Expert: Jessica - 7/14/2009

Question
I have a 7 week old kitten. Well she was born on May 20th so shes probaly almost 8 weeks. I just picked her up from her owner that said she was ready to go to a good home. Well shes very loving and is eating some but not very much. She meows all the time.... is there something wrong.

Answer
Hi Amber.  She's lonely!  This is a very confusing time for her, and babies this age who go to homes alone are rarely ever quiet.  All at once, their mom has disappeared, their brothers and sisters have disappeared, and the only humans they have ever known have disappeared.  Even their diet has changed from including nursing to strictly cat food.  This is why I don't place kittens this young in homes.  If I do have kittens this age who are weaned, I place them in their new homes in pairs so they won't become excessively clingy with their owners.  I'm not sure if your kitten has any other litter mates available, but if so and you could have a second kitty, it would really be ideal for her (and you!) to bring her home a sibling.  If none of her siblings are available, any other kitten could make just as good a friend.

Eventually, the kitten should settle into her home and begin crying less, but for now, it will take lots of patience from you to understand what she's going through.  Just try to cuddle her as much as you can so she knows she hasn't been abandoned.  

Also, I would recommend maybe trying to feed her some canned food as well as some dry if it doesn't seem like she's eating enough of one or the other.  If it still seems like she should be eating more, you should head to the vet.  A lack of appetite can be stress-related, but it's also the first sign of illness, and with these little ones, a quick diagnosis is imperative.  Definitely if she seems like she's not wanting to walk or is sore when you touch her, if she's sneezing or has eye discharge, etc., she should get to the vet right away.

Best wishes!

Jessica