Premature kitten?

talkingpeanut said:

Is the litter box covered?  It sounds like mom might want something with more privacy.

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Litter box is not covered but it is in a corner. I will move it to a more open area and hopefully she won't move the kitten anymore. It's been about an hour since he last ate and I can't seem to wake him. He will stretch and change positions if I pet him but he doesn't want to wake up. Mom keeps trying to lay on top of him and I'm worried she'll suffocate or smother him

He attempted to nurse from the syringe so I put him with mama and he latched on.

He ate 1.5 mL and whatever he got from momma. The room they're in is really warm so I placed an ice pack under a blanket outside of the nest and momma seems to be enjoying it. I don't really have an effective way of cooling off the room but I think that might be the problem.

Kitten seemed to have more energy today and meowed at me while feeding. He only at about 1 mL. Is making some attempt at nursing. Weighed him and he was only 2.1 oz which is about 59.5 grams. Attempting to feed him some more.

M mkcrazycatlady

That is a VERY dangerous and low birth weight! Healthy kitten birth weight is at least 90 grams.

Try for 1 mL every hour today. This kitten is in a danger zone with its premature birth weight.

Can you set up a fan in the room to blow air around?

There is a fan in the room. Mama seems comfortable and moved kitten to the first box. He took 2 mL with little fuss. I have a friend who has hand raised kittens before offer to take him and momma cat.

M mkcrazycatlady

Are you thinking of letting her take them? Is she available around the clock?

I let her take them. She is available around the clock where I am not. I work a full time job and have to be away at least 4 hours most days. She will keep me updated and I can keep you guys updated.

I think that's great! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Please do keep us updated! I think you made a great choice.

She's had him almost all day today and told me he is now suckling and sucking on his own.

Oh, that is music to my ears! I'm so glad! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

She said I could come visit him sometime so I'll try for the end of the week and maybe get an updated weight

That's nice of her. Will she be keeping them as pets?

Momma cat started refusing the kitten and my friend's husband said she couldn't stay if she wasn't needed so momma is back with me. She said she may keep the kitten if I don't want the kitten back but she's not sure yet. How soon can I get momma fixed?

MkCrazyCatLady said:

Momma cat started refusing the kitten and my friend's husband said she couldn't stay if she wasn't needed so momma is back with me. She said she may keep the kitten if I don't want the kitten back but she's not sure yet. How soon can I get momma fixed?

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That's very upsetting news. The kitten really, really needs its mom and mom will hopefully come around once the kitten is a bit stronger. They didn't even give her a day to settle in?

Can you find another foster that would take mom and baby?

This is strange. The poor cat and kitten weren't really given a chance to settle in. They really need to be in a home together, even if mom is not able to nurse.

Is this friend going to feed the kitten around the clock now?

She knows she needs to feed the kitten around the clock. I was upset with it too. I really wish they had given the cat more time to settle in. I looked for another person who would take both but ended up finding someone who just wanted the mom or who was just willing to take the baby.

MkCrazyCatLady said:

She knows she needs to feed the kitten around the clock. I was upset with it too. I really wish they had given the cat more time to settle in. I looked for another person who would take both but ended up finding someone who just wanted the mom or who was just willing to take the baby.

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I know you are doing your best, but I really think that's horrible of them. This kitten doesn't need to be an orphan.

I hope you will visit the kitten this week, and see how it is doing. Can you bring it back to its mom when it is past this critical stage in a couple of weeks?

Was the kitten nursing its mom at all? Does she have milk? Can you check her nipples?

Hold off on spaying mom for now until this situation plays out a bit longer.

I'm still holding out hope that a better solution is out there.