Caesarian / Orphan Kittens

Hi all

I foster ferals and cats fot rehoming for local sanctuary.

I have a nursing feral with 5 week old kittens atm. Another feral died during caesarian so i have 4 premature kittens which were born on Thursday. I put them on the other cat and she took to them. The first day she didnt so i used royal canin kitten birth milk to supplement. Since then they have all been fine. Eating then sleeping after the first night of squealing constantly. Anyway one has fading kitten syndrome this morning. It was the strongest and now its very cold and weak. I gave it more supplement but now im scared they are all going to pass away. Not sure if the royal canin is colustrum based and knowing they got no colustrum im wondering now will they survive without it? They are 4 days old now so over the age of getting it. Royal canin states to use the milk from birth so unsure for definite if it was the correct replacement.

What can i do to help these kittens from dying other than what i have been doing?

First, are the kittens warm enough? Kittens cannot eat or digest well when cold. Can you put a heating pad set on low under their blanket in the nest?

Are the babies latching and nursing? Is mom cleaning them and stimulating them to go wee and poo? If not, you will have to do that too.

How did you feed them? Dropper? Syringe? Tummy down, head up, couple drops in the side of the mouth, swallow, breathe before giving more? And how long did they go without any food in the beginning?

The fact these kittens are premature does not bode well. Do you know how premature they are? Do they have a sucking reflex?

Yes they are sucking here at the moment. I have a hot water bottle under them past few days so they are warm. No idea how premature but this is a pic of them. Think she was almost due. I am syringe feeding in side of mouth and then putting them on her aswell. She is cleaning them but not as much as her own kittens so i have been stimulating them. There is smears of poo all over their bedding so i know they are going and it is damp as well. Ill attach a pic of her here now at present. They went a few hours without any food at the start

Oh my, they are tiny! How old are the bigger kittens next to them? They do appear to be nursing.

Can you weigh them? If you can weigh them twice a day - am and pm - and record the results, you will know if they are gaining weight. They should gain several grams daily, between 6-10.

It seems you are doing everything right. Have you ever used goat's milk? It is highly recommended as good for kittens. Full fat. It is available at Walmart.

How is the kitten doing that you are worried about most?

Some extra remarks to add to above.

If you can get RAW goat milk, its even better than the usual bottled full fat.  Forumites tells the "Natural Food" groceries often carry such unpasteruized goat milk.

Royal canins kmr has a good reputation, at least the breeders in Sweden like it.  But if you can get Raw goat milk, use it instead.

Carrying te weakest  at your chest, alike Cangaroo method, is good.

The weak one, warm it up as said, you can put some  glucose sugar / dextrose on its gum or lips.  If you dont have it, use white caro syrup or even honey.  This is often enough to break of fits of fading kitten syndrome - as they are often caused by low niveu of sugar in blood.

Glucose sugar goes into blood already in the mouth, it doesnt need to be digested, so it works also on cold kittens...

You can rub and massage such a weak kitten too...

Re stimulating  Simply tapping on the private part, with forefinger, cautiously yet decisively, alike moms licking and washing, is quite effective in itself.

It may be wise to rotate them kittens.   When the bigger and healthy residents are contend and asleep, take them aside to their own little nest, with their own warming pad, and let the small orphans get quality time with their foster mom...

And rotate them...

Have fleece in the extra bedding, it feels almost like cat fur.

I think its enough for now, Im also giving some links.

Good luck!

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

Raw goat milk  is very useful for kittens, bottled   full fat goat milk is OK, and good alternative to most kmr´s.

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.

Its very cold and not responsive so i dont think its going to make it. It wont suck at all. The kittens beside are 6 weeks old today! Shel only feed the new ones if hers are there too but im so scared theyl hurt them!

Didnt know about goats milk. I dont have a walmart as im in ireland but ill try and get some. If i cant get raw goats milk is normal stuff ok?

Yes, the Royal Canin is fine. Can you hold the cold one for warmth and comfort while it passes?

Are you supplementing the bigger ones with wet food now or mush? They need more now than just her milk. The big ones should not distress the preemies!

Renew the pic, I have written some advices.   Massage it vigorously!

luckykitty said:

Its very cold and not responsive so i dont think its going to make it. It wont suck at all. The kittens beside are 6 weeks old today! Shel only feed the new ones if hers are there too but im so scared theyl hurt them!

Didnt know about goats milk. I dont have a walmart as im in ireland but ill try and get some. If i cant get raw goats milk is normal stuff ok?

Click to expand...

Raw is best, I honestly think it can be a real reinforcement.  But bottled or even in powder works too.

If you cant get it, proceed with the Royal canings,  it shold be good enough.

Keep us posted. You are doing a very good job of fostering!

StefanZ said:

 
Renew the pic, I have written some advices.   Massage it vigorously!

Click to expand...

sarthur2 said:

Yes, the Royal Canin is fine. Can you hold the cold one for warmth and comfort while it passes?

Are you supplementing the bigger ones with wet food now or mush? They need more now than just her milk. The big ones should not distress the preemies!

Click to expand...

Yes,  if you honestly think its the end, that is what remains to do.   Talking sweetly, praying for its soul   Naming it if it is your wish.  And wait till the end comes.

It will help YOU, if nothing else.

The 6 week old ones have already been eating royal canin weaning dry and wet food! They have been on her milk and food for a week now so arent sucking of her as much. Yeah i have the wee kitten with me at the moment!

She hasnt been cleaning them well so read on another post there to rub butter and it seems to be working great shes cleaning them loads now so fingers crossed

This is the sick wee one

It does look premature. Poor baby. Too weak to suckle. Does it swallow the drops of formula though?

sarthur2 said:

It does look premature. Poor baby. Too weak to suckle. Does it swallow the drops of formula though?

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Yes, defintely premature.   If such ones shall have a real chance, its syringe.

Semi-pros use even tube feeding, but for it you must know EXACTLY, as tube feeing is too dangerous and difficult for a newbe.  Even many vets dont know how.

But syringe is good enough, as long there is still life in them...

So, if the rest are somewhat similiar, dont wait on results from weighting, do supplement them - count they are too weak to suckle.

The suckling most for being cozy, and for letting the fostermomma take care of them.

luckykitty said:

This is the sick wee one

Click to expand...

I want to add,  prematures are always a fight uphill.  With THIS visibly prematures, the chances are honestly speaking slim, even if you fight wholeheartly for them.

Of course, the rule of thumb stands: as long as there is life, there is hope, and its worth fighting for.   Hadnt they died  immediately after birth / Cesarean, they are at least able to breath.

So fight on, but dont despair if they wont make it.  One or two should manage.  With luck and Gods help perhaps even more, if you fight on.

Again, its a fight uphill,  save whom  can be saved, and bury honorably those whom  couldnt be saved.

The other 3 are suckling but this one was the strongest yesterday at sucklinh so i just hope they are ok. They were squealing a lot yesterday too and not today. Hopefully its because they are eating. Im wondering if maybe the replacement formula got into this ones lungs?

I was wondering the same thing. Does it still swallow the drops you give it? If it does have pneumonia it will surely not survive. And yes, hopefully it means their tummies are full if they are not crying.