6 week old kitten

We just got a 6 week old kitten and Idefinitely think 6 weeks was WAY too young to get him (after the fact). Its too late this is all hindsight. Moving FWD...what to do...
he is crying through the nite...We are not sure how to comfort her.
She is not eating or drinking...owner wrote in notes that he is stubborn when eating.
His nails are WAY TOO LONG...he is killing my 3 yr olds hands and getting stuck to our clothes.
While we are keeping him (of course), I need some advice...
Any thoughts? Anything would be helpful...
I bought IAMs...it was a no go...
I did buy a basket and a baby blanket and he seems content in there.
Also, if anyone has the exact shot schedule I am not familiar with that either. I called petco and they said they do shots on saturdays. 6 weeks is too early though.

Message edited 3/28/2010 11:20:36 AM.

Re: 6 week old kitten

Have you called a vet? They could tell you the best food for a 6 week old and about the shot schedule. They can also cut her nails. Good luck with your new little one!

Re: 6 week old kitten

I would be really concerned if the kitten was not eating/drinking on his own. They are like little babies and can get dehydrated easily. Take him to the vet if it continues. The vet can also clip the nails until you get comfortable doing so.

Kitten nails are painful...they are like little razors. My piece of advise with kittens is to hanlde his paws a lot and get him use to having them touched and clipped..it will make it easier to do when they are older.

Good luck.

Re: 6 week old kitten

Forgot to add....find out what food the previous owner was feeding and use the same kind. It can give them stomach upset to switch brands quickly. Also, make sure you give wet food because the extra moisture will help prevent dehydration.

Re: 6 week old kitten

Re: 6 week old kitten

call the vet to make sure everything ok with the kitten. you can tell if its dehydrated by pulling the skin of the kittens neck and twisting it-see if it stays if it goes back to normal its not but if it takes a while to go back than theres an issue there and needs fluids.
def get the nails clipped bc the scratches can hurt and you dont have your 3yr old to get hurt

keep updates

Re: 6 week old kitten

My 12 year old cat was about 6 weeks when I adopted her and she was also difficult. Not being properly weaned from the mother is tough but not impossible to work through. First off, I agree with everyone else, check for dehydration and call the vet for professional advice. If she is not eating at all, you can hand feed her and get her appetite going.

You can get a dropper and put some wet food in it and slowly give her food in the corner of her mouth. Get a strong flavored wet food like fish or tuna flavored, as this stimulates the appetite. Kittens this age need a little extra attention because they technically would still be with the mother and siblings a few more weeks. My 12 year old is so affectionate and attached to me, and I think its because she was so young when I got her.

It will all work out before you know it! Good luck and keep us posted!

Re: 6 week old kitten

I got a kitten at 8 weeks and she ate just fine on her own.
6 weeks may be too early to have weaned the poor baby.
I agree with the vet- get him to a vet ASAP and they can advise you on what to feed it via bottle or dropper.
I know Petco sells supplies for hand feeding kittens but I'd see what the vet says first.

Poor little thing...good luck. Keep us posted!

Re: 6 week old kitten

We got our kitten at around 6 weeks.

He cried at night so bad, that they only thing that would get him to stop was to put him in out bed with us & let him cuddle up in our arms. He was a baby - he still needed that feeling of "mom".

We just held him as much as we could, pet him, kissed him etc...he is the biggest mush with us.

The vet cut his nails for us. As far as eating goes, we started with wet food. The dry food is to hard for them IMO. He had no problems eating. Drinking was harder, he just didn't understand there was water in the bowl.

I would add a few drops of milk to some water just to draw him towards it. That worked.

You'll get there with him, just be patient. He's still so small & needs his mommy...so you guys are going to have to compensate

If he is still not eating on his own bring him to the vet...he's a baby & needs to be eating regularly.

Re: 6 week old kitten

OK, so still a little crazy around here...well actually ALOT...BUT...we will pull through
DD (3) left her jacket on the floor and the kitten crawled through the sleeve without myself and dh seeing. DH starting getting crazy looking for the kitten we all couldnt find it for about 20 minutes when finally dd saw hime in her coat sleeve....WHAT A RELIEF! fast asleep but so friggin dangerous. This kittens going to be the death of me
Anyhow, brought the kitten to petco where they denied clipping the nails bc there were no shots. they said bc of rabies I dont know but honestly my dd's hands look like a maze. her babysitter who raises animals knew how to clip them so she went forward with it.
We are going this upcoming weekend for the shots. So hopefully we will learn more. Also, I bought IAMS and he will not eat it. SO I bought baby food (carrots) and took my dds play spoon and fed him. He seemed to enjoy it. Thank God! I wonder when he will eat on his own. I put the food on the floor but he has no interest. I think some of the hydration will also come from the food. I feel so bad bc I am forcing him to eat and drink.

Re: 6 week old kitten

Human baby food can be dangerous for cats, so be very careful what what you are feeding. It can contain ingredients (e.g., onion powder) that can be toxic to cats. Additionally, cats are carnivores only, so any baby food you feed should be entirely (or at least majority) meat.

I would call the vet and ask what to feed in advance of the appointment. He may recommend you get some kitten formula from a pet store and feed the kitten with a dropper. Also, cats get dehydrated VERY easily. Because they are meat-only eaters, they tend to get most of their water from their food (and therefore don't have a high thirst drive generally). If the cat isn't eating and drinking on its own, I'd be inclined to move that vet appointment up. At the very least, call the vet and get a phone consult.

The kitten is used to feeling secure near its mother, so make it a soft, warm place to snuggle up. A hot water bottle or a heating pad under a soft blanket will attract the kitty and keep it warm. I've also had success finding a clock that makes a soft ticking noise when the second hand moves and putting that under the blanket, too. My kittens have always found that soothing. I've heard that it mimics the mother's (or their siblings) heart beat, but I don't know if there is any truth to it. (My kittens always found it comforting, though.)

Good luck! I hope your kitten starts eating on his own and thriving soon! And I hope your toddler isn't scratched too badly!

Re: 6 week old kitten

Posted by Kara

Human baby food can be dangerous for cats, so be very careful what what you are feeding. It can contain ingredients (e.g., onion powder) that can be toxic to cats. Additionally, cats are carnivores only, so any baby food you feed should be entirely (or at least majority) meat.

I would call the vet and ask what to feed in advance of the appointment. He may recommend you get some kitten formula from a pet store and feed the kitten with a dropper. Also, cats get dehydrated VERY easily. Because they are meat-only eaters, they tend to get most of their water from their food (and therefore don't have a high thirst drive generally). If the cat isn't eating and drinking on its own, I'd be inclined to move that vet appointment up. At the very least, call the vet and get a phone consult.

The kitten is used to feeling secure near its mother, so make it a soft, warm place to snuggle up. A hot water bottle or a heating pad under a soft blanket will attract the kitty and keep it warm. I've also had success finding a clock that makes a soft ticking noise when the second hand moves and putting that under the blanket, too. My kittens have always found that soothing. I've heard that it mimics the mother's (or their siblings) heart beat, but I don't know if there is any truth to it. (My kittens always found it comforting, though.)

Good luck! I hope your kitten starts eating on his own and thriving soon! And I hope your toddler isn't scratched too badly!

Re: 6 week old kitten

Don't beat yourself up. You're doing your best for your little kitty! It will be okay. In another 2-3 weeks, the kitty will be sooooo much better. He just needs to mature a little bit.

Re: 6 week old kitten

i actually was just in the same situation i got a kitten and she was really tiny the woman said she was 5weeks old which i thought was way to young but she swore the kitten was eating and using the litter box on her own so i took the kitten home she was only 4weeks old and wouldnt eat or use the litter box i bought the little bottles and mothers milk supplement she didnt take to well to that but we bought baby oatmeal cereal and she ate that on like the third or fourth day we had her we bought her new litter cause they say kittens should use clay litter and she is using the litter box now she was also crying all night long we gave her a box with a blanket and a small stuffed animal to lay with she adjusted well but it took about a week good luck with your new little kitty!

Re: 6 week old kitten

I think the best thing you can do is:

1. Buy some Kitten Chow.
2. Buy some Kitten milk replacer (you can buy this at the pet store, or the Walmart even has it down here in NC...I believe the brand is KLR?)
3. Dribble some of the milk replacer into a small dish of the kitten chow. Warm it up in the microwave for a few seconds.
4. Use the back of a spoon to make a paste out of the mixture.

We had taken in a pregnant stray cat, and we took care of her kittens until they were 12 weeks old and could be adopted out. This was the first solid food that all the kittens had--it was what the vet recommended. Worked like a charm. This way, you know the kitten is getting the nutrition from the milk and the protein from the Kitten Chow.

Whatever you do, DON'T use regular milk.

That poor, poor baby My first cat was a stray kitten that was right around the same age. It was a rough beginning for her, but she came through beautifully and lived to be almost 19 years old.

Re: 6 week old kitten

Posted by MrsRivera

I think the best thing you can do is:

1. Buy some Kitten Chow.
2. Buy some Kitten milk replacer (you can buy this at the pet store, or the Walmart even has it down here in NC...I believe the brand is KLR?)
3. Dribble some of the milk replacer into a small dish of the kitten chow. Warm it up in the microwave for a few seconds.
4. Use the back of a spoon to make a paste out of the mixture.

We had taken in a pregnant stray cat, and we took care of her kittens until they were 12 weeks old and could be adopted out. This was the first solid food that all the kittens had--it was what the vet recommended. Worked like a charm. This way, you know the kitten is getting the nutrition from the milk and the protein from the Kitten Chow.

Whatever you do, DON'T use regular milk.

That poor, poor baby My first cat was a stray kitten that was right around the same age. It was a rough beginning for her, but she came through beautifully and lived to be almost 19 years old.

Re: 6 week old kitten

when I got maggie she was that young


she drank the replacement milk and ate wellness kitten wet fod

I took her to my vet for her shots

Re: 6 week old kitten

Are you sure the kitten is even six weeks old? I wonder whether she is actually younger.

Re: 6 week old kitten

Re: 6 week old kitten

Re: 6 week old kitten

Posted by MrsRivera

I think the best thing you can do is:

1. Buy some Kitten Chow.
2. Buy some Kitten milk replacer (you can buy this at the pet store, or the Walmart even has it down here in NC...I believe the brand is KLR?)
3. Dribble some of the milk replacer into a small dish of the kitten chow. Warm it up in the microwave for a few seconds.
4. Use the back of a spoon to make a paste out of the mixture.

We had taken in a pregnant stray cat, and we took care of her kittens until they were 12 weeks old and could be adopted out. This was the first solid food that all the kittens had--it was what the vet recommended. Worked like a charm. This way, you know the kitten is getting the nutrition from the milk and the protein from the Kitten Chow.

Whatever you do, DON'T use regular milk.

That poor, poor baby My first cat was a stray kitten that was right around the same age. It was a rough beginning for her, but she came through beautifully and lived to be almost 19 years old.

Message edited 3/30/2010 8:22:06 PM.

Re: 6 week old kitten

You definiltey have to givec Mother's milk. You can also make it. Call the vet for the recipe. They can't drink regular milk.