Little kitten half the size of her siblings, don't know what to do

Hi,I stumbled across this site through a Google search. I have a runt also that is with mommy cat an 4 siblings.I don't know what to do and don't have any special equipment. The mom was a stray that stumbled on our porch and my kids fed her nightly and a week later she ended up in our home because it was 16 degrees. Well between October and now that kitten had kittens and I'm dealing with a runt with thin paws almost able to see a skeleton pattern, shaking,and I can feel it's ribs. What should I do? I can start my own forum but thought maybe I could get someone to respond quickly I've never been on one of these sites before.

she is half the size of her 2 week old siblings.

kittennewbie1 said:

Hi,I stumbled across this site through a Google search. I have a runt also that is with mommy cat an 4 siblings.I don't know what to do and don't have any special equipment. The mom was a stray that stumbled on our porch and my kids fed her nightly and a week later she ended up in our home because it was 16 degrees. Well between October and now that kitten had kittens and I'm dealing with a runt with thin paws almost able to see a skeleton pattern, shaking,and I can feel it's ribs. What should I do? I can start my own forum but thought maybe I could get someone to respond quickly I've never been on one of these sites before.

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Is the mom taking care ot the kitten?  Is it latching to mom as you can see?  HOW old are they, exactly?   Which country are you in?

OK, be sure the kitten is warm.  Exactly what you do, depends in part if mom is taking care of him.   If not, you must perhaps yourself take the charge totally, or at least, in bigger part.

Be sure the kitten is warm.  For example, there is a little warmer in this room than hitherto (If the mom takes care).   And or, there is a warming pad on nearby.

If mom isnt taking care, extra warming pad is necessary.   You can also carry the kitten at your chest - the cangaroo method is very efficient.

Its important to weigh the kitten every day, even every 12 ours, to see if it gains.   Tis will help you see if it eats enough...

Its possible to get your own feeling of the situation, but its difficlut if you arent experienced. so take weight.  Borrow an electornical kitchen scale, measuing in grammes or hundreds of OZ, from some neighbour, if you dont have your own.

Extra feeding may be necessary.

If you can get RAW goat milk, its best here.  Bottled goat milk, a full fat version, is OK too, but not as excellent.

There are also kitten mothermilk replacements.  That made by PetAg, called for KMR, in powder is the best of them.  But there are also others good ones...

Be sure the milk is of body temp when you give.

Weak kittens have often difficult with a bottle, it will probably be easier with a needleless syringe.  Syringe of 1ml or 1,5 ml...

Its necessary to be very careful and cautious when you give kmr / goat milk, extra water, so it dont gets fluids in lungs.

Tummy down, head up, may be diagonally raised op, its ok.   The syringe or dropper in the corner of the mouth, cautiously, beign with a couple of drops, so you see she swallows properly...   Burp afterwards, like you would od a human baby, by tapping it on the back, while its resting on your shoulder.

If mom is taking care of the kitten, she will probalby help it eliminate.  Otherwise you must do it, after every feeding.  Tap with your finger on her private parts... 

Be sure the kittens wont get dyhydrated - if necessary, give it some drops of water between feedings.

A trick whic may be necessary to perk in some extra energy, is you smear a little glucose sugar = dextrose, on its gum.  If you dont have glucose sugar proper, you can use white caro syrup or even honey...

I think it was the most improtant for new.  Please come with reports and further question.

I will also add some links.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/hand-rearing-kittens

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/
http://www.hdw-inc.com/glop.htm

Observe, if an orphan is much bloated, gas-filled, bloated, have colic, simethicone (google on it) may help.  1-2 drop in the bottle.

Fleece or flannel good to use in the bedding for kittens.

Thank you StefanZ. I am in the United States. But yes the mom is taking care of them. But this one doesn't eat much. The mom still likes to play a lot. My kids take the others out from time to time so she can feed the runt. It just won't latch on for long and looks confused. It's legs are weaker that the others also. It seems to be progressing a week behind the others but it was the first to be born.

I would suggest that this runt needs some extra TLC. I think you should get a needle-less syringe and give it formula in the proper manner which Stefan described above. The KMR is available at Walmart. Powdered is best. I think if you begin supplementing this kitten every 2-3 hours it will begin to gain strength and grow. Runts can surprise us, but it sounds like he needs a boost. And after the hand-feeding, give him to mom to stimulate him for pottying. If she doesn't do it, it's easy enough for you to burp him on your shoulder (little pats on his back) and tap his backside with your forefinger to help him eliminate. They can't do it own their own yet. Make sure he stays warm too. They must be warm to eat and digest, and are unable to regulate their own temperature the first three weeks. He just sounds like he needs extra right now. I am rooting for him! Let us know how it goes!

Sorry I just got my internet back this am after moving.

The kitten has a great chance as long as it is being supplemented by you with syringing KMR just as you would an orphaned baby.

It is critical to weigh him daily, and feed enough so that you can see a steady weight gain of at LEAST 6 grams a day, everyday.

This is the only chance, otherwise he is already too weak and small to thrive by nursing on his own, he won't do this enough to gain strength.

KMR syringing isn't hard, it's just consistency mostly.

Keep the KMR warmed by dipping the full syringe in very hot water every few minutes.

Slowly, a couple drops at a time put just a couple drops in to his cheek area, wait to swallow and breathe, then repeat. Slow and carefully.

You will do this at least every 3 hours, about 30 mls per day total, or enough to see the good weight gains.