Premature kitten?

mkcrazycatlady

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I had a stray cat walk into my house like she belonged there about a week ago. She looks young, maybe a year to a year and a half old. On 7/22, I got home from work around 6:30 pm to discover she had delivered a kitten. I don't have a scale to weigh it but it seemed strong and wanted to nurse. I checked in on momma every few hours and finally went to bed for the night. There were no more kittens in the morning and she was eating and drinking as normal so I thought she just had one. Around 9 PM, on 7/23, Momma started acting funny. She delivered two more kittens about 25 mins apart. Both are alive and doing well but the kitten she delivered the day before is now appearing lethargic and tired and showing no interest in nursing. Was he/she premature or could there be a bigger issue? Is it possible he had just eaten his fill before I checked on them? Any ideas or advice appreciated.
 

StefanZ

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I had a stray cat walk into my house like she belonged there about a week ago. She looks young, maybe a year to a year and a half old. On 7/22, I got home from work around 6:30 pm to discover she had delivered a kitten. I don't have a scale to weigh it but it seemed strong and wanted to nurse. I checked in on momma every few hours and finally went to bed for the night. There were no more kittens in the morning and she was eating and drinking as normal so I thought she just had one. Around 9 PM, on 7/23, Momma started acting funny. She delivered two more kittens about 25 mins apart. Both are alive and doing well but the kitten she delivered the day before is now appearing lethargic and tired and showing no interest in nursing. Was he/she premature or could there be a bigger issue? Is it possible he had just eaten his fill before I checked on them? Any ideas or advice appreciated.
begin with giving it glucose sugar.  Easiest is to smear thick honey water on the lips and gums    - proceeding
 

StefanZ

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Now, its an hour later, so you see if it was something temporary, or more alarming.   If its the latter - it may be different reasons, especielly if the kitten isnt visibly premature.

But low blood sugar is one of them....  Thay is why its imperative to immediately give them glucose sugar as said above.  Also, it perks some energy into a weak kitten.

If its cold at your place, be sure its warm for the kitten, ie some sort of heating pad may be necessary.  iF   its high summer and hot at your place, try to make it less hot... 

Is momma taking care of the kitten?  Or had she abandoned it now?  This may be a sign, but abondonend kittens may often be saved if the caretaker fights vigorously enough.

If the kitten is abandoned, you must essentially handraise it.  Use goat milk, or some good kmr.   To have access to pedialyte, bought or made home (water, salts, glucose sugar - may be honey) is good.  Very weak kittens often dont even manage to digest, so pedialyte buys you time, because they dont need to digest pedialyte.

Please come back with further reports and further questions, so you will get more advices.

Tx for helping this momma in need. 
 

Sarthur2

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How are the kittens doing now, especially the one who seemed lethargic?

It is so kind of you to give this mom a home!
 
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mkcrazycatlady

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I woke up this morning and unfrotunately the kitten passed away. Momma was still taking care of it and cleaning it. Now one of the other kittens is acting the same as the first one. Weak with not even attempting to nurse. My house is right around 84 degrees right now.
 
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mkcrazycatlady

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Mama was extremely malnourished when she came in. When I realized she was pregnant, I switched her to kitten food and started offering wet food twice a day. I can see her hip bones sticking out which makes me feel awful. Could she not be producing milk?
 

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It's possible she's not producing enough milk.  Can you go get some kitten milk replacer immediately?  Powdered kmr by PetAg is best.  You will also need a small needleless syringe.  A small kitchen scale will help too!
 

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M mkcrazycatlady

It does sound like the kittens may be starving to death. Are you able to get kitten formula? If not, I can tell you how to make something to give the kittens. Sounds like they need food asap!

Also, mom needs wet food 4 times a day, as much as she can eat.
 
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mkcrazycatlady

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I picked up some kitten formula and gave the kitten some glucose water. He perked up for a second and is now back to being lethargic. The last kitten born seems to be doing good and is very plump. I gave momma cat a bowl of the kitten formula and she drank it up. I will increase her wet food. Momma cat seems to be pushing again. It's been about 12 hours since she last delivered...
 
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mkcrazycatlady

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Momma cat gave birth again. She pooped while pushing. Not sure if kitten is alive or not. The lethargic kitten perked up a little after being given the formula. I'm hoping it's not too late for him
 

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Momma cat gave birth again. She pooped while pushing. Not sure if kitten is alive or not. The lethargic kitten perked up a little after being given the formula. I'm hoping it's not too late for him
give that kitten massage by rubbing it with a towel.  pOur water from mouths if necessary, warm up...  Sometimes seemingly stillborne can be revived.
 

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Momma cat gave birth again. She pooped while pushing. Not sure if kitten is alive or not. The lethargic kitten perked up a little after being given the formula. I'm hoping it's not too late for him
Sounds OK for now.  You mentioned glucose water - proceed with it.  Have glucose water and some salt - making a sort of basic pedialyte, and give.  With the very weak whom dont manage to digest properly, its sometimes the solution....

Be sure he is warm enough, if its hot at your place - cool down a little...

If you can get goat milk - preferably raw, this is too a good alternative.
 

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M mkcrazycatlady

Contine feeding the lethargic kitten 1-2 mLs every single hour. Let's hope it is not too late!

Has the just born kitten been revived? Did mom tear the sac open from its face and lick it? Did you attempt to warm it up?
 
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mkcrazycatlady

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Kitten just born is still born rubbed for five minutes and nothing. Looks like he was the biggest one too. The lethargic kitten feels cold to the touch and seems to be having trouble breathing now, like it's a labored breathing. Other kitten seems to be doing great. The stillborn, lethargic, and the one who passed away yesterday were all white. The one that is doing great is a tabby and white. Could it also be something genetic?
 

Sarthur2

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It could be. It could be any number of things.

You can try warming up the struggling kitten and giving more glucose and formula. It does not sound promising though.
 
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mkcrazycatlady

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Mama cat seems to be depressed and has taken to hiding behind the couch. I've been alternating between the replacement formula and the pedialyte for the last hour, giving him a few drops of each. I'm going to let him sit for a little bit.
 

Sarthur2

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Poor mama kitty. She must sense that things are not right. She needs to nurse her healthy baby though.
 
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mkcrazycatlady

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Poor mama kitty. She must sense that things are not right. She needs to nurse her healthy baby though.
She came back and is nursing the healthy kitten. The lethargic kitten hasn't made any attempt to even go to momma.
 
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