Poorly Kitty , need advice

[XandaPanda]

One of my kittens seems to have diarrhea & I honestly don't have a clue how to help , Should I change her food or could it be something else ?
Though my other two kittens crazy cat lady are fine
Any advice would be great , TIA

[cozietoesie]

Hi Xanda

Golly - there are so many possible causes. Diet, food intolerance, stress, infection.....there's a long list.

How old is she and have you already changed anything in their diet recently? (eg wet food to dry food or something.) And how is the diarrhoea manifesting - is she constantly dribbling it or is she managing to use her tray and it's just runny when it comes out ?

As it might just be a little gastro-intestinal infection, make sure you have enough trays for all of them and keep them scrupulously clean - sort them out immediately they're used. Also - try her on some bland food (such as cut up lightly cooked chicken or white fish) and see how that goes in the next 24 hours.

[cozietoesie]

PS - How old are they and when did you get them etc? Have they been to the vet yet for jabs?

[XandaPanda]

They are around 12-14 weeks not a 100% sure as they were abandoned , She is managing to use the litter tray (I have had to put an extra tray out though) .
Have had them on the same food since I got them both (whiskers kitten) and they both have kitten milk as none of my cats will touch water I have tried leaving it out etc .
Not had their jabs yet , though they have had a check up & all was fine but that was two weeks ago , fully wormed & flead , will try her on a bland diet & see how that goes though won't be easy as she likes to knick her brothers food

[cozietoesie]

If you only had one tray originally, you need to keep that extra tray going I think. One tray isn't enough for three kittens in my strong view - particularly as they're going to get bigger and the volume of offload in the tray will increase. (And that's even if you're around all the time and can clean as soon as you see they've been used: some cats really don't like to use a dirty tray and they tend to pee and poo in different 'cycles' but sometimes with only minutes in between.)

How is she doing this morning/overnight - and did you manage to segregate the food?

[XandaPanda]

She is still the same unfortunately .
Mya eldest kitten is always out so the one litter tray was working , though will be sticking with two for the time being
[Smile]

[cozietoesie]

Ah well - keep the bland food going. I'd be thinking about the vet tomorrow, though, if no improvement by late today.

[cozietoesie]

PS - just a thought. I know you said 'kitten milk' and I'm assuming that that's the proper stuff from the vet. Even so, I'd be tempted to withdraw that because it may be too rich for her - she really shouldn't need a milk substitute at 12/14 weeks if she's on kitten food as well. I know you said they won't drink water - but trust me, they will if they're thirsty. It's generally better for them I've found.

[Samvet]

If you go to vet tomorrow take a poo sample in a jar with you.

[cozietoesie]

What a rich life you must have, Samvet!

[XandaPanda]

I have tried leaving water out all day and none of them will touch it
Will ring the vet tomorrow & see what they say , thanks

[PrincessSymbian]

Try leaving vases with slightly manky flower water around the place (without added flower food). I am yet to meet a feline who can resist the temptation of smelly water!

[cozietoesie]

Xanda - don't worry if you think they aren't drinking it.

Firstly, cats like water to have been standing for just a little - maybe the chlorine and other smells wear off or something.

But also, they get a tremendous amount of their moisture from the food they eat if it's wet food. Water bowls are just a top up - and you won't see them, like dogs, at their bowls for minutes guzzling great mouthfuls. They'll nip in for a few quick laps and then leave it.

Water really is better for them, in my view. Think back to nature. They'd have left Mum (or been left by her) for weeks by now. The milk bar would be closed and they'd be living on small rodents or, if they were lucky, birds.

Harden your heart and persevere.



PS - as you said, a good idea to ring/see the vet tomorrow if no improvement in the little girl. The trouble with diarrhoea is that while it can be a transitory thing it can also be a sign of something more serious and - if it goes on too long - quite dangerous in a young cat.

[XandaPanda]

Im persevering (sp) with water as it seems all my kittens now have it , so no milk & dried food for now .
Will certainly contact the vet first thinh
Thanks

[cozietoesie]

They've all got it? Oh dear - looks like an infection then. Contact vet first thing as you suggested. And remember to maintain scrupulous litter tray hygiene - along with water and food bowls of course. (I'm sure you are anyway.) Lots of complete changes for the duration.

Let us know how things go.

[cozietoesie]

Sorry Xanda - brain like a parsnip at this time of the day. Just occurred to me - did you mean that you'd started feeding them dried food? (I had thought you were feeding Whiskas kitten wet from a previous post you made.)

[cozietoesie]

How are they doing, Xanda. Did the vet say anything?

[XandaPanda]

Seems to have cleared up , they have a pouch of whiskers in the morning & i just ensure they have biscuits in there bowls.
Managed to stick to water for them ehich has not impressed my eldest