Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 7/31/2008

Question
I July 24 recently bought 2 Bengal(10 weeks old) kittens from the same
litter from a breeder. Both were under two pounds and rather small. I was
told that they were sick because the mother had gone into heat and stopped
nursing to soon. But they were treated with amoxacillin and albon for 10
days and were fully recovered, they just hadn't gained any weight back yet.   
Within 24 hours the female was lethargic, with diarrhea. I called breeder
who had sent me home with amoxacillin, and she told me to give it to the
female, who got worse. Took her to the vet on the 29th and she was just
1.19 pounds the male only 1 pound more, I was told that both kittens had a
parasite infestation. When i notified the breeder she told me that there was
no way that the kittens got it from her home. That it was from stress or
contact with another animal. That all her cat/kittens had never had
worms/or parasites. I have no pets and the kittens have been in my home
the entire time I had them.. My question is how do kittens get parasites and
do they just show up or did they already have them? Did I get ill kitties from
the breeder or is this normal stuff. The males only symptoms are enlarged
abdominal organs, and low weight, he was smaller the her when we got him
and has about doubled in size since we have had him.

Answer
Depending on  the type of parasite, they can get most of them from their mother.  If the breeder was giving Albon, then they are aware of a coccidia parasite problem. Most kitties will have parasites, so when they are dewormed, they should start to gain weight.