Help my dying kitten.

[Tommy]

We were given 4 kittens, about 5 weeks of age I think. There mother died from getting hit by a car. 3 of the kittens are doing great, weights about 600 grams. One kitten is loosing weight fast. It now only weights 450 grams. We try to feed it 10 grams 5 times a day, it will drink, but now it turns it's head as if it doesn't want any, and it throws up shortly after. It seems weary, and cries before throwing up. We are feeding it with warm substitute mother's milk fore kittens from the veterinarian. It has been using the litter box, but only fluid comes out of its rear.
We are really worried that she might not make it to the morning, where we can take it to the vet. Is there anything we can do until then? Can you please help us?

Sincerely Tommy

[Karen]

Keep feeding her, so she doesn't get dehydrated. Where are you located? Have you tried helping her poop? She might need that, being so young. I'd call an all-night emegency vet in your area just for advice.

617-453-0143 is the phone number for the Veterinary Emergency Hospital near me - they are open 8 pm to 8 am, and are in eatern Massachusetts. They were wonderful when a certain bunny broke her leg at 11:30 at night.

[Tommy]

Thank you very much Karen for your advice, I will keep trying to feed her then, but how often? It needs sleep too, I think. Hope she doesn't get dehydrated. I live in Denmark. But this site is the only one I could find. Yes, we have tried helping her poop by rubbing her belly. I can’t find any Veterinary Emergency that is open here.

[Cataholic]

Tommy, not to be undelicate, but, you don't rub her belly to help her poop. You need to stimulate her anal area. I would take a warm wash cloth and gently rub over her anal area to stimulate her. I would up her feeding to once every 4 hours, smaller amounts...

I would really try to find someone that is open right now for assistance. Good luck to you and the kitten.

[Catty1]

I just sent Randi a private message - Randi lives in Denmark. I said to please check Cat Rescue...I know you will be contacted when Randi sees the message!

Hugs and hang in there!

Catty1

[Tommy]

Thank you for telling me Cataholic. I woke up a vet at home and he told me to leave it in peace until they open i 4 hours. Hope it is not too late.

[Karen]

Good luck, and let us know whatever happens!

[Tommy]

Thank you Catty, I hope Randi can help and in time. The vet dit not sound too optimistic. The kitten seems to be in pain now and then…This really sucks.

[Catty1]

Remember, Tommy - to help her poop, rub her hind end gently with a warm washcloth, the place where the poop comes out.

PT prayers are on the way to your baby!

And they are powerful ones.

hugs
Catty1

[DallasRechelle]

I'm going through something somewhat similar with one of my babies right now. If you have any soft food, warm it up a little, sprinkle a touch of garlic on it and try to get baby to eat that. My girl ate that for the first time tonight and it appears to help. My vet is going to call in the morning for an update, but it seems to work. Squirt wouldn't drink anything, she was tired of milk, so we tried some soft food (which I know I shouldn't feed but we were desperate). Otherwise, if the kitten won't take that, then take a syringe and put it far in the mouth and push milk in that way. She should get about a tablespoon a feeding, but with her losing weight, you may want to push more.

Please, as soon as you know, let us know how the baby is. Our thoughts & prayers are with you.

[Tommy]

Thank you for your advice DallasRechelle. My friends believe that the vet will only put it to sleep; too many cats around here, and not a lot he can do to help that small a kitten. So we tried gently to stimulate her anal area, with a warm washcloth, and placed her in the litter box. It actually helped. We also succeeded with giving her 5 gram (not much) of the vet cat milk with a syringe. She will not even smell to my kitten soft food form the vet. I will try again in 4 hours, if she can keep it in her. Should I put a bit of garlic juice in the milk maybe? She seems very exhausted so I will let her get some sleep now. I will watch her for an hour more and then I could use some sleep too. She just has to make it. The 3 other kittens are doing fine, and pees all over the room.

[G535]

We can do no more than keep our fingers and claws crossed that your kitten comes through this. It's really amazing how when you think they're finished they suddenly come back again.

[Lizzie]

I had a very young kitten, the runt of the litter, who got colic very badly when he ate too much for his very small self. He'd be in very obvious pain. Perhaps your kitten is having trouble digesting even the milk and has colic. In your place, I would push fluids over food at this point. She will dehydrate far faster than starve, and her digestive system may need a rest. I suggest tepid water via a syringe and continue the anal area massage. Hopefully, she will be at the vet's in a matter of hours. Good luck!

[Cataholic]

Just checking in for an update. Still thinking positive thoughts.

[DallasRechelle]

Thank you for your advice DallasRechelle. My friends believe that the vet will only put it to sleep; too many cats around here, and not a lot he can do to help that small a kitten. So we tried gently to stimulate her anal area, with a warm washcloth, and placed her in the litter box. It actually helped. We also succeeded with giving her 5 gram (not much) of the vet cat milk with a syringe. She will not even smell to my kitten soft food form the vet. I will try again in 4 hours, if she can keep it in her. Should I put a bit of garlic juice in the milk maybe? She seems very exhausted so I will let her get some sleep now. I will watch her for an hour more and then I could use some sleep too. She just has to make it. The 3 other kittens are doing fine, and pees all over the room.

She may have gotten constipated. It's very uncomfortable for a human to go through, much less a little kitten who is still learning how to go on their own. Every hour or two, stimulate her to go. Feed her every 5 hours, and in between, at about every 2 hours, push some water in. Don't put the garlic into the cat milk, as it could turn it nasty tasting (would you drink garlic flavored milk?). Get some soft food from the grocery store, which may not be the best health wise, but may give her an alternative, break it up if it's a pate, and offer that to her as well. She may want a different texture, and to use those little razors that are called teeth. My cats have *always* turned up their noses to food from the vet, unless it's crunchy. They don't like vet soft food. Not smelly enough I guess. LOL It seems the smellier, the better.

Please, when you can, let us know how baby is doing.