Sick kitten

One of the two-week old orphaned kittens me and my girlfriend rescued is currently not nursing much. and she also seems malnourished as she's a bit lighter than her other still living littermate and keeps rolling over while trying to walk.

She was feeding from a milk bottle fine just last night but this morning she wouldn't drink anything. she just keeps biting at the tip. My girlfriend thinks it's the new milk we've been feeding them as there's a lot of catpoop in the box were keep them. I clean their box once each morning, replacing the towels.

However the other kitten seems healthy. i'm a bit worried because she's currently not moving a lot and her voice sounds weak.

ok first thing you need to do is get some KMR or fresh goats milk and a scale to weigh the kitten to make sure they are gaining weight. They need to be feed on there belly with the head up kitten need as much food as they want. They are using a litter box that is good so you don't have to help the to go. Have they been to the vet yet they should be checked over by a vet.

She is probably lacking in energy. Have you tried syringe feeding?

If feeding doesn't work, try putting honey on her lips.

ok that doesnot sound good she is week get some kyroe syrup sugar water on the gums can give them a quick pick me up needs to go to te vet asap

Just an update, my girlfriend called and said she's starting to nurse but just a little bit which is a little good news. We tried a syringe earlier but she's just nibbling it either. 

Also just to clear things, we haven't potty trained them yet as they are just a couple weeks old, I think. We just keep them in a cardboard box with some towels and socks filled with cotton. We just wipe their bottoms every time after feeding them.

We recently changed the brand of kitten milk as the usual brand we used was out the last time we went for groceries. 

She still looks quite weak as she still has trouble walking compared to the other kitten who could pretty much walk without rolling over. My girlfriend is just worried because there were three of them when we found them but was too weak and died shortly in spite of our efforts and the kitten's current appearance and behavior resembles the one who passed away in it's final moments

 That good that the kitten is feeding. What kitten milk are you using? Formula? 

 And, if all goes wrong, do not worry. It is normal for Cats to lose some of their litter after birth. You can try everything you can to save one, but don't beat yourself up if you can't.

Anima said:

 
Just an update, my girlfriend called and said she's starting to nurse but just a little bit which is a little good news. We tried a syringe earlier but she's just nibbling it either. 

Also just to clear things, we haven't potty trained them yet as they are just a couple weeks old, I think. We just keep them in a cardboard box with some towels and socks filled with cotton. We just wipe their bottoms every time after feeding them.

We recently changed the brand of kitten milk as the usual brand we used was out the last time we went for groceries. 

She still looks quite weak as she still has trouble walking compared to the other kitten who could pretty much walk without rolling over. My girlfriend is just worried because there were three of them when we found them but was too weak and died shortly in spite of our efforts and the kitten's current appearance and behavior resembles the one who passed away in it's final moments

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As said above - it may be so she is too sick to make it.  If its some real fault or disease.  But its important to put up a good enough struggle before accepting defeat.

So, what formula did you use, what do you use now?   Can you get raw goat milk?  or any goat milk at all?

For now, try and continue to try feed her with a syringe - tummy down, head up, in the corner of the mouth, slowly drop by drop so she may swallow comfortably.  If she swallows good, it may go quite quick, otherwise it may take patience and time.

Some honey water on lips and gum gives extra energy.  Thick honey put on the lips of a weak one... nay.

For some reason I cant see my last post but anyway.

We've been feeding them with cat formula which brand I cant remember. Just after we found them we were feeding them with COSI. But we ran out and it wasn't available the last time we went for groceries.

She just started refusing to nurse this morning. Before she was nursing normally I only realized today she was lighter than her sibling when I held them together.

Anima said:

 
For some reason I cant see my last post but anyway.

We've been feeding them with cat formula which brand I cant remember. Just after we found them we were feeding them with COSI. But we ran out and it wasn't available the last time we went for groceries.

She just started refusing to nurse this morning. Before she was nursing normally I only realized today she was lighter than her sibling when I held them together.

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It can be seen sometimes kittens who are going downhill refuse to eat.  Which of course accelerate the process.   Still, its the try...  Can youg get goats milk in any form?  this is OK to use too.

Anima said:

 
For some reason I cant see my last post but anyway.

We've been feeding them with cat formula which brand I cant remember. Just after we found them we were feeding them with COSI. But we ran out and it wasn't available the last time we went for groceries.

She just started refusing to nurse this morning. Before she was nursing normally I only realized today she was lighter than her sibling when I held them together.

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Is she elimaniting?  not eliminating properly can also cause such problems.

Last home remedy try:  sometimes they may have colic, without being bloated. Such a kitten is reluctant to feeding - it knows feeding = pain.

A couple of drops of simeticone often helps.  The same simeticone as for human babies.  Try to find some brand with just simeticone without addition nor flavoring.

I think I can find some goat milk in the market or some upscale grocery near my place that specializes in "organic foods". I don't think it's colic, she's quite quiet and only makes noise if I take her out of the box or is the symptoms in cats different?

Anima said:

 
I think I can find some goat milk in the market or some upscale grocery near my place that specializes in "organic foods". I don't think it's colic, she's quite quiet and only makes noise if I take her out of the box or is the symptoms in cats different?

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Yes, they with organic food do surely have it, and probably even raw - fresh or frozen.  Raw is best.   bottled etc ok too if you cant find organic.  Go for it.   All rescuers I know of, whom use goats milk, are contend with this.  Of course those not contend try to change. But still.

If there are several brands - take a full fat - ie about 3% or slightly over.

This with colic is a little of "shooting in the dark".  Taking a poker-chance.  Simeticon isnt dangerous as long you dont overdo it, so if you can get and afford - try.

The kitten needs supplementing!

It will probably not suck from the syringe, so holding the kitten tummy down and head up, like it feeds from mom, you put 1-2 drops at a time in the side of its mouth with the syringe, letting it swallow and breathe, and then go again.

You'll want to get 1-2 mLs of formula into the kitten every 1-2 hours until it gets stronger.

Please let us know how the kitten is doing!

Weigh your orphans if you can.

A baby who won't nurse can sometimes be helped by rubbing honey or pure corn syrup on her gums. Kittens lose energy frightfully fast if they're dehydrated or not eating. Even one missed meal is too much.

Every hour, offer KMR. If you can get some Nutrical, water it to nursing consistency or make her swallow it, it could help. Your baby is too weak to eat, that's the problem.

One thing- sometimes orphan babies do this around the 2nd-3rd week of life. It's hard as heck to turn them around. I've nursed a few through that, but you have to be super vigilant and literally force them to take nourishment.

If they're only two weeks old, you should probably be assisting them in pottying. A warm washcloth applied to their bottoms before and after feeding will induce poo and pee. It also cleans it up rather nicely. If the washcloth causes irritation, use a cotton ball or gauze square, and put a&d diaper rash ointment on their bottoms.

You are kind to take care of tiny orphans.

I am saddened to post that she passed away early this morning. My girlfriend was planning to take her to the vet today as she had the day off. But we woke up to loud cries from her. At first we thought it was a good sign, that she was getting hungry but she obviously had trouble breathing. She was nursing a bit last night but I had to force the tip of the feeding bottle on her mouth.

I could not bare to watch, but according to my girlfriend it's exactly how the other kitten on the litter also died. She thinks they may have weak lungs or some disorder on their respiratory system.

I felt bad as I felt I could have done more that she might have lived. I just hope the remaining kitten remains healthy.

Im deep sorry.  We knew it was desperate, the line pretty thin, but the hope is always there.  You did your best.   RIP little one.

I'm sorry to hear this. It is very difficult with orphan kittens. How is the other kitten doing?

The good thing this is the other kitten seems fine. Her shape is more rounded around the belly and always makes noise when she get's hungry.

That's good. Are you using a cotton ball or cloth to stimulate the kitten's genitals to go pee and poop before and after feedings? This is necessary the first 3-4 weeks. Mom cats usually do it, but people have to do it for orphans.

Also, do you feed the kitten through the night? How much and how often are you feeding it?