sudden death in kittens

our kittens are about 4-5weeks and have been fine up until now. Their mother jazz has not always fed them so we have had to improvise and bottle feed them. Jazz produced 5 kittens but now we only have one, the reason for this is because they keep dying for more or less no reason. We are now trying to keep an eye on the last surviving kitten just in case while trying to figure out the cause for their deaths. The first two died a day apart from each other, while the other two died on the same day within an hour of each other in my arms in a blanket. The last kitten seems happy and healthy for now but we need an answer for the deaths and any ideas on how to keep this one alive! please help me if this one is anything like the others it hasnt got long left before it starts to get weak and then dies! x

Such things can happen if unlucky.  There may be a number of reasons. Bacterias, virus,  genetical reasons, something poisonous, etc...   I understand it was not malnutrition or other obvious reasons?

They dying off in pairs hints there was the same reason each time.

If it was something genetic, making a crucial organ to shunt off when they come to an age/stage in development, the chances for the surviving one becomes bigger and bigger as time goes by.

3 weeks is one such critic age for many organ failures if there is some fault in them.

3 month is another.

Had you consulted your vet?  What did she said? What do she recommends you to for precautions?

I do really hope it will go well with your surviving kitten.

And do spay the mom. Even if you are a breeder, do consider this strongly. You probably dont want to use her in your programme, unless you detect clearly the most probable cause, and find a cure..

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

dannie17 said:

but we need an answer for the deaths

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Did you get autopsies done on the kittens that passed? That's really the only way to get answers. 

Why wasn't the mother feeding them? Perhaps she knew they were ill or not genetically sound.  Did they thrive and gain proper weight on the formula? They should be on solid food now.

no but we have been thinking of getting the body checked but one of the problems was that the mother didnt always feed them sometimes she would go out all night or would get up when they tried to feed. But the really weird thing about it was the fact all but maybe one were fine and playful then went downhill the last kitten is now eating kitten food and is doing gr8te atm its a right little playful furball and is learning fast. it likes to climb and now responds to me when i call it. If they were alive now they would be 5weeks

Please don't let the mother go out, she needs to remain indoors until she's spayed or she'll get pregnant again. 

Kittens do go down very fast, if you're not very careful and pick up the weight loss by weighing them each day, or notice the signs they aren't well and get to a vet asap they can very quickly expire