Did I do the right thing during the birth?

@catwoman707

I fell asleep after I was sure they all were ok and woke up that evening so I am unsure. By the time night rolled around I wasn't able to see but it didn't start crying until today- maybe afternoon-ish? 

I picked it up but it keeps moving it's face away from the syringe and I don't want it to accidentally inhale. I tried putting it in the mouth while it was lying down but it cried harder and I think I'm making the mom nervous at this point. 

I left them alone and just tried again but she came over and picked it up by the scruff then brought it back with everyone else. Will it make it through the night until I can call a normal vet or shelter tomorrow?

That's really hard to say since we don't know if/how much or when she stopped nursing, but hope so!!

FYI-vets are very unskilled and inexperienced with newborns, you will get everything you need right here honestly.

I know you said money is tight, and I shouldn't discourage you from taking her to the vet, but it's so true unfortunately.

However what a vet or shelter CAN do is give sub-q fluids if she is dehydrated.

Why not just syringe her to be on the safe side?

If you decide to, which is best, here is how.

Before pulling her from mom, get yourself all set up.

You will need formula, just a very small amt, so I'd recommend using an empty plastic water bottle, make up the least amt you can to prevent waste, it shal=kes and stores in the fridge very well, so just pour out the small amt you want, heat it up for a few secs in the micro and it's ready.

Do not use any mixed formula past 2 days.

In a very small little dish/cup, have your warm formula, then fill a mug with very hot water and float the small dish on top, this will keep it warm while syringing. That is more for a 1 ml syringe, otherwise you can draw up a few mls in the larger syringe and just drop it now and then in the cup of hot water to keep it warm.

Have a dish towel for your lap, or table if you choose that, go get the baby and take her away from mom, because she is going to be having a fit and will stress momma out, be sure to close mom in the other rm with her kids.

Sit down, I prefer doing this at the kitchen table so you have the baby up where you can see really well, her breathing and how much formula she got.

Set her on a towel on the table in front of you, always feed on tummy only, never turned over like a baby.

Assuming you're right handed, have your left hand on her as much as possible so she will stay warm during feeding.

Draw up the syringed milk, use your left hand to push up on her lower jaw to raise her head a bit, then on the side of her mouth you will gently push the syringe on her until she opens. She might already be whining so not a prob. You are going to watch her breathing, and it's not easy when they are so small, but you will see. Right after she breathes in, squirt a tiny amt in to her cheek, wait for her to swallow, then breath again and repeat, small amts, shouldn't run out or fill her mouth, just a couple drops at a time.

You only need to give about 2.0 mls per feeding.

This once will help her get through the night, and who knows, might even cause her to gain some energy and nurse again during the night.

If she seems limp, this is NOT a good sign, and this goes for anytime she is found off to the side away from the rest and mom, and feels cold, she is going off to die basically, but we don't want to allow this. 

If you do find her like this and cold, just go and get some clear Karo syrup, or honey, or even maple syrup, put a couple drops on your fingertip and smear it on her gums and the roof of her mouth.

This is a sugar charge, when babies are starved they have very low blood sugar, and are lethargic, this sugar on gums will effect her pretty fast, and energize her for about 15 minutes, enough time to get some milk into her and get her going again.

The main things with newborns are warmth (NEVER feed a cool/cold baby) it will kill them, warmth, food, pottying. Mom is taking care of the warmth and pottying, so until baby starts nursing again, you need to help her live with supplemental feeding.

As long as she is not nursing for sure, she needs 2 mls every 2 hours, so lets get her butt going again and nursing

Get her right back to mom and reassure mom it's okay, here's your baby.

I'm worried about feeding her since she never feels warm. The botTom of her feet are always cold, too.

I've kept her by her mom, kept warm rice underneath her and/or a warm towel but she since feels colder to the touch than my own body temperature.

Maybe she isnt eating because she's cold?

Birlest said:

I'm worried about feeding her since she never feels warm. The botTom of her feet are always cold, too.

I've kept her by her mom, kept warm rice underneath her and/or a warm towel but she since feels colder to the touch than my own body temperature.

Maybe she isnt eating because she's cold?

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You can give her some energy by smearing a little glucose sugar on her gum.  if you dont have real glucose sugar, try with white caro syrup or honey.  They contain much glucose sugar they too.   Or if you do have any other source of glucose sugar.

Glucose sugar goes into blood already in the mouth, so it doesnt need to be processed in the tummy - and thus works also when they are cold.

You can also try and keep this weak kitten at your chest. Like they succesfully do with premature babies in hospitals in poor countries.

Re the vet.  Many vets arent good with weak kittens, so before you go to the vet and pay good money, be sure the vet IS used to work with weak kittens.  An average 9-17 usually doesnt have a clue.  At best, he will inject some " pedialyte" - equivalent in the kitten, and sell / give you gears.

Nay, its almost only vets cooperating with rescuers, and with breeders, who are experienced with kittens, and thus, have also knowledge what to do with weak kittens.

A better bet is an experienced rescuer.  Even a breeder of cats, dogs, or rabbits, may give some good advices...

Good you do have this goat milk for mom. Nourishing and proper.  Have also a raw egg youlk into this goat milk if you so wish, it will be even more nourishing.

Im glad Catwoman  was up even in the middle of my night, and gave you support and good advices!   The others were helpfully too.

Good luck!

I read now Catwomans latest post too.  I see  my remarks in this post are essentially same as she gives. Although Catwoman makes them better and more clear cut.  Also gives quite a lot of extra, practical tips.

First off, Than you so much!

I've been using sugar water but it doesn't seem to have an effect on the kitten.

Do you think it'll make it through the night? Calling a known shelter in the morning is my best bet since I'm. Or having any luck so far.

Birlest said:

First off, Than you so much!

I've been using sugar water but it doesn't seem to have an effect on the kitten.

Do you think it'll make it through the night? Calling a known shelter in the morning is my best bet since I'm. Or having any luck so far.

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Yea, its wise of you to be prepared for the worst. Im not very optimistic  to speak the truth.  But the first commandment is to fight on as long as there is life.  Sometimes they are pulled through, even in seemingly hopeless cases.   The ONLY exception where ceasing the efforts may be OK, is if they clearly do suffer severly.

Of course, praying does also help sometimes.

Sugar water may work.  In many recipes its really not glucose sugar but common sugar, so it shall work too.  but it works much slower, as sugar must be processed in the tummy.

While glucose sugar doesnt need to be processed, it goes directly into blood, both already in mouth, and also further down in stomach and intestines.  and thus, works also if the kitten is cold or very weak.

If you dont have glucse sugar or white caro syrup at home, perhaps some neigbour has?

It's four in the morning and the best I could do but it it's still alive by morning then I'll see if they have some.

I noticed something odd during my enth attempt at feeding it... It breaths weirdly. Its not a steady breath but seems like it has trouble breathing properly. It was really hard trying to time it right and I think I failed again.

I really hope it survives long enough for me to beg the shelter to show me how to force feed it right.

Birlest said:

It's four in the morning and the best I could do but it it's still alive by morning then I'll see if they have some.

I noticed something odd during my enth attempt at feeding it... It breaths weirdly. Its not a steady breath but seems like it has trouble breathing properly. It was really hard trying to time it right and I think I failed again.

I really hope it survives long enough for me to beg the shelter to show me how to force feed it right.

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They have perhaps even someone who can the art of  feeding by tube directly into stomach.   Its difficult and dangerous for a newbe, if not shown properly, and having the proper gears, so its why we seldom even mention it, but its often the best way for weak or premature kittens.

If they do have someone knowleable with this - try with this.   (many vets apparently dont know how to do).

But usually its good enough with syringe. It takes more time and effort, though.

This with breathing doesnt sound good.  It is possibly pneumonia?  If so, the end may come quite soon.    We will see. 

Sorry I cant give more encouraging and positive advices...   Just sympathy and warm hugs.

Hoping for some good news for you and the little one by tomorrow. Please know that no matter how hard we try we can't always save all of them. It's not because you did anything wrong, it's just the way things are sometimes.

But I really hope the baby makes it until morning.

I just checked up on it and it is so weak it can barely cry... but I know I'm crying. I have to take the kids to school and I wish I could be there but I changed out the heated socks so hopefully it has a warm departure. Thank you everyone for trying to help. I really appreciate it.

It's barely able to breath. I don't want it to die such a horrible way but I don't know of a humane way to let it go.

I had to go outside to cry and threw up from too many emotions at once. I've never had to see a kitten die, let alone think of something like giving it an easier death.

Birlest said:

It's barely able to breath. I don't want it to die such a horrible way but I don't know of a humane way to let it go.

I had to go outside to cry and threw up from too many emotions at once. I've never had to see a kitten die, let alone think of something like giving it an easier death.

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Writing a PM.   Im sending in a couple of minutes.

Some vets pts for free.

I believe the baby is starved to death, dehydrated and nothing going in.

Very sad, I only wish you lived nearby me, I would have shown you how really easy it is to feed them.

If the baby is laying, likely on it's side, and seems to have slow, gasping breaths, opening mouth when it does breath, it's too far gone and on it's way out.

Very sorry

Are the others nursing fine?

@Catwoman707

Yeah that's how exactly it was towards the end. I think I'll be guilty for a long time because I wasn't experienced enough to handle it.

I couldn't go into the room because I kept throwing up if I did (sorry for the tmi). When my dad came home later that day he took care of it. I just wish I was stronger and able too.

Kitten rearing is very difficult but I'll be doing more research and go to the shelter to volunteer so I hope they can show me how to do things.


The other kittens have seemed healthy since day one. They eat, they burp, the mother licks them and their rears, and they like to crawl on top of each other a lot.

I'm going to do as many small jobs as possible to have enough to take them to the vet soon just in case something may be wrong with the others.

I'm thinking about getting a heating pad to put underneath their towel. I can set it on low and turn it on when their mother leaves them. Is that a good idea?

Oh I am so sorry for the little one and you. Apparently you did everything possible, but that poor little baby jus wasn't strong enough to make it.   About the heating pad...they can get too hot sometimes for little babies, so you might want to pad it heavily  with a towel. I did the rice heated in the microwave and wrapped in a sock. The rice bag stayed very warm for like 4 hours.  also, leave an area for kittens to escape heat, although they don't go too far the first week. You are doing everything right. Some kittens are just born weak. Continue with what you are doing. The mama seems very dependent  on you, but may start relaxing a little more now. You can give her bits of meat, the cat or goat milk. She needs like double the calories now. Good luck, and so sorry once again for the baby.

So sorry about the baby hun.

No reason at all for guilty feelings, it's not like you weren't on top of every little thing, you did very well!!

For some reason, just wasn't meant to be.

Don't you worry about the others now, they are and will do fine.

  hugs  

So sorry to hear this. It can't be helped.



I'm glad to hear the others are all doing OK.

I'm so sorry for your loss. You really did hall you could do but it wasn't to be. Just don't blame yourself.

Thank you Guys! I really love this place and the people.

Update pic of the mom and kittens


I've been giving the mom goats milk and she practically slurps it up from how much She lives it!

I bought a bag of kitten food for when they're older and bought a better kitty litter after finding out about how bad clay litter is for cats.

It's now one made from corn And smells much better, too.

I still have to constantly be by the mom. How long do you reckon she will be this clingy?

I'll do my best to keep my head up and give the remaining kittens the best care I can.