I don't know what's wrong with my kitten, is she dying??

Just following along, smiling.  Mama cat grooming her is the best news I've heard lately.  Aside from physical care, which we are able to give, even if it isn't quite ideal, this little girl can only learn to be a cat from her mama and sibs.  She'll have an easier time of it with their interaction as she grows.  Thanks to you, she has the best of both worlds, and the best chance of being a happy, well-adjusted cat.

Mamanyt1953 said:

Just following along, smiling.  Mama cat grooming her is the best news I've heard lately.  Aside from physical care, which we are able to give, even if it isn't quite ideal, this little girl can only learn to be a cat from her mama and sibs.  She'll have an easier time of it with their interaction as she grows.  Thanks to you, she has the best of both worlds, and the best chance of being a happy, well-adjusted cat.

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Awwhh I'm extremely happy I put lucky in her own basket with a heat source so she didn't end up underneath all of her siblings because she's weak which has been happening and I just woke up to feed her and mum has climbed into her basket and has been grooming her and keeping her warm!

Aww what a wonderful mom she is. Thanks for the update

beccalouiseeee said:

Awwhh I'm extremely happy I put lucky in her own basket with a heat source so she didn't end up underneath all of her siblings because she's weak which has been happening and I just woke up to feed her and mum has climbed into her basket and has been grooming her and keeping her warm!

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I love reading this.  It means mom thinks she has a chance to survive.  Mom will often ignore or put aside kittens they think will not make it.

That is wonderful to hear! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

YAY for the good news.  I think you are through the crisis and mama cat is on board with kitten care now too.  I was away at work yesterday but checking in today and so glad to hear it's still going well.  It will be interesting to see if the other babies' eyes open well ahead of when hers do.  They are getting to the age when that will start to happen, in general.  If Lucky was a late conception, her eyes may open later than the others.

Having her in a second basket and then finding mama cat there caring for her COULD have given her a chance to learn to nurse from mama cat also without the pushy siblings.  I'm glad she's growing, that's another great sign that she is definitely choosing to live.

Red Top Rescue said:

YAY for the good news.  I think you are through the crisis and mama cat is on board with kitten care now too.  I was away at work yesterday but checking in today and so glad to hear it's still going well.  It will be interesting to see if the other babies' eyes open well ahead of when hers do.  They are getting to the age when that will start to happen, in general.  If Lucky was a late conception, her eyes may open later than the others.

Having her in a second basket and then finding mama cat there caring for her COULD have given her a chance to learn to nurse from mama cat also without the pushy siblings.  I'm glad she's growing, that's another great sign that she is definitely choosing to live.

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The other kittens eyes have opened now except one of them! Lucky has opened one eye and has had one eye open for a week now but her other one is still closed.. She was actually the first to open an eye! She's starting to be more vocal and she's always cuddling into the sock filled with rice that gets heated up she really loves it haha! I'm really hoping for the best now I feel a lot more hopeful than what I did a few days ago!

sarthur2 said:

That is wonderful to hear! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

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Thank you [emoji]128150[/emoji]

Handsome Kitty said:

I love reading this.  It means mom thinks she has a chance to survive.  Mom will often ignore or put aside kittens they think will not make it.

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I'm so glad to hear that! The fact mum thinks she has a chance to survive makes me so happy!

Zed Xyzed said:

Aww what a wonderful mom she is. Thanks for the update

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She is definitely a wonderful mum! And you're welcome!

beccalouiseeee said:

Awwhh I'm extremely happy I put lucky in her own basket with a heat source so she didn't end up underneath all of her siblings because she's weak which has been happening and I just woke up to feed her and mum has climbed into her basket and has been grooming her and keeping her warm!

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The act of grooming is also stimulating to the little baby. Hopefully with a few weeks of extra care she'll catch up enough to rejoin her siblings.

That's great news! Can't wait to see updates

beccalouiseeee said:

The other kittens eyes have opened now except one of them! Lucky has opened one eye and has had one eye open for a week now but her other one is still closed.. She was actually the first to open an eye! She's starting to be more vocal and she's always cuddling into the sock filled with rice that gets heated up she really loves it haha! I'm really hoping for the best now I feel a lot more hopeful than what I did a few days ago!

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So glad to hear.

The pile up of babies is commonly with the smallest at the bottom, but not because they want to smother or hurt her, it's just that way. She needs their touch and feel them around her, which is why I wanted her in with them too, plus that momma will nurture her and they both need this too.

Just a thought, but a week with one open eye is a long time, too long. Are you sure it is not stuck closed from eye drainage that glued it closed? This is common, if in doubt or unsure, take a warm wet cloth and hold it over the closed eye for a few minutes, then gently wipe over it from the inner area outward.

Do not force the eye open. But if there is goop gluing it shut, the warm wetness will soften the eye enough that it will open then. If it does, then you know there is a mild eye bacteria that needs terramycin ointment.

catwoman707 said:

So glad to hear.
The pile up of babies is commonly with the smallest at the bottom, but not because they want to smother or hurt her, it's just that way. She needs their touch and feel them around her, which is why I wanted her in with them too, plus that momma will nurture her and they both need this too.

Just a thought, but a week with one open eye is a long time, too long. Are you sure it is not stuck closed from eye drainage that glued it closed? This is common, if in doubt or unsure, take a warm wet cloth and hold it over the closed eye for a few minutes, then gently wipe over it from the inner area outward.
Do not force the eye open. But if there is goop gluing it shut, the warm wetness will soften the eye enough that it will open then. If it does, then you know there is a mild eye bacteria that needs terramycin ointment.

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I thought that it was too long too, but I asked the vet and she told me that it was nothing to worry about and her eye would open eventually? I'm going to try doing just as you said now though as it was concerning me for a while!

Thank you for all the advice I really appreciate it and it's helping me a lot! I thought I'd just share a recent picture of Lucky and give everybody and update and let you know that she's putting on weight and I couldn't be happier! [emoji]128150[/emoji]

catwoman707 said:

So glad to hear.
The pile up of babies is commonly with the smallest at the bottom, but not because they want to smother or hurt her, it's just that way. She needs their touch and feel them around her, which is why I wanted her in with them too, plus that momma will nurture her and they both need this too.

Just a thought, but a week with one open eye is a long time, too long. Are you sure it is not stuck closed from eye drainage that glued it closed? This is common, if in doubt or unsure, take a warm wet cloth and hold it over the closed eye for a few minutes, then gently wipe over it from the inner area outward.
Do not force the eye open. But if there is goop gluing it shut, the warm wetness will soften the eye enough that it will open then. If it does, then you know there is a mild eye bacteria that needs terramycin ointment.

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Just tried doing as you said, her eye is still shut tight, is there anything else I can do to help her?

beccalouiseeee said:

Thank you for all the advice I really appreciate it and it's helping me a lot! I thought I'd just share a recent picture of Lucky and give everybody and update and let you know that she's putting on weight and I couldn't be happier! [emoji]128150[/emoji]

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what a sweetie

You can try again with the warm cloth in a few minutes.  Do not try to force the eye open. 

glad to hear she is gaining!

I do think it's stuck shut.

Did you try it again, but soak it for longer maybe?

If so and it hasn't helped, do you have a tea bag? Make a cup of tea, and use that water on the cloth, let it cool off to a good warm temp, dipping it in and barely squeezing it out, hold it on her eye as long as you can.

Repeat until it opens.

How old are they?

Does her open eye have any drainage or eye goobers?

I'm absolutely over the moon! Today whilst I was at work my boyfriend tried placing Lucky with her mum (midnight) by herself to see if she groomed he etc and he was so shocked that she actually started feeding! He sent this picture to me whilst I was at work!