So, about my stray kitten...need help
 

I found a lil white kitten over a month ago and bottle fed it for about 3 weeks. It did just fine.

Now its hair is very thin, especially around his neck. It even looks as though it is thinning along the spine.

When he was on the baby kitten formula, his hair was silky. He acts okay, eats okay, sleeps okay. Just the thin, dry-ish hair.

Thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Have you taken him to a vet yet? He may have a vitamin deficiency. I know you found him when he was way too young to be away from his mother - he may have missed out on something her milk might have provided. I'd ask the vet.

Thanks, Kitty. I think the vet is a good idea. I'll let you know what he says. :)

cats need alot of fat in the diet. Omega-3s are added to the
quality kitten foods, kitten chows, like Eukanuba.

One result of using Eukanuba is a beautiful coat. It is sort of
a barometer for the quality of fat that is in the food.

Also check for fleas. With a white kitten it is easy to see them.
They tend to collect around the neck and tail area. An allergy to
fleas can make the hair fall out.

You can use a flea comb to comb the kitten and it will catch the flea and you drown it in a dish of soapy water or alcohol.
Remove that dish after combing so she won't try to drink from it.
When I adopted our 3rd cat, she was covered in fleas...I had to comb her every day for 2 weeks. This is the best way since the flea medications I think are very toxic.

Hope your baby kitty gets well soon! :hug:

MrsD, I bought Science Diet dry kitten food and Sugar won't eat it! Very spendy stuff, but even my daughter's two dogs wouldn't touch it! Go figure.

Twink, try Royal Canin. I think your vet will have to give you a rx for it but you can buy it at any pet supply chain. It's pricey, too, but I swear by it. I get a specialized formula to help their urinary health (since Tigger is prone to crystals forming). They LOVE it! Figures......the stuff is $20 for a 5# bag! :rolleyes: But it's still cheaper than a vet visit and possible hospital stay. Plus, it prevents them from having to go through the illness in the first place.

I personally think Science Diet is terrible. (I know after Eukanuba came out, that Science Diet did try to compete and changed a little from the heavy CORN ingredients, but I still don't trust them).

I switched our cats over to Eukanuba when it first came out a decade ago, because IAMs was the first to put Omega-3s in it.
My oldest cat who is 22 now, was getting sick on Science Diet.
(and fatter).
She had sores all over her face and the 2 vets I went to said to use prednisone orally for it.

Well, I was researching Omega-3s for myself and son, and friend, and while I was on Barlean's Flaxseed website, there was a link to IAMs. I clicked on it and BINGO... we have used Eukanuba ever since! IAMs had alot of research about fats/Omega-3's for cats on their website back then.

We laugh here and used to say they put Cat Nip in it or something to entice the cats...they really love it so. But if it sits around for more than a day, it loses its aroma or something and they beg for fresh. So don't assume that just because it is dry it will last until the bowl is empty. Instead just put out a little each day, to keep the scent for them which attracts them. Keep the kibble tightly sealed so the aroma does not escape. (we use clips after folding down the bag several times).

Perhaps your kitten is too small for kibble yet, so moist food would be a good idea during the weaning process. But do try the IAM's Eukanuba... I think it is far superior to Science Diet. The mother cat teaches the kittens what to eat...and your kitty doesn't have that advantage. So it might take a while to get her to accept other food during weaning.

Cats require more fat and protein than dogs. All the carbs some makers put in cat food, is just not good for them.

I was wondering if it might be an allergy as well. You didn't happen to just put in new carpet did you?

When I first moved here, 2 of my cats started losing their fur, dramatically! Turned out there was a lot of ... I forgot... formaldehyde? So a crew came in to help clear that out. They finally started growing the fur back.

My cats are SO particular about their food but I keep trying to remind myself to try the Eukanuba. I probably have, but should try it again. I know they hate Science Diet. I've tried quite a few of the pricey foods and they snub their noses. All I can get them to eat is the Purina Indoor formula.

Have to try and remember to try the Eukanuba.

Let us know ((Twink)). :hug:

Vet appt. tomorrow (Tues) at 2:00. I'll ask him what food to use, and make sure Sugar tries it before I buy it!

Surprised so many hear give expensive Science Diet a thumbs down!

Neither of my cats would touch Science Diet. And they were both hungry when I offered it to them. :eek: Tigger just took a couple of steps and sat with his back to his plate!!

You might try fish oil. I cut open fish oil capsules and put it in my kitties and doggies food. The dogs will just eat the capsules, the kitties perfer it squeezed over the food.

It does wonders for their coats. And has obvious health benefits.

As far as food...Science diet is not a great food, Mine are on Royal Canin indoor formula and do great on it. Wellness is another quality food for both cats and dogs.

I believe that IAMs really has the research behind its food.
Our Sheba would not be 22 without it. She almost died when she was 12...and she blossomed on the Eukanuba. Their coats became fantastic! There are so many choices now for it too..hairball formula, natural, etc. We rotate the flavors for variety. They gobble them all... I swear there is some aroma additive in there! They even rub on the bag if I leave it out on the floor!

Science Diet was promoted at one time only from Vets. It has
mainstreamed now into stores. But it used and uses alot of CORN...and cats can just not handle that. It made our eldest cat quite sick!

Ear Mites! Aaaackkk!!!
 

The vet forgot to check for ear mites, but when I mentioned it he thanked me for suggesting it. I was sick and disgusted at how many had made themselves at home in Sugar's ears!!! :eek:

I hadn't realized they look like coffee grounds down in there. In the past they had to be treated daily to get rid of them. With this new med, the vet smeared a dose in each ear and said they'd be gone in 2-3 hours!

Sugar seems happier. Well, about the ear mites, but not so much about our new doggie (see my other thread in this forum). I think they'll get along fine once they get to know each other.

Thanks for your suggestions, friends. :hug: Oh, and I'm going to get some IAMS food while we're in the "big city" visiting our new grandson today. (Nobody around here carries it).

Eeuw, ear mites are nasty! When I was a teenager, we had a mama cat with a grown litter and a new litter, and a tom, and ALL of them got ear mites. I took just one kitten to the vet to get a dx and some meds, and he showed me under the microscope what the little buggers look like. No wonder the cats scratch their ears so much!

After I got the ear drops from the vet, I had to hunt down and medicate 8 cats twice a day! These were outdoor cats, mind you. Luckily, I was younger and more energetic then. And they actually were very tolerant - they seemed to realize I was trying to help them.

Your kitty looks so sweet! I hope the ear mites are gone.

You are right, arkie, those mites are horrible looking! Our vet showed me under the microscope, too! Yeeech!!!

Can't believe you had to treat 8 cats! :eek: Meow!

I always used to comb my cats fur for fleas and let them go for a swim in a washing up liquid bath. Unfortunately I cant keep a cat in this flat. Almost all of my cats have been strays who decided to live with me. At my last home, half a dozen ferals used to call by for their breakfast --I do miss my friends.
It has always been my opinion that cats never get lost--they leave home.