Kitten died, I'm so sad

[Dog1,Cats2]

I've been fostering kittens for a group I'm affiliated with called Save Our Strays. The first litter of 6 kittens that I had from a stray cat that someone found got adopted and all are doing great. This 2nd litter of 5 came from a feral mom-cat out of someone's barn - they needed to be gentled and socialized so that we could get them adopted. They came in at around 6 or 7 weeks old very healthy looking and got pretty friendly pretty quickly. They were vet checked and spay/neutered right away, and only found to have round-worm.

3 of the 5 continued to be healthy and happy, energetic and playful. 2 of them seemed smaller, maybe younger? One of those 2 (named Blaze) went on a hunger strike - after 2 or 3 days of refusing everything I could think of to tempt her to eat (including chicken and kitty milk) I took her to the vet-- where she ate quite a lot from a can of Hills A/D perscription food. He couldn't find anything wrong except for roundworm, so dosed her for that.

She seemed to be doing OK, very demanding for that particular canned food and now would also eat other foods, but cried a lot and seemed to want to be held. She also would only nibble a little bit at a time, felt awfully skinny, seemed lethargic - either sleeping in a hunched up "meatloaf" position or crying to be fed or held.

Another kitty, Bambino, is acting much the same way, but not so much. Only wants dried kitty food, (sometimes will eat chicken) nibbles ony a little bit at a time, seems awfully skinny & lethargic - not energetic or playful with the other kittens - but doesn't cry and follow me around like Blaze did.

Blaze died yesterday. (About a week after being vet-checked and spayed.) She was one of my favorites, and I'm devastated. She was fine after her vet check and spay. The other 3 kittens from this litter are fine, although little Bambino isn't doing well and probably has the same illness or problem. I'll call the vet about her - but can anyone shed any light on what might have happened to poor little Blaze?

[princessofjade]

I'm so sorry that your kitten died. Don't be sad. Her soul will be at rest, I'm assure. I just have a kitty not long ago. I'm still learning on how to take care of her. I would be very sad if anything happen to Kitana, my kitty.
Thanks God, she's doing very fine. When I first got Kitana I didn't know how to care of her and she got sick for one week. I was worried sick and sadness, so I totally understand how you feel with Blaze and Bambino. Be strong you will have to take care of other kitties.
God bless!

[Cataholic]

I am so sorry for the loss of sweet young Blaze. I can't shed any light on why these things happen, but, to assure you it wasn't anything you did/didn't do. Sometimes these young things come into life with much against them. Please take care of yourself, and Bambino, and the other ones. Know that Blaze is healthy, living life to the fullest, and looking down on you from RB. She knows she was loved by you.
Hugs,
Johanna

[Dog1,Cats2]

Thanks; it seems so unfair, and I wonder what I missed, or what I could have done differently - Blaze was the sweetest kitten; I had serious thoughts about keeping her for myself.

I hope Bambino doesn't die too. I'll be taking her to the vet tomorrow.

[AmberLee]

So sorry to hear of your loss. I'm sure Blaze felt your love and it helped her in her final days. Will be holding you and Bambino and the rest of the family in our prayers here.

[thelmalu99]

Oh, I'm so sorry! You sound as if you care so much about them, and I'm sure it's nothing you did wrong.

One question: did the vet run a blood test on the kittens? From my experience, vet checks don't necessarily include a blood test unless you specifically request it. Sometimes it's something that cannot be diagnosed without it. I would definitely have a blood test run on Bambino, if it hasn't already been done.

If you know who the momma-kitty is, it might be helpful to have her checked as well (if you can), and run blood tests on the others from the same litter, if possible. There are numerous possibilities, and sometimes the momma kitty can be a carrier of some disease and pass it on to her kittens. In this case, momma kitty should be spayed, to prevent another litter of sick kitties from being born.

Good luck with little Bambino. We have our paws crossed for him!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.:( Prayers and positive thoughts are on the way for little Bambino. Please keep us updated and take care.

[jenluckenbach]

I am so sorry for your loss. I have been in your shoes (for the last 2 weeks as a matter of fact) I do not know why kittens die :(

I know that you (as I) did all you could. Know that she left the world as a loved member of a family and not an unwanted stray. (because even our fosters are OUR cats until they leave for the forever homes)

[Dog1,Cats2]

UPDATE: Vet visit yesterday for Bambino was very productive. He found spirokeets (sp?) bacteria in the stool sample, and treated her with amoxi drops (2X/day) - said she was emaciated and to force feed her the Hills A/D perscription catafood and liquid with a syringe every few hours - and that she should perk up and start eating on her own within 24 to 48 hours. So we did all that and this morning she woke up ravenous!

I actually started crying there at the vet's office, wondering if I'd only brought Blaze in and /or force fed her the same way if she wouldn't have died. I'd been worried about her and knew whe wasn't eating much; but didn't think it was life-threatening. The vet had actually seen her a week or so earlier; checked his records - at that time she didn't have the spirokeets bacteria - he said it's likely her problem wasn't the same and that she may have died regardless - cause sometimes kittens die. Didn't really make me feel that much better - she still died because I didn't realize how bad off she was.

Aaaand then . . . a 3rd kitty sibling is also in trouble. Mittsy was fine last week, we put her on display in one of the kitty cages at PetSmart on Friday. On Monday (yesterday afternoon) the store vet determined that she was having trouble and called to say that she was throwing up. I went to get her - and she's all skinny-looking and lethargic too now; whereas before she was playful and energetic and seemed fine. I gave her the amoxi drops and force fed her last night & this morning too but she hasn't bounced back AND she's got ringworm, according to the store vet ------- so we're back to our vet this afternoon.

[ScoobyDoo-Doo]

I am NOT an expert but I do suspect a genetic problem here. Since these cats are ferel they may be inbread cats several generations. It sounds like the same batch of kittens are having the same syndrome or symptoms. I would start suspecting that inbreeding may have taken it's toll.
I heard that a mother and son can have kittens toghether but then the sister from that litter can cause birth defects to appear. The cats may be susceptible to diseases other cats may be immuned to because of their inherited weakend immune systems.
A case in point: Hemophylia the disease found in humans was caused by inbreeding in family lines in ANCIENT times. It came from England from the Royals trying to carry on their bloodlines.
I would suspect your kittens maybe suffering a similar effect. There isn't anything you may be able to do. Their best chances are that they are spade and nuetered. This could prevent more kittens from suffering needless deaths.
May god bless your kitty's and take care of them.:)