What happened? Sad story...

kara701 · Aug 10, 2015

I still feel very sad about something that happened 2 years ago. My grandmother has a feral cat colony that we are still trying to get fixed. 2 years ago, one of the semi-feral regulars disappeared (she was always at the feeding station first thing... she just vanished.) She left behind 6 newborn kittens. My grandma didn't see the mom for 3 days, so she took the 6 kittens inside and started bottle-feeding. She tried to care for them and fed them every 2 hours, but she didn't have the energy so I came over to try to help her. I had work so I could only help for a few days. No rescues would help us. The kittens started off well, especially the siamese look alike, but they went down hill quick. I thought we could do it because their eyes were starting to open and they were getting better. But then the kittens started having diarrhea. Some of them wouldn't eat. One of them got pneumonia and it died the day after I left. A family member took the rest of the litter to the pound because my grandma was getting sick and just couldn't do it anymore. I feel so horrible I couldn't do more to help. The mom cat never returned... poor thing must have gotten trapped or died.

Does anyone have an idea on what went wrong with the kittens?

I just feel so bad still and I need closure, I want to know what went wrong..?!? Thank you.

.

Unknown.jpeg

kara701
Aug 10, 2015

StefanZ · Aug 11, 2015

kara701 said:
I still feel very sad about something that happened 2 years ago. My grandmother has a feral cat colony that we are still trying to get fixed. 2 years ago, one of the semi-feral regulars disappeared (she was always at the feeding station first thing... she just vanished.) She left behind 6 newborn kittens. My grandma didn't see the mom for 3 days, so she took the 6 kittens inside and started bottle-feeding. She tried to care for them and fed them every 2 hours, but she didn't have the energy so I came over to try to help her. I had work so I could only help for a few days. No rescues would help us. The kittens started off well, especially the siamese look alike, but they went down hill quick. I thought we could do it because their eyes were starting to open and they were getting better. But then the kittens started having diarrhea. Some of them wouldn't eat. One of them got pneumonia and it died the day after I left. A family member took the rest of the litter to the pound because my grandma was getting sick and just couldn't do it anymore. I feel so horrible I couldn't do more to help. The mom cat never returned... poor thing must have gotten trapped or died. Does anyone have an idea on what went wrong with the kittens? I just feel so bad still and I need closure, I want to know what went wrong..?!? Thank you.

.

Yeah, not all stories has any happy end. You tried, you did your outmost, but it was in wain...   They got the help there was to get, so their souls does rests in peace, be assured of it.

What food did you gave them, what brand of kmr?   You used a bottle? No especial problems? What did you do with these whom didnt wanted to eat? Was the diarrhea heavy? What did you do against it?

Otherwise, it can be much. Some bacteria or other infection from earier..    After all, kittens does sometimes perish also from well kept breed cats too...

kat hamlin · Aug 11, 2015

Unfortunately, when bottle-feeding kittens without a mom, there is a lot that can go wrong. I would not blame yourself. I don't bottle-raise kittens any more because losing them is too heart-breaking, and many times despite all best efforts, we do lose them. Sometimes they have congenital defects, but a lot of the time they simply have lousy immune systems, because they're missing out on colostrum from the mother. Milk replacers like KMR are good but they're not a patch on mother's milk.

What happened? Sad story...

kara701

TCS Member

Thread starter

Unknown.jpeg

StefanZ

Advisor

kat hamlin

"RESCUE" is my favorite breed

Latest Posts

Connect with us