3 week old kitten refuse to nurse

Hi guys and gals
This is my first post here and I'm hoping for a little help
So my 2 year old cat had 2 kittens 3 weeks ago and up till this weekend both have been growing well
However we've noticed that 1 has stopped feeding and has started losing weight (only a little atm but has definitely lost some)
Also same kitten seems to be breathing quite hard (whole body moves as she breathes)
There are no vets nearby that open weekends
I've tryed her on a bottle and she won't take the teat I've tryed a syringe and she just let's it drip out of her mouth just seams she's not interested

Also seems to distance herself from her sister and mom by siting in the corner not interacting in play

I'm sorry you're going through this.  I have no words of help, but someone should be along who can help you.

This kitten likely has an upper respiratory infection (UTI), and unless she gets antibiotics immediately, will die. Kittens with infections and breathing problems go downhill quickly. Get her to an emergency vet as soon as possible. If not, please hold her and comfort her as she will not survive long.

gfromleeds said:

Hi guys and gals
This is my first post here and I'm hoping for a little help
So my 2 year old cat had 2 kittens 3 weeks ago and up till this weekend both have been growing well
However we've noticed that 1 has stopped feeding and has started losing weight (only a little atm but has definitely lost some)
Also same kitten seems to be breathing quite hard (whole body moves as she breathes)
There are no vets nearby that open weekends
I've tryed her on a bottle and she won't take the teat I've tryed a syringe and she just let's it drip out of her mouth just seams she's not interested

Also seems to distance herself from her sister and mom by siting in the corner not interacting in play

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Oy, that is bad.  The kitten is going down in some sort of UTI.   Probably is gone now as I write, if you didnt managed to turn around...   Exactly as my collegues said.

Still, what to try with.

Be sure the kitten is warm.  Ie active warming up, by carrying on your chest or using a heating pad.  Or laying at the mom.

The sick ones always lose warmth more then the healthy.  (but not too warm either).

Have some glucose sugar on her gum.  I fyou dont have glucose sugar proper, you can use white caro syrup, or honey.   The glucose goes directly into blood already in the mouth, it doesnt need to be digested.   This does often perk in some energy into them, so they manage to eat a little...

And proceed with the syringe feeding, if you can.    Some pedialyte in between is useful too, homemade or bought.  Dehydration is another major danger.   Pray.

But she needs antibiotics, and for example, injection of  fluids, to have any chance.

She may die anyways, but that is the chance....

If it comes to the worst, its just to do as SArthur hints:  comfort her, hold her, and wait together with her.    It will help both hers  soul, but also yours.

No she's not died
I did manage to get some milk down her last night and again this morning
She does seem a little more active she's even attached to mother but i don't think she's sucking
Gona try the sugar tip, how much is required/enough?

gfromleeds said:

No she's not died
I did manage to get some milk down her last night and again this morning
She does seem a little more active she's even attached to mother but i don't think she's sucking
Gona try the sugar tip, how much is required/enough?

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Just one or two droplets smeared out, its quite concentrated and potent.    Its entirely natural.    The energy form digestion OF the food is combined into glucose sugar in the body, and used for the internal combustion.

What you do, is you do give glucose sugar (or an equivalent) directly on the mouth - THE LIPS and or THE GUM..

The trick to know if a suckling kitten is suckling for real, or gets enough, is to weight it on an electronical scale measuring in grammes, or at least, tenths of Oz.

With healthy kittens once a day, with critical kittens every 12 hours...

Manged to get a pea sized blob of honey in her mouth and she swallowed it so gona try a bottle again in 20mins she's having a cuddle with mom at the moment
Hoping shes nursing by the time I go back

gfromleeds said:

Manged to get a pea sized blob of honey in her mouth and she swallowed it so gona try a bottle again in 20mins she's having a cuddle with mom at the moment
Hoping shes nursing by the time I go back

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Excellent.   It may be easier to smear out the honey on the gum or the lips.   That is what I meant, btw.  

  If its such a hard honey, you can dilute it in a little water as well you can, and smear on this water on her lips and or gum..

So you can do this also with uncoscious kittens, too cold to eat anything.

I am happy to hear she made it through the night and has taken some milk and honey!

How is her breathing today? Are you planning a trip to the vet?

Yes we were going to take her to the emergency vet today 15 miles away but she seems much more alert today and she is taking milk (not much but small amounts regular 2.5ml every few hours) so were taking her to the regular vet tomorrow! how much would be a good feed?
Her breathing is pretty much the same but like I say she more alert now.walking around sniffing ect still not playing but a marked improvment
I've been reading up on upper respiratory infection and a common symptom is discarge in the eyes and we have noticed that both kittens develop quite a lot of sleep in there eyes! So much that some mornings we've had to use a damp cotton wool ball to help them open them! We figured that moma cat not cleaning them properly
Is this likely related to the above problem? And if so would the other "healthy" kitten also need vetting?

gfromleeds said:

Yes we were going to take her to the emergency vet today 15 miles away but she seems much more alert today and she is taking milk (not much but small amounts regular 2.5ml every few hours) so were taking her to the regular vet tomorrow! how much would be a good feed?
Her breathing is pretty much the same but like I say she more alert now.walking around sniffing ect still not playing but a marked improvment
I've been reading up on upper respiratory infection and a common symptom is discarge in the eyes and we have noticed that both kittens develop quite a lot of sleep in there eyes! So much that some mornings we've had to use a damp cotton wool ball to help them open them! We figured that moma cat not cleaning them properly
Is this likely related to the above problem? And if so would the other "healthy" kitten also need vetting?

Click to expand...

If its no big trouble, take both to the vet to look see.  But if IS trouble, take the real sick one, and mention they are really two, to double up the dosages...  Some prescription are written just so,  I mean.

So now we know its no pneumonia - pneumonia usually kills often in a few hours.  The only tiny hope to try and save are antibiotica asap.

So this is surely a more common URI - still wise to let the vet look at it, as it apparently affects the eyes too.

The amount of feeding they need to grow nicely, is 8ml /OZ /30grammes).  every day. 

So a smallish, but fully normal newborn of 90grammes= 3 Oz, needs  24 ml/CC of goat milk or kmr every day.   Say a feeding every 2 hours gives 2ml at one time.

If you feed less often for example during the night, you must increase the amount accordingly...

Of course, they will survive on less.  But if you want them to thriwe and grow as they shall, about 10 gram a day (somewhat less for the very small born or very sick) - you know the necessary amounts...

Yes, both kittens should be checked. They likely have eye infections, which is common in kittens, but they will need an antibiotic ointment made just for eyes. It's usually terramycin eye ointment that is smeared across their eyes twice a day for a week, but the vet will have to give it to you.

I'm glad your kitten is being more active, but sounds like she still has the UTI, and that will need different antibiotics to clear up. Can you take them both into your vet first thing in the morning?

Has the kitten returned to nursing mama yet, or are you still feeding her by hand? Have you tried the mush with them yet?

Ps,  Yeah, she is 3 weeks, so let say she is 300 gram, 10 Oz.  It gives about 80 ml a day to grow nicely and thrive.

For surviing it will prob manage with less.

So what she's taking is about right 2.5/3ml every 2/3 hours? she does attach to mom quite often but on close examination it seems she's not attualy suckling or if she is very slowly

Sorry didn't catch your post about the mush
She did take a little yes but knowere near enough to take her off the syringe
She wouldn't open her mouth for it so we had to time it perfect to pop in half a pea sized amount mid meow lol which she'd chew and swallow but after about 5 or 6 times she started spitting it back out

To thrive you would need to double what you are giving her, especially since you suspect she's not getting much from mama.

At the moment that's all she'll take and it can be a bit of a fight to get her to take that

Okay. You are taking her to the vet tomorrow, right?

Have you gotten the weights on the kittens post more question also let us know what the vet says

here is links

How Do I Know When My Cat Will Give Birth?
Pregnant Cat? What to Prepare For the Birth
Help! My Cat is Having Kittens!
Premature Kittens
Post-Birth Complications in Cats

You need to keep the stress level down as much as possible. Stefanz and other will be monitoring for any more questions you have and will be here to help