Need help with 5 week old kitten

Please help! I decided to rescue a cat or kitten. I was given what I thought was a 10 week old kitten, but he is only 5 weeks and he is so little. I've looked on-line to almost every site to find out how to care for him and to the vet, each time he reaches a milestone he goes back. Where can I find help, but trust me when I say, it won't be the shelter! Once they found out what they had done, they only offeder me my money back. I am in love and invested! Henisn1 lb, quick brearhing, I dont know what to do.

@kindercat The poor little guy.  He is going to need to be held and cuddled and loved.  He is big enough to eat kitten mush, canned kitten food mixed with Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR).  It will be easier for him to eat. You may also want to some in a dish for him as well as a dish of water.  Royal Canin has a baby cat food.  Dry food may be hard for him to eat, you can put some of the KMR on it to soften it. but do not leave it down too long because it can go bad.

He will need a small litter box, maybe a disposable aluminum tray, until he is big enough to get into a larger one. Use unscented, non-clumping litter in case he decides to eat some.  You will need more than one depending on how much room he has to roam.  Small bladders can't go very far.  You may want to limit this at first. 

you will want to give him a bed of some sort with a fleece or flannel blanket and a small stuffed toy.  He will probably want to sleep on your room.  Small kittens get lonely.

He is big enough to want to play with toys.  Maybe some paper crumpled up into a ball or you can buy some toys.

Others will be along with more idea.

here is a link you may find interesting.

 [thread="297529"]Found Abandoned Kitten​[/thread]  

What do you mean "every time he reaches a milestone he goes back"?

What problems exactly are you having with your kitten?

How long have you had him? What have you been feeding him?

K kindercat

Sorry,haven't slept much. I meant and said badley is that whatever sign that told us he was gettimg better, he would then go back to being not well. Just heard more bad news, the shelter who told me he was 10 weeks just announced they lost 250 kittens to respitory illness.To let him go would kill me but I could not let him suffer!

I suggest you have his breathing checked by a vet. Antibiotics can possibly save him if you act quickly. He's survived this long so he sounds like a fighter.

How is he today? Can you get him to a vet today?

Ok, Im still not telling this right, I rescued Jett from a shelter on Aug 1st . They told me he was 10 weeks,but when I took him to the vet, they said, no, he was 5 weeks. They told me to put him on mothers milk and gave me two cans of urgent care kitten food to feed him with syringe. He had dirreahh and gave me an antibiotic, diarreahh drops and gave him fluids every morning. With every peek, each time he got better, he would act lethargic, heavy breathing, etc. Now he has failing health again with word from the shelter saying he was with a set of 250 kittens who were sick and the 250 had died. Last night his breathing has changed to being very quick and Jett more lethagic. Ive been up with him all night going from lethargic to playful and back. Now he is lethargic, quick breathing and I havent a clue what to do!

This article may come in handy

 [article="32740"]Kitten Development Stages Illustrated Guide​[/article]  

Let us know how the vet visit goes.  The kitten can be saved if seen soon enough.

I appreciate you all!!!!! I dont feel so alone!

Your kitten is dying. You can spare his suffering and have him euthanized.

The shelter let you know he was from that group and that he has the same issue. He likely cannot be saved.

I suggest that you take him to the vet asap and do what they recommend. He is suffering terribly right now. I'm sorry.

kindercat said:

Ok, Im still not telling this right, I rescued Jett from a shelter on Aug 1st . They told me he was 10 weeks,but when I took him to the vet, they said, no, he was 5 weeks. They told me to put him on mothers milk and gave me two cans of urgent care kitten food to feed him with syringe. He had dirreahh and gave me an antibiotic, diarreahh drops and gave him fluids every morning. With every peek, each time he got better, he would act lethargic, heavy breathing, etc. Now he has failing health again with word from the shelter saying he was with a set of 250 kittens who were sick and the 250 had died. Last night his breathing has changed to being very quick and Jett more lethagic. Ive been up with him all night going from lethargic to playful and back. Now he is lethargic, quick breathing and I havent a clue what to do!

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It seems like some sort of "plague" going in there. The big drawback of big  shelter where they keep all cats together, without possibility to  quarantene the sick ones..

Very irresponsible of that shelter to give you a 5-weeks pretending he is 10 weeks, and not clearly warning you he may be sick.

I mean, they have the right to hope for a savior. But the savior must be forewarned!!!

Im sorry.   I suspect SArthur has right.  There isnt much more to do, unless your vet clearly recommends you to proceed.

IF the vet has a plan, and IF you can get raw goat milk, try with this...   But raw goat milk wont help him if he is dying.

Sad news! I took Jett to the vet and he was put to sleep, l find it so hard to deal with, my poor baby. My eyes are swollen shut from crying and my heart is shattered! I thank all of you for your help and kind words!!!

I'm so sorry to hear Jeff couldn't be helped.  You did all that could have been done.  I know you're heartbroken, try to take some comfort in the fact that the little guy knew warmth, love and a forever home before he passed on and didn't spend his whole life in the shelter..

As hard as it is, you did the right thing for Jett. I know your heart is sad for this little guy, but there was no cure for what he had. You gave him a home and love in his short time with you, and ended his suffering humanely. You have my condolences.

On behalf of the TCS Team, please accept our condolences.  I know you didn't have Jett in your life very long, but they worm their way into our hearts quickly and it's always difficult to lose them.  If you'd like to post a tribute to your little guy in our Crossing the Bridge forum, the link is here:  http://www.thecatsite.com/f/19/crossing-the-bridge

We will lock the thread now out of respect for your loss.