new cat owner, health questions

keegsmom · 12-14-2004, 12:06 AM

I just adopted an orphan kitty about 8-10 weeks old. She is being treated for ringworm and URI. I am keeping her isolated from my other pets in a large dog crate until the ringworm is under control, but we get her out to play every couple of hours. After 2 days she is looking much better, not sneezing much, very playful, and eating well. We are feeding her moist (packet type) kitten food now because she seemed to be having a lot of trouble with the dry food and I attributed that to the URI and congestion. We are also supplementing with Whiskas Catmilk Plus because she is quite thin. My question is, how much water does she need? She eats about 2 packets of food daily (divided into 4 meals) and drinks a little Catmilk with each feeding. When I put a water bowl in the crate she immdiately spills it and soaks the crate and bedding. So I have started just offering her water when we let her out to play, and continuing with the Catmilk at meals. She doesnt drink much, but of course, her food is wet. I have had dogs all my life, but no experience with cats, so I have a lot to learn, especially since my new addition comes complete with health problems!

Thanks in advance!
Keegsmom (new mother of Abbey Cat)

Puma · 12-14-2004, 04:24 AM

Well cats do not drink as much water as dogs, but they do need water. I find that cats like their water to stay away from their food. I am sure your kitten will start drinking more once it is no longer isolated and is not getting the milk anymore...(I don't know about the milk thing, have never done that)

I make sure my kitties have a clean fresh bowl of water in three different rooms at all times.

BoscosMum · 12-14-2004, 09:39 AM

Puma...I did not know cats like there water away from the food?
I have my dishes side by side...Hmmmm? Am thinking about a new water location.

SammyO · 12-14-2004, 10:17 AM

I agree with Puma, my cats hardly drank any water when I put it in the double dish with their food.

I have a automatic waterer with the water jug and they now drink way more water, I have to fill it up for 2 cats every week to 2 weeks. I always see them at the water jug.

Puma · 12-14-2004, 02:56 PM

Kitties are so picky, but we love them.

coaster · 12-14-2004, 07:40 PM

any problem keeping the water clean with the automatic waterer? I'm changing the water in my cats' water bowls 2 or 3 times a day because they get the water dirty. mostly cat hair, sometimes bits of food. they won't drink dirty water. (well, I won't either, so I don't mind). but it is a kind of a nuisance.

Tim

AddFran · 12-14-2004, 08:04 PM

I have an automatic waterer too and we love it. The cats drink waaaay more water now. I don't have any problem keeping the water clean. I have a problem keeping it full!

I take it apart and clean it once a month or so. It's fairly easy once you get the hang of it.

Keegsmom, maybe try a heavier bowl, a ceramic one perhaps to avoid it being tipped over. Your kitten should really have water at ALL times so that it can drink whenever thirsty. It's extremely important! Good luck.

Oh, and she does get some water from the food, which is great. Wet food is actually better for her, so if she likes it you should keep her on it. That can be hard for people that aren't home much during the day, in that case, try doing 50/50 of wet and dry, but do your best to keep wet food in her diet, it's important for many reasons! You'll find a lot of great info. on this forum and a lot of friendly people willing to help!

SammyO · 12-14-2004, 08:29 PM

Tim,

The water usually isn't too bad, no food in it but the odd hair. It doesn't seem to bother my cats. I don't keep it anywhere near their food either. I also only fill it half way so I can put fresh water in it more often.

Maybe try one of those water fountains?

Samantha

BoscosMum · 12-15-2004, 08:48 AM

I had a water fountain for Bosco....I did give it to my son for his new kitten. For me personally....I like the fountain but it was a pain in the butt for me...I think because we have such a large family that I didnt like taking the extra time for the cat fountain. I will admit I neglected it!
My son is thrilled to have it for his kitten.

AddFran · 12-15-2004, 08:50 AM

Oops, I have a FOUNTAIN, not an automatic waterer. My comments WERE for the fountain. We love it.
The automatic waterer was tried in our house with just one cat. It got yucky pretty quick.

12-14-2004, 12:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
keegsmom Kitten Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5	new cat owner, health questions I just adopted an orphan kitty about 8-10 weeks old. She is being treated for ringworm and URI. I am keeping her isolated from my other pets in a large dog crate until the ringworm is under control, but we get her out to play every couple of hours. After 2 days she is looking much better, not sneezing much, very playful, and eating well. We are feeding her moist (packet type) kitten food now because she seemed to be having a lot of trouble with the dry food and I attributed that to the URI and congestion. We are also supplementing with Whiskas Catmilk Plus because she is quite thin. My question is, how much water does she need? She eats about 2 packets of food daily (divided into 4 meals) and drinks a little Catmilk with each feeding. When I put a water bowl in the crate she immdiately spills it and soaks the crate and bedding. So I have started just offering her water when we let her out to play, and continuing with the Catmilk at meals. She doesnt drink much, but of course, her food is wet. I have had dogs all my life, but no experience with cats, so I have a lot to learn, especially since my new addition comes complete with health problems! Thanks in advance! Keegsmom (new mother of Abbey Cat)

12-14-2004, 10:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
SammyO Cool Cat Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Woodstock Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,068	Cats and water I agree with Puma, my cats hardly drank any water when I put it in the double dish with their food. I have a automatic waterer with the water jug and they now drink way more water, I have to fill it up for 2 cats every week to 2 weeks. I always see them at the water jug. __________________

12-14-2004, 08:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
SammyO Cool Cat Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Woodstock Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,068	Cat waterer Tim, The water usually isn't too bad, no food in it but the odd hair. It doesn't seem to bother my cats. I don't keep it anywhere near their food either. I also only fill it half way so I can put fresh water in it more often. Maybe try one of those water fountains? Samantha __________________

12-14-2004, 04:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
Puma Tom Cat Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 461	Well cats do not drink as much water as dogs, but they do need water. I find that cats like their water to stay away from their food. I am sure your kitten will start drinking more once it is no longer isolated and is not getting the milk anymore...(I don't know about the milk thing, have never done that) I make sure my kitties have a clean fresh bowl of water in three different rooms at all times.

12-14-2004, 09:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
BoscosMum Premier Cat Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York Posts: 5,297	Puma...I did not know cats like there water away from the food? I have my dishes side by side...Hmmmm? Am thinking about a new water location.

12-14-2004, 02:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Puma Tom Cat Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 461	Kitties are so picky, but we love them.

12-14-2004, 07:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
coaster Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 17,798	any problem keeping the water clean with the automatic waterer? I'm changing the water in my cats' water bowls 2 or 3 times a day because they get the water dirty. mostly cat hair, sometimes bits of food. they won't drink dirty water. (well, I won't either, so I don't mind). but it is a kind of a nuisance. Tim

12-14-2004, 08:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
AddFran Premier Cat Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,480	I have an automatic waterer too and we love it. The cats drink waaaay more water now. I don't have any problem keeping the water clean. I have a problem keeping it full! I take it apart and clean it once a month or so. It's fairly easy once you get the hang of it. Keegsmom, maybe try a heavier bowl, a ceramic one perhaps to avoid it being tipped over. Your kitten should really have water at ALL times so that it can drink whenever thirsty. It's extremely important! Good luck. Oh, and she does get some water from the food, which is great. Wet food is actually better for her, so if she likes it you should keep her on it. That can be hard for people that aren't home much during the day, in that case, try doing 50/50 of wet and dry, but do your best to keep wet food in her diet, it's important for many reasons! You'll find a lot of great info. on this forum and a lot of friendly people willing to help!

12-15-2004, 08:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
BoscosMum Premier Cat Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York Posts: 5,297	I had a water fountain for Bosco....I did give it to my son for his new kitten. For me personally....I like the fountain but it was a pain in the butt for me...I think because we have such a large family that I didnt like taking the extra time for the cat fountain. I will admit I neglected it! My son is thrilled to have it for his kitten.

12-15-2004, 08:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
AddFran Premier Cat Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,480	Oops, I have a FOUNTAIN, not an automatic waterer. My comments WERE for the fountain. We love it. The automatic waterer was tried in our house with just one cat. It got yucky pretty quick.

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