posted 09-25-2002 12:34 AM           

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This kitten was crying all day and went and got her. We are going to keep her, but all she's does is: eat, sleep and cry. I think she is about 2 weeks old. I don't know when we should try to litter train her.

-Please help me

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posted 09-26-2002 02:06 PM           

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I'm not an expert, however, I have taken care of kitties, including newborn kittens without their mother, many times. If your kitten is only two weeks old, it is pretty common for it to only be eating and sleeping. I am assuming there aren't any baby brothers or sisters or mother in the picture and that it isn't eating anything but milk. If this is the case, it is probably crying because it is hungry and alone. One of the most important things is that you need to keep it warm - blankets, etc. Also, if it isn't able to eat on its own yet, take a trip to the vet and pick up some milk replacement formula and a tiny bottle to feed it with. (It isn't expensive and she needs those nutrients desperately without its mother.) She definitely isn't ready to be litter trained. In fact, at two weeks old, she still needs stimulated with a warm, damp cotton ball to be able to go to the bathroom. Maybe your kitten is a little older than you think? It's pretty typical for a kitten to sleep most of the time that it isn't eating at such a young age. I have a sev en week old kitten and she sleeps a lot, too. I hope things work out for you and your kitten, and that someone else answers your message who can offer more advice. A kitten that young needs a lot of attention and love and hard work but it will be worth it!

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posted 09-26-2002 02:09 PM           

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This site gives information on how to raise an orphan kitty and is pretty good: http://www.feralcat.com/raising.html

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Posts: 5
From:Somerville, MA 02143
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 06-04-2003 05:48 PM         

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I agree with Sarah. When I got my kittens they were only a week old but there were two of them so they did not cry as much. The definitely need to be fed with a bottle and kept really warm. Kittens cannot shiver so you would never know if they needed to be warmer. Out vet told us to put hot water in a recycled bottle and changed it every couple of hours so that it stays warm. Make sure there a plenty of blankets also. At that age, they usually use the bathroom where they sleep so you might want to put rags there so that you can change it and throw them away often. They need a lot of attention. Also when they are not eating, whcih should be about 5-6 times a day at this age, they need to sleep a lot.

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