Expert: Jessica - 9/21/2010

Question
We have a female stray we cannot catch to spay, we just found another litter of kittens a few days ago. It looks like they had been attacked by an animal, and only one survived. The kitten, at that point, was just a day or two old. We brought it in and warmed it up. It took a day, but we were able to get the kitten to eat kitten formula and pee. We've tried reuniting it with it's mother, but the mother cat wants nothing to do with it. We've had it four days now, and it has not had a bowel movement. I'm rubbing it with a warm cloth and it pees just fine, but I am getting concerned since kitten seems bloated and strains to poop, but nothing comes out.

I'm feeding it little and often, and I don't let it engorge itself.

This is the longest we've ever had an abandoned kitten live without its mother, and we really hope this little guy makes it!

If nothing happens by tomorrow, I think I will take it to the vet.  

Answer
Hi Bria,

A vet visit sounds like a great idea.  The little one definitely sounds constipated beyond treatment at home, and I think he'll probably need an enema.  Fecal impaction (where no feces is passed) can be deadly in just 5 days, so the little one is certainly reaching a dangerous point where he requires treatment right away.

This is actually relatively common for kittens who've been abandoned and are transitioning onto formula from natural milk.  Once the baby's bowels have been evacuated, hopefully it will be easy to keep him having a bowel movement at least once a day.  However, some kittens who stay on formula do have a chronic problem with constipation, and the vet might need to give you some tips on keeping him regular.  This might include adjusting the consistency of his formula or giving the baby a mild cat-safe laxative (usually a hairball treatment).  This must be done exactly as directed by a vet to avoid causing diarrhea, which can be just as deadly as severe constipation.  If necessary, the vet can even show you how to give the baby an enema at home.

Good luck with your little one!

Jessica