4 week old kitten not eating

katgirl89

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Hello. This is my first time posting a thread and I'm hoping I can get some good advise. I grew up rescuing animals, mostly cats, in a multiple cat household with my parents and when I bought my own home have continued to foster and rescue. So 36 years of cat rescue experience. I am involved in TNR and mostly socialize older kittens. I have not had a tiny kitten in a long time so I'm out of practice. I recently began fostering 3 kittens, two 4 week olds from the same litter and a five week old from another. They had been housed together in a cage and were very bonded. Within two days of being at my house I found the 5 week old dead after acting fine but having a bit of loose stools. I came home from work and found him.These cats were eating on their own and using the litter box. That evening I weighed the remaining two and one had lost an ounce in a day. They all were not big eaters but this is concerning. I made a vet appt the next day and I knew at 9pm she was dying. I called my vet and he knows me (I'm a nurse with some good assessment skills) and we thought that it would be best to keep her comfortable . She presented with depression, listlessness, no appetite and loose stools and then inability to walk with in two hours. I stayed by her side until she died at 230am. I was able to obtain a stool sample from the third kitten who is still alive. He had stopped eating but remained playful. I supplemented his food with some kmr with water and chicken baby food in a syringe and was feeding him about every 4-5 hours a tablespoon. This was yesterday. He now has small hourly loose stools that seem painful and has dry heaved a few times. He weighs 13.4 oz and started off a few day ago at 15.3. He goes to the vet in three hours and I will get the stool sample results and he will be examined. We obviously suspect a parasite as his mom was feral. In the interim, or even later, what's a good plan for a tiny cat that won't eat. Currently because of his fragile nature and upset stomach he is getting 1ml of the chicken/water/kmr mix and hour with an extra .25ml of water for hydration. It's keeping him going but as I lost the other two so rapidly, I am terrified. I have not slept in days and I had to ship my two week old bottle fed foster to my moms (I'm a freak about cross contamination and I couldn't even chance having them in the same house) I am desperate and don't want to watch another baby die. I also understand this happens, I'm prepared but want to do the best I can for this little guy. His name is Murray. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 

Sarthur2

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I am asking one of our advisors catwoman707 catwoman707 to weigh in on your situation.

In the meantime, what is the vet's opinion on the kitten?

I do agree it was a good idea to send your bottle baby to your mom's for now.
 
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catwoman707

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I hate to say this but am highly suspecting panleukopenia............

The only way I can rule that out is if you told me that all 3 kittens have been in custody for more than 2 1/2 weeks.

Panleuk will vary in it's symptoms a bit, but does vary in that some will be sick for a couple days then die, some take longer, but I have found it really depends on their age too, 4 and 5 week olds will be fine one day and the very next day will be gone.

I hope this is not the case but don't feel too good about it........

The diarrhea is a first sign, and being young kids they can mask not feeling well for a few days while the virus is doing it's damage, the dry heaves is very suspicious, and you also said they weren't big eaters anyway, which is actually the very first sign.

Hoping for the best, and that Murphy gets a negative snap test.

However these tests are created for puppy parvo, and can and DO give false negatives.

I had one test negative and die the very next morning.......

Key is for the tech to swab deeper in to the rectum rather than just inside the rim.

Having a cat rescue group for years, I get kittens from all over, born to ferals, pulled from shelter, found orphaned and in parks, you name it.

So of course I've been 'lucky' enough that I have seen plenty of the worst........several times of panleuk over the years, and it's hopeless to save a 4 week old, just too fragile still....

I can be from parasites, but not nearly as likely or as sudden either.
 
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katgirl89

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Ok. So we had our vet appt. She (he is actually a she) tested negative for everything but we suspect panleukemia as well. We didn't want to throw in the towel just yet so we have her on subcutaneous fluids every four hours that I can admin at home and an antibiotic twice a day. Plus the ID prescription high protein wet food I'm giving her via oral syringe every four hours. She got a preventative dose of dewormer even though she was negative for parasites. She seemed to perk up after the fluids. I have her in my bathroom with a heating pad and blankets and she seems comfortable. I know we are not out of the clear but I am hopeful, but mentally prepared for the worst. Thank you for your comment. It was spot on. This is a great site to utilize for information and it is much appreciated.
 

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I'm glad to hear you're not giving up, and that she's receiving treatment. Where there's life, there's hope!
 

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I was going to recommend you give the kitten Sub Q fluids (with guidance from a vet regarding the right amount for a young kitten)--I'm very glad you're giving her this. I've saved a few cats' lives by giving them fluids when they were dehydrated from diarrhea and loose stools. Young kittens especially die easily from dehydration. I'm also glad you gave her the de-wormer. This is what I learned from my last rescued cat--the stool tests are not very accurate. My cat's stools  tested negative twice for parasites despite his ravenous hunger and diarrhea--and a blood test finally revealed a high white blood count and other results indicative of the presence of parasites. The de-wormer won't hurt a cat and very often helps. I also think the antibiotics are a good idea because there could be an infection in the bowels. It sounds as though you have a very good vet. Parasites can pose serious health risks to cats--my last rescue cat needed two different de-wormers and two different antibiotics to recover from his parasites and it took about 6 weeks to recover. I send prayers and good vibes your way for your kittens.  
 
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katgirl89

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Update. Still not eating but her poop is now brown and solid not yellow and runny. Playful, purring, scant weight gain but nothing to write home about. Taking the supplemental feeding fine, no vomiting, temp down to normal. She amazes me. Thank you all for the great advise. I do have a wonderful caring amazing vet.
 

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This is wonderful to hear! I'm hoping she continues to recover and that she begins to eat well on her own soon. I'm positive that she feels so much better now. You do have a great vet! So glad you are saving this kitten!

Keep us updated :).
 
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katgirl89

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Update on Artimas (we changed her name) she had fully recovered. We were able to definitively diagnose it as panleukemia. We are completely amazed she survived. And has recovered completely. It is a testament to the power of vaccines because all of my cats in my house were vaccinated and none of them got it. The stress of it all did kick up a nasty herpes outbreak but we dealt with that and it's better now. little Artemis has been adopted out to her forever home and is doing fantastic . Because of this I have now become an expert on panleukemia . In about six months just do the shedding and things like that I'm pulling up my carpets and removing my couch As it can live for so long and carpets . We are very lucky to have saved that little kitten . And the other four week old bottle-fed kittens from a different litter I had removed from the house to my moms is doing fantastic as well. My vet said that he doesn't know a lot of cat owners that would have gone and taken the time to go through all this . Has been a rough month but it's finally looking up . And I thank you all for your good advice. Everyone is good now thank the stars xo
 
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katgirl89

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And my amazing that has me all stocked up with bags of Lactaid ringers fluids and Subcu set up kits just in case my cats get sick again as the fluids helps the one with herpes too. So blessed to have a country vet that trusts me to do things and gives me a discount. Gave me distemper vaccine's for all 11 of my cats and all of the cats of the people that had been in contact with my house . And he gave them to me at cost for eight dollars apiece . Very blessed have a great animal support system
 

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What a happy ending! :)

Glad everyone is doing well. Your experiences will be invaluable here, thanks for sharing.
 

Sarthur2

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Thanks to your efforts the cat is now healthy! Bless you for all you've done to spare the other kittens, and to clear your house of the germs. You do indeed have a wonderful, supportive vet!
 

catwoman707

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This is just the best, most incredible news possible!!

It is so rare that a kitten is able to pull through this horrible deadly virus, so yours is now a statistic!

VERY rare.

I suspect the 5 week old you found dead was the carrier, poor sweet baby :(

18 months it takes for the virus to die off, so any unvaccinated kittens/cats should steer clear until then.

Kittens may have protection after one vaccine but no guarantees at all, 2 is better for protection, 3 is fully protected.
 
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