Should I get an orphaned kitten vet checked? What about behavior?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Since this is a pure bred cat check for pedigree papers. Check to see if the cattery is feline leukemia and FIV free. Check about any kittens/cats dying from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Which vaccinations has it had and has she been dewormed. Has she had kittens before. Has she lived in a cage her whole life or was she free in the house, does she use the litter box (HUGE issue). Then check for sneezing, coughing, eye or nose discharge (as she is a Persian). Good luck!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I would recommend taking the kitten in to be seen by a veterinarian for a health check exam to make sure vitals and everything else is ok before taking the kitten in. I would want to make sure the kitten is flea and tick free and make sure the exam is normal. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

I would recommend having the kitten checked out by a vet. It likely needs to be tested for intestinal parasites (worms and coccidia are common), get started on vaccinations, and be evaluated for congenital issues. It is old enough to go on kitten food, so I would mix kitten milk replacer with wet kitten food. You can also use a nutritional supplement like NutriCal. If it has any fleas, use an age appropriate flea preventative as fleas can cause anemia in tiny kittens. Pet probiotics are also a good idea. Here is a link to a chart on aging kitten teeth: http://www.ruralareavet.org/PDF/Physical_Exam-How_to_Determine_Age.pdf And here is a link to raising orphan kittens: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=576

It would be helpful to know how old your kitten might be - if it is very young the feeding and care are very different when compared to an older kitten that has already been weaned. Below are a couple of websites that have lots of good information on general cat and kitten care. I would recommend taking it to a veterinarian promptly to establish care and to make sure there aren't any health concerns since it was a stray kitten. You can also discuss a vaccination and deworming schedule depending on its age. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_care_essentials.html

Congratulations on your new kitties! I would recommend taking them to the vet for a check-up when you're able to. The vet will listen to their heart and lungs, and will also check for fleas, ear mites, and other problems that are common in stray cats. Usually, a fecal exam for parasites and FeLV/FIV testing would also be recommended. If they seem healthy, your veterinarian will probably also recommend having them vaccinated for feline distemper, feline leukemia, and rabies.

It sounds like you are on the right track! I would recommend bringing her into a vet soon if you haven't already, for her first checkup, deworming and round of shots (abandoned kittens that don't get mother's milk may need their first vaccination a bit earlier than usual since they don't have the antibodies they'd get from nursing). Introducing her to a litter box once she gets a little bit older is also a good next step, as well as starting her on a mash of solid food and milk replacer to start weaning her. If you're still having trouble with how to care for her, talking with your local humane society is a great idea- they often have orphaned kitten programs and may be able to offer a class or other help in helping Princess grow up healthy.

Congrats on your new cat! I think it's always a good idea to have a new cat checked out by a vet not long after getting it. Unfortunately people don't always tell the truth, so it's best to have your own exam done. You can ask the previous owners to have Kitty's records transferred from her old vet to your vet so that your vet has the correct information. If they refuse to do this, that could be an indication that the information you received about her previous care isn't correct. Make an appointment with your vet, and speak with the previous owners to have her records transferred. Good luck, I hope this helps!