New kitty questions

[Luckysmom]

I just got a kitten on Friday night. She is supposedly 6 weeks old. If she is six weeks she is just barely. I was wondering if anyone can tell me how often to feed her. And also what I should be feeding her. Right now I am feeding her kitten food and catsmilk that I bought at the store. Also she doesnt seem to want to drink water. I give it to her and when she takes a drink she shakes her head like she doesn't like it.
Also do most kittens have worms? I know she wasn't wormed because the people didn't want the kittens they said if they didn't find homes they would kill them :madfire: I just wondered because Lucky (my Golden Retriever puppy) was caught in the litter box...yuck. He also is always trying to lick her bottom which I have tried to keep him from doing but everytime I turn around he is doing it again.:banghead:

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I alway had cats growing up but I was never the one to worry about these things I alway just played with them and my Mom and dad took care of them. Plus I know things are done differently now than they were when I was younger

[SpencerTheLion]

The safest bet may be to feed canned kitten food because of it's high water content. Most kittens have been weaned by this time. It's probably too early for dry food.

Does the kitten look healthy? Things to look for is a healthy coat and skin, clear eyes, eating reguarly. If the stools are not brown that would be a concern. It needs to go to the vet around twelve weeks for shots. Don't hesitate to see a vet if the kitten does not eat well, seem weak, or look unhealthy in some way.

It may be a bit gross, but Lucky may actually be playing Mom by cleaning up the kitty. This may be a lifetime friendship.

[Luckysmom]

She seems healthy.She eats every couple of hours. she doesnt eat a lot but she is eating.She is very lovable and playful. she likes to climb the furniture. She climbs to the top of my one chair in the living room and then she turns a somersault down to the seat part and runs back up to the top and does it again. She chases her tail and Luckys tail and swats her shadow. She's fun to just watch play.
Her one eye did seem kinda goopy yesterday. I wiped her off this morning with a warm cloth and her eye seemed better the rest of the day.
Do you think she is too young for a flea preventative? I don't know if she has or not. I havent seen any but she is black and they might be hard to see. She was outside so I am assuming she probally has some fleas.

I hope they become good friends. Right now they are sleeping right nextto each other on my couch.

[SpencerTheLion]

Kittens have a a lesser immune system. If the eye looks clouded, I'd go to a vet right away. Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) is common.

I would avoid any flea treatment at this time. DO NOT USE FLEA TREATMENT FOR DOGS! I know someone who did and the cat died. :(

A flea comb could help with the fleas. You can get one for under $5. You might even consider a bath with baby shampoo. Just make sure you have a lukewarm bath/sink ready to go. Then gently towel-dry and or blow dry until kitten is dry. Don't let the kitten get cold.

[Luckysmom]

SpencerTheLion.....

Her eye hasn't looked goopy since I washed her face with the warm cloth so I hope that it isn't an URI.
I did call the vet today and got an appointment for a check-up
for her but it's not till next Monday afternoon. I asked about the food and they said as long as she is eating and she is drinking the catsmilk she should be ok but try to start adding water slowly to the cat's milk to dilute it and wean her off of it. They also told me no flea treatment til 6 weeks old and that they had a pill that they give to little ones. They will check for worms when I bring her in next week. If she has they said I will have to treat Lucky probally then too.
I hate waiting a week to take her in but she seems ok right now
but I want that to come from the vet not just my opinion.

[SpencerTheLion]

It does sound like the kitty will do fine. I had a kitten then Garbo get an eye ulcer. As a result, I recommend seeing a vet before they lose their sight.