Two questions, one is important.

fatedone

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One of my kittens opened one of her eyes yesterday and they are both open today. The other kitten has one eye open today. They are 4 days old. I've never heard of a kitten opening their eyes that soon, although this is my first litter and only dug into information for about 3 weeks. Common?


Now for the important question. One of the kittens has been labeled premature and his wrinkly skin has started drying out. And he's a little red. Anything I can do for that?
 
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StefanZ

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Lets ask also @catwoman707 if she is still around.

This with so early opened eyes is not common, but variations does happens.  Wasnt the biggest one really big?

About the reddish Im a little stuck.  I hope its natural coloring.  Even if the family is black-bearing, as I remember.

For he is otherwise healthy, gaining, moving, eliminating, suckling, and even opening eyes??

Good luck!
 
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catwoman707

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I'm here :)

It is highly unusual for them to start opening their eyes already.

I can't begin to count the number of litters I have cared for, they all have been mostly between 7/8 days and as late as 10-12 days.

HOWEVER, I did have one litter who, at 5 days old were opening their eyes as well. I was so surprised to see this! As long as nothing has forced them to open I would just consider them exceptionally special :)

Leave the little one's skin be, it's fine and will take care of itself okay, mom will help stimulate with her cleaning too.

If anything, give it stimulating massages. The blood flow will do the same thing as mom's cleaning will, stimulation makes for healthy skin and fur.

Just watch that weight gain carefully, a critical factor in their growth and future :)
 
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fatedone

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Lets ask also @catwoman707
if she is still around.


This with so early opened eyes is not common, but variations does happens.  Wasnt the biggest one really big?

About the reddish Im a little stuck.  I hope its natural coloring.  Even if the family is black-bearing, as I remember.
For he is otherwise healthy, gaining, moving, eliminating, suckling, and even opening eyes??


Good luck!
Thank you! Yes, he is doing wonderfully and is growing fantastically. The girl was really big, yeah. She was 144g at birth. I've attached a photo to show the redness. His skin is flaky.

 
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StefanZ

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Ah, i see it, the reddish is mostly because he lacks most of the fur under[side] and the skin is almost bare [ there]- confirming he must be somewhat premature although his good birthing weigt.   I still hope its nothing much as he otherwise developes well.

Its probably good to make sure the air in the room isnt  dry.   Put some wet towel to dry out in the room?

Good luck!
 
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fatedone

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Ah, i see it, the reddish is mostly because he lacks most of the fur undersize and the skin is almost bare - confirming he must be somewhat premature although his good birthing weigt.   I still hope its nothing much as he otherwise developes well.

Its probably good to make sure the air in the room isnt  dry.   Put some wet towel to dry out in the room?


Good luck!
I took all 3 in for the vet to see. And the last kitten that was born is having testing done to determine her cause of death. The vet has agreed the boy is premature. However, he's not sure how since my cat was only out for 24 hours. But like you said, even a day or two can make the difference in premature and term kittens. I was advised to keep the room around 85°F for him so the dry air could probably be the culprit. I can start a humidifier or the wet towels. The vet is doing something wonderful for us and has offered to spay our pretty girl for free since he works closely with the shelter that we adopted her from. She was part of a "mass spaying" where they sterilize a bunch of cats in a short time frame. She got the notch cut out of her ear but was not actually spayed. We've had her for two years or more and she'd never had signs of being in heat. So, while I think the kittens are so so cute, I am so glad we will never have to go through this again.
 

catwoman707

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All sounds like good news :)

FYI...1 day premature compares to 1 week early for a human baby.

Which means 4 days early is like a baby born a month early.

Amazing huh?

Reddish wrinkley skin and sparse fur is the norm for an early baby.
 
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fatedone

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All sounds like good news :)

FYI...1 day premature compares to 1 week early for a human baby.
Which means 4 days early is like a baby born a month early.
Amazing huh?

Reddish wrinkley skin and sparse fur is the norm for an early baby.
Oh wow! I had no idea! That's interesting, and a bit of relief. This could have ended a lot worse than it has turned out. Do you know when I should expect him to be "normal", or should I be watching closely for the 9-10 weeks?
 

catwoman707

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Oh wow! I had no idea! That's interesting, and a bit of relief. This could have ended a lot worse than it has turned out. Do you know when I should expect him to be "normal", or should I be watching closely for the 9-10 weeks?
How are things going?
 
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fatedone

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Tell me why! What's going on??
My little black one has a pretty flat chest all of a sudden. I did a little bit of researching and seems like flat kitten syndrome. I don't know what to do or what the treatment is if there is one. He's eating and breathing fine and seeming normal besides his chest being very wide compared to his sister. :(
 

catwoman707

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Okay so theyre 2 weeks old today correct?

It will help once he is not always flat laying on his chest in the coming week to week and a half, up on his feet will take the added pressure off of his chest.

Don't panic, flat chested syndrome is not necessarily all bad. It just depends on his air restriction or not, the bones are very soft still and will be but will harden up more in weeks to come.

Many times the baby will outgrow the flatness and as it develops more will become rounder.

If in the near future you notice restricted breathing at all then he should be assessed by a vet, who, if mild enough can actually show how to wrap/shape it with a mold type thing.

Like a section from a toilet paper roll for instance. At this small age they grow constantly though so it would need daily or every 2 days adjusted to fit right.

Many times within just a week or two it can actually round it enough to ease breathing and prompt it to continue to grow properly without molding it.

Don't hesitate to softly, gently squeeze the sides of his little ribcage together when holding him. Of course you do realize what I mean by gently............almost like a gentle exercise to help go the other way than what it's doing since laying on it is helping it flatten more now.

You won't hurt him, those tiny bones are very soft and flexible still.

Just how flatter does it appear over his brothers chest?
 

mani

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Mod note:

There is another thread purely about the Flat Chest issue.

If you have any help or comments about this condition, please use this thread.
 
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