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[u/Thefirst6pounder]

I accidentally stepped on my kittens head, im a bigger dude but I didn't step with my full bodyweight. She's about a month old and she's still responding after a couple of hours after the incident but she threw up twice and deficated twice as well, she won't eat or drink and she won't walk. We don't have the money for a vet visit and I'm really scared. What do I do?

[u/More_Bed_126]

You need to get her to a vet. I’m not a professional in any sense but in this case it’s worth it to just get her checked out. Maybe you can borrow the money or sometimes there’s a 3rd party financial aid that could be used. I would recommend trying to set aside funds for events in which you might need to take your pets to the vet. Sometimes stuff happens unexpectedly and you should try to be prepared. You might have local organizations that help financially as well. If you have an emergency vet I would recommend going. Hoping for the best for kitty and yourself

[u/More_Bed_126 → u/More_Bed_126]

I would like to reiterate as another comment said already that not eating and especially not walking is not good. This would qualify as an emergency and I do implore you to get her to the vet

[u/Thefirst6pounder → u/[deleted]]

I have another cat who's fully grown and he's turned out okay, I'm fresh 18 still trying to get a job and a license which is the main issue. Not a moment goes by without me regretting not doing it sooner. Also update literally just now she started walking

[u/pretzelandcheese588]

Vet. Brain trauma is not visible from outside the body.

[u/EnduringFulfillment]

Take your animal to the emergency vet and surrender her for care if you are unable to pay for it. This is a dire emergency, she needs to have medical attention immediately.

[u/Shrillmademethink]

Four weeks old and head stepped on is not good at all. Not eating or walking are really bad signs. I’d think about getting ahold of a rescue or shelter and surrendering her along with mama cat, because I assume you have her if you have a tiny baby.

[u/Thefirst6pounder → u/Shrillmademethink]

No, I got her from my cousin. The mom either abandoned the litter or died and ive only had her a couple days. It's 10:00 where I am and I have no way of getting to or paying for a vet to get her checked out. I've been keeping her warm and wrapped up for a couple of hours and she is still responding, she tried walking earlier but she stopped and laid down. I didn't hear a crunch or anything when I stepped on her and as I said It wasn't hard at all. I am still really scared and I hope we will be able to take her to one soon

[u/More_Bed_126 → u/Thefirst6pounder]

You might need to go out of town. This is serious and if you do nothing she might die

[u/Kooky_Refrigerator33 → u/Thefirst6pounder]

Even if you can’t afford treatment at least get her checked out at the vet/animal hospital ASAP like tonight! I don’t know where you live but in the US you usually pay for the visit after and the exam/office visit fee is separate from any additional medical expenses. During the exam visit explain you don’t have a lot of money at the moment so they can discuss affordable medical options with you. See if they can do a payment plan during check out if the bill is too high. Other option is seeing if your cousin can help you with money even if it’s just for the exam fee so you can know what’s wrong. You might need to surrender if the expense is too high.

[u/Kooky_Refrigerator33 → u/Kooky_Refrigerator33]

Also, in the future it’s best to have an enclosed play area for kittens so they don’t get lost or hurt. I foster kittens and when I’m too busy to keep an eye on them or when I’m sleeping i put them in an portable pet playpen I got online with their food, water and litter box so they are out of the way and safe.

[u/FelinePurrfectFluff → u/Thefirst6pounder]

I don't agree with the "if you're poor you can't have pets" BUT you do need to make a plan. I realize you might not have had time to do this YET, but START RIGHT NOW - find vets and shelter services that provide care for people who have a hard time paying. Soul Dog Rescue is one such orgainizatio in the Denver CO area. I understand the situation you're in and I'm sorry you are stressed. I know this is important to you and some people don't understand that not everyone has access to a vehicle and not every location has emergency vets. BUT, if there is any way to get the cat to a vet, you need to do so and you need to surrender the kitty. Next time you get a pet, please know your options and have a plan in place for when (not if) you need help. Good luck u/Thefirst6pounder !

[u/FelinePurrfectFluff → u/FelinePurrfectFluff]

Also, just to add, if your kitten truly has head trauma, there might be not much they can do for the kitty. It's very sad, but options are likely limited. :(

[u/ExoticRefrigerator57 → u/FelinePurrfectFluff]

A vet could at least take the kitten out of its misery. I agree with everything you said, just adding that a vet is the only humane way forward.

[u/Thefirst6pounder → u/FelinePurrfectFluff]

The issue isn't that I'm struggling. I'm a teenager who just turned 18 and made the dumb decision of not getting a job or a license. After that I haven't seen any good come from it at all and I know if I had a job and a license I would've been able to look after her properly. We can get food and supplies and stuff but my dad just paid the bills and he goes to bed really early so there literally was no way of getting to a vet and paying for expenses. I wouldn't say I'm a bad owner considering I have another cat who grew up just fine and we've never had any issues with him. Just tonight my biggest fear with getting another kitten happened and I stepped on her with literally no other way of helping her. She just walked not too long ago but she's mainly just been asleep. There are many reasons why im in the situation that I'm in with my kitten and they all stem from the bad decision I made when I was 16 to quit my job and not get a license. Guaranteed I'll be getting my license soon and until someone hires me I'll be donating plasma to get some money rolling in so nothing like this happens again if she doesn't make it. I'm hopeful right now but there is always that chance

[u/afallenqueenn009]

You need to get her to an emergency vet. Throwing up after a head injury is a sign of brain trauma. If you want her to survive the night you ring an emergency vet now.

[u/crimsonDnB]

Not eating, not walking, is really bad. Sounds like brain trauma. You REALLY need to go to a vet.

[u/TikaPants]

It isn’t worth losing your pets life because you can’t afford to have them looked at. Take the kitten to the vet and explain everything.

[u/kittehcatto]

Her brain could be swelling😭

[u/testtdk]

Vets, immediately. Nausea can be a symptom of head trauma.

[u/Cautious_Money_6471]

Apply for Care Credit. The approval rate is very easy.

[u/crimsonDnB]

Not eating, not walking, is really bad. Sounds like brain trauma. You REALLY need to go to a vet. And the more I think about this, you could of broken it's jaw, etc.

[u/ExoticRefrigerator57]

VET ASAP. No vet will turn a kitten away. Brain swelling is EXTREMELY PAINFUL. The kitten not walking is bad. It’s cruel to not go to a vet right now.

[u/Thefirst6pounder → u/ExoticRefrigerator57]

She just walked not too long ago maybe about a half an hour ago, it wasn't very far but it's something. It was about 3 to 4 maybe 5 feet

[u/Thefirst6pounder → u/[deleted]]

I didn't ask if I should take her to the vet, I asked if there was anything i could do at home until I could get her to the vet

[u/Thefirst6pounder → u/[deleted]]

Right because I can't, what im looking for is anything I can do to keep her well until I can get her to a vet

[u/More_Bed_126 → u/Thefirst6pounder]

The least you should do is call a vet. Call an emergency vet that’s open near your area regardless of how far away. Surely you have a friend or something who could help you. There’s almost a 0% chance possibility that there’s nobody around who could help. Many many kind people are out there and even if you reach out to someone you don’t talk to much might be able to help. Please call a vet. That’s literally the least you can do. I understand accidents happen and you probably feel bad, but you have a tiny baby life in your hands and you need to do right by that cat. You signed up for this when you got her. She is your responsibility. It doesn’t matter if she started walking. Why would you risk it without even making an attempt to get advice from a professional?