Help! Having Trouble with 5 orphaned kittens!

@sarthur2  and @Handsome Kitty  We live in Buena Park, about five minutes from Knotts. I appreciate everything you guys are doing, there aren't words to describe how grateful I am. @StefanZ

thank you for your words. I don't think we can get access to goat's milk at the moment. Money is a concern, but I'm willing to scrape up anything to pay. I really am. I hope I'm doing okay, I certainly don't feel like it. 

You're doing great just having them in your life and caring for them to the best of your ability! Even if kittens don't end up making it, they have much better chance with you than they ever had underneath a bush. Any that don't make it will have been well cared for and loved which is much better than slowly starving outside. Be proud for what you have accomplished so far. Hopefully things can turn around for these babies.

@NewYork1303  thank you for those kind words. I hope things can turn around too. Unfortunately, Red and White are very weak now, so pray that they get better. Also, when should they start being litter boxed trained? They seem to be able to pee/poo on their own for the most part.

Gmoda said:

 
@sarthur2  and @Handsome Kitty  We live in Buena Park, about five minutes from Knotts. I appreciate everything you guys are doing, there aren't words to describe how grateful I am. @StefanZ

thank you for your words. I don't think we can get access to goat's milk at the moment. Money is a concern, but I'm willing to scrape up anything to pay. I really am. I hope I'm doing okay, I certainly don't feel like it. 

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  I am working on this.  May take a couple of days to hear back.

@Handsome Kitty  Thank you so much!

Red just had very dark poop right now, he was also making distressed mews. He also isn't taking in food very well. The same goes with Whitey, he can't even move despite the fact that he ate a little bit. I know they are suffering right now, I don't know if we're helping them by keeping them alive like this. Honest to god, the only one that is truly thriving right now is Green, he is the fattest, healthiest, most active one of the bunch. Even though Blue and Violet aren't as bad as Red and White, they are no where near as healthy as Green. I'm wondering if they were born with some sort of condition or defect. 

I don't know what to do; I've said that many times... but I don't want them to suffer. Are we helping them by doing this?

they may have worms.

Our vet said they were too small and too young for medicine to treat worms; if they could take it he would have treated them when they last went(two days ago). Most of the medicines that I find say they need to be much older in order to take it.

I remembered that.  But it could still be worms.: (

If it makes a difference the Pet Ag powder should be at Walmart about $10. on the east coast probably more on the west coast.

Have you been trying the pedialyte between feedings 1-2 drops I think Stefanz recommended to counteract the runs.

Sorry for repeating myself. I'm sure you're right about the worms- Red and White have no real appetite and we have to "force feed". We have been using the Pedialyte in 2 parts milk and 1 part pedialyte is seems to be replacing the lost electrolytes in Green, Blue, and Violet(to a degree, she is still very tiny compared to them). Thanks for the recommendations we will try the powder as soon as we can get it.

It's okay. Not everyone will read the whole thread and I figure you've gotten so much advice in such a short amount of time you're swimming in it.  Just thought I repeat the pedialyte suggestion.

Handsome Kitty said:

 
they may have worms.

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Sure, but this is not the cause of their dying now.

We may have found a candidate for two of the kittens( Green and Blue). Violet's condition, despite her spirit and strength, I honestly just deteriorating. We feed them, they go to the bathroom, clean them; but she isn't fairing too well. We will have to keep her and care for her until she is better(hopefully) she hasn't grown very much. IF you did a side by side comparison right now, everyone except Green are almost the same size they were when we first found them. Red and White aren't going to make it, they're suffering.  

Gmoda said:

 
We may have found a candidate for two of the kittens( Green and Blue). Violet's condition, despite her spirit and strength, I honestly just deteriorating. We feed them, they go to the bathroom, clean them; but she isn't fairing too well. We will have to keep her and care for her until she is better(hopefully) she hasn't grown very much. IF you did a side by side comparison right now, everyone except Green are almost the same size they were when we first found them. Red and White aren't going to make it, they're suffering.  

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You mean, another rescuer / fosterer?

If you feel this is a help, so...

Yes, a foster. They are the healthiest and they would benefit from the foster's care, I wouldn't want to dump the sickest ones on her it wouldn't be fair. Our plan is to care for Violet until she can recover. Red and White, I don't know about them.

did you ask the fosters opinion about the sicker kittens she may have experience w/crisis kittens.

this is good news that you have found some help.

I don't believe she has any experience with sick kittens. We still have no real confirmation but the chances are high.

Handsome Kitty said:

 
did you ask the fosters opinion about the sicker kittens she may have experience w/crisis kittens.

this is good news that you have found some help.

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Yes, even if you Gmoda decide in the end to keep them all, its a great help to know you are not FORCED to, there IS an alternative.    You arent pressed with your back to a wall, without any alternative.

This insight has helped me often in my life, and I have seen examples of this in the real life in other situation too...

Giving the foster Green and Blue will take a lot of weight off of us, enough so we can care for Violet. Raising one sickish kitten would be best since she could receive one on one care. I hope the foster calls back soon.

Don't give up on the other two just yet.  They can still pull through.  They will also get more care.

If the two kittens go to the foster and whitey and red don't make it, it is very important to keep the remaining kitten warm. Single kittens this age raised alone sometimes get cold without their litter mates, so if this is the end result, make sure that Violet stays in a box that has a heating pad on one side set on low under a blanket or towel, with the other side left normal. It can also get lonely, so trying to give her a stuffed toy to cuddle with is a great idea also.