Expert: Marcia Owen - 6/8/2009

Question
I saw other questions relating to this but nothing exactly
like this. My cat gave birth to four kittens about a week
ago, When we found them the next day two were tangled
together by ones umbilical cord. One kitten unfortunately
had it wrapped around his front lower leg/ paw area. We
managed to remove the cord and the kitten seemed fine, but
now there is definitely an infection. There is a inflamed
lump and the paw has not grown. The baby has trouble moving
around, it seems to also take a lot of energy out of it to
move around, but it does eat and seems like a normal kitten
other than this mishap. It is the runt out of the little and
I am very worried for the kitten. I don't have much money
and am not sure what to do.

Answer
Dear Brooke

I'm sorry but you will need to take the kitten to a vet, firstly for antibiotics to combat the infection, which takes hold in a kitten very quickly and can be serious. The vet will also be able to decide what is best for the foot as if it is useless, the kitten will only drag it around, causing damage to it and further infection.

I do hope all will be well in the end.

Marcia.