5 week old kitten. Very small

Hello. I'm new here. I'm 27 years old and I have had cats all my life. I love them. And they love me. I think every stray in my neighborhood has ended up at my house. I have lily. She's a beautiful Norwegian forest tortie. I also have daisy (calico tabbie). She was a stray. She was pregnant had 4 kittens. And I found great homes for all of them. The last one I gave away was yesterday. I'm having a very hard time with it though. Getting to the point. I also have Sara (another calico tabbie-calicos just come to me[emoji]9786[/emoji]️) she also had a litter of 4. The first one passed. Second. And third. Now all I have is one little orange tabbie from her I dubbed Tiger. He is 5 weeks old. But the size of a 3 week old. He's a fighter though. The infection that killed his brothers and sister, he was able to overcome. Thank God. This little guy really needs to put on some weight. 5 weeks and he still fits perfectly in the palm of my hand. What can I do? His mother Sara is very small built. I need to worm her but I don't know when it's safe to do? Any suggestions? Sorry this was so long. Had to introduce myself though. [emoji]128049[/emoji]

gloverme1988

It is safe to worm the mom now. Ask your vet for Drontal. Is mom eating unlimited dry kitten chow and wet food while nursing?

What does the kitten weigh? Do you have kitten formula? Powdered KMR by PetAg is best.

You need to begin supplementing the kitten with KMR. I can tell you how much to supplement if you give me the weight. You'll use a small syringe to do so.

It sounds like a miracle this kitten has survived. Does he nurse mom well?

I'm sorry the others died. What were their symptoms?

It's awesome that you help all these strays!

Not sure how much he weighs to be honest but he is a tiny little guy. I would say he's the size of an average 2-3 week old kitten. With the personality of his actual age. He is definitely a miracle. He is not interested in any other milk but his mothers. Yes she has unlimited supply of goats milk water and wet and dry kitten food. I've tried bottle feeding him and syringe feeding but he spits it back out. They all had sneezing lethargy pus in their eyes lots of mucous in the nose and throat. It was definitely contagious whatever it was. Their eyes would get all dries shut and nothing I did helped them. This little guy here though is a fighter. Most of his symptoms have gone away. He does occasionally still have a little gunk in his eyes though.

I've tried to upload some pics of him but my phone is acting ugly. It is the kitten in my avatar pic.

It sounds like they had upper respiratory infections that turned into pneumonia. For future reference, antibiotics early on will usually cure the URI before it turns to pneumonia.

It also sounds like your little guy needs terramycin ointment for his eyes, and would still benefit from a round of amoxicillin.

You asked about putting weight on him. Until he transitions to solids, supplementing with goat's milk or KMR is the best way.

You can also try Gerber turkey or chicken baby food on your finger. It's easy to lick and swallow.

I did a round of Terramycin with them. But I think they were also born too early and their little bitty bodies just couldn't stand up to the illness. [emoji]128532[/emoji]

Do you still have terramycin for this kitten's eyes that you can use?

It's the powder form you mix with water. But I mixed with water and goats milk for them. I have the ratio written down that a vet told me to give but I've lost it somewhere amongst all the papers just sitting on the table. I was also told polysporin would work on their eyes

I've never heard of a powdered version. Are you able to see a vet for a tube of terramycin or amoxicillin?

Powdered terramycin is sold in farm stores, for use in livestock. I've heard of people using it for farm cats but I don't think it's terribly effective in cats. Although a feline dosage is listed in the Merck manual so it can't be completely ineffective. I do think amoxicillin is better though. If your vet is willing to give directions for using terramycin, he's probably also willing to give amoxicillin without an office visit. So try to get some of that. It's not expensive.

Terramycin eye ointment is great stuff, and you can buy it online without a prescription (or from your vet). It's about $15 for a tiny tube, but if you use it properly (don't put it directly in their eyes but put it on your finger first), it lasts a long time. I'd recommend getting some if you can.

The vet wants me to bring all of them in to be checked up on. I will never be able to afford that. [emoji]128532[/emoji]

You really only have to bring in the sick kitten. The vet can recommend bringing the others in but he can't force you to do it. Although they really need basic vet care like vaccinations (especially rabies!) and spaying.

It's much cheaper to spay a cat than keep raising kittens. And if you can't afford medical care when they get sick it perhaps isn't humane to keep them. Are there any low-cost spay/vaccinate programs in your area? Someone might be able to put you in contact with the right people if you say where you live (general area; don't get too specific of course ).

They are not my cats. They are strays in the neighborhood that I feed. 2 came up pregnant and had their kittens here. So to prevent even more cats and kittens running rampant, I took them all in. Found homes for the entire first litter from the first pregnant cat. I am getting her spayed next week. The other I plan on spaying and finding a home for as well after she is done nursing this little guy. Trust me. I know the kittens are better off in a home where they can be taken to the vet and what-not. I just take them in and care for them until I can find homes for them. Either way it's a lot more humane than calling animal control. I don't trust them not one bit.

Not sure about low cost clinics and stuff. I live in Nash county NC

Plus I grew up on a farm and had lots of farm cats growing up. But I've never seen nearly an entire litter not make it from anything.

I had a similar situation.  I started feeding him goat milk as well as kitten food.  Goat milk is less expensive than formula and he lapped it up.  My kitten was just about 5 - 6 weeks.  He was born to a wild feral cat on my ranch where I only go several times a week.  He made so much noise crying I figured he would wind up coyote food.  I just saw a beautiful kitten for weeks and then suddenly it disappeared.  Some kittens that were born there ( a black one and a gray with a tiger tail are still coming.  The mother of my little one is also there and I think she lives under my shed.

They seem to really like goats mil.  My kitten was 1.6 lbs when I took him to the vet and last time was over five lbs.  I believe now he is over 10.   Good luck to you and your fighter! 

gloverme1988

Here is a low-cost clinic option in your area:

http://fivecountyspayneuter.com/services-and-fees/

Thank you all very much. I actually got him to start eating some wet kitten food just now! I am so excited and I really hope he pulls through. Going through a pretty tough time right now and animals seems to be he only beings that get me. LOL. Sounds silly I know. But I guess that's just life. Some people have a gift of connecting with animals and some people couldn't care any less. I for one am very grateful to have them. I have rescued baby rabbits squirrels raccoons everything to snakes and spiders. Just glad I can connect with people who care as much about my feline friends as I do!