non-thriving kitten

My momma had three babies on july 1st.  the third baby isn't latching onto her nipples.  I've tried introducing it, pitting milk near his mouth, putting milk on a hot nipple after popping her sibling off.  She roots around, never sucks on anything and then falls asleep.  I started dropper feeding her yesterday.  after 6 tries and many messy inserts, she started to try to suck this morning...yay!.  how much should I expect her to drink?  I can only get a few drops in per feeding she is still not happy about the situation.  but at least it's something and it seems to have given her a little more spunk,  I'm a very nervous grandma who hates to see anything sick or suffering.  any advice you can give would be welcome....Laura 

If she is being breast fed by the momma, I wouldn't worry about it. If she just flat out refuses to drink, take her to a vet. Don't expect her to drink too much. start small and gradually build up to the amount of formula she's supposed to drink. Too much might upset her tummy. Good luck!

She is not taking from her momma that's the problem.  but I did get her to suck a little more today from them medicine dropper.  And thank goodness she had a bowel movement with mom's help.  I have to force her to take the milk, but she will drink it when I put it in her mouth.  I just don't know how much to give her. 

Welcome to the site

Which type of kitten milk replacer formula are you using ? It should give you the exact instructions on the tub of how much to give per age, weight and how often

It's hartz.  it says how to make it but doesn't give how much to feed a tiny baby.  It was the only milk replacement I could find after three stores.  We live in the middle of nowhere so walmart was the best  I could do and I had to really search for it.  I will see if I can google it better.  I've had a hard time finding the information I need for such a young kitten.  thanks for the help...

They have probably goat milk in Walmart, they dairy and milk products - compartment.   Use this instead.  Some find they must dilute goat milk some, but otherwise it works nicely.  Fresh is best, bottled is OK.

 Hartz is surely better than common cow milk,  but its not the best kmr around.

IF you would find again she is not interested, falling asleep, weakish, - in one word: going down, try with having smear some  glucose sugar or honey or white caro syrup on her gum.  It  often perks energy to them, reviving them.

Also, be sure she is warm enough.  Actively warming up if necessary.

Give food tummy down, head up.

Good she had began to eat. Now she has a chance.  Next step will be a small syringe.  Either a dosage syringe, or a real syringe without needle.

Good mom helps it with washing and eliminating!

A good place to find ideas for taking care of orphans is  www.kitten-rescue.com.

If you seek articles on our site, or googling, look for handraising, handrearing, kittens...

Good luck!

Thank you for all of the advice. It seems I was doing everything right. But when I got up this morning to give her the 730 feeding she was dead. I was hopeful after she started to become interested yesterday but last night I had to really encourage the syringe into her mouth. So sad. I'm guessing she was just not going to make it matter what we did. We have two vigorously thriving siblings but this morning momma isn't so interested. I've been careful not to mess with them. Praying the rest of this goes better. First time momma and grandma(me) are nervous. Thanks again for your advice.

Clearly there was something wrong with this little fur baby that all your loving care could not correct. You did your best, but sadly, sometimes our best is not good enough. Take pleasure in the two who are healthy and growing.

Go over the Rainbow Bridge, little baby, to thrive and grow.

RIP kitten,may you find yourself in a better place. 

I am so sorry to hear this, sometimes there is just nothing we can do to beat Nature. I would like to offer the condolences of everyone on the mod team and now I will close this thread. If you feel you would like to post a tribute or any comments about the little one, I hope you will open a thread in the Bridge Forum.