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Question
Hello. 2 days ago my 7 yr old daughter brought home an obviously stray kitten. Aside from some minor problems he seems rather healthy. I estimate him to be about 6 wks. He was extremely thin and dehydrated, but took to the water dish easily. Dry food seemed abit difficult. Have been feeding him cooked pieces of chicken which he loves, 3 times a day. She defecated in her litter box well, urine was scant but expected due to her dehydration. Today, he was on our bed and without warning urinated a large amount of clear urine with no odor. After a not so much enjoyed bath he settled down for a nap. A few hours later, he urinated again, this time while my son was holding him. Again with no warning. I have raised several stray kittens, some even younger than this, but never experienced anything like this. I feel pretty well versed on kittens but this stumps me. Any suggestions?
Renee,
This is definitely odd and the kitten should be examined by a vet to determine what's going on and what if any treatment is necessary. Unfortunately I am not a veterinarian so I am not able to provide a diagnosis or prescribe any medical treatments. I wish that I could have offered more help in this situation but this is really an instance where the vet should be involved. It does sound like the kitten doesn't have effective control over his bladder at the moment so it might be best to confine him to an easy to clean room such as a bathroom so that any accidents he has can be easily cleaned up.
As for the dry food issue, please check out catinfo.org - this is a website created by a veterinarian and it discusses in great detail the unique nutritional needs of our feline companions...My recommendation would be to stay away from dry food if at all possible and feed a high quality canned cat food such as Wellness.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again at any time - I'm more than happy to help in any way that I can.
Kind regards,
Ali
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Answers by Expert:
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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