My 8-week-old kitten is very skinny and won't eat. Is she sick?

Question

I have an 8 week old kitten that I purchased/rescued from a household that had 10 adult cats and 17 kittens living in very poor conditions. She is very skinny to the point that I can feel every bone in her body, most likely had to compete for food. She isn't very active and will eat only a few bites of canned food a couple of times per day, won't drink milk at all but will drink water in small amounts. She doesn't act sick but I am worried that she may be going downhill, please help. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Longhair | Female | unspayed | 1lb

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

I recommend that you take Jade to the vet as soon as possible. From her history, there are a few things that I am concerned about. The first is intestinal parasites, she needs to be tested and treated accordingly. The other is viral infections such as panleukopenia. She may also benefit from bloodwork to check for malnutrition, anemia, kidney disease, etc. Continue to encourage her to eat wet kitten food, and check her thoroughly for fleas. I hope Jade will be on the mend soon!

My 8-week-old kitten is very skinny and won't eat. Is she sick?

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