Expert: Becky - 5/25/2005

Question
We have a mother cat outside who had 4 kittens 7-1/2 weeks ago.  We brought in one of the kittens and it seems to be doing fine.  The runt of the litter is not.  Yesterday it was just laying around very limp.  The mother would not allow it to eat.  We brought it in the house and gave it some milk.  We gave it a bath to clean it up.  The poor little kitten has a big lump under it's right eye (which is all swollen and mostly closed) and a very large pink nose.  It's legs have bumps all over it.  We think it was bitten by ants.  The kitten was still a little weak but was walking around and trying to eat last night.  We left it in the house with the other kitten while we went to work today.  When we got home it seemed to be worse today than yesterday.  It was more limp than ever and seemed to give up.  We put it back outside with the mother and it ate a little while the mother cleaned it.  We brought it back into the house and gave it some kitten formula.  It's now fighting a little trying not to eat and seems to be moving a little bit better.  The mother did clean off the eye and now it looks very cloudy.  Any suggestions about the eye and anything else we can do to help the poor little thing?

Answer
Hi Nicole,
Unless this kitten nurses regularly and keeps warm, she will die.  You need to make sure that she does this. It doesn't sound like the mother has rejected her completely. Try to make sure she nurses,  then if she is cold, take her in and warm her up.   If  she gets too weak, she will not be able to nurse. She may have an eye infection and need veterinary attention.  If you want to save this kitten, that may be your only choice.... seeing a vet.

Good luck,
Becky