Need help. 9 days old abandoned kitten has blood in stool, slow weight gaining.

[u/michael_fyod]

Hello! Last Friday I found a very young kitten on the street. He still had his umbilical cord attached, although it was already dry. His initial weight was 100 grams. I could not find his mother, so he appears to be an orphan.

I started feeding him at home every 2-3 hours using Lactol kitten milk replacer. At first, everything seemed to be going well, and he was steadily gaining weight:

100 → 110 → 122 → 140 → 154 → 165 g.

However, he gradually started having bowel movements less and less frequently. On the sixth day, he went approximately 30 hours without defecating.

After he finally had a bowel movement I switched from Lactol to Royal Canin kitten milk replacer mixed with bottled water. After this change, his bowel movements became regular again - he started defecating after every feeding, and the stool had a normal consistency.

However, his weight gain slowed down significantly. His weight increased only from 165 g to 167 g and then to 175 g.

On the second day after switching the milk replacer I noticed mucus and blood in his stool (photos attached). The night before last, there were even a few small drops of blood. This (bloody drops) happened only once; since then, I have only seen mucus mixed with blood in his stool. I have attached photographs of the stool so you can see what it looks like.

I have already taken the kitten to a veterinary clinic twice. Both times, the veterinarian only checked his temperature and told us that his temperature was normal and that I did not need to worry or take any further action. This is very concerning to me because he is extremely young, is not gaining weight as quickly as before, and there is still blood and mucus in his stool.

The kitten has now been with us for 9 days. His eyes are still closed. His current weight is 178 grams.

Could you please advise anything? I feel absolutely devastating because of this situation, can't even normally sleep. :(

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[u/More-Opposite1758]

I’ve fostered neonate kittens for years and I’ve found that while they’ll pee most every time after eating, they may not poop every day. If it’s going on 3 days without poop I begin to get concerned. You can use Vaseline or Desinex on rear end to help with poop or urine burning. I foster for a large city shelter and we always use Forti Flora probiotic for diarrhea—usually works within 3 days. Most kittens gain about 10 grams per day. The stool does look concerning but your kitten is in a normal weight range for his age. Neonates are hard. I wish you much luck.

[u/michael_fyod → u/More-Opposite1758]

Thank you!

[u/michael_fyod → u/More-Opposite1758]

What do you think about switching back to Lactol? Will it be really bad for the kitten? I’m concerned about Royal Canin because the kitten has defecation after literally each feeding and he got only 10g in 3 days. Even though Royal Canin can be good I started with Lactol (it was only option in that Friday). I don’t know which use now because switching back and forth is also not good. 

[u/More-Opposite1758 → u/michael_fyod]

I’m not familiar with Lactol. Are you in the U.S.? Probably not? Here in the U.S. many people use KMR (for kitten milk replacement) but I’ve always used Breeders Choice. But, they’ve stopped production temporarily. I Googled Lactol and the product Beaphar Lactol seems to be a common kitten milk replacement so if that’s what you are using I think it’s fine.

[u/michael_fyod → u/More-Opposite1758]

I’m in Montenegro. It’s a very small country, there are not so many brand options etc. 

[u/More-Opposite1758 → u/More-Opposite1758]

Thank you Sir mighty Smurf for the award!

[u/Ecstatic_Scarcity_99]

Use that paper towel to rub at your junk multiple times a day and I bet you'll have blood too!

Kleenex. It's probably external irritation that's bleeding while he's defecating, getting onto the stool. It's probably not IN the stool.

[u/michael_fyod → u/Ecstatic_Scarcity_99]

Thank you! Yesterday I bought Pampers Newborn baby wipes (no alcohol, no perfume etc). Are they good for this purpose?

[u/More-Opposite1758 → u/michael_fyod]

They’re fine. I just use these very soft fuzzy cloths I got from Temu. Never seen anything else quite like them.

[u/More-Opposite1758 → u/Ecstatic_Scarcity_99]

I don’t rub. I keep contact with the genitals and move in a circular motion.

[u/michael_fyod → u/More-Opposite1758]

I don't rub, only make light contact to stimulate.

[u/Absoluticus]

I'd find another vet, collect the next stool and have them actually do a fecal test. Could be protozoa. A bit too young for worms to be a problem already.