Five Day Old Kitten Weight Lower Than Birth Weight

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kittymaow

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Excellent!   So the worst crisis seems to be over, we know we are on the right track working as you do.  Just to proceed!

You may blend it some of this cartooned goats milk with the kmr, if you wish.  Use full fat, ie about 3% if you have several variations.  No funny low fat diet variation.

But as you apparently do have a good kmr, this isnt necessary either.
She'll be seven days old tomorrow and probably still below her birthweight, but yes, I am thrilled with these early results. Here's hoping it all keeps working!
 
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kittymaow

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Okay, morning weights :)

The little runt put an extra 5g on overnight again, which puts her total 24 hour gain at 13 grams, for a weight of 93g :)

Her bigger sister put on 11g (182g full weight) and her brother put on 13 (198 full weight) as well.  So they all seem to be on track as of today, their seventh day of life. 
 
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kittymaow

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Perfect, great job!

Just continue doing what you're doing!  
   
Thanks for your help, it's made a huge difference! I feel like I can see her growing in front of my eyes. Which, given how tiny she is, I probably can. 
 

catwoman707

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Thanks for your help, it's made a huge difference! I feel like I can see her growing in front of my eyes. Which, given how tiny she is, I probably can. 
Not hard to believe for sure, she is small compared to the others and for her age.

In 3-4 days depending on her weight gains, increase her amt to 4 mls to keep up with her higher weight :)
 
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kittymaow

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Not hard to believe for sure, she is small compared to the others and for her age.

In 3-4 days depending on her weight gains, increase her amt to 4 mls to keep up with her higher weight :)
Is it normal for the gains to be sort of stop and start? She's put on nothing in the last 12 hours. (Her siblings are both up 8-9 grams since this morning.)

I've given her 5 hand feeds so far today, 3-4 mls every time. She's had two solo goes with mum too. I'm a little mystified why her gain has stopped so suddenly, but she didn't gain at all the first day I started supplementing either. So maybe this is just how it is? 

Is 4ml too much for her now? What's the upper limit of how much I should feed her in a single session? I'm thinking I will do a total of 6 feeds today. 
 

catwoman707

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Is it normal for the gains to be sort of stop and start? She's put on nothing in the last 12 hours. (Her siblings are both up 8-9 grams since this morning.)

I've given her 5 hand feeds so far today, 3-4 mls every time. She's had two solo goes with mum too. I'm a little mystified why her gain has stopped so suddenly, but she didn't gain at all the first day I started supplementing either. So maybe this is just how it is? 

Is 4ml too much for her now? What's the upper limit of how much I should feed her in a single session? I'm thinking I will do a total of 6 feeds today. 
Yeah, not typical, but adding an extra feeding is a great idea, I didn't want to suggest more than you're already doing since I don't know how hard it is on you now.

We don't want less than what she gained the last 24 hr period, 13 is solid which we want. The more the better too, some days you will see a big increase, it's just how it goes, but also shouldn't see nothing gained either.

You weigh the same time and before a feeding to get the results as accurate as can be.

No, I don't see it as too much, even going to 3.5 is okay. Depending on how long feeding takes, she is processing what goes in to her tummy as she is fed too. For instance if it takes 30 minutes for 1 full feeding, by the time it's done she has digested 25% of that feeding already :)

If you notice a change in her poop she may be getting a bit too much, but it's hard to know how much she is getting from mom too, maybe hardly any, just can't tell, but her lack of gaining with just mom says to me, not much. 

At this point she needs 26 mls per day, if you go with 6 feedings then stick with 3 to 3 1/2 mls each time, but staying with 5 you can do 4. Personally I would choose more often smaller amt.
 
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kittymaow

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Yeah, not typical, but adding an extra feeding is a great idea, I didn't want to suggest more than you're already doing since I don't know how hard it is on you now.

We don't want less than what she gained the last 24 hr period, 13 is solid which we want. The more the better too, some days you will see a big increase, it's just how it goes, but also shouldn't see nothing gained either.

You weigh the same time and before a feeding to get the results as accurate as can be.

No, I don't see it as too much, even going to 3.5 is okay. Depending on how long feeding takes, she is processing what goes in to her tummy as she is fed too. For instance if it takes 30 minutes for 1 full feeding, by the time it's done she has digested 25% of that feeding already :)

If you notice a change in her poop she may be getting a bit too much, but it's hard to know how much she is getting from mom too, maybe hardly any, just can't tell, but her lack of gaining with just mom says to me, not much. 
The thing is, she gained a whole lot the day where I only supplemented 1ml a few times and gave her about 4-5 solo periods with mum, being really proactive about keeping the other kittens off mum when she was hungry.  Today it has been more supplement, less alone time with mum, and the result isn't as good. 

I won't know until tomorrow morning how much she's gained in the 24 hour period, but the last two nights its been 5 grams overnight each time. I'm hoping for more. I'm also wondering if all the struggling she does in the hand feeds is burning off the calories she needs to grow? She really does fight the whole time. 

It's not too hard on me, I just don't want to overdo it, and odds are I won't see tummy upsets as mum will clean them up. I'd feed her every hour if that was necessary. 
 

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The norm does vary day to day, but never should see no gains. Lets see what her next weight is and we'll take it from there.

Right, I forget she has a mom to do that job! I'm so used to orphaned babies.....
 

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The thing is, she gained a whole lot the day where I only supplemented 1ml a few times and gave her about 4-5 solo periods with mum, being really proactive about keeping the other kittens off mum when she was hungry.  Today it has been more supplement, less alone time with mum, and the result isn't as good. 

I won't know until tomorrow morning how much she's gained in the 24 hour period, but the last two nights its been 5 grams overnight each time. I'm hoping for more. I'm also wondering if all the struggling she does in the hand feeds is burning off the calories she needs to grow? She really does fight the whole time. 

It's not too hard on me, I just don't want to overdo it, and odds are I won't see tummy upsets as mum will clean them up. I'd feed her every hour if that was necessary
The wriggling doesnt burn out ALL the calories, but is some distress yes.   Wrapping her up in a little towel, alike a burrito - did you tried with this?   Sometime it helps nicely.

And yea, sometimes its necessary to give every hour.  Usually with tiny and or weak, whom dont manage more than 1 ml at a time...
 
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kittymaow

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The wriggling doesnt burn out ALL the calories, but is some distress yes.   Wrapping her up in a little towel, alike a burrito - did you tried with this?   Sometime it helps nicely.

And yea, sometimes its necessary to give every hour.  Usually with tiny and or weak, whom dont manage more than 1 ml at a time...
Yes, I did take your suggestion to wrap her in the towel which cut down on some of the wriggling, but not all of it. She's taking the 3 ml pretty well actually. I'm not sure where she's putting it. She's very strong too. I might try less hand feeding and more solo feeds. She's relaxed with mum for those. Plus I suppose waking her for hand feeds might not be the best for her. While her siblings eat and then sleep, she's being gotten up, stressed by feeding and them that's been repeated several times. 
 
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kittymaow

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She lost 3g overnight :/ She's back to the weight she was at 36 hours ago.

I don't get how giving her more supplementation resulted in a loss. I'm going to try giving her much more solo access to mum today without the supplements and will check in a few hours to see if she's gained anything back. 
 
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Okay, something very weird is happening. The big female put on 16 grams in a 24 hour period. (I did give her a little supplement feed yesterday, but only 1)

The male's weight stalled. The little kitten's weight took a slight dive. 

Is this a milk issue with mum? Or is the female kitten performing some kind of Highlander act with her siblings? 
 
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Sorry for the multiple multiple posts, but I've realized that the milk replacer the rescue uses is actually a puppy one :/ So I'm swapping to Royal Canin babycat milk. 
 

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Sorry for the multiple multiple posts, but I've realized that the milk replacer the rescue uses is actually a puppy one :/ So I'm swapping to Royal Canin babycat milk. 
Yes, this is one of the safe brands. 
 

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With the male's weight stall and he had only fed from momma it sounds like there may be a problem with mom producing milk.

Even the biggest baby should gain daily, they are fragile as well, as they don't hold reserves yet either and can turn around fast.

Just to keep in mind :)

Sounds like the tiny is basically only getting what is supplemented, which was not quite enough for gains, we assumed at least some was coming from momma but that might not be accurate, may be not enough or weak milk, may be baby doesn't suck hard enough, it's hard to say for sure, but for today I'd feed the entire amt needed in a day and not assume any will come from momma.

A tiny bit over 3 ounces, so needs about 26 mls today and lets see what that brings after 12 hrs passes.

I'd surely supplement the male too.
 
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kittymaow

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With the male's weight stall and he had only fed from momma it sounds like there may be a problem with mom producing milk.

Even the biggest baby should gain daily, they are fragile as well, as they don't hold reserves yet either and can turn around fast.

Just to keep in mind :)

Sounds like the tiny is basically only getting what is supplemented, which was not quite enough for gains, we assumed at least some was coming from momma but that might not be accurate, may be not enough or weak milk, may be baby doesn't suck hard enough, it's hard to say for sure, but for today I'd feed the entire amt needed in a day and not assume any will come from momma.

A tiny bit over 3 ounces, so needs about 26 mls today and lets see what that brings after 12 hrs passes.

I'd surely supplement the male too.
Thanks! I took the mum and kittens into the vet today, she said they look good but the little one is runty. She advised 2ml every 2 hours, as the baby is so physically small. I will probably up that a little, to get the 26ish mils into her. And supplement the male every four hours or so. 
 
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Well, my little runt did +12 grams in 12 hours today, and has broken the 100 grams!

I'm starting to think that growth is pretty non-linear. The boy also put on the same in the same period today, as did the big female (though her gains have been steadier.) They're all up nicely today :) 
 
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This is excellent news! I hope the runt keeps up the good progress! [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 

catwoman707

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Well, my little runt did +12 grams in 12 hours today, and has broken the 100 grams!

I'm starting to think that growth is pretty non-linear. The boy also put on the same in the same period today, as did the big female (though her gains have been steadier.) They're all up nicely today :) 
The best news, exactly what we want! Keep up the great work~ 
 
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