Found an injured kitten. What should I do if it won't stay in its box?

Poor little thing! Thank you for trying to help her. It sounds like Candy Cane has many issues going on. I strongly suggest you take her to see a veterinarian as many of the issues you describe sound life threatening. I would take her to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. You can try offering her canned food, keeping her warm or even offering some KMR kitten formula but her condition sounds critical. Unfortunately there is not much more you can do at home without seeing a veterinarian first.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Depending on her age, the kitten may not be able to break down the milk sugar called lactose much like people with Lactose Intolerance. I wouldn't advise giving milk since it can cause cramping, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal upset. I would advise getting her to your veterinarian right away for an examination. Depending on her age they will advise you on pertinent testing (Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), vaccinations, and deworming to get her off on the right track. Great job saving her and good luck

Poor little Kuri. I can't be positive, but it sounds like she may have an abscess which is an infection usually resulting from a bite wound. Wash the wound gently with antibacterial soap and rinse it well. An antibiotic such as clindamycin will usually help these infections if the gentle washing does not clear it out. Generally a kitten her age should be eating kitten food. The milk may actually cause her tummy to get upset if she is not used to drinking it. Hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Savannah. She will need to see her veterinarian for an initial kitten exam and to start her vaccinations and deworming. It sounds like she feels well based on how you described her behavior. She has likely been stressed by coming to a new home. I suspect she will use the litterbox soon. However, it would be good to have her evaluated to ensure there is not an underlying disease. I hope this information helps!

It may take your new kitten time to get used to her new surroundings. Try keeping her in a smaller area, like a bathroom, with her littler box and food/water. Being in closer proximity to them may encourage her to eat and use the box. You may also want to try offering her canned kitten food, as opposed to kibble. This may encourage her to eat more. When she does eventually defecate, if it is outside of the box, place the stool inside the box to help her learn where to go. If these tips are not working and your kitten is still refusing to eat or drink, you may want to consider taking her in to the vet to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Please have your kitten seen by a vet right away. That wound looks extremely painful and will require pain medication and antibiotics. The kitten will need to have the wound cleaned out by the vet and will likely need sutures/bandaging of the area. Pain medication meant for people can be toxic to kittens and should not be used without checking with your vet. If you cannot keep the kitten and don’t know anyone who will take on his care and vet expenses, please contact local animal shelters and rescue groups so that he can get vet care asap. Thanks for trying to help these cats!

That's very kind of you to take in this stray kitten! The bloody nose could be due to the cold, especially if she has been sneezing a lot. I would keep her warm tonight, and keep her indoors. If she's very congested, she may have trouble smelling food, so I would gently warm some really smelly wet food such as sardine or fish based to try to tempt her to eat. I would take her into the vet in the morning. The vet can do a physical exam, routine blood tests, and a urinalysis to check how her organs are functioning and her current health status. I would recommend getting her vaccines if the vet feels she is healthy enough to receive them, and should also be flea treated, given heartworm medication, and dewormed. She's lucky to have you looking after her :-)