Is my healthy, quiet kitten depressed? What can I do to help?

Question

s it possible for a very young kitten (13 oz weight) To have depression? Hes probably 5 or 6 weeks old. Orphaned but he has another orphan to play with. He eats well and everything but doesn't play very often, is mostly silent, and has a perpetual sad look on his face (so much so, it is mentioned by all who meet him). When i hold him I just get the sense there is no joy there but he shows no sign of pain, just sadness. Hes vaccinated, dewormed, parasite free, and vet says he is healthy. Ideas??? Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 2 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

We certainly see depression in animals, and I have seen depression in a kitten before. However it is challenging to treat. First, at 13 ounces, your foster kitten is certainly underweight if he is 5-6 weeks old. If he has been malnourished before you got him, he may need some extra time to recover. There is some research that Omega 3 fatty acids (especially DHA) are important for brain development, so you might consider adding that to his food. I normally recommend Wellactin ( http://www.welactin.com/cat ) for cats. I have also had good luck with using Bach Flower Essences for depression in animals. They are homeopathically prepared flower essences that were developed for humans for mental issues. The most common formula is Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ), but you can also design a custom formulation. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Is my healthy, quiet kitten depressed? What can I do to help?

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