not weaned properly and has been making her way in the world by herself. She should outgrow this habit.
Getting her pedialyte is an excellent idea. We often flavor it with a good strained meat baby food (only ingredients are strained meat and broth or gravy), top make it a m,ore pallable soup.
My guess is that she has some kind of viral or bacterial infection and should see a vet as soon as possible. Also, I suspect she has not had her shots and is, therefore open to some pretty nasty viruses. She is old enough to start he first shot sequence when she gets better.
Please let me know how she does.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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