Expert: Karen Craft - 5/23/2007

Question
QUESTION: On Saturday, we were able to find our outdoor cats two kittens, that were about three to four weeks old and on Saturday night one of the kittens died. That day it was very tired, slept constantly, could hold it's head up, couldn't or wouldn't eat, and couldn't move his body that well and later into the night he just got were he couldn't move at all. The other kitten was very healthy though, ran around, ate well (or at least it seemed like it did) and was just an active little fur ball. On Monday, though the kitten was sleeping a lot, but if you picked him up he would start meowing (which the other kitten wouldn't even meow) and when I would bring him into the living room he would start walking around, but he looked a little drunk or clumsy; I couldn't tell if he was eating or not though, for his mom and him stayed in the bathroom, because of my other cat. Then that night around 9 the cat just got were it couldn't move but it would still kind of meow and then within 15 minutes of that happening he died. What could have happened to them? What could have killed them? I really would like an answer, I think it would make me feel a little bit better knowing what took my adorable fur balls away from me. Thank you. Kacey

ANSWER: Hi Kacey,

I'm sorry for your loss. It's hard to say what might have gone wrong. It sounds like they might have been too young to be on their own. If they were 3-4 weeks old they still should have been on formula. They should also have needed to you to help them eliminate and they needed to be kept warm. They needed a nesting box with an electric blanket. Little kittens like that need special care. If you get kittens that young again write back and I will be able to help you raise them. Again, I'm sorry.

Ciao, Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you Karen for replying to my question, the only thing is though they weren't on there own I forgot to add that in my first question. The two kittens and there mom were all in my bathroom and she stayed with them pretty much all the time except when she had to go to the bathroom. And we did have a cat bed in there with them and also a box with a towel in it. And the healthier kitten was eating on Sunday, it looked like just fine, and then on Monday it just wouldn't or couldn't eat anymore or I couldn't tell if the mom was letting it eat anymore. So what do you think could have happened to make them so sick all of the sudden, sick enough to kill them?

Answer
Hi Kacey,

Sorry I didn't understand that. Was this the mom's first litter? There are more chances of something going wrong with the first litter than any other time. There is a condition called fading kitten syndrome. Basically it's something that happens to kittens that vets can't explain why. But this sounds like what happened to your kits. Here's a copy of an article about this. It's not much but
I hope this helps.

Ciao, Karen


The first few weeks of a kitten's life are crucial. They are fragile, helpless creatures who rely on their mother for nutrition as well as social education. Kittens that do not survive the first few weeks have been called “faders” or afflicted with “fading kitten syndrome.” About 20 to 40 percent of all kittens born will not survive past 12 weeks of age. After reaching 12 weeks, most kittens will continue to grow and develop.

Causes of kitten death in the first 12 weeks of life are generally linked to problems associated during development in the uterus, with the birth process or around the time of weaning.

Uterine Development Problems

Birth defects, which includes both genetic as well as drug or environmental causes, account for a large number of fading kittens. The easiest birth defect to detect would be malformation of the head, limbs, genital or anal area as well as a cleft palate. After birth, close thorough examination of the kitten, including examining the roof of the mouth, can help pick up on any potentially fatal birth defects.

Pregnant cats that are fed a low quality diet have a higher incidence of fading kittens. The kittens can be born weak, diseased and underweight. Some kittens will suffer from uterine malnutrition due to competition between other developing fetuses in very large litters.

Birth Process Problems

The delivery process can be quite traumatic for both the queen and the kittens. Extended labor and difficulty passing the kitten can result in potentially fatal injuries. Cannibalism at the time of delivery can also occur, leading to kitten death. Neglect of the newborn either due to a nervous, high-strung new mother or due to illness usually results in early kitten death.

Weaning Problems

In kittens, blood type problems can be devastating. If the mother and the kittens do not have the same blood type, serious illness including death can occur in the kitten. This phenomenon is not common since the majority of cats have similar blood types. Unfortunately, blood type concerns do occur more frequently in purebred cats. If the queen and kittens do not have compatible blood types, death of the kitten can occur within days to weeks of nursing.

Once the problem is diagnosed, future litters should be removed from that queen and orphan-raised. There is no treatment for the kittens already afflicted with the illness associated with blood type incompatibility. Other problems during nursing and weaning that can cause kitten death include various infectious diseases, bacterial and viral, as well as parasites.

Diagnosing Fading Kitten Syndrome

Kittens that do not survive beyond 12 weeks of age are generally diagnosed with fading kitten syndrome. These kittens can slowly deteriorate, stop nursing, and grow profoundly weak and thin. The exact cause of the fading kitten is usually not determined. If more than 20 percent of the litter is affected, submitting a recently expired kitten for post mortem examination to determine the cause of death may be helpful in preventing additional kitten losses.