My kitten is dehydrated

Question

My cat is 5 months old. I recently took him to the vet to get a check up. He is sick with an upper respiratory infection and was dehydrated. They gave him fluids under the skin. What can I continue to do at home, to make sure he stays hydrated?

Answer 1

Make sure they have water ..

Answer 2

couldn't one of those things be used...i forget what they're called - those things where u put milk or water in and squeeze it into the mouth? you use them for eye drop type thing...

Answer 3

if she doesnt drink water much try milk and no dry food. all wet food.

Answer 4

Use a Drinkwell cat fountain. Cats are more likely to drink from it than from a bowl. Also, feed him mainly wet food (in nature, cats get water mainly from the food they eat, since they can't drink glasses of water like us humans) and use dry food as treats.

Answer 5

DO NOT GIVE YOUR CAT MILK... it will cause diarrhea which will cause more dehydration.

do as one said and try the tuna / water... it has salt which will make

your cat retain water and drink more.

or just put some salt (one sprinkle) in the water bowl. you can add a sprinkle of sugar too.

to check for dehydration  take the skin on the back of the neck and pull it out... then release the skin.  ... if it pulls back in place fast then the cat is fine but if the skin just really slowly pulls back the cat might be dehydrated.

Answer 6

What helps with get some Tuna in WATER, not oil and give 1 teaspoon juice with mix of 1 teaspoon water about every couple hours:)  If his nose is really stuffed up clean it out so he can smell the juice, and if his temps under control he sound drink it:)  A few bit of tuna won't hurt either, and keep the rest in frig.  Best of luck

I'm sorry Tablespoon, I'm thinking 5 week old, sorry

EDIT

No milk will cause Diarrhea, and more dehydration, also no sugar!  Those two very important:)

Answer 7

Water,

wet food,

umm Water,

Answer 8

if your vet gave you meds, keep up with those, don't miss a dose.  Very important to help your kitty kick this.

With a URI, your kitty probably has a stuffy nose, and can't smell.  Pure saline drops will help your kitty sneeze out some mucus.  So will a humidifier or putting your kitty in the bathroom when you take a hot bath.  a kitty who can't smell won't eat.

Feed canned food - loaf or mince, not chunked or slices.  Ground up will give you the best option.  If they will only eat chunked, then feed that.  But if you can feed minced food, you can add water or low sodium chicken broth to the food and make a soup out of it.

I'd limit the access to the house.  Keep in one room with food, water, litter and bedding while he's feeling down.  Will make it easier to monitor his progress.

Check in with the vet regularly.  Rechecks are usually free or at a reduced price, and you can make sure your kitty is progressing well.  If your kitty stops eating, then it needs to go back to the vet asap!

Answer 9

he is dehydrated because the infection is blocking his ability to smell. if a cat cant smell it, he wont drink/eat it.

first, the vet is your best source of help. no matter what great advice you get from us, stay in contact with the vet, just a phone call to ask a question can save kittys life. dehydration can become fatal very quickly.

try a can of tuna fish. it has a very strong smell, cats like it and the moisture in the tuna fish counts toward hydration.

you need to get just about any liquid into to him.

put water on his front paws. he will see it as dirt and bathe. when he licks the water off, he swallows it.

i have heard of people having luck with chicken soup. the steam opens the sinuses. but, i would be careful of the salt, which will dehydrate him. try a salt free brand.

syringe feeding might be needed. ask the vet, they will show you how.you squirt the water into his mouth .

edit - one person said to add salt to the water so he will retain water. i would check with the vet on that one. i believe she is mistaken.

know in people, if you are lost at sea and drink sea water, the salt absorbs all the moisture in your body and you die. i would assume cats are the same.

Answer 10

poor kitty, i would make sure he has water all the time,if he doesnt drink(my aunt had a cat that died cuz he stoped drinking and she didnt know), i would ask the vet if there was some kind of pill that might help. and idk, but wet food might be better then drie,idk what u feed him.but i hope he gets better.

(also, keep your house cool, in the summer, the heat makes them teribly hot and thirst.)

Answer 11

get a drink well pet fountain, cats love flowing water because they know flowing water is better than stagnate water.  I know that you can mix 50/50 pedialyte with water and give that to them if you can tell that they are dehydrated.  I'm sure your vet showed you what to look for to determine if your cat is dehydrated, they gums, the tuggor.

Answer 12

Try this it really keeps cats hydrated. At petco.com there is a Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Purifying Pet Fountain. It really works great to promote cats to drink water. It may be costy at the beginning but it will help in the long run. It is 10 dollars off right now. You should do next day air. Your buddy doesn't sound so good. Also, feed him wet food. Like friskies canned food in gravy. Great for growing kittens.

I'm really sorry about your little friend.

Hope this helped.

Answer 13

gatorade

chicken soup

and only canned wet food..dont feed her the dry stuff right now

Answer 14

Give is plenty of water and if it's serious go to a vet and get an IV