low weight kitten

KimberlyB said:

Okay I have increased to 3ml every 2 hours. I'm going to use the babys name since i dont know if it's a girl or boy. Marlowe does not loose but a small amount since I switched to the 1 ml syringes. By the third syringe Marlowe doesnt take it as well as the first two and does let some run out but whatever is lost I fill the syringe for a fourth time and make up for it.

The moma is in heat now and shows little interest in the baby. I have taken over stimulation and the urine is clear but the poo is jelly like. What does it mean? I tried researching but my head is just too fuzzy right now. I'm using Pet Ag premixed formula as it is the only thing available to me but I have the powdered version coming in the mail to me today.

As I stated in my first post, the other female I adopted is pregnant and due any day now. As a matter of fact I believe she lost her plug yesterday evening. After she has her kittens and everthing is ok should I see if she will let Marlowe nurse?

Click to expand...

You can try with it yes.   He will get at least some of her immunity with the milk.

Start her own tread if you will need help and advices on her or hers kittens.

Re the jelly like poo.  I suppse its not too bad.  Its supposed to be a toothpaste consistency.  if more solid, they do have constipation - often because of some dehydration.

Better somewhat runny than constipation, if we cant get the ideal toothpaste consistency,  but we dont want watery diarrheas.

So unless what you describe is some peculiar mucus or such, jelly sounds oK.  

Yes! By all means when your other mama has her kittens see if she will take over this baby! So glad you have ordered the powder & it comes today! Keep up the feedings in the meantime.

And please get the cat spayed and don't let her out in the meantime. Keep us posted!

Unanimous! Most definitely plug this baby in after she delivers, give it a few hours at least though until her new ones are all cleaned and plugged in well.

Poop will sometimes seem mucousy/jelly-like.

I took Marlowe back to the vet this morning because the only weight he has gained is 1g. I'm feeding 3ml every two hours and adding an addition 1/2 every other feeding. He said I was giving enough and doing what I'm supposed to. He wished he could give me a reason and a fix but it might just be genetics working against us. To keep doing what I'm doing. He agreed to try with letting it suckle but Missy still has not given birth. She' s close. The babies have moved back, I can even feel movement in that space between the tail bone and back thigh. The vet said he has never seen one this small survive for this long. I'm so sad.

KimberlyB said:

I took Marlowe back to the vet this morning because the only weight he has gained is 1g. I'm feeding 3ml every two hours and adding an addition 1/2 every other feeding. He said I was giving enough and doing what I'm supposed to. He wished he could give me a reason and a fix but it might just be genetics working against us. To keep doing what I'm doing. He agreed to try with letting it suckle but Missy still has not given birth. She' s close. The babies have moved back, I can even feel movement in that space between the tail bone and back thigh. The vet said he has never seen one this small survive for this long. I'm so sad.

Click to expand...

yes, its good helpings, its roughly twice of the minimum amount...   So what to try and change?   Even more?

I dont remember what  kmr do you use?  EXACTLY.?

Do you by any chance have a possibility to get raw goat milk?

I don't know where I could get any. Do you know where to buy it?

Oh and I'm using PetAg powdered KMR.

Petag powdered KMR is excellent and what I use and recommend.

It makes no sense at all to not have any weight gain. The scale is accurate correct?

Are you able to get any more in to her I wonder? I mean, do you feel like it's a struggle to feed her the amt you are now or could you get more in to her?

This is the craziest thing ever, I mean I have had, gosh I can't even give a ball park number it's so many, and it's always the basic principal, the amt fed determines the amt gained or not, if they don't gain, you feed more until they do basically.

Sure seems like she is getting plenty to have some kind of gain, I mean her body is growing right? Was her weight checked on vet's scale as well?

yes weight was checked 58 g. The same as I got. It was time for a feeding when I arrived at the vet so i took everything with me and fed him there. The vet was amazed that the kitten only lost around 0.2 ccs. Yes it is a struggle to get what I do in him. The kitten has gotten a little longer and I can even feel a tooth when feeding but he is weak. He trys to walk and just kind of rolls around and shakes when trying to lift his self.

So PetAg has a puppy milk replacer called Goats milk esbilac. On there website it says that if nothing else is available that kittens can drink it but puppys cant drink KMR because Kmr too much protein and not enough fat. Would it be a bad idea if I bought some and added a small amount to the kmr since it is high in fat? Really I just dont know what else to do.

KimberlyB said:

I don't know where I could get any. Do you know where to buy it?

Click to expand...

Some of our Forumites have the luck to have a goat farm nearby or such.

I think  raw goam milk isnt officially allowed to sell, so these who wants it,  must go by the word of mouths.

Im now having home a book abour raw unpaseurized cow milk.  Which the author have very high esteem about, and no real drawbacks - unlike its official fame.

He tells also much about the situation in USA, where the selling in shops is prohibited, but many people wants.  So they must find unofficial ways.   Typically they drive out to the farmer and buy directly from the farmers hands.

What he writes about the advantages of unpasteruzed cow milk, makes me understand better why raw goat milk is such a fantastic product - all the advantages of natural cow milk, but a much better sort, which also cats manage nicely...

And legally, I think its the same.

You must hear around.   With time, I will perhaps try to organize some sort of list of our forumist who have access to raw goat milk, and thus, can help with the adresses, but I dont have it at this moment.

You must hear yourself around.

And yes, I do believe in goat milk, especielly raw goat milk.

Common, pasteurized goat milk you can get in shops.  The diary compartment of walmart for example.

Here In Sweden I saw shops owned by arabian owners seems to often carry goat milk, botteld or in plastic cardboax.

Take a full fat sort, ie 3-3,2%.

Such milk is also OK for kittens - if  better than the KMR you have, I dont think so, as KMR is very good.  But an alternative.   Above all, an alternative over the unreliable brands.

KimberlyB said:

So PetAg has a puppy milk replacer called Goats milk esbilac. On there website it says that if nothing else is available that kittens can drink it but puppys cant drink KMR because Kmr too much protein and not enough fat. Would it be a bad idea if I bought some and added a small amount to the kmr since it is high in fat? Really I just dont know what else to do.

Click to expand...

If you cant find raw goat milk, this yours idea could be an alternative, I think so too.   To make a change, to break down the opposition.

Another option could be, you just add an raw egg  yolk into the KMR.   It goo gives much nourishing fats.      I hope salomonella in eggs is no problem at your place.

If the salomonella is ON the eggs, there are tricks to minimalize the risks.  But who wants to experiment on a weak premature kitten?

catwoman707

It sounds like a good idea to me, but I'm calling out to an expert for a solid opinion.

Ah, StefanZ posted just before I did. He has very good advice.

KimberlyB said:

So PetAg has a puppy milk replacer called Goats milk esbilac. On there website it says that if nothing else is available that kittens can drink it but puppys cant drink KMR because Kmr too much protein and not enough fat. Would it be a bad idea if I bought some and added a small amount to the kmr since it is high in fat? Really I just dont know what else to do.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't suggest it. KMR is loaded with everything she needs, gosh I don't know, no diarrhea, taking in alot of KMR, it doesn't add up.

The obvious thing to do of course is feed her just as much as you possibly can without forcing her, to a point where she inhales it if she stops swallowing it.

Sad how you describe her as weak and shaky.

Do you still try the bottle? She will not go for it at first, but I'm thinking when you go to syringe her, start out with the bottle, be sure it doesn't come pouring out though!

After maybe four times, she just might be ready and able to latch on and start using it now. She really does need to use up all that sucking action babies are born with, and perhaps she will take even more milk this way.

It's well worth a try!! Of course syringe her once she keeps resisting it, but each time, give it a go when she is hungry, she will take to it soon enough.

@StefanZ  I worry about switching for one, to the puppy version, when KMR is specifically formulated for kittens nutritional needs, for instance taurine, which is critical, and is NOT for puppies.

I worry about adding egg too, I actually had a thought to perhaps create a bit of a stronger concentrate of KMR, but that just doesn't seem appropriate either.

I am thinking that the bottle might be a big help too, it should only take a day of trying her on it, and then suddenly she will be good and hungry and go for it, and just might take alot more milk!

If we think about her age, and not her weight to determine the correct amt of KMR she should be consuming, it is alot more than what she is getting now.

So maybe, just maybe the bottle will be a little helper here.

Fingers crossed!!  

Come on little one!!

I'm sad to say little Marlowe did not make it. Thank you everyone for your help. You are wonderful people for doing what you do.

I am so sorry Marlowe didn't make it. You did everything you possibly could. I hope mama kitty is okay. Keep us updated on the other pregnant kitty.

KimberlyB said:

I'm sad to say little Marlowe did not make it. Thank you everyone for your help. You are wonderful people for doing what you do.

Click to expand...

I am so sad to hear this, I could see it coming, but not the type to give up either, you just never know.

But you know you did your best, something just wasn't meant to be I guess, still awfully sad, I think of his little pic  Poor thing.

Brings tears to my eyes for how hard he tried.

KimberlyB said:

I'm sad to say little Marlowe did not make it. Thank you everyone for your help. You are wonderful people for doing what you do.

Click to expand...

Oh no!   Im deeply sorry for this.   Shocked.  I hoped, I did dearly hoped.    RIP,  Marlowe.

I suppose the vet was right, thinking it could be something genetic stopping him from thriwing...

I will now ask our mods  close this tread.  We always do so in these situations.  

You Kimberly are of course welcome to start new treads on any question you do have.

Including a memorial tread in our Memorial Forum, if you so wish.

Warm hugs!

 /Stefan  Z.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss of little Marlowe. As Stefan has said, I will now close this thread, and I offer you the condolences of the Moderator team. When you feel able to, you can open a thread for Marlowe in the Crossing the Bridge forum, where people can see your tribute to you little one.