At 2 weeks, are the poor thing's eyes even open? If not, you're in for some work and the kitten may not survive. That young, they are still nursing, but also they need the mother to stimulate the kitten into elimination (they usually lick the anal area). My mom had a kitten that young and we weren't able to save it (it's mother had abandoned it or was killed).
If the kitten were a bit older, say 4-6 weeks, then you'd have a good chance at survival. My mom's tom was about that old when my sister rescued him. Little guy fit into the palm of your hand. I was able to feed him milk and kitten food and he was OK. I did have to build steps into a litter box for him though, and show him how to use it. Although after a couple of scraping noises with my fingers and he got the idea. I had litter everywhere
Sevy's 14 now.
I'd definitely take the kitten to the vet and follow their recommendations. At 2 weeks, the kitten is not strong enough for vaccinations (they're typically done around 3 months along with neutering). The kitten is going to need a pretty regular feeding schedule at young ages, especially when feeding milk/canned food. Once they are able to eat dry food, their feeding schedule is more flexible. I think I waited until Sevy was about 6 months before introducing dry kitten food. Cats are considered adults at 1 year.
Some general cat hints:
- cats do not like rapid changes in diet/food. If you're switching to another brand, mix it with your old food for a week or two.
- mix canned and dry food. Dry food often does not contain essential oils for good coat health. Stick the unused portion of the can in the fridge until the next feeding. Try to feed 1/2 - 1 can per cat, per day, depending on the cat's age/size and the size of the can. Bailey gets 1 whole can of Fancy Feast per day. She weighs ~10 lbs. I space the feedings out 3x a day.
- litter changes need to be frequent, at least once a week. Scoopable litter is nice, but you still need to change the whole box. Also, some cats do not like certain litter textures. If they don't use the box, try changing the litter type or location of the box.
- use catnip sparingly. It doesn't hurt them, but it does act a bit like a drug. It's called "kitty-crack" for a reason
Also be wary of long people hair and feathers. They can get stuck in the cat's digestive system and plug it up. That typically requires surgery to fix.
- changes in the cat's eating/drinking habits usually indicate a problem or illness. Keep an eye on how much your cat eats/drinks. If you notice a change, take it to the vet. I've saved Bailey's life twice now by doing that.
Good luck! I'm hoping you can pull the little guy (or gal) through!
WR
