Help - New Kitten Advice - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

**51anna** · 10-28-2005, 04:07 PM

I have my new darling home. He's 2 months old and eating well. But he won't drink, doesn't appear to know how. I've been using an eye dropper but in almost 24 hrs he hasn't peed so I know he's not getting enough water. Any ideas?

Also how do you transition from eye dropper to water bowl? He just doesn't seem to have the lapping thing working for him.

4health · 10-28-2005, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 51anna

I have my new darling home. He's 2 months old and eating well. But he won't drink, doesn't appear to know how. I've been using an eye dropper but in almost 24 hrs he hasn't peed so I know he's not getting enough water. Any ideas?

Also how do you transition from eye dropper to water bowl? He just doesn't seem to have the lapping thing working for him.

My sister in law said to try dipping its nose in milk see if he'll start lapping up the milk. If nothing else he'll lick it off his own face and hopefully get a taste for it.

She also said to show him 'how' to drink. They do imitate. They should learn this from mom but you're the only momma now...

**51anna** · 10-28-2005, 04:29 PM

Thanks!

He's Siamese and may be lactose intolerant, so we're going to go out and get some lactose free milk and see if we can interest him in that.

I hope so!

cwohio · 10-28-2005, 04:35 PM

found this on the internet:

Dear Ken,
It seems that your kitten may be getting most of the needed water from the moist canned food. In fact moist canned foods usually have a water level >75%. Research has shown that cats can actually live for pretty long period of time without drinking water when they eat food that is >66% water. Cats get dehydrated only when their foodâ€™s water level drops below that (assuming they donâ€™t have other access to drinking water). So if youâ€™re feeding your kitten moist food with high water content sheâ€™s doing ok. She will seek out the water if she needs it.

The important thing is to continue to make water available always. Also, be sure to monitor her water consumption more closely should you decide to move her to a dry food diet, which at ~8% has a much lower water content than moist food.

Also, below is a quick dehydration test you can use if you are concerned

Dehydration Test

A good way to make sure your cat is consuming the right amount of water is to test her for dehydration. The test is pretty simple. If you pull your skin you will notice that is snaps right back down. This snapping is skin turgor. If your catâ€™s skin has good turgor your kitten is well hydrated.
If despite the note you want her to drink more water I have another tip. Put a little bit of canned tuna juice in a water bowl. Youâ€™ll see her go crazy over the water bowl. Simba.

**51anna** · 10-28-2005, 04:37 PM

Thanks Christie!

That's great advice. We may try the tuna juice tonight.

cwohio · 10-28-2005, 04:43 PM

i haven't had a kitten in the house for a lonnnggg time so i had to go to the trusty internet. LOL enjoy your little furry person - siamese are so personable and talky!

wolflet · 10-28-2005, 08:56 PM

if really worried about dehydration, get some plain pedeolyte (grocery store, baby section) & then add the tuna juice...it has elecrolytes, etc.

also cats like running water, get a fountain & teach him to drink there....my cat comes into the bathroom with me when i pee & wants me to turn on the faucet even though she has a fountain.......they're smart, stagnant water is bad!..........

the nose dipping idea is good also, as is the learn by showing.....just taught a kitten taken away too early how to clean herself!..surgate mammas work!

good luck.....keep us posted

cwohio · 10-28-2005, 08:59 PM

hey wolflet - you coughing up any hairballs yet? LOL good advice!

wolflet · 10-29-2005, 12:28 AM

no, no hair balls!!!! LOMA (ack fffffftt)
, mostly treated her as a mamma cat would & cleaned her with my hands not my toungue!.......ya know, smoothed her down & picked at bits in her fur & then mussed her all up backwards, etc......just watch a mamma cat cleaning her kitts & i tried to remember & do the same......it worked!...she was all dirty & oily & a week later she's as clean as any cat could take pride in with very healthy fur (yeah, i'm a softy!.....just don't mess with my kitts!).........& she's not even mine, a friend's kitten i was watching in emergency auntie care!........looks like a sister to one of the ones in the "happy cat" thread in the follies, the black & white with the moustache......but she's got a gottie (sp?) as well as the moustache

***indigo*** · 10-29-2005, 03:08 AM

Anna you can dilute the milk with water as it may be too rich for him being 8 weeks and all.

Annie bises

**51anna** · 10-29-2005, 05:53 AM

Wow, thanks my friends!

We had success with the peeing last night. It was interesting. We rubbed his little abdomen gently and his genitals and two minutes later he did his business. He's still afraid to drink water from a bowl and is tired of being chased around by a crazy lady with an eye-dropper, so hubby is going to try the diluted milk this morning to see if he can get the idea of lapping.

He is so sweet!!

cwohio · 10-29-2005, 06:33 AM

awww - so glad to hear you had "success"! keep us posted on the little furball!

**Phinneas** · 10-29-2005, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwohio

awww - so glad to hear you had "success"! keep us posted on the little furball!

Yeah - and we want PICS, too!

Hugs to you and baby, too!

--phinny

cwohio · 10-29-2005, 08:31 AM

definitely want pics of the little darling!

**Rowan** · 10-29-2005, 01:07 PM

Glad that your kitty is doing better now, Anna. What is his name?

10-28-2005, 04:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
51anna Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dancing in the Light Posts: 11,160	Help - New Kitten Advice I have my new darling home. He's 2 months old and eating well. But he won't drink, doesn't appear to know how. I've been using an eye dropper but in almost 24 hrs he hasn't peed so I know he's not getting enough water. Any ideas? Also how do you transition from eye dropper to water bowl? He just doesn't seem to have the lapping thing working for him. __________________ Anna "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou

10-28-2005, 04:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
51anna Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dancing in the Light Posts: 11,160	Thanks! He's Siamese and may be lactose intolerant, so we're going to go out and get some lactose free milk and see if we can interest him in that. I hope so! __________________ Anna "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou

10-28-2005, 04:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
cwohio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Litterbox City Posts: 6,141	found this on the internet: Dear Ken, It seems that your kitten may be getting most of the needed water from the moist canned food. In fact moist canned foods usually have a water level >75%. Research has shown that cats can actually live for pretty long period of time without drinking water when they eat food that is >66% water. Cats get dehydrated only when their foodâ€™s water level drops below that (assuming they donâ€™t have other access to drinking water). So if youâ€™re feeding your kitten moist food with high water content sheâ€™s doing ok. She will seek out the water if she needs it. The important thing is to continue to make water available always. Also, be sure to monitor her water consumption more closely should you decide to move her to a dry food diet, which at ~8% has a much lower water content than moist food. Also, below is a quick dehydration test you can use if you are concerned Dehydration Test A good way to make sure your cat is consuming the right amount of water is to test her for dehydration. The test is pretty simple. If you pull your skin you will notice that is snaps right back down. This snapping is skin turgor. If your catâ€™s skin has good turgor your kitten is well hydrated. If despite the note you want her to drink more water I have another tip. Put a little bit of canned tuna juice in a water bowl. Youâ€™ll see her go crazy over the water bowl. Simba. __________________ *Learn to write your hurts in sand. Learn to carve your blessings in stone! - Unknown*

10-28-2005, 04:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
51anna Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dancing in the Light Posts: 11,160	Thanks Christie! That's great advice. We may try the tuna juice tonight. __________________ Anna "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou

10-28-2005, 04:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
cwohio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Litterbox City Posts: 6,141	i haven't had a kitten in the house for a lonnnggg time so i had to go to the trusty internet. LOL enjoy your little furry person - siamese are so personable and talky! __________________ *Learn to write your hurts in sand. Learn to carve your blessings in stone! - Unknown*

10-28-2005, 08:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
wolflet fire dancer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: no matter where u go there u are...co Posts: 483	if really worried about dehydration, get some plain pedeolyte (grocery store, baby section) & then add the tuna juice...it has elecrolytes, etc. also cats like running water, get a fountain & teach him to drink there....my cat comes into the bathroom with me when i pee & wants me to turn on the faucet even though she has a fountain.......they're smart, stagnant water is bad!.......... the nose dipping idea is good also, as is the learn by showing.....just taught a kitten taken away too early how to clean herself!..surgate mammas work! good luck.....keep us posted __________________ how we spend our days is how we spend our lives

10-28-2005, 08:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
cwohio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Litterbox City Posts: 6,141	hey wolflet - you coughing up any hairballs yet? LOL good advice! __________________ *Learn to write your hurts in sand. Learn to carve your blessings in stone! - Unknown*

10-29-2005, 12:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
wolflet fire dancer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: no matter where u go there u are...co Posts: 483	no, no hair balls!!!! LOMA (ack fffffftt) , mostly treated her as a mamma cat would & cleaned her with my hands not my toungue!.......ya know, smoothed her down & picked at bits in her fur & then mussed her all up backwards, etc......just watch a mamma cat cleaning her kitts & i tried to remember & do the same......it worked!...she was all dirty & oily & a week later she's as clean as any cat could take pride in with very healthy fur (yeah, i'm a softy!.....just don't mess with my kitts!).........& she's not even mine, a friend's kitten i was watching in emergency auntie care!........looks like a sister to one of the ones in the "happy cat" thread in the follies, the black & white with the moustache......but she's got a gottie (sp?) as well as the moustache __________________ how we spend our days is how we spend our lives

10-29-2005, 03:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
*indigo* Community Greeter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mid-Life Express Posts: 9,146	Anna you can dilute the milk with water as it may be too rich for him being 8 weeks and all. Annie bises __________________ When you judge others, you do not define them, you define yourself." Namasté

10-29-2005, 05:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
51anna Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dancing in the Light Posts: 11,160	Wow, thanks my friends! We had success with the peeing last night. It was interesting. We rubbed his little abdomen gently and his genitals and two minutes later he did his business. He's still afraid to drink water from a bowl and is tired of being chased around by a crazy lady with an eye-dropper, so hubby is going to try the diluted milk this morning to see if he can get the idea of lapping. He is so sweet!! __________________ Anna "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou

10-29-2005, 06:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
cwohio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Litterbox City Posts: 6,141	awww - so glad to hear you had "success"! keep us posted on the little furball! __________________ *Learn to write your hurts in sand. Learn to carve your blessings in stone! - Unknown*

10-29-2005, 08:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
cwohio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Litterbox City Posts: 6,141	definitely want pics of the little darling! __________________ *Learn to write your hurts in sand. Learn to carve your blessings in stone! - Unknown*

10-29-2005, 01:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
Rowan Lucky Cracka Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 9,021 Blog Entries: 1	Glad that your kitty is doing better now, Anna. What is his name? __________________ *Christmas is cancelled.*

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