Jacky, NI (the condition you named) is the reason why we needed to bottle feed for the first 24rs. We know that's not why he died because he showed no signs of it. I've seen pictures of kittens with it, and wow, he had absolutely nothing like that.
I think in general he may have been weak, although not to my immediate knowledge. He was fine for the 2 days he nursed, but it was the last day that was the end. He just stopped having the urge to nurse the night before he expired, and most likely didn't nurse thru the night. I fed him by hand the next morning and then in the afternoon after I fed him again is when he died cradled in my hands.
Mawi, yes the searching would have killed me. I do know that she is different today, not purring as usual. She usuallly is a purr monster, but she wouldn't sleep under the covers with me last night which made me cry while in bed. It was horrible. I hope she comes back to normal soon. But still, no searching for her baby.