How to get my new 5-week-old kitten to drink water and poop normally?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You should offer a small amount of food about 3-4 times daily and in really small kittens, every few hours might be needed. Eliminations and the frequency thereof, are dependent on many things depending on food intake, type of food, water intake etc. As long as she is not straining and trying to poop, it could be up to another 24-36 hours. She is getting accustomed to her new and that is probably slowing up the fecal elimination process. Again, no straining to have a bowel movement usually means that everything is ok, especially if the kitten is eating and drinking normally. Just keep monitoring for a bowel movement and monitor behavior, appetite, etc. If things change and you are unsure have your veterinarian evaluate the kitten. I hope everything works out ok.

If your kitten is eating all wet food, he will get most of his water needs from the food. I would hold back on the steamed fish, only offering it as a treat, as more than that may upset the nutritional balance of the kitten food you're feeding. Also, if he is weaned, he does not need milk and may develop diarrhea if he gets too much. Again, a little taste, as long as there are no adverse effects is fine. Always make sure he has clean, fresh water available, but don't worry if you don't see him drink. To make sure he's getting enough water, you can mix some in with his wet food and/or offer him some low sodium chicken broth to drink. As long as he is healthy, happy and active, then you're doing the right thing.

Now that she is 3-4 weeks old she may be peeing or pooping without your knowledge. Go ahead and start teaching her the litter box but make sure it is small enough that she can get in and out. If you haven't already I would also start weaning her to cat food. At first you will still have to supplement with formula but you start by putting all for feet in canned food on a paper plate. Soon she will start eating that. And once she gets a little older, approximately 6 week, you can start adding softened kibble. The fact that she is still playful and acting normally, I do not think she is block and not urinating or pooping. Usually they will become lethargic. If you still haven't see any irons or poop in the next day or she becomes lethargic then I would see your vet for an exam. They will be able to tell if she is constipated or if the bladder is really large. I hope this helps!

Young kittens will normally toilet frequently, often up to 6 times a day but I would be very concerned by repeated trips to the tray without producing anything as this may indicate an obstruction or severe spasm and inflammation which is quite common in cats and can be triggered by stressful events such as moving house. I recommend an urgent vet check to determine if he is constipated or bladder pain and to prescribe the most appropriate treatment and ongoing management to prevent recurrence. In the meantime I would try to encourage fluids with flavoured water (freshly boiled chicken broth or a little cod liver oil on the water bowl) and provide wet food to maximise fluid intake which can help soften stool and flush the bladder

If the kitten is only 15 days old it should be on a completely liquid diet of formula (KMR or another kitten replacer) as it is way too young to be eating any solid food. Once the kitten is about a month old you can start to introduce solid foods such as wet kitten food mixed with a slurry of the formula and then start weaning to more solid foods from there. The kitten likely also doesn't know how to properly use the bathroom yet, so using a warm washcloth on its bottom can help stimulate it to go much like a mother cat would do. Once it is a bit older you can start bringing it to a litter box as well. Check out this article on orphaned kitten care that may help you more: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-raise-orphan-kittens/

Congratulations on your new kitten! So far, it seems sounds like you're doing everything correctly. Pooping twice a day is completely normal. I also recommend feeding twice daily, just as you are doing. Brands that I commonly recommend feeding are Science Diet, Purina ProPlan and Royal Canin. If you choose to make a change in her diet, do so by gradually mix in the old and new foods together over 5-7 days. You can choose to feed exclusively wet or dry food, or a mix of both. This is largely a matter of personal preference. Be sure that you are feeding a food formulated for kittens or "all life stages" to aid in growth. She should continue to eat kitten food until 1 year of age, at which point you can transition to an adult cat food. Enjoy your new little kitten!

Poor Meep! It sounds like he's very nervous, and still adjusting to his new environment. Moving to a new home is very stressful for cats, so this is not unexpected. It's likely that he hasn't had a bowel movement because he hasn't been eating well - if nothing is going in, there won't be anything to come out :) This problem should resolve itself within the next couple of days now that he is eating. Unless you have seen him straining in the litter box, this should not be any cause for concern. It's also very normal for cats not to drink much water - they are adapted for living in very dry areas. If he is eating wet food, he may not drink any water at all. Since it sounds like he's starting to settle in and things are improving, I would suggest giving Meep more time to get used to things. Make sure that he has his own room with his food and water bowls, litter box, and toys and hiding spaces so that he feels safe. He will start to venture out into the rest of the house as he gets more comfortable. You can also try using Feliway pheromone diffusers in his room and around the house to help reduce his stress and make him more comfortable.