Problem with fading kitten

sarahc7072

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My kitten is small and tonight my son noticed it was cold and still and stiff. I gave it some Karo on its lips and warmed it with a towel for about a half hour all the while rubbing and it started meowing and walking around. By this time it's paws and mouth was warm so my sons had gotten some kitten formula because all I had was baby. It could suck from the nipple because it is huge so I used a small syringe. This kitten will be 4 weeks tomorrow but compared to the other 4 it's half the size. I have it inside my shirt wrapped in a towel but I have no scales and in the area I'm in on call vets just don't happen. None of the kittens walk really well. The momma has never been out and the male cat was fixed at our vet almost 6 months ago. No cat has been in our house. The mother cat had them on my lap I didn't even know she was pregnant. And I grew up on a farm. She has a few defects herself. Teeth and missing ear. So I'm not surprised this kittens legs are weird. All kittens eyes are cloudy blue but she has bright blue eyes. Don't know if that means kitten will be blind or what. Our vet said wait to bring them in for another week or 2
Frustrating
 

StefanZ

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My kitten is small and tonight my son noticed it was cold and still and stiff. I gave it some Karo on its lips and warmed it with a towel for about a half hour all the while rubbing and it started meowing and walking around. By this time it's paws and mouth was warm so my sons had gotten some kitten formula because all I had was baby. It could suck from the nipple because it is huge so I used a small syringe. This kitten will be 4 weeks tomorrow but compared to the other 4 it's half the size. I have it inside my shirt wrapped in a towel but I have no scales and in the area I'm in on call vets just don't happen. None of the kittens walk really well. The momma has never been out and the male cat was fixed at our vet almost 6 months ago. No cat has been in our house. The mother cat had them on my lap I didn't even know she was pregnant. And I grew up on a farm. She has a few defects herself. Teeth and missing ear. So I'm not surprised this kittens legs are weird. All kittens eyes are cloudy blue but she has bright blue eyes. Don't know if that means kitten will be blind or what. Our vet said wait to bring them in for another week or 2
Frustrating
You did exactly along the manual in that critical moment.  The next question is of course to supplement her and nurse her, as she is so small.

- do you have access to goats milk?  sometimes ith the difference, esp if you dont have access to good kmr.

Vets usually arent that great on weak, small kittens.   Finding a seasoned rescuer is a much safer bet.  Or a good Forum alike ours.

But if there is a real wrong on your kitten - disease, such - THEN do call your vet.   :)

Ah, you can perhaps borrow a kitchen or mail scale from some of your neigbours?
 
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talkingpeanut

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Is there any way that you can bring them in to the vet even though they said to wait?  It does sound like you've done everything right. How is the little one now?

And are you saying you have no idea how she got pregnant?  That's quite a mystery!
 

StefanZ

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My kitten is small and tonight my son noticed it was cold and still and stiff. I gave it some Karo on its lips and warmed it with a towel for about a half hour all the while rubbing and it started meowing and walking around. By this time it's paws and mouth was warm so my sons had gotten some kitten formula because all I had was baby. It could suck from the nipple because it is huge so I used a small syringe. This kitten will be 4 weeks tomorrow but compared to the other 4 it's half the size. I have it inside my shirt wrapped in a towel but I have no scales and in the area I'm in on call vets just don't happen. None of the kittens walk really well. The momma has never been out and the male cat was fixed at our vet almost 6 months ago. No cat has been in our house. The mother cat had them on my lap I didn't even know she was pregnant. And I grew up on a farm. She has a few defects herself. Teeth and missing ear. So I'm not surprised this kittens legs are weird. All kittens eyes are cloudy blue but she has bright blue eyes. Don't know if that means kitten will be blind or what. Our vet said wait to bring them in for another week or 2
Frustrating
As you see you got your own tread now.  This way its easier for you to ask questions, and for all of us to comment and give advices.

could we get some pics?  On the little one, on momma, on siblings...

Re momma from mysteriously got pregnant.  Probably she did sneaked out.   The great Houdini was surely a cat owner, that is so he learned some of his best tricks.

But we had also heard forumites telling a tom breaking in into their house, and mate with their family girl inside the house - and leaving afterwards, of course.  
 
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sarahc7072

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Well so far so good. I stayed up with the little guy all night and fed him from a syringe. The momma who I call Lil bit watches us but doesn't want anything to do with us. Little guy is a fighter. I kept him in a towel and in my shirt and he tried to play this morning after he was trying to hold the syringe.
He's a funny little guy.
As far as the comments on the momma getting out or a Tom getting in I am not saying it's impossible but I rarely leave my home. I was told that the males are still able-bodied for some time after being fixed. I was not informed this when I had him done. But that's all a mute point now. If that was my concern I would have a post about it, and in time maybe I will, but right now I am here for the shared knowledge and support of all you other cat lovers out there.
I truly do appreciate any tidbits of information or experiences you may of had. Growing up on a dairy farm 100 years ago and helping calves is a far cry from kittens.
 

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I see momma is a point, seems a good look alike to a ragdoll.  That is why SHE has blue eyes.

You wrote about clear blue eyes, I didnt got it, were you talking about this kitten in question, or about the momma?

Also, what about these weird legs?   Sometimes they may have so called twisted legs.  Its typically the back legs, and they may look terrible.  But it isnt that bad as it looks, its because of too short and tensed tendons.  Sometimes it goes better by itself, but the safest is of course to massage and gymnastic it back to right positions.  And this is better to start as early as possible, while all the tendons are still soft.  

Im mentioning this - if its thse twisted legs, you can work with it.

  I understand you are asking about securing the life itself, the kitten isnt out of the woods even if you seems to do everything very nicely.  Including the kangoroo method.

Mom not protesting is good, but did she abandoned the kitten totally?   Does she care and wash him if you let it to the momma??

What kmr do you use?  Do you have by any chance access to raw goats milk?   Raw goats milk is sometimes a difference.

(and of course, it demands the hygiene is OK, healthy well nourished goat, clean when milking, etc... But usually that is so. )
 

StefanZ

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I dont remember if it was mentioned. do you have a scale?  Seeing if they do add properly, at least 6g+ a day, is a good way to know if its going the right way, or not.

A scale in OZ is ok too, but its easier with a scale in grammes.
 
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sarahc7072

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I am using PetAg formula now. And as far as the twisted legs it's the front ones. They are almost like gorilla paws. The momma had been acting a little weird the last 2 days but I just chalked it up to the fact the vet gave her her worker medicine. She doesn't like the topical stuff any better then a pill.
But this morning she came over by me and wanted to clean it but didn't want anything to do with it, I am suspecting she smelled the formula and wanted it more so than the kitten
 

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You can give the mom a dish of KMR each day.  She could probably use the extra nutrients and will also pass some onto the nursing kittens.

How many  kittens did she have?
 

Anne

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They're so adorable! I hope he's doing better real soon. We have a couple of resources which may help - 

 [article="33302"]Fading Kitten Syndrome 11 Things You Need To Know​[/article]  

 [article="33289"]Weighing Newborn Kittens And How This Could Save Their Lives​[/article]  
 
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sarahc7072

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The little guy is doing better. But I can't believe how small he is. I found a scales and weighed him and it said 4.8 oz. At 4 weeks. Surely that can't be right. I weighed the others for comparison and they weigh in at around 8-9 oz.
He still will not take a bottle, his tongue is quite weird looking, compared to the others long almost to big for his little head, but he sucks it out of the syringe mad crazy. Lol. Yesterday just for an experiment I placed some left over formula on a plate and put all the kittens around it and dabbed their mouths with my finger coated in it. A few tried to check it out but our "little guy" just got in there a lapped it up[emoji]128513[/emoji] I don't know if it's the tongue or the fact of formula.
Also I have been putting him back with the kittens after feedings for warmth and for companship.
Even though the momma doesn't seem to want it she wants to clean it after it eats still. Then leaves it. But when she is away from the others I place it in with them. I hope that is okay?
 

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Yes, it's okay.

I hope your scale is wrong. If not, they are all woefully underweight, and need much more supplementing. Four-week-old kittens should weigh about a pound, which is 16 ounces.

I'm glad the little guy is interested in eating. Sounds like he needs more food too. How much have you been feeding him?
 

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The scale should be on a hard surface.  If it is on carpet you won't get an accurate reading.  So if the scale is on carpet or your bed, place it on a hard cover book or cutting board, then weigh the kittens.
 
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sarahc7072

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I just put a bowl on it and zeroed it out then put the kitten in the bowl
 

Sarthur2

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Have you been supplementing the kittens? I can tell you how much KMR they need.
 
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