Just rescued 2 babies about 5-8wks old, one doesn't seem to be doing well

Hi, I am brand new here - I've been doing frantic research trying to decide what health condition the babies I picked up are. I found them on the side of the road at about 5:30 - right after the vets office closed! (I have tried multiple emergency lines, which so far is a joke). The first kitten (kitty 1) I caught, I could tell he didn't seem well, he didn't really run from me until I was right there, I gently grabbed the tip of his tail and he just laid down. He didn't make any noise or anything, just let me pick him up and put him the box. His brother (kitty 2) however, ran and I had to chance him though the woods, he didn't go far, he looked totally lost. But he hissed at me and fussed. I lured them out with a bit of dog food (at this point I'm worried I over fed them). Anyway, i brought them home, gave them a bath. The one I caught first was the first in and after the second go around he seemed to just pass out - I don't think he actually did but he was exhausted, so I wrapped him up and held him for a long time but he didn't seem to sleep and he shook something awful. Kitty 2 in for a bath, did fine, fussed and scrathed the whole way - I only gave him 1 bath because I was afraid of exhausting him. They both still have fleas, I've picked a ton off but I've missed quite a few. Kitty 1 still seems weak, he doesn't move much, I think he is feeling a bit better because I was sitting on the floor outside their bed and he got up and walked over to me and laid back down. His brother (Kitty 2) climbs all over me but Kitty 1 just lays next to me until I pick him up. He doesn't purr or hasn't so far but he brother (kitty 2 ) all I have to do is touch his head and he explodes in purry heaven. I had him (kitty 1, the weak one) on my chest, and he sacked out but when he woke up he didn't seem to be able to get off me - I was laying flat and his brother was all over the place climbing over me and on my head but Kitty 1 doesn't seem to know how to climb down or really move much. He comes out of their bed for food and water but that's it. Both kitties are starving, they are scary thin, all bones. Kitty 2 has a distended belly, I'm 100% certain he has worms but I hope I didn't over feed them. Since 5:30 (it's now 9pm) they have had some dog food, cat milk (which they love and I am leaving out for them) and some wet food. They haven't pooped yet, but I'm not panicking about that yet... the vet is closed until Monday, you better believe I will be at the door when they open.

Any advice anyone has I am totally open! I do have 2 other cats and i am working very hard to make sure they stay clean. I don't know what I'm going to do about the fleas. Is this dangerous for my cats!? 

It could be anemia from all the flea bites.  You might try force-feeding him a little.  What that means is giving him a slurry of food/milk replacer/water/pedialyte etc., using a large syringe.  Do a search in here and you'll find a recipe for "kitten glop" that works very well.

Of course, he could be injured or otherwise ill, too.  Do you have an emergency pet hospital in your area?

You absolutely saved these kitties lives, bless your heart

It also sounds like you know a lot about cats and have all the bases covered with them.

Is it the holiday Easter weekend where you are?

If you are able to get to a store I would try to pick up some good quality wet canned kitten food, maybe even warm it a touch.

Keep your home heat up and keep them warm.

They are probably flea anemic, have ear mites, and have worms.  Most pet stores and walmart type stores will sell 'remedies' for these parasites but generally the product is very short working and does not kill the eggs.  Maybe it could work a bit before you get into a vet?  Maybe your vet is closed on Monday if your country celebrates Easter Monday?

You could also try purchasing an immune booster formula others have suggested wrapping a ticking clock in a towel and putting it with the kittens to soothe them (as their mother's heartbeat).

Have you tried googling local cat shelters to get help/advice?

They are young to be away from mum.  I wonder what happened to her.

Until you get them vet checked you won't want to share any toys, bowls, litters, etc with your resident cats.

Also:  WE NEED PICTURES!!!!!! 

SadiecAt said:

They are probably flea anemic, have ear mites, and have worms.  Most pet stores and walmart type stores will sell 'remedies' for these parasites but generally the product is very short working and does not kill the eggs.

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The problem with over the count remedies in pet stores, many of them are of uneven quality so to speak. Some are good, some even directly dangerous.  Therefore we on TCS warn against them.

Dont buy them unless you know what to do.  I dont know what your local stories have, so it is difficult to advise. 

Do google on them at least before you buy.

You do perhaps have some good rescue group or good shelter nearby, and can get advice from them?

I do agree with Sadie and MrBlanceh they are surely anemic from these parasites, and with a little luck it is the main fault with nr 1.

Keep them also warm, as Sadie reminds to do.

Good luck!

mrblanche said:

  You might try force-feeding him a little.  What that means is giving him a slurry of food/milk replacer/water/pedialyte etc., using a large syringe.  Do a search in here and you'll find a recipe for "kitten glop" that works very well.
 

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I understand he does eats and drinks by himself? if so, give these glop etc to eat.

Much water / pedialyte is also important - they are prob dehydrated.

If he doenst eat or drink - consider forcefeeding yes.

Your concern not to give too much at once is correct.  As starved long time, you should go up stepvise.  Good thinking!

Good luck!

mel150 said:

 I gently grabbed the tip of his tail and he just laid down. He didn't make any noise or anything, just let me pick him up and put him the box. His brother (kitty 2) however, ran and I had to chance him though the woods, he didn't go far, he looked totally lost. But he hissed at me and fussed...... The one I caught first was the first in and after the second go around he seemed to just pass out - I don't think he actually did but he was exhausted, so I wrapped him up and held him for a long time but he didn't seem to sleep and he shook something awful. Kitty 2 in for a bath, did fine, fussed and scrathed the whole way - I only gave him 1 bath because I was afraid of exhausting him.

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Nr 1 used the strategy of "playing dead", that is what he did.  So it wasnt this was something very wrong with him, just a survival strategy.

Of course, being weak he hadnt much choice.  Nr 2 had the choice and used it.  

Tx for helping these 2 of our small brethrens!   Jolly well done!

Good luck!   *vibes*

IF there is an emergency vet where you are, I would most definitely get them in ASAP. Kittens can crash very easily. Bless your heart for saving these little guys. And, yes, I would most definitely keep them separated from your own.

I have rescued a few who had serious anemia from flea bites (the first one was so severe that they couldn't even draw blood). Another ended up with a serious infection in her blood, also from flea bites.

Please, if there's any way to get these kittens help do it!

UPDATE!! Ok, I finally got ahold of the emergency vet and she basically said as long as they were eating and drinking their milk there probably was nothing major that can't wait until Monday. She did suggest I try the whole mother cat, pooping encouragement thing, which I failed at. But I rubbed their tummies and they seemed to like it. It was a long night, mostly because I got up every few hours to give them a bit of food and re-heat their water bottle - which they LOVE! This am they are doing great! They both pooped, they waited for me to come check on them so i know they both went. They have renewed energy for eating and attacked their breakfast. Kitty 1 who was really lethargic has more energy this morning. He hissed at me this morning, he had his back to me when I stepped in, he was drinking so I surprised him and he hissed - it was so cute! He's exploring their little area and he even climbed on my lap and started purring like i have never heard before!! Thank you all so much for your replies! We have a vet appointment 1st thing Monday am! I'm working on getting pictures of them, yesterday I was to worried and today they won't hold still!! LOL

I'll have some pics up soon I promise! 

My other 2 cats are rescue cats to. I live on Guam which is horribly in hospitable to wild animals - our only wild animals are cats and dogs, lizards and snakes. My girl cat, who is now very healthy and happy, was far worse then these 2 little guys, these are my cats - little girl on the left big boy on the right!  

. I

Great news!

Question 2 - now that the kittens seem better I am worried their could be other kitties out there. Yesterday I was certain there were not because of a few factors, but one was the way the kittens behaved. They didn't seem familiar with the area. After I picked up the 1st kitten I took him home and was gone at least 15 minutes, I didn't figure I would find kitten 2 again, but I went back and he was hiding only a foot or so away from where I got his brother. I figured, if his den or home or mother was close by, surely he would have gone there. He also didn't know where to run when I went after him, which the underbrush was very thick - you should have seen me when I got out, one big stickerbur - but he was very confused and didn't run in any real direction, in fact the reason I was able to catch him is he ran back to where they had been beside the road and my dad was there to greet him so he cowered in a bush between my dad and me, and I was able to reach through the bush and grab him. Anyway, from my initial sighting to final capture was probably in the ball park of 45 minutes to an hour, in that time frame I never saw another kitten or mama cat.

2 other factors were that the road I found them on is a notorious drop off for abandoned dogs, I haven't seen to many cats but it is, dog territory, there are a lot of wild dogs that made the street home. Another lady and I feed them pretty regularly so people keep dumping them. I honestly can't believe the kittens were alive because there is a pack of rather mean dogs that runs that road, it's a short road and I walk it often. I know the pack very well, they are not nice, but I if you make a frontal assault (walking toward them) they scatter - but they are pretty vicious to me, I can only imagine what they would do with 2 kittens.   

I do plan to go back and look for more cats but I don't think I'll find any. Any more advice? Pictures are on there way! 

Guam!  Well Hello to you!!!!  You truly are Heaven sent!

I think though, maybe these kittens are older then 5-8 weeks.  Maybe a few months old, even 7-9?

They are SO beautiful, so very sweet.

Yeah, it is quite possible there may be more siblings.  It doesnt sound as this was their living place.

It may be the mother cat tried to move them, and this was a station on the way.   OR they did get abandoned there.

so please, do check up if you can (and you can help also a third or even fourth kitten).  If you cant, dont have bad conscience, you shall not overstrech yourself. 

You must also live.

Good luck!   *vibes*

ps. You perhaps think: IF there was a mom, just moving them, so it wasnt necessary to rescue them?

It was good anyway.  Now they will be fostered, and adopted. NOW they will get a good life.

If they were not founded and rescued by you, they would at best be ferale, homeless cats.  Not to even mentioning Nr 1 would probably, even surely, soon die as he was already in a bad shape.

The death ratio is quite high among kittens of ferale cats.

I feel they were dumped and yes, there could be more kittens and possibly the mother out there.  However finding them might be hard.

Do keep them separate from your other cats, firstly because of the fleas and secondly because they might have an infection they could pass on.

Good luck at the vets on Monday.  And photos of the kittens?

SadiecAt said:

Guam!  Well Hello to you!!!!  You truly are Heaven sent!
I think though, maybe these kittens are older then 5-8 weeks.  Maybe a few months old, even 7-9?
They are SO beautiful, so very sweet.

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I think the pictures she posted are her current cats, not the new rescues.

Well! I had a very lengthy, detailed reply with some answers for you the day you asked for advice, but there was a problem in the system so I was not able to.

Now that it's fixed it sounds like so far, so good and monday is right around the corner.

If I could see the kittens I could tell their age.

So to be on the safe side I am assuming they are too young for Advantage.

What you can do now is drown the fleas. They can not swim.

Just re-bathe each, BUT start by wetting only the neck area, all around, then using dish soap make a thick lather ring around the neck. This will prevent the fleas from climbing upward, which is the first thing they do.

Then proceed to drench their bodies, under arms, between legs and under tail, etc. Lather them up.

Unfortunately it takes fleas about 10 minutes to finally start drowning and let go of their bite on the kitten.

Keep kitten completely wet for 15 minutes, then rinse, rinse, rinse.

You will see all the fleas going down the drain!

Feed canned cat food and preferably KMR (kitten replacement milk)

They need their first vaccine, deworming and defleaing.

Best of luck!!

Thank you guys for all the great advice! I like the ring of soap on the neck, that is a great idea! Today was our vet visit. They are 4-5 weeks old females, they were still very dehydrated so the Dr. gave them an injection of fluids. Since then things have gone well, they are going to the bathroom regularly, they have much more energy, they even played today. I put a little ball in their pen yesterday, and they played with it today. Here are some pics of the babies, the one in the back in Luna, I haven't thought of a good name for the other one, but as you may be able to tell, she's very vocal! My other cats are Ziva and Bagherra so something that fits with them.

They are very cute, glad they have perked up with the fluids.  Did you ask the vet about flea treatment & worming?

How about Luna and Nova? I have a Luna They're beautiful little kitties and you're doing a great job!!!

Nice! Looks like both are Torties, they need to grow into their ears! They do

Just a comment about their age, I don't want to sound like I'm undermining your vet, but most vets are not as familiar with feral kittens as they are average domestic kittens, but in fact feral kittens are smaller in size. The statement made about having to chase one of them into the woods tells me they are a bit older than 4-5 weeks. At that age there would be NO chase at all. Also the size of the little teeth.

Not that it matters much, still young babies! (in my opinion more like 7 weeks)

Curious, have you searched the area/woods for more?

Also the deworming. Did he give them pyrantel or drontal?

Great job!!

Ohh I really like the name Nova! That fits pretty well!

Catwoman707 - what's a "torties"? I have checked the area they came from but so far so signs of other cats. I walk that area almost everyday and I have never seen cats before - as mentioned it is bonnie (wild) dog territory, they kill anything smaller then them, the only other animal I saw down there was a chicken, the next day it was just feathers and a carcass. If someone dropped them off they chose one of the worst spots on the island! As for not undermining the vet....well lets just say I google everything they say when I get home. She sprayed them with Adems flea and tick, I've been checking them over and i think they are offically flea free!! I don't understand your dewormer question - here is what the package she gave me says - Rx:Strongid (Complementary) Give whole syringe on April 19. Does that answer your question?

I have noticed with Nova (Nr2) that she seems to have a pretty bad limp. I talked to the vet about it and she said she checked the legs, it's not dislocated or broken that she can tell, she also didn't actually see the limp so i think she brushed me off. But I spend a LOT of time with these kittens and I know, without doubt she's limping. She doesn't put much preassure on her left leg, she sort of keeps it elevated. It doesn't slow her down at all, she is a climber and she doesn't compain about it so it doesn't seem to be hurting her - but she definatly is limping. Any ideas or advice? I don't know what to do to help her.

Ok, I have yet another question!! I've never taken in kittens this young, my girl, Ziva - the tiger strip in the picture a few posts back - she was older then these 2 but smaller - she only weighed 8 oz. But she was old enough that they could to the whole "new kitten" exam at the vet. But these 2 were to young, they only did the dewormer and the fecal sample, they didn't do any blood tests or vaccinations, but I think there were supposed to be blood tests & vaccinations included in the new kitten exam. We are scheduled to go in monday, is 1 week really enough for them to be ready for vaccinations?! It seems like being 1 week older isn't that big a difference. I'm going to be a bit miffed if we have to pay the whole new kitten exam fee again ($70 each = $119 = I'm going to need a 2nd job!) just for them to age one week! Any thoughts?

I am going to have them tested for all the bad stuff like AIDS/Lukemia etc - that's an extra $45 per kitten but it's a must. At what point can I have them tested for all that? I don't trust the vets here at all, although, the one I went to seems pretty good, and her staff was very helpful. I had to stop going to our last vet, because even though the vet was great, his staff were...I can't think of a nice way to put it but that's when I started googling everything, then I'd call and tell them exactly what I wanted them to do rather then ask advice!

Luna! -



Nova - with a little Luna sticking her head out