my 3-4 week old kitten

Question
I an trying to raise a kitten that was left by her mom when she was 2 weeks old. I feed her mild through a dropper and she eats every couple hours good, also purrs and puts her nails into me the way kittens do to their moms. I have noticed lately around her, private part it seems it's puffy looking-she does pee though because I continuously have to change her bedding (it smells of pee)but today I see her butt is swollen looking too, & I went to touch it a little & little poop started coming out in like a string and it didn't stop for a couple seconds. I think something's obviously wrong or is she not old enough to poop on her own? I think she's maybe 3 1/2 weeks old only  please help me if you can! I feel so bad I just wana know if somethings wrong or not  

Answer
Well first of all, that was awesome that you took on this job. It isn't always easy to do! If you meant that you are feeding her milk, you need to stop unless you mean Kitten Milk replacer.

Cats are lactose intolerant once they are away from their mother's milk, and this can cause many digestive upsets. She needs to be on a mother's milk replacer such as Nurturall Kitten Milk or Espilac kitten milk formula.

At 3 weeks she should be defecating on her own. She is probably swollen and puffy from having diarrhea from the milk. At her age she needs to be on a bottle and should be drinking about 4 ounces or so at a time.

I am hoping that you have been helping her defecate all this time by taking a warm, damp rag and gently stroking her with the rag (makes them fell like mom's tongue is doing the job)toward her anus. This stimulates them to defecate.

They cannot do this on their own until they are about 10 days old or older.

Get her started on the milk replacer and make sure you stimulate her to defecate about three times a day. Get a pet nurser bottle and feed her with that. They are marked in ounces. The bottle of milk will tell you how much to feed. Do not dilute the Nurturall. Some forms of Esbilac need to be mixed.

Here is what Nurturall looks like:

http://www.amazon.com/Nurturall-C-Kitten-Milk-Replacer-Liquid/dp/B001OLOZ5U
It is excellent food for kittens and squirrels!

When she is about 5-6 weeks old you can start her on some wet food and dry mixed with the milk you are going to be feeding her.Little bitty amounts is all she will need to start. Do not feed her Purina kitten chow as it is coated in cow's milk and will cause digestive upsets. Get her Science Diet kitten growth formula which comes in wet and dry. You will get the most nutrition for your dollar that way and she will thrive on it.

Get her vaccinated and wormed as soon as she is six weeks old. She will have some immunities due to getting some mom's milk but not much. She is more susceptible to infections and viruses as a result.  

Worming a small kitten is really important as they are born with the round worms and these can really wreak havoc on her little system.

I hope this helps Kelly. Please let me know if you have any other questions.