Kittens not feeling well

My 4 little rescue babies who are about 5 weeks old are all acting sick. They are very warm to the touch and when I took their temperatures they were 105-106. I don't know what normal temp is in a kitten to compare it to, but I think they have fevers. The are all very sleepy and have been just sleeping all day. For the most part they seem to be eating well one turned her nose up to wet food, and she normally loves it. Other than the temperature and the being lethargic there is nothing else I can find wrong. Am I worrying about nothing or is there something wrong with them?

I'm going to call the vet as soon as they open, but I didn't know if anyone here had any idea?

Call the Vet ASAP.Kittens should reach their adult temperature by about 4 weeks, which is between 100 and 102.5.

This may go up to about 103.5 is the kitten is stressed or dehydrated, but 105-106 is fully in the "fever" percentile. They are clearly fighting off some form of infection, and may need veterinary support. Until then keep the kittens in a cool, well ventilated room and make sure there is cool, fresh water available.

Thanks for the advice. The kittens went to the vet, she is not sure what is causing such high fevers... they went up to 106-107 at the vet. But they have antibiotics and an oral supplement because they are not eating like they should. If their fever doesn't break by tomorrow they have to go back. Hopefully they start feeling better soon.

Oh, poor babies. That's a really high fever. Did they get any fluids at the vet? If not, I would call them back and ask for it. Not only is it important if they are not eating well but since it's cool fluid coming into their bodies it can help reduce the fever. You can do it at home if the vet gives you the stuff needed. It's not hard. You can learn it really easily. If you can't do it at home I'd see about taking them back to the vet today to get some fluids in them. It really does help. I've used sub-q fluids to help reduce fevers on both kittens and adults and for the most part it helps bring it down a bit which with such a high fever would be important.
I'd also put them on something cool like ice wrapped in a blanket. Anything that can help them cool down.
If they are not eating as much as they should you can supplement their nutritional and caloric intake with Nutrical. I'd also start them on L-Lysine just in case this is herpes related. It can't hurt them.

Did the kittens have a fecal to check for parasites? FIV/FeLV tests (although it may be too early)? If the fever doesn't break soon and it doesn't look like the antibiotics are working I'd get blood work done on one of them to figure out what's going on.

Good luck with the babies

Originally Posted by Ziggy'smom

Oh, poor babies. That's a really high fever. Did they get any fluids at the vet? If not, I would call them back and ask for it. Not only is it important if they are not eating well but since it's cool fluid coming into their bodies it can help reduce the fever. You can do it at home if the vet gives you the stuff needed. It's not hard. You can learn it really easily. If you can't do it at home I'd see about taking them back to the vet today to get some fluids in them. It really does help. I've used sub-q fluids to help reduce fevers on both kittens and adults and for the most part it helps bring it down a bit which with such a high fever would be important.
I'd also put them on something cool like ice wrapped in a blanket. Anything that can help them cool down.
If they are not eating as much as they should you can supplement their nutritional and caloric intake with Nutrical. I'd also start them on L-Lysine just in case this is herpes related. It can't hurt them.

Did the kittens have a fecal to check for parasites? FIV/FeLV tests (although it may be too early)? If the fever doesn't break soon and it doesn't look like the antibiotics are working I'd get blood work done on one of them to figure out what's going on.

Good luck with the babies

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I have a friend who has the stuff for and knows how to do sub-q so she is going to try it when she gets off of work. I have them on icepacks under their blanket to try to help cool them. They were at the vet 2 weeks ago and had a fecal and have been taking metronidazole for a bacterial infection in their digestive system. They were there last week completely better from that and dewormed at our visit then. They still have worms this visit so we dewormed them again. The vet gave me a supplement called Viyo to give them 3 times a day to keep their calories up. I had their mom tested for FIV/FeLV last week when we were there and she was negative. That was actually the first thing she asked me after she saw what their temps were. If the fever doesn't break the vet wants to give them Metacam (sp?), but they are so little she is trying to avoid it. I will ask her about blood work if we need to go back in tomorrow. Im just hoping they start to turn around soon, the poor things are sore, they walk like it pains them, and they don't move much from where they lay down at. One doesn't even try to stand she just flops over, she is the one running the highest fever too. They were just sleepy and feverish last night and by this morning the soreness thing started. Im so worried about them, one day they were happy playing kittens, and the next they are super sick.

Metacam is basically ibuprofen -- pain reliever, fever reducer, anti-inflammatory, etc -- but it can be really harmful in cats, so I understand her hesitance.

So far it looks like I will be headed back to the vet come morning, they are still running high fevers sticking around 106-107 area. 105.5 is the lowest it has gone down to but that didn't last. They now all have watery eyes and a few have a slight touch of a runny nose, they are still acting sore, and a few lay there and shake, from the fever I guess either that or they are in pain. I feel so bad for them, I don't understand how they got so sick so fast, they were just healthy at the vet last week and playing a few days ago. A friend of mine who rescues suggested I have them looked at for calici virus as a possible cause, but she says it doesn't look like what hers have when they got it, so that may not be it either.

Poor babies, the fever has gone down thankfully. I have 2 at 102.5 and 2 at 104.5... still a fever but not way up at 107! They are still pretty sick little kittens, their little eyes and noses are running now. They seem to be moving better so that is some improvement, but now they have bloody sores in their mouths. They have zero interest in eating on their own, I don't really blame them, so I will just have to keep syringe feeding them. Now that their fevers are going down, the vet just wants me to wait it out. I cant wait till they are happy, healthy, playful little kittens again, it breaks my heart seeing them like this.

Tons of vibes to your little kittens....
I have no idea why your vet would consider giving them Metacam.... but please don't... Metacam can be very dangerous for cats, and is even warned by the FDA itself that it is NOT approved for cats in any quantities orally. injections it is approved once in a lifetime prior to surgery as it can lead to kidney failure and death.
Here you go: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/.../ucm231254.htm

WARNING
Repeated use of meloxicam in cats has been associated with acute renal failure and death. Do not administer additional injectable or oral meloxicam to cats. See Contraindications, Warnings, and Precautions for detailed information.

FDA asked B.I.V.I. to add the boxed warning based on FDAâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s review of reported adverse drug events for METACAMÂ[emoji]174[/emoji]. FDA identified many cases of kidney failure and death in cats associated with repeated use of METACAMÂ[emoji]174[/emoji].

METACAMÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Solution for Injection is approved for one-time use in cats before surgery to control postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgeries, spays, and neuters. In the United States, the safety and effectiveness of more than one dose of METACAMÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Solution for Injection has not been shown in cats for any condition.

METACAMÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Solution for Injection and METACAMÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Oral Suspension are approved in dogs to control pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. METACAMÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Oral Suspension is approved for dogs only. No safe and effective dose of the oral suspension is approved for cats.

Also:
http://www.metacamkills.com/

The low cost pet clinic where I got Boots spayed on Tuesday gave me two doses of oral Metacam to give to him for pain relief. I didn't give them to him because he didn't show signs of pain, but while I was deciding whether or not to I just casually looked it up for use in cats... and promptly threw it in the trash. Some reviewers on metacamkills say it works for their cats, generally with arthrititis, in small amounts (I'm talking drops), but the doses that vet gave me were for 3 or 4 ml a day... I don't even want to think what would have happened if I had given them to him.

As far as your babies go, big time vibes!!

I hoe you can get to the bottom of this, and I'm also glad their fever finally broke. Any longer and I would have been really, REALLY worried for them.

The vet I think only wanted to use medacm as a last resort to bring down their high fevers because when I called back yesterday and told them their temps which were only down to 105-106. They told me to wait anotherday and check back again. When I called and told them about the bloody sores in their mouths along with the other symptoms still they told me it sounds like a really nasty calici virus and the only thing I can do is what I am, and I will just have to wait it out. They only want me to bring them back in if they get worse or take to long to improve... Of course I am welcome to bring them in if I want it just isn't necessary right now. They are separated from the rest of the kitty gang here, but I'm still worried someone else might come down with it.... The rest are all vaccinated against calici if that's what it truly is so hopefully no one will catch it.

Originally Posted by CatNamedPanda

The vet I think only wanted to use medacm as a last resort to bring down their high fevers because when I called back yesterday and told them their temps which were only down to 105-106. They told me to wait anotherday and check back again. When I called and told them about the bloody sores in their mouths along with the other symptoms still they told me it sounds like a really nasty calici virus and the only thing I can do is what I am, and I will just have to wait it out. They only want me to bring them back in if they get worse or take to long to improve... Of course I am welcome to bring them in if I want it just isn't necessary right now. They are separated from the rest of the kitty gang here, but I'm still worried someone else might come down with it.... The rest are all vaccinated against calici if that's what it truly is so hopefully no one will catch it.

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I still don't understand why Metacam - metacam is an anti-inflammatory, used for pain. Fever, on the other hand, is a sign of the body fighting an infection - which is often related to bacteria.
You saw the warnings posted - I would not use it, not even as a last resort - unless in a case of a big osteo-surgery...... after MUCH consideration.
Definitely, definitely not for a fever. If the vet was looking for an anti-inflammatory to go along the antibiotics, I would go depomedrol, not metacam.
Vets will push it, then we push it back. We are all our kitties got. (yep, I was pushed too, for Bugsy...... no thanks)
All the vibes in the World to you

I will definetly remember not to let them use metacam I had no idea before. I'm not sure why she thought about it, she did mention that it could potentially be harmful so she wanted to avoid it, but didn't make it sound like it could really be that harmful so I didn't even think about it. But don't worry now that I know I will not let them use it on any of my cats. I don't really understand either if it is so harmful why vets are willing to just hand it out like that? I always trust my vets to do what is best for them. I was worried they might have givin it to one of my cats when she had to have an emergency c-section but they didn't they gave her dopram and she wasn't allowed pain meds after because of the kittens nursing. But thanks for the advice now that I know I will never let it be used on my cats.

All the kittens fevers are gone except one, he has a fever of 105 it seems to have gone back up because it was lower. Even though they have sores in their mouths the 3 fever-less ones are starting to eat and drink on their own. They are getting more active as well, but they are still no where near their normal selves, but getting much closer. That leaves me worried about the last little one. He is the runt of the litter, he is not doing anything on his own. He is super skinny because he hasn't been healthy long enough to put on some weight. He was sick with a bacterial infection giving him awful bright green diarrhea, healthy for about a week and then this. I have been force feeding him and such but he is still not doing as well as I would like him to. I kinda wonder if half of it is that they are in quarantine so I am not spending as much time as they would like with them, I have started wrapping him up in a blanket and letting him sleep on my chest while I lay on the floor with them longer than I usually do. He seems to rest best that way, and I would think rest would help him get better. I may be wrong in thinking this but having that contact and affection is helpful to them, they will usually go to sleep and stay that was after I leave if I spend extra time on the floor so that they can snuggle. If I leave before they are ready for me to they cry at the door for me to come back. I cant think of anything else to do to help this little one but continue to keep him hydrated, fed, warm, and love him as much as possible. I guess the only thing left to do is hope and pray he pulls through this.

Originally Posted by CatNamedPanda

I cant think of anything else to do to help this little one but continue to keep him hydrated, fed, warm, and love him as much as possible. I guess the only thing left to do is hope and pray he pulls through this.

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Absolutely. And remember that if he doesn't make it, you did all you could.

Lots and lots of vibes to you and Little One!! Hoping you can keep the strength to continue taking care of them so well. You're doing a great job.

It does sound like calicivirus. The bright green diarrhea, I would be worried about that. I lost a kitten with that symptom. How are they eating? I know it is hard taking care of them and they are so ill, but stay on top of it with the runt. I would continue giving them fluids like Ziggy's mom said- that will really perk them up and stimulate their appetite, but it is a temporary fix to help boost their strength. I had to force feed my kitty with A/D. I don't know about that for kittens, it could cause diarrhea because its consistency is so slushy.

Good luck and I agree with Zig's mom, on the fluids.

Originally Posted by BarbB

It does sound like calicivirus. The bright green diarrhea, I would be worried about that. I lost a kitten with that symptom. How are they eating? I know it is hard taking care of them and they are so ill, but stay on top of it with the runt. I would continue giving them fluids like Ziggy's mom said- that will really perk them up and stimulate their appetite, but it is a temporary fix to help boost their strength. I had to force feed my kitty with A/D. I don't know about that for kittens, it could cause diarrhea because its consistency is so slushy.

Good luck and I agree with Zig's mom, on the fluids.

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The bright green diarrhea was the first illness they had, and I got that cleared up with a few days of medicine. We went back to the vet for a recheck today and got more antibiotics just as a precaution, some more viyo for syringe feeding, and some l-lysine. The blisters in the runts mouth are awful, i know they have to be painful. So he doesn't eat or drink, the others nibble now. The vet wants me to add formula or water to the wet food and syringe feed them that if I have to but to try to get them to start eating more of that on their own. But the runt has a supplement to keep him nourished at least. I just hope it is enough to pull them through this.

I'll be thinking about your kittens, especially the little boy.

I'm sorry to say the little runt passed away. I am completely devastated as I had him well hydrated and he had started to eat on his own yesterday so I thought he was improving. Even though the others seem to be doing OK I'm scared to death I'm going to loose them too.

His name was Sammy, he put up a good fight right until the end. I take a little comfort in knowing that for the last month he knew love and he didn't die scared in that shelter. Play happily at the rainbow bridge little Sammy.

I'm so sorry - but you're right that he knew he was loved right up til he went to the Bridge. He was blessed to have had you in his too-short life.