Expert: Jessica - 5/13/2010

Question
A stray cat had kittens on my back step. I still have one of them and have been trying to feed her milk replacer for kittens. She ate some the first night and now will only eat a few drops. She urinated this morning but still has not pooped. She also meows constantly whether I am holding her or not. Should I be concerned?

Answer
Hi Sarah.  A fussy kitten is always something to be concerned about, and much more so when their appetite is suffering.  I'm not sure how long you've had the kitten, but they are considered constipated when they have gone 48 hours without a bowel movement.  If you have had her for two days and she hasn't pooped, this alone would explain her tapered appetite and fussy manner.  

The kitten will need to see a vet right away to determine the extent of the constipation and receive treatment.  Sometimes an enema will be necessary while other times a lubricant laxative will do the trick.  Be sure to use these only under the supervision of a vet, however.  Ones made for humans can be toxic and fatal to cats.  

Depending on how old the kitten is, going for just hours without a full meal may be fatal, so it's very important to get her to the vet first thing in the morning.  Kittens need a lot of sugar (lactose found in formula, for instance) for energy, and if they don't receive it on a regular basis, they go into hypoglycemic shock.  Older kittens are much more stable, but if the kitten is only a few weeks old, she may crash if she goes only 8 hours or so without a meal.  I would recommend to try to prevent hypoglycemia by rubbing some Karo syrup (corn syrup) on the kitten's gums, since she's not eating normally.  This will temporarily provide the baby with a source of sugar, which will enter the bloodstream through the gums.  But do get the kitten to the vet when they open in the morning.  If needed, the kitten can receive fluids under the skin mixed with dextrose to prevent dehydration and hypoglycemia.

Your vet can help you determine whether constipation is the underlying cause of her reluctance to eat or if there seems to be another problem.  If constipation IS present, the vet can help you formulate a plan to prevent or treat it in the future.  This may consist of thickening or diluting the formula, feeding more frequently, adding a gentle laxative to the feedings or even administering enemas at home.  Formula fed kittens do have a tendency to become constipated, and some kittens must be weaned early if it's problematic.  Kittens can be weaned onto prescription canned foods like Hill's a/d or Royal Canin's Recovery RS when they are as young as 4 weeks.

Best of luck!

Jessica