You are here:
- Home
- Animals/Pets
- Cats
- Cats
- Newborns Holding On
Cats/Newborns Holding On
Advertisement
Question
My first time queen just had her litter of 4 kittens 4 days ago.I am very confused on signs of just sleeping of possibly dying. We lost one last night, he had been nursing well and just as active as the others. Now two more seem to be less active and less than interested in feeding.I began trying to bottle feed with KMR formula but they will not suck on it either. Does this mean they are just too weak or are they possible just worn out and resting? What can I possibly do here?
Kim,
I'm so sorry to hear that you've lost more babies overnight and I really wish I knew exactly what's going on so that I could offer an easy fix for this situation, but I'd be lying if I told you I could promise that everything's going to turn out the way that we would all hope it will. Unfortunately I'm not a vet so although I wish I could tell you for sure what's going on and what the appropriate treatment would be I can't. Ultimately only a vet's exam can tell you what's happening with these kittens, it seems strange to me that the ones who've passed on seemed healthy and vigorous until shortly before they've died. I have to wonder if there's some sort of infection happening that attacks these guys quickly causing death. The mention of the smaller kitten not having a chubby tummy is concerning because it could mean s/he's not nursing at all and there's no way to know for sure if it's because s/he's sick, if there's some sort of birth defect in the heart and lungs or even something like a cleft palate causing the feeding difficulties and breathing issues. This is a really odd case and I think it's best to pack up the remaining kittens and their mother and have everyone checked over to try and get some idea of what's going on, the best course of action and whether or not these kittens can actually be helped. You did mention that you care for 8 rescued cats - was Mom rescued while she was pregnant? Maybe a lack of proper nutrition throughout some parts of her pregnancy is causing problems here...Mom may also have some sort of viral or bacterial infection that's not bothering her enough that she's showing signs of being ill, but if this is the case infection would be devastating and very serious for newborn kittens because they're born with very little resistance to infection. It sounds like the smaller kitten hasn't been eating for several hours, possibly longer, however I don't think it's wise to force formula on this kitten unless the vet recommends doing so, it's possible to do more harm than good if the kitten is seriously ill and too weak to handle the physical demands that sucking and swallowing place on his system. There's a good chance that the smaller kitten may be in need of intensive medical care such as having a tube placed down his throat and directly into his tummy to send formula directly into his belly to minimize the effort he has to show in order to do the most basic things necessary for survival. I really don't know what to recommend beyond taking immediate action and getting this new family to the vet ASAP to find out what's wrong and why these little ones are dying. Given your description I wouldn't be as concerned about the chubby kitten who is active and vocal as the smaller, quieter kitten, but based on your description of recent events I can't guarantee that any of these kittens are going to survive with or without medical care. Mom may have mastitis or she could have passed something else through her milk to her babies, or these kittens just may not be healthy or strong enough to survive without fairly intensive care and help from the vet.
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Hello again. I wanted to follow up and see what you think. We did unfortunatly loose another last night. It is very strange because just 4 hours earlier he was squeeling and moving vigerously and seemed healthy. I noticed late last night he was not breathing thru his nose but taking large gasp like breths thru the mouth as tho he was choaking. He did this for about thirty min befor passing. So I am now left with two. One is very plump, very chattery, and crawling all over the place. The other I am also worried about, he is almost half the size, his belly is flat (not plump) and he will not nurse from mother or bottle. He seems very weak and connot lift his head but just as we decide to get to the vet he livens back up and begins to cry. We will be making a trip to the vet but what do you think it sounds like is going on here? At what point do you know he is not getting proper food and you begin to force feed? Thanks for the help and information. Like yourself we are cat lovers and have a healthy houshold of 8 rescued cats. We have just never done the newborn thing and feel so helpless. | ||
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.