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Please help, my poor baby kitty
My 4 month old male kitten is very small. His legs are real short and so is his body. With that said, I've only had him for 2 weeks. First, he was having problems pooping, he would push so hard that he would squeal. 9 times out of 10 the poop would be stuck to his bum. Now, the past 2 days he has had diarrhea. Still goes in the litter box several times, and still pushes like that. I don't see anything in the litter box, but it's all stuck to his bum and tail. He doesn't lift his tail when he's trying to go. I have had him on wet food only for the past week. I couldn't stand to see what was going to happen to the poor baby, had I not brought him home. I don't have money for a vet bill though, sadly. Thanks!
Make sure he has -plenty of clean water. Wash his bowls every day and reserve his water bowl for water only. If he's not drinking enough it can make his stools hard.
Also, you can get some Laxatone from the pet store or the vet. Put about a teaspoonful on your (clean) finger and let him lick it off. It makes stools pass much more easily. Treat every day until his bowels are right and repeat when he has a problem. It's like Vaseline-it lubricates his insides. One of my cats had a pouch in his rectum and Laxatone helped him a lot.
Good Luck!
Also, you can get some Laxatone from the pet store or the vet. Put about a teaspoonful on your (clean) finger and let him lick it off. It makes stools pass much more easily. Treat every day until his bowels are right and repeat when he has a problem. It's like Vaseline-it lubricates his insides. One of my cats had a pouch in his rectum and Laxatone helped him a lot.
Good Luck!
Again, thank you so very much!!
He is having a little harder stool today. It seems from one extreme to the other. As far as him lifting his tail, I think he does lift it some when he's playing. He's just not a very active kitty and the past few days, he really hasn't played. I've tried to get him to, but I think he's just not feeling up to it.
Hopefully after the vet appointment he can start feeling better.
Again, I appreciate all of your input. You have helped a great deal! :)
He is having a little harder stool today. It seems from one extreme to the other. As far as him lifting his tail, I think he does lift it some when he's playing. He's just not a very active kitty and the past few days, he really hasn't played. I've tried to get him to, but I think he's just not feeling up to it.
Hopefully after the vet appointment he can start feeling better.
Again, I appreciate all of your input. You have helped a great deal! :)
I see, he is just an extremely short little guy....perhaps the runt of the litter or some other reason for not growing as he should, I'm so glad you got him out of that shelter to a loving home willing to try and solve his troubles:)
I don't advise baby wipes....because of course there are chemicals in those wipes and your little guy will lick his bum....best to use just a damp paper towel, and put a drop of clear vaseline on his bum if it becomes irritated..
Its good he's having a Vet check soon....perhaps a bowel xray? that would tell you if theres any abnormalities there & would also look at why he doesn't lift his tail at least a slight amount, does he never lift his tail at all not even while playing?
but if you get him to have normal bowel stools...not too hard and painful to pass and not diarrhea either that would be a great improvement for him. don't over do it with the pumpkin.....too much fiber can make the stool hard, remember you want to keep it somewhere inbetween soft and hard. 1/2 teas. in his food should work for him, but you can always give a little less or a little more depending on his stool .....
yes probiotics would be an excellent addition too....to keep the bowel flora working well. digestive enzymes is another good bowel supplement. I order mine from CA a place called iherb. there is one brand that is safe for cats and its a very good one b/c its BOTH a probiotic and a digestive enzyme. If you have a human Vitamin supply store locally you can phone there to see if they carry this brand, otherwise order it from iherb they only charge abt $4 to ship. it comes in a powder and you just need to sprinkle a tiny amount into the food each day...I don't measure but I'm guessing 1/4 teas. maybe a bit less b/c he's till very small..
http://www.iherb.com/Garden-of-Life-Primal-Defense-Powder-HSO-Probiotic-Formula-81-g/3159
I don't advise baby wipes....because of course there are chemicals in those wipes and your little guy will lick his bum....best to use just a damp paper towel, and put a drop of clear vaseline on his bum if it becomes irritated..
Its good he's having a Vet check soon....perhaps a bowel xray? that would tell you if theres any abnormalities there & would also look at why he doesn't lift his tail at least a slight amount, does he never lift his tail at all not even while playing?
but if you get him to have normal bowel stools...not too hard and painful to pass and not diarrhea either that would be a great improvement for him. don't over do it with the pumpkin.....too much fiber can make the stool hard, remember you want to keep it somewhere inbetween soft and hard. 1/2 teas. in his food should work for him, but you can always give a little less or a little more depending on his stool .....
yes probiotics would be an excellent addition too....to keep the bowel flora working well. digestive enzymes is another good bowel supplement. I order mine from CA a place called iherb. there is one brand that is safe for cats and its a very good one b/c its BOTH a probiotic and a digestive enzyme. If you have a human Vitamin supply store locally you can phone there to see if they carry this brand, otherwise order it from iherb they only charge abt $4 to ship. it comes in a powder and you just need to sprinkle a tiny amount into the food each day...I don't measure but I'm guessing 1/4 teas. maybe a bit less b/c he's till very small..
http://www.iherb.com/Garden-of-Life-Primal-Defense-Powder-HSO-Probiotic-Formula-81-g/3159
Hello again! Yes, he has short legs but he's also still very small. His sister is 3 times his size. No, he's not Persian or Himalayan. His mom is a black and white short haired and his dad is an orange short haired. There were 4 in his litter, he's the only one like this. Also the only non-calico of the bunch. His sister's never played with him or really paid any attention to him. :( He tries to hunch himself up to poop but never lifts his tail at all. Doesn't even try to. I am currently feeding him Friskies pate. I did pick up the pumpkin today and he doesn't seem to mind it. Do you know anything about probiotics, by chance? My parents have made him a vet appointment but they can't see him until Wednesday. So I will keep doing all I can for him, and hopefully the vet can help him out. Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate both of you responding to me. :)
Hi! I just have a plain litter pan for him, no hood. I will try with the less litter in the pan, as I have noticed him here and there having problems with his footing. Thank you! I do clean him after each trip to the box. I tell my husband that the poor thing is going to quit coming to me. LOL! Do you think using baby wipes on him would be ok? My parents have made a vet appointment for him, but they can't see him until Wednesday. Thanks again!!
hi again. MyoungatHeart made some good suggestions...to be sure and use an open litter tray and put only a small amount of litter in the bottom sure worth a try!!
yes a quick diet change will cause diarrhea...always transition slowly, but do keep his on a wet diet now that you have started, canned foods are 100% better for all cats....I can send you a link to a whole site with good advice on diets from a very reliable Vet who really KNOWS abt diet and nutrition..but we'll get to that later.
you say he has short legs.....therefor is he persian or himalayan and also has the long hair??
I have one long haired persian mix....and the consistency of his poop is usually formed and a bit sticky, he poo's than immediately jumps out of the litter tray....QUITE often he still has the stool stuck on his long hair under his tail and drags it around with him until I scoop it off.
Does your kitty squat down to poop? together with the squatting and the long hair and if the stool is really soft/loose it will than stick on his bottom...
the trick is to keep the stool the right consistency....not too hard and not too soft..actually a slightly harder stool is best, this helps with naturally cleaning their anal glands as they pass the stool.
however, it sounds like your kitty had some major constipation issues going on if he cried when he passed his stool.....thats why you need to keep him on canned food!!!
Can you tell me what kind of canned food you are feeding?
Buy a can of PURE PUMPKIN..........NOT the pie filling!!!!!
its in the same grocery section, but make sure its the PURE pumpkin only.
mix half a teaspoon in with his wet food. pumpkin is an excellent source of fiber for cats....most like the taste too.
this will help bulk up his stool a bit so its not too loose, but don't over use it or the bulk will become too thick and hard to pass....thus promoting his constipation all over again.
You mentioned he does not lift his tail when he poops......this is really odd, does he not lift it at all?
or does he lift it at least slightly???? a cat does not have to lift his tail straight up when pooping, I've found many of mine just slightly lift theirs....
yes a quick diet change will cause diarrhea...always transition slowly, but do keep his on a wet diet now that you have started, canned foods are 100% better for all cats....I can send you a link to a whole site with good advice on diets from a very reliable Vet who really KNOWS abt diet and nutrition..but we'll get to that later.
you say he has short legs.....therefor is he persian or himalayan and also has the long hair??
I have one long haired persian mix....and the consistency of his poop is usually formed and a bit sticky, he poo's than immediately jumps out of the litter tray....QUITE often he still has the stool stuck on his long hair under his tail and drags it around with him until I scoop it off.
Does your kitty squat down to poop? together with the squatting and the long hair and if the stool is really soft/loose it will than stick on his bottom...
the trick is to keep the stool the right consistency....not too hard and not too soft..actually a slightly harder stool is best, this helps with naturally cleaning their anal glands as they pass the stool.
however, it sounds like your kitty had some major constipation issues going on if he cried when he passed his stool.....thats why you need to keep him on canned food!!!
Can you tell me what kind of canned food you are feeding?
Buy a can of PURE PUMPKIN..........NOT the pie filling!!!!!
its in the same grocery section, but make sure its the PURE pumpkin only.
mix half a teaspoon in with his wet food. pumpkin is an excellent source of fiber for cats....most like the taste too.
this will help bulk up his stool a bit so its not too loose, but don't over use it or the bulk will become too thick and hard to pass....thus promoting his constipation all over again.
You mentioned he does not lift his tail when he poops......this is really odd, does he not lift it at all?
or does he lift it at least slightly???? a cat does not have to lift his tail straight up when pooping, I've found many of mine just slightly lift theirs....
I am wondering also what kind of litterbox you have set up for him. If there is a hood over it, try taking that off so he can stand better in it. I would only put about an inch of litter in the box because maybe he can't get a good footing if the litter is too deep.
I would continue the wet and to also have a open bowl of dry available to him ,and give it a few days to work in his system... make sure that he is getting fresh cold water a few times throughout the day too.
Clean him everytime he does poop, if he does have the runs you may have to clean more, but when the cat is not cleaned that can also be painful on their potty area with pulling of the hair and skin around the anal area.
I too have a Short legged cat and do have to clean her after every litter box visit. Usually the mom cat will do the cleaning and teach them but mine never seemed to learn how to do it either.
Good luck, let us know if you have any other questions....
M
I would continue the wet and to also have a open bowl of dry available to him ,and give it a few days to work in his system... make sure that he is getting fresh cold water a few times throughout the day too.
Clean him everytime he does poop, if he does have the runs you may have to clean more, but when the cat is not cleaned that can also be painful on their potty area with pulling of the hair and skin around the anal area.
I too have a Short legged cat and do have to clean her after every litter box visit. Usually the mom cat will do the cleaning and teach them but mine never seemed to learn how to do it either.
Good luck, let us know if you have any other questions....
M
I was wondering if that would be the issue. Thank you very much for your help. I just feel so bad for him, it brings me to tears. It's crazy how in a short amount of time, how he's captured my heart! Thanks again!
poor baby...I will try and help, but can't tonight it after 2 am. here and I HAVE to get some sleep. will try and get back to you in the am.
the change to wet food suddenly is what caused the diarrhea, this will be brief while he is becoming accustomed to the new texture and added moisture.
I will see if I can offer some suggestions....
the change to wet food suddenly is what caused the diarrhea, this will be brief while he is becoming accustomed to the new texture and added moisture.
I will see if I can offer some suggestions....
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