Queen not caring for kittens

Whoops, there's the front. Paws feel warm just like the others, but it does seem to be having a problem latching on. None of them have ever really been good at it tho, not sure why.

Sounds like that baby is hissing

gwendolyndark said:

From the side that's the best I can get. It's not slow open mouth breathing, more like smelling with its mouth open? And only for a couple seconds, but maybe three times if I'm holding it. It still eats as far as I can tell, and is still gaining weight.

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I'm no expert but it doesn't look flat to me.  @catwoman707

could it be hissing?

Not hissing. Too young to know to hiss or be afraid.

It does not appear flat chested to me either.

There is no reason for open mouth breathing. How much weight is it gaining per day?

It sounds like you really need to watch all of their weights with an accurate scale if they are not so good at latching.

As long as there is enough weight gain, then you're good.

Any way you can post a video clip of the breathing?

This is really the best I can do is to see for myself what you are describing.

This may need a vet visit, although I don't have much faith in vets when it comes to newborn kittens, as they don't have the experience as us rescuers do, but are good for identifying dehydration or an irregular sounding heart.

Yes, please weigh the kittens. If they are not gaining a half ounce per day they may need supplementing with kitten formula.

They're all gaining between 15 and 30 grams a day, and quiet when they're not eating or being fussed with by mom. Kitten hasn't done it since I mentioned it, of course.
Just weighed them today and they're slowing down a bit, smallest gained 6g.
I tested the back of their necks for the quick dehydration test and all seems well, however.

Their weight gain will fluctuate.  Kittens have growth spurts.  Sounds like all is good right now.  Keep the updates coming.

Just note that a 6 gram weight gain is actually the BARE MINIMUM. You also don't want only 6 gms gain daily for more than a day or two, then I would highly suggest a couple of supplemental feedings during the day until you see better gains.

Well glad to hear that the one's breathing seems fine now anyway!!  

Ok, thank you so much!! That makes me feel a lot better. They're still quiet when not feeding so I'm not worried about them not eating.
Another quick question that doesn't exactly pertain to kits. Brought in an emaciated kitten, maybe 10 weeks old, infested with fleas. Gave her two baths in Dawn. Not sure what to do about the worms, though, as she's only 2.5 lbs.

gwendolyndark said:

Ok, thank you so much!! That makes me feel a lot better. They're still quiet when not feeding so I'm not worried about them not eating.
Another quick question that doesn't exactly pertain to kits. Brought in an emaciated kitten, maybe 10 weeks old, infested with fleas. Gave her two baths in Dawn. Not sure what to do about the worms, though, as she's only 2.5 lbs.

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Kitten needs topical flea treatment ASAP. This will quickly cause anemia, and it takes a toll on the kittens health.

Plan to treat kitten for roundworms as well as tapeworm, flea infested kittens always seem to pop up with tapeworm too, and they are diff meds.

At 2.5 pounds this kitten is big enough for a tube of kitten Advantage on its neck. As Catwoman said, it will need to see a vet to be wormed. With that many fleas and not knowing its history, it will need full worm treatment.

Went to the vet, they gave us Advantage for fleas and Profender for the worms. He hasn't eaten yet, or used the litter box, but he is pretty scared so we're not worried about that yet. Crossing our fingers that he makes it!

gwendolyndark said:

Went to the vet, they gave us Advantage for fleas and Profender for the worms. He hasn't eaten yet, or used the litter box, but he is pretty scared so we're not worried about that yet. Crossing our fingers that he makes it!

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Glad hr saw the vet.

There is no reason he shouldn't make it with your supportive care.

Just remember the biggest issue is how fast kittens get dehydrated which can kill them, so be sure he gets plenty of water and food, use canned pate food, if he doesn't eat then syringe feed him chicken or turkey baby food and water or better yet clear pediolyte to get him going.

Sounds shy from lack of human interaction so he should warm up soon with some coaxing.

We got him to eat some pate, and some KMR. Seems to be doing ok, he's warmed up to us but still tries to find somewhere to hide.

Other kits are doing great, runt is only gaining a little bit though, so we may have to intervene a little bit just to make sure it's not being kicked off.

Runts are ALWAYS kicked off when there are more than 3 kittens.

I wouldn't wait though, the lack of gaining makes them weak fast, and it's so much harder to turn a baby around then it is to keep him doing well.

We've tried a couple times to bottle feed it, but it refuses. Still quiet after eating and everything, but we'll keep a very close eye on it.

A kitten will never take to a bottle as long as they have mom to nurse from.

It must be syringed, like it or not. (I mean whether kitten likes it or not!)

A couple drops in to the cheek area at a time, slow process but well worth saving them!

Ok, that's helpful! Cuz it just screamed and screamed and wouldn't take it at all. Put back on mom though and didn't take a nipple, so my assumption was it wasn't hungry. I'm checking every few hours to make sure it's still quiet and with the others.

Good news! Dorian (the 10wk old longhaired) has pooped out worms, and the runt in the litter has gained 18 grams!

That is great news [emoji]128512[/emoji]