young foster kitten, low energy, low interest in food.

I would really appreciate some help and advice!

I am fostering a litter of 6 kittens.  When they came to me they were about 4 weeks and weighed nearly a pound each.  5 of them are thriving and one is very much not.  He never plays.  He sometimes goes up and down the stairs in the house but mostly he sleeps.  I first noticed he appeared unwell when I became aware that one of the kittens was vomiting--I pulled him out of the litter and fed him separately and noticed that he would hardly eat.  I took him to the vet at his humane society and he tested negative for everything and suggested I force feed him to get him calories.  I have been doing that for a week but he is just so significantly smaller and different than all of his siblings (also tried kmr).  Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to help him?  I have fostered a number of litters of kittens and this is the first time I've experienced this.  Thanks so much!

He goes by Corporal Carlos and is a total sweet baby

So, negative for coccydia? Orphans are very susceptible. Any diarrhea or odd coloured poop? (green, yellow, grey)

Sounds like he could use at the very least a round of antibiotics. Are you weighing? If not, start immediately. It's

the only sure way of monitoring kitten health.

There is fading kitten syndrome which you can google.

Poor little fella.

His poop seemed to be good and was tested last week when I took him in.  Last week when he went in he had lost 2 ounces--weighing him the past couple days he hasn't lost any but hasn't made any great gains.  I was really surprised they didn't give me any antibiotics last week just in case he had something going on they might be missing but they were pretty insistent he was fine medically (and normally every time I bring one in that appears to have something wrong, I leave with a diagnosis and/or antibiotics).  I just feel like he is working so hard just to "be."  He had a little spunk this morning and sought out trying to eat with his siblings so hopefully that continues and increases.  Thank you!

   I'm kind of surprised they didn't try a round of AB.   sometimes that will save a kitten that seems to be fading. 

How is his breathing?  ( i 'm  wondering if he might have aspirated some formula or food;  even a tiny drop can cause infection  & can become pneumonia.  )  

are you sure what parasites they tested for? 

 You probably know the basics, make sure he is warm ,  well-hydrated and fed enough and several times a day.

    Do you think he is intimidated from eating due to competition from his bigger , more robust littermates?  If so you could try feeding him separately .    ( I know you are syringe feeding and I would keep 

 And  I don't want to underestimate the power of  love and touch. 

Hopefully whatver the  problem is it's something that he can overcome.  Sadly he may just have some congenital defect that can't be fixed.  

maewkaew said:

 
 And  I don't want to underestimate the power of  love and touch. 

Click to expand...

Yeah.  One of the tricks is to carry such a weaker baby at your chest. Perhaps in a little sack so you have your armes free to do what you want and need to do.  Hearing your heart, having your warmth.  Hearing your voice. Works nicely with human babies, and works with weak kittens too.

Good luck!

Could it be the food?


I had a similar case with the eldest of the litter of 3 orphans I am fostering, except he was much younger. The vet said all was well but he was obviously not...
I suggest you bottle feed him a couple of ccs of rehydration solution; it won't harm,and he certainly needs it if not eating(I don't use syringe because I feel it is rough on their gum) I used pedialyte

I certainly would not underestimate how much kittens need love and attention. Softly cuddling the neck, the ears and their tummies, and holding them on warm body spots like the neck seemed to work! I kept him close and warm and loved until he slept and when he woke up I made sure he is fed and hydrated.

How old are they now and What are you feeding them?

Keep us posted!

You can buy a high calorie paste for cats at any major pet store.  I used Petsmart's house brand, and it cost around $  It comes in a tube.  Both the container and consistency of the paste are a lot like toothpaste.   This is what I gave my little guy when he was fading and refusing to eat.  The paste smells strongly and must taste pretty good, because he went for it when he would not eat anything else. You can just squirt a little to the top of the tube and hold the tube up to his face, maybe smear a bit on his lips to get him interested. I would also use clear Pedialyte for hydration.   It took several weeks for Nerm to start gaining.  When he did, his appetite and energy level went through.  I hope your little guy puls through.  

Hi everyone,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of your suggestions.  Carlos is doing a lot better.  His weight gain is very slow but each day his weight is a little bit higher than the day before.  I ended up making him a sweater out of a sock which has seemed to keep him much warmer--he also sleeps on a heating pad and is eating a mixture of puree meats, wet kitten food and kitten replacement milk.  I just bought a tube of the high calorie paste tonight and will try it.  He is much more of a kitten now and he gets excited to eat.  He seems to always have something going on whether it is his bowels or his clicking jaw but he is better than he has ever been.  I am attaching a photo of his "sweater."--it really seemed to help him--I actually took it off for a bit a couple days in and I noticed how he laid that he was cold and not comfortable so back on it went.  I'm really hoping this guy keeps the fight going!  Thank you again!

Well the little guy is worrying me again.  He seems to have reverted back to where he was a few days ago and hasn't added weight.  He and his sibs have a check-in at their humane society tomorrow so I'm really hoping they'll have some ideas for me.  We tried the high calorie paste and he would not willingly take it and he just seems droopy today.

I'm glad he will have a check up.  I do think it's a good idea for Carlos to have a vet look at him.   He is very cute in his sweater.

 I hope he can soon get back to the improvement he was showing. 

 Has he been treated for intestinal parasites?   sometimes that's a reason for lack of weight gain. 

This poor fellow must absolutely remain hydrated.. dehydration will make whatever problem he has much worse... the vets normally don't apply much treatment until they 6 weeks old...but they are the experts and it's good that you're getting him checked soon. I hope he keeps fighting... Get well Carlos!

  djoe is right;  i mentioned hydration before but it can't be said too strongly.  and  ---  3 things that are deadly and often combine in fading kittens -- dehydration, hypothermia  and hypoglycemia.    so keep him hydrated,  warm and keep blood sugar from dropping too much  ( by frequent feedings... and  sometimes it can help in an emergency to rub a little glucose  ( or syrup or honey) on the gums  to give some energy)  you might try doing that before feeding,   it might give him a bit more energy to eat.  

You mentioned a clicking jaw?  Ask the vet to have a look at that  ... if h has some problem that  it is dislocated or something that is causing him pain , that could sure explain why he has not been thriving. 

My darling boy left this world tonight. I got home from work and he had me so worried I rushed him to the humane society even tho they had changed the appointment for his litter to tmw.  They attempted to perk him up, warm him up and give him fluids and recovery food.  I held him as he passed away.  He is my first failure to thrive kitten and I am so sad.  I wanted to 'will' him to live so badly.  Thank you everyone for your advice, wisdom and support.  I loved Carlos so much and I can only hope he knew and felt that.  Thank you again.

I am so sorry for your loss of the precious little Corporal Carlos.  Sometimes it's just not possible to save them no matter how much care and love you give,   but at least in his short life he did get a lot of love and kindness and comfort.  and a cute sweater.    I am sure he felt that love from you all along and up to the very end.  Carlos knew he was loved.   

Please make a thread for him in the Crossing the Bridge section if you would like to do that. 

RIP Carlos 

Echoing Maew,  Well expressed.. 

RIP  Carlos.

RIP Carlos... Very sorry for your loss. Be sure that he felt your love.
we always wish we could save them all...

On behalf of the whole Team, we are so sorry for your loss of Carlos.

I'll now close this thread, but when your ready please bring Carlos into the Bridge so we can help him cross over