When you meet a orphan kitten After a few days or weeks of life, you have to give it a series of care because you know that, otherwise, it will not have any chance of survival. Thus, as time passes and the furry one grows, you are going to start looking forward to the big day: the day he finally learns to relieve himself singlehandedly.
Why? Because when that happens, the feline will no longer depend so much on you, as it will have learned to eat from its plate without problems. Now, for that we will have to wait a few weeks. In the meantime, let's see when do kittens begin to relieve themselves.
From 0 to 1 month of life
How often does a baby cat defecate?
Kittens up to 1 month of age should be fed milk for kittens sold in pet stores or veterinary clinics, either with a needleless syringe or, better, a special feeding bottle for animals, every 3 or 4 hours (except at night, which will not be necessary to wake them if they are healthy).
After each meal, they must be encouraged to relieve themselves, otherwise problems could arise. But beware if we talk only about defecations, we have to know that doing it once / day will be more than enough.
How to make a newborn kitten defecate?
Within 10 minutes of having eaten, what we will do is give him a circular massage with his index finger. We start from under the ribs and work our way down little by little. The movement has to be smooth, without exerting almost pressure. So we have to stay for a couple of minutes.
Then, we take cotton or toilet paper, moisten it with warm water (about 38ºC) and rub it on both sides of the anus for a little while (normally, after about 20-30 seconds the furry person usually expels the feces).
What is a kitten's stool like?
As long as I'm healthy they are yellowish. In addition, they have a doughy texture. In the event that they are greenish, reddish or blackish, you have to take him to the vet as soon as possible.
How many days can a baby cat go without defecating?
I don't know how to tell you the exact number, since it depends a lot on your state of health. If you are healthy, you can be up to three days, but it is not healthy. Ideally, you should relieve yourself every day.
From the month of life
From when do kittens start eating?
Once they have completed the month, they no longer have to be given a bottle / syringe, but they do you have to start giving him soft food, as wet food for kittens, with milk or water every 4 or 5 hours.
By then it will not be necessary to continue helping them defecate, but if we see that it is difficult for them, we will have to continue.
When do cats begin to relieve themselves?
It depends a lot on when you start giving them solid food. I can tell you that my cat Sasha began to relieve herself a day or a few days after I gave her a can for the first time, but each feline is different. Yours could take longer, or less.
How to teach a baby cat to use the litter box?
It is very simple. Just you have to put his sandpit (if you do not have one you can buy it here) near their feeder, and place it inside 10-15 minutes after eating. As soon as he does his business, give him a treat (treat, caress).
It may be difficult at first, but by sheer instinct you will quickly learn to relieve yourself on the tray. Of course, when he is two months old, keep his litter box separate from the food. Cats do not like to be eating near where they relieve themselves, nor vice versa: doing their things with food close by.
How long do kittens take to learn to use the litter box?
The truth is that, again, depends. There are kittens who learn quickly to both urinate and defecate in their litter, but there are others who have a harder time. There is no age for it, but I can tell you that, once you start eating solid foods, your digestive system begins to regulate itself. and with it, also their need to take care of their hygiene.
Do not worry. The big day will come. Most 6-week-old cats have already learned to do their own thing., so you just have to have a little patience and give them lots of pampering.
What to do if a kitten cannot defecate
If a kitten cannot defecate it may be constipated, in this case, it is important that you take some aspects into account. Constipation in cats is common, that's why you must recognize the symptoms, the causes and fix it.
If your kitten eats and drinks water every day, it is usual for him to defecate well, but if he has not defecated for two or more days or the stool is very hard or dry, it may be constipation. If he does not defecate, you will have to take him to the vet to assess his health.
When a kitten is constipated, stool builds up in the colon and becomes hard, making it difficult for it to pass easily from the rectum. If constipation is prolonged, a bowel obstruction or other health problems can occur, therefore It is important that you watch the times he goes to the litter box and if he makes stools or not.
Why can a kitten become constipated?
Some common causes of constipation in kittens can be:
- Dehydration or low water intake
- Low fiber diet
- Bone consumption
- Hair balls
- Have eaten something strange, such as an object
- Obesity
- Pain
- Renal problems
- Stress
What are the symptoms?
The first symptom is easy to spot: no defecation. But in addition, there are other symptoms that you should keep in mind:
- You try to defecate but you can't
- Spend a lot of time in the sandbox
- Meows or cries whenever in the sandbox
- The few stools that you do have blood or mucus
- He is not hungry
- Vomits
- Shows listless behavior
Avoid constipation in your kitten
It is important that help him avoid constipation so you don't have to go through it. To do this, if you see that he drinks little water, put more bowls of water at home or encourage him with water from a tap if it is suitable for consumption.
You can also mix dry food with wet cat food. Although it is necessary that you remember that not all your cat's diet should be wet since this could dirty his teeth. If your cat normally presents constipation, it is best to speak with the vet and agree on a diet for him so that he can defecate properly without difficulty. There are cat food with fiber that will help you to achieve it.
The sandbox must be in a quiet and always clean place. If your cat often vomits hairballs, give him small amounts of malt once a week. Also brush her hair to reduce dead hair falling out.
As you can see, there are several strategies that you can use so that your cat does not suffer from constipation, no matter how old he is. It is important to know when you defecate and what your stools are like, but also what to do if you become constipated!
Hope it has fit.
I found two kittens. They are babies. I feed them and make them urinate. But they do not defecate. It's been 3 days since I found them and they don't defecate, they just urinate. What I can do. Thanks
Hi miguel.
You can soak a clean gauze with vinegar and stimulate the ano-genital area within 15 minutes of having eaten.
Another option would be to put a drop of vinegar in the bottle, but only a drop, no more.
You can also massage their abdomen, 5 minutes after eating. Make gentle, circular motions, pressing just a little. Start at the top and work your way down.
And if they still don't defecate, they should be seen by a vet as they may need a catheter.
A greeting.
Hello, good morning, I have an 8-month-old cat, he mated with a cat and he got an infection in his parts and we took him to the vet and he healed but now he is defecating alone and urinating he does not feel when he does, that I can make?.
Hi Eddy.
It is best if you take it back to the vet to check it again.
I am not a veterinarian.
I hope you get better soon.
A greeting.
My kittens are one month old and they have neither urinated nor dedicated, I am very worried, what can I do?
They still drink mother's milk, it is the only thing they eat.
Hi Lorena.
They probably need help with that. Take a clean gauze or toilet paper, wet it with warm water, fold it and wipe it over the ano-genital area. To help them a little more, you can give them circular massages (in a clockwise direction) within five minutes of having eaten, and then stimulate them.
You can also moisten the area with a little vinegar.
By the way, at that age you can start giving them wet kitten food (cans), well chopped.
A greeting.
Hello, for you and for all those who have that question, I hope my answer will serve you, I had kittens all my life, and I can tell you from experience that if they are with their mother, it is she herself who stimulates them and cleans their feces and urine, no You have to be scared, you will never find a trace of anything, the mothers will stop doing it once they learn by themselves to relieve themselves in their sand.
Thank you very much for your advice. I have an orphan kitten that was pulled even with the umbilical cord. Since that day I take care of her and that was 5 weeks ago and she is very naughty. he relieves himself under the armchair. We already buy you everything you need for everything. I love her very much and she caresses me gently with her little hand.
Thank you for your comment, Blanca 🙂
Hello, yesterday I found two kittens in the street, newborns would be two days old, I fucked them, I give them skimmed milk reduced in water, they urinate well but do not defecate, what can be done? I stimulate them but I do not get results,
Hi carlos.
Massage their tummy in clockwise circular motions for a few minutes (3-4).
If it doesn't work, moisten the end of a swab from the ears with oil and rub it over the anus-genital area.
And if it doesn't work either, then I would recommend taking them to the vet.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a 15-day-old kitten that I found, an orphan, I am raising him and he does his business and everything is ok when he is stimulated, he is warm and has everything he needs; but in the intermissions where he sleeps (2-3 hours) he urinates on the little bed where he sleeps, since he opened his eyes he does it; It is normal?? Just tomorrow he has an appointment with the vet.
Hi Giss.
It might be normal, yeah. Baby kittens do not control their urination.
Anyway, see what the vet tells you.
All the best
hello good, I have a question I have a kitten of approx 1 year
she had 2 babies, but I don't think her babies do their needs, I only saw one of them urinate because they did it on top of my bed, but I've never seen them defecate
They were born on February 5 and they are 1 month old and I still don't see them relieve themselves and they don't leave my room
Is it normal not to smell their needs or not to do?
Hello Caroline.
No, it is not normal.
A healthy cat should urinate about 3 times a day or so, and defecate at least 1. I recommend you take them to the vet to be examined, because if they really do nothing, their health is at risk.
Regards!
Hello good. Yesterday they left me one in a box in front of my house, it must be a month old, it ate by itself and drank milk, it's a sweetheart, but I have 6 dogs and they don't want it? around my lot do it? Right now it is in a conveyor with sawdust, will it be better sand? I am very afraid of giving it to someone who does not take care of it. I dont know what to do with it
Hi Jessica.
If with the sawdust it does its needs well, do not change it. Sometimes we think that one thing is better but at the moment of truth the cat does not agree.
With regard to dogs, in this article you have information on how to get her to tolerate cats.
Much encouragement.
Hello, I have a kitten that must be between 6/7 weeks, she urinates but does not defecate, I have her for three days
Hi Isabella.
I recommend stimulating the ano-genital area with a sterile gauze (or toilet paper) moistened in warm water 15 minutes after eating. This will help them defecate.
A greeting.
Hello, I found some kittens several days old. I don't know how their poop should be. They are doing very watery, is it normal?
Hello Miriam.
It has to be pasty, yellow type.
If it is of another color or otherwise, it may be that it has parasites or that it is being given milk that does not feel good. Here You have more information.
A greeting.
Hello. They gave me a kitten that was about 3 weeks old. I gave him milk, after two days I try meat and he eats it, I even think. But I've been with him for 6 days and he doesn't poop, he does urinate. I have read in your article that the moment you eat solid your intestinal transit "kicks in." But how long does it take to start eating solid? Thanks.
Hello Pilar.
At that age they still need a little help 🙂
After eating, you have to stimulate the anus area with a gauze that is warm.
With two months (even a little earlier) she will go to the bathroom alone without problem.
A greeting.
Hello. Yesterday we brought 6 kittens of approximately 1 month. They were going to throw them away. We had to separate them from their mother to save them. I don't know if they urinate or defecate on their own. They were drinking lactose-free milk and tasted moistened food. Should they urinate on their own?
Hi Lilian.
In principle, they should relieve themselves, but they may need some help the first few times.
If you see that they seem to forget to urinate and / or defecate, it will be necessary to stimulate the genital area with a gauze moistened in warm water.
Regards!
My cat will be 1 month old on October 2, I have barely 3 days with her and I still haven't seen her or poop and urine, what should I do?
Hi Geily.
You probably need help to relieve yourself. You have to take a sterile gauze or a clean cloth, soak it in hot water (but do not burn), and then wipe it over his genital area, including the anus. First one part, and then with another cloth or gauze the other.
It has to be done when you finish eating. Anyway, if she still has problems, you should take her to the vet urgently.
Cheer up.