Audrey Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 My husband found this little girl at work today. She was crying, abandoned, no sight of another cat around. She ran TO him when she saw him. Although we're supposed to be spending NO extra money this month, I just spent $60 on a vet visit and kitten formula for her. Vet estimates her at 3 weeks. Ds named her Jenny. Questions: How do I encourage her to move her bowels? How does one litter train such a young cat? Any advice or suggestions? TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 What a doll! We are definitely cat people. :D Our cat was that young too and honestly, we just kept putting her in the litter box until she used it and it went on from there. I miss my cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 At that age she should be able to have a bowel movement on her own, but if she seems to be struggling, wipe her little backside with a warm wet cloth every couple hours. I would set her in the litter box when I do that so that. If she's doing fine on her own, just keep putting her in the litter box. Eventually she'll get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 We adopted just one more kitty too when we found her on our porch. She is older though. You can get kitten formula at Walmart, and I think rub her fanny with a warm cloth to get her to poop if she is too little to go on her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 So precious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 DH brought home a 3 week old kitten a little over a year ago. I remember I didn't sleep the first night because I was so worried about her. :) I was also very concerned about the lack of bowel movement. It did take a few days, but she finally had one. The litter box was easy peasy. We basically showed it to her and put her in it periodically. It wasn't long before she figured it out. Our kitty is Ginny. :) She's a feisty thing, but I just adore her. Enjoy your new family member. It is going to be a blast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 What a little sweetheart she is!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 :001_smile::001_wub: She's so adorable! And she picked your DH too - how could he say no? Your DH is definitely a keeper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoot Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Oh. My. Soul. Look how adorable she is!!!!!! :001_wub: How do I encourage her to move her bowels? At that age she should be able to on her own. She may not have much food in her system at this point to warrant needing to eliminate though. A warm wash cloth rubbed on her backside after her formula should do the trick. How does one litter train such a young cat? Confine her to a small room like a bathroom, place the litter box in there with her and she will figure it out. I've done this with all of mine over the years and it has never failed. Actually, since she is considered to be 3 weeks, you could even try putting her in a large box in the bathroom for a week first. This works really well with the tinier babies. Any advice or suggestions? Don't let her sleep with the kids while she's so little. I can't tell you how many sobbing phone calls I've gotten about this after the fact. :001_huh: Again, keeping her confined in a small room at night is the best idea. Put a hot water bottle, blanket and stuffed animal in with her at night. Littles get chilly fast because they don't typically sleep alone at that age. Think about what litter you want her to use now, before she gets hooked on whatever you've chosen temporarily. We really wanted our guys to use something more eco-friendly but every one of them protested. Cats don't do change well, especially when it comes to the litter box. Ditto on the cat food. I'm sure she's still on KRM right now, but you'll want to look into a good, solid brand for the future. If you're not going to feed raw or homemade, Nature's Variety Grain Free is excellent. Congrats on the new fur-baby. I won't lie; I'm a little jealous. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Oh, how sweet!! (Full disclosure: I am not a cat person, we're dog lovers here. But that little girl is precious, and I'm so glad she and your DH found one another!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Hold it ALL The time. We got (saved) out latest kitten at that age, too, and let me tell you, this is the BEST cat I've ever had in my *life*. It loves us. Like, adores. Runs up to us and meows and needs to be held and love every day. Plays fetch for an hour with littlest Dd. Will flop over sideways on your feet, shoes, legs..steals stuff and hides it under Dd17's papasan chair. Steals nail files, PUTS toys in Papa's shoes and plays with them, follows you around the house. It is beyond affectionate, is hysterical ,and I would swear it's because we just *adored* it when it was a wee baby. It is not aloof at all. Plus, you were meant to be, it ran up to Dh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyLady Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 How cute!! My sister ended up with a kitten recently almost the same way! Her DH was out in the country and this little kitten kept crying and following him. Her DH called my sister to ask what to do. She told him to bring it home. :D I had hoped they didn't want to keep it because it's just the sweetest thing ever, but no such luck. :glare::lol: I'm so jealous!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Aw, yeah, we're cat people :D. We have a Jenny, too, as in Jenny Linsky of The Cat Club. You've already got all the important advice you need, so I'll just say she's adorable! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 She's adorable! I'm a wish-I-was cat person. I love them, but they make me sneeze. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Over the top cat person here.:) Congratulations on your adorable addition to your family. No advice (it sounds like you've had plenty of good advice already.) Just wanted to say she's such a cutey pie. Definitely jealous, as dh doesn't want any more babies (furry or otherwise.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 :001_wub: precious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 At that age she should be able to have a bowel movement on her own, but if she seems to be struggling, wipe her little backside with a warm wet cloth every couple hours. I would set her in the litter box when I do that so that. If she's doing fine on her own, just keep putting her in the litter box. Eventually she'll get it. :iagree: So adorable!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 She's soooooooo cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Awwwwwwwwww. She's adorable. Enjoy her! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Awwww...she has a pink nose!! LOVE!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 I keep coming back to see your new baby! Can you post pics of her again in a week or 2? :D:001_wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted September 14, 2012 Author Share Posted September 14, 2012 I keep coming back to see your new baby! Can you post pics of her again in a week or 2? :D:001_wub: Yes, I could do that. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Warning: Any kittens we've hand raised (6 in the past 11 months) do not do very well on kitten formula. It is a tricky science to get the right mixture - and it's different for every kitten. Even finding the right brand. You do NOT want to know how much money was spent on the two kittens (found abandoned at birth) at the vet last fall between enemas for constipation and trying to stop the diarrhea. We finally got the vet to teach us how to do the enemas at home and they got their formula (different brand and concentration for each kitten :glare:) mixed with flavorless pedialyte instead of water because of the diarrhea. As for moving the bowels: If she still needs help, those cotton cosmetic pads (circular, or rectangular) in warm water then rubbed on around her anal area does the trick. Litter training: set her in a litter box and let her dig around. There are really little ones at Walmart for about $1.00 that are small enough for the itty bitties to get in to. We had zero issue getting them to use the litter box. Just set them in there and they instinctively knew what it was for. In the past 11 months - raised 2 from birth (placenta still attached), and 4 - all found abandoned around the 3ish week old stage. All are healthy and happy now. :) ETA: She's super adorable! I forgot to mention that!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 (edited) If I could figure how to share a photo out of my google album, I would post a photo of our rescued babies from last Christmas, but it won't work. Can anyone help? Edited September 14, 2012 by fraidycat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 So CUTE!!! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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