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Cats/ophined 3-4 week old kitten won't poop.

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Expert: - 5/6/2009


Question

This is a brand new pi
i found a baby kitten about 4 days ago. and i have given it evaporated milk and water because i have not had time to but it the formula. i raised another orphaned kitten the same way and never had problems. yet this kitten is not pooping or peeing nearly at all! and it looks to be bloated and walks funny. its a boy kitten and weighs a few ounces. what should i do? is this normal at it's age? or do i need to do something to enduse pooping? attached is a photo of Pikachu. (the kittens name.)  

Answer
Nataliy,

I suspect that the issues you're having with your kitten are related to improper nutrition, evaporated milk doesn't contain the nutrition that orphaned kittens need. I'd guess that your kitten is around 3 weeks of age give or take judging by his size in the photo, although it's possible that he's older or younger so it would be a good idea to get this baby to the vet to be examined so you have a better idea of what your kitten should be doing and what needs to happen over the next little while. The bloating is probably related to improper nutrition so I think it's important to stop giving him evaporated milk immediately and get him the appropriate formula, after all just because the kitten can survive on inadequate nutrition doesn't mean that it's good for him. Think of it this way, people could survive while eating McDonald's every day, but they wouldn't be as strong or healthy as they should be. It's not uncommon for young kittens to walk with a somewhat bow-legged appearance, that should correct itself over the next few months - your vet will be able to tell you if there's anything abnormal about your kitten's legs that requires treatment, but I'd guess he's just walking the way a kitten his age is meant to.

Such a young kitten does require stimulation to urinate and defecate after each nap and feeding. If they aren't stimulated their bowels and bladder will empty on an overflow basis which is unhealthy for the kitten and cause significant discomfort. You can use all natural, unscented baby wipes to stimulate this kitten to eliminate, this is a job normally done by mom licking the anal and genital areas repeatedly. It's important that you wipe the kitten from genitals to bottom repeatedly, you don't want to risk getting any fecal bacteria into the kitten's urinary tract and causing a painful infection. Most kittens will respond quickly to the stimulation and urinate almost immediately, getting little ones to defecate can take some time, persistence and patience, but if you stick with it you'll be rewarded.

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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