New kittens, mother has conjunctivitis

I did not realize it was midnight where you are. It's 10:30 on a Saturday morning here in Florida, USA. Where are you?

I hope a vet can see them as quickly as possible during your tomorrow!

Thank you for all that you are doing!

They might need an antiviral medication to go with the antibiotics and sub-q's. A URI viral and bacterial panel would be a good idea as well. It will at least let you know what your fighting and what the right medications for it are. I think your making the right decision to find someone with more experience to take them. It's an absolutely horrible experience when they start going downhill so young and it takes a tremendous round the clock effort to pull them back from the edge. That being said, if you do decide to keep them and try to pull them through their are alot of people here very familiar with URI's in Kittens.

Losing weight as newborns is very dangerous, they can't afford to lose or even remain the same weight for another day.

I know this is too much for you, but the things you CAN do until they are transferred or at least seen by a vet is to supplement.

Yes, they will all fight it, when babies have a mom to nurse from, they will resist always.

This is tough on you and takes digging down deep inside of yourself and finding the strength and patience it takes, know that it will likely mean the difference between surviving or not.

Take an empty water bottle or other bottle and make up some formula in this, it makes it much easier to simply go to the fridge and pour out an amt needed, warm it up and using the smallest size syringe, one baby at a time, the smallest first, place on a table in front of you on a towel, tummy down never turned over like a baby, lift the head, and place a drop at a time in to the cheek area only, wait for swallow, repeat until at least 2 1/2 mls are fed to each.

Then place back with mom, but if she is not there place in a warmed container, small enough so they will snuggle on each other and not off alone.

If you have a heating pad that is best. On low temp.

Keep the eyes wiped clean.

A lot has happened since my last post.

Mother cat wanted nothing to do with the kittens last night and this morning so I fed and toileted them myself. Some of them drank very well from the syringe, the others were getting a bit better with it out of sheer hunger. I got at least 2ml into all of them at each feed (every 2 to 3 hours) but still no weight gain for the smallest ones this morning. The runt still seemed to have diarrhoea. Their eyes were all clear today. The one that had pus in his eyes last night had actually opened his eyes a peep this morning (then closed them again).

We got them to the vet just before midday. Mother cat fed them (under protest) whilst confined in the carrier with them. She was found to have a fever, so the vet gave her an antibiotic injection and a course of oral antibiotics. He said he didn't know what was causing it. He seemed to feel that her eye discharge was the result of her being generally unwell rather than a problem in its own right.

I am concerned that he didn't palpate her abdomen and didn't seem interested in anything besides her temperature, including why at least one of the kittens had diarrhoea. I am worried that she has retained some pregnancy products. However, I wasn't there as I had to call on help for transport, so I only know what the other volunteer told me. 

She did seem to be feeling better after coming back to me. She's eaten, meowed for the first time, and purred again when I stroked her, which she had stopped doing. She's not voluntarily feeding them but she is cleaning them and letting them nurse when she is confined with them.

I didn't feel that I was up to the task of supporting that many underweight kittens and a sick mother, so they have just been relocated to a very experienced carer from another rescue. The new carer will be able to pursue any further medical problems. I'm grateful that the cat trusted me enough to let me help as much as I could.

If the smallest one survives I may ask to adopt her myself. 108g at 6 days of age ... she's going to need to fight to pull through.

I'm in Australia, by the way.

Merree said:

 
A lot has happened since my last post.

Mother cat wanted nothing to do with the kittens last night and this morning so I fed and toileted them myself. Some of them drank very well from the syringe, the others were getting a bit better with it out of sheer hunger. I got at least 2ml into all of them at each feed (every 2 to 3 hours) but still no weight gain for the smallest ones this morning. The runt still seemed to have diarrhoea. Their eyes were all clear today. The one that had pus in his eyes last night had actually opened his eyes a peep this morning (then closed them again).

We got them to the vet just before midday. Mother cat fed them (under protest) whilst confined in the carrier with them. She was found to have a fever, so the vet gave her an antibiotic injection and a course of oral antibiotics. He said he didn't know what was causing it. He seemed to feel that her eye discharge was the result of her being generally unwell rather than a problem in its own right.

I am concerned that he didn't palpate her abdomen and didn't seem interested in anything besides her temperature, including why at least one of the kittens had diarrhoea. I am worried that she has retained some pregnancy products. However, I wasn't there as I had to call on help for transport, so I only know what the other volunteer told me. 

She did seem to be feeling better after coming back to me. She's eaten, meowed for the first time, and purred again when I stroked her, which she had stopped doing. She's not voluntarily feeding them but she is cleaning them and letting them nurse when she is confined with them.

I didn't feel that I was up to the task of supporting that many underweight kittens and a sick mother, so they have just been relocated to a very experienced carer from another rescue. The new carer will be able to pursue any further medical problems. I'm grateful that the cat trusted me enough to let me help as much as I could.

If the smallest one survives I may ask to adopt her myself. 108g at 6 days of age ... she's going to need to fight to pull through.

I'm in Australia, by the way.

Click to expand...

yeah, you did in fact wrote conjuctivitis, not a pus.  Could it be the third eyelid?  The third eyelid is seldom a true Eye problem, its usually a sign there is an inflammation somewhere in the body.  sometimes "just" some Worms.

I see the batch is taken over by a more experienced rescuer, which is surely wise.  You did very well, better than most, but as you say, its a big difference between an essentially healthy litter, needing just some observation and perhaps some supplenting - contra a sick batch on the very verge of everyone going downhill...   And you have Children too...

Good it could get this solution.

Your Days of glory will come, there is Always a need for concerned, wise rescuers and fosterers.

One last thing: I was going to suggest, if you can get raw goats milk, its Worth a try....  This tip may be useful for the next time.  Or send it along to the other rescuer.  Cant hurt, may help.

Mother cat definitely had some discharge because it was sticking her eyelids together, but it looked clear or dark, not white/yellow like pus. It was hard to tell the exact colour because she's black. Her eyes weren't opening all the way and the eyelids looked swollen. They did look like they were improving with regular washing. The kitten was different, he had pus just before his eyes opened..

I'm relieved that they're gone.

Raw goats' milk is not generally available here. Most people have very good results with an Australian brand of KMR.

Merree said:

 
Mother cat definitely had some discharge because it was sticking her eyelids together, but it looked clear or dark, not white/yellow like pus. It was hard to tell the exact colour because she's black. Her eyes weren't opening all the way and the eyelids looked swollen. They did look like they were improving with regular washing. The kitten was different, he had pus just before his eyes opened..

I'm relieved that they're gone.

Raw goats' milk is not generally available here. Most people have very good results with an Australian brand of KMR.

Click to expand...

Yes, I know.  Although for those whom CAN get raw goats milk, it may make a difference.  For some its possible.

Raw goats milk is rare in Sweden too.  And thus,  I myself know it only by hearsay, and by theoretical analysis.   Although we dont have any problems with getting good kmr or even KMR, so its seldom a real problem seeing as food.   Cartooned goats milk is often sold by  immigrant owned food shops here in Sweden.

Still, what is an extra edge, is an extra edge.  

Raw goats milk is rare in Sweden too.  And thus,  I myself know it only by hearsay, and by theoretical analysis.   Although we dont have any problems with getting good kmr or even KMR, so its seldom a real problem seeing as food.   Cartooned goats milk is often sold by  immigrant owned food shops here in Sweden.

Still, what is an extra edge, is an extra edge.  

Click to expand...

Oh, I see! You recommend it so frequently I thought it must be a staple in Sweden.

If it was readily available I'm sure many people here would be willing to try it.

Please keep us updated on how there are doing if you can! Thank you for all that you did.

Thank you so much for going above and beyond. It sounds like the antibiotic was already helping mama kitty. I hope mom heals well and that all the kittens survive. You were right to hand them over to another foster.

Sandra Scarrow said:

Human antibiotic eye drops will work. 10 g is acceptable weight gain, the 7 keep an eye on. They are very young to be sick usually uri hits starting about 4 weeks. Your likely going to need antibiotics for this group.

Click to expand...

talkingpeanut said:

Please don't use anything for humans without consulting with your vet.

Click to expand...

Was just going to post the exact same thing myself.