Continuing struggle with inbred kittens

I had posted a bit back about my litter of five inbred kittens.  We are still holding at two, but one is clearly much better off than the other.  Red collar male plays, jumps, purrs, and uses the litter box reliably. He weighs 1 lb 5 oz..  Green collar male only weighs 15 oz.  He eats and drinks, but does not use the litter box reliably.  He does not play.  He huddles in the corner and protests when his brother tries to play with him.

These kittens are going on 3 months old, too, but clearly half, or less, the size they ought to be and developmentally delayed.  My question to those who foster kittens is would you consider euthanizing green collar or just waiting it out?

I doubt he will ever thrive at this point.  He hasn't died, but I wonder about his quality of life.  Life for a cat should be about more than just not dying.  I don't want to cut short his chances but I also don't want him to continue (if he is suffering) to suffer.

To complicate things further, I don't want to have to raise red collar as a lonely-only.  A pathetic tiny brother is better than no sibling at all, right?  But then it's not like red collar is getting the companionship he craves since green collar won't wrestle or chase.  I'm wondering if I could euthanize green collar and find red collar a buddy of like size at the shelter and just do that.

It really is breaking my heart.  I hate euthanizing cats, I hate euthanizing kittens even more.  But this guy's chances of survival and thriving seem so very remote that it may not be much of a point in trying to keep him alive.

We are way in the red, budget-wise, so I am reluctant to consult a vet.  Also, I feel that there are two types of vets out there: one who will suggest outlandish and expensive treatments that MIGHT work and one who will just say cut your losses now and euthanize the kitten.

Any thoughts?  Of a helpful nature?

kat hamlin

Right now it sounds more like a general failure to thrive issue with the smaller kitten. It sounds like this kitten could use a mama kitty, or some all-around special attention.

What happens if you try to cuddle this kitten? Does he or she respond?

The fact the kitten eats and drinks is good. What are you feeding them and how often?

You say the kitten weighs about a pound at almost 12 weeks (born 12/26). Size-wise that is what a 4-week-old kitten weighs. The lack of weight gain is concerning.

Not using the litter box could mean the kitten hasn't learned yet, or is acting out behaviorally. It sounds to me like a developmental delay, but it does not mean he/she will never learn.

I do understand your frustration, and it's difficult to know how inbred they are. First-generation in-breeding kittens - as in mother mating with son - are usually fine. It gets worse as it continues down the line.

I would give this kitten more time, and try to give it more individual attention as well. If the kitten is otherwise healthy, and I'm going off of information in your other thread, it may just need a home where they don't mind caring for a special needs kitten.

I do agree that vets tend to do one or the other - either recommend an immediate euthanasia or expensive tests. I'm in favor of neither right now, and I think there is a third option. I would look for a loving home for this kitten. This way the kitten gets a chance, and you can look for a suitable playmate for the other kitten.

Have you named them? Can you post their pictures please?

I'm also asking catwoman707 for her advice on this.

Hang in there for now!

I agree with @sarthur2  's advice. 

Keeping in mind that there's a good chance that he may need to be let go as time goes by, and hidden issues now will surface and explain what caused this lack of growth and development. 

A defective or underdeveloped heart would surely explain it  but only time will tell.

I have seen many kittens who were far behind eventually catch up, some remain smaller but some become big cats. Some just never do but it becomes clearer with time.

Eating and drinking means likely not suffering or in any pain, but huddled off alone and not playing at all is not promising at all.

How very sad......

The bigger kit is also behind, merely half the weight he should be. 3 months is about 3 lbs normally, although he has a much better chance of growing through this than his sib, especially if his behavior is age appropriate.

Consulting a vet would be beneficial to have heart listened to since a defect can be heard, and a blood panel done in hopes of at least knowing what's lacking, what's not doing it's job, and whether there is anything that can be done to add support to the weak areas.

Vets are usually quick to tell you in situations like this to euthanize. 

But as long as there is good eating it's worth waiting it out a bit more.

I would also like to see pics.

I sure hope mom is fixed so this stops.

 

Thanks, folks, so much, for the input.  After discussing with a vet friend and my rescue supervisor as well as my partner, we have decided to give little green collar (Luigi) another three days.  Surprisingly, he got up last night to the top half of their huge cage by himself, so that may be a sign of improvement.

Luigi does show some promise.  Right now he is trying to clean himself (a first) after breakfast.  He is responsive to humans, comes to the cage door and croaks his little meow.  But he is still pottying everywhere.  He doesn't particularly enjoy being held or cuddled but we are trying to do it regularly anyway because I know touch is important.

The boys are eating Purina One kitten food dry and wet food whenever the dish is empty.  I mix the wet food with a little bit of KMR stage 2 (weaning formula).  Since they came to me at about 6 weeks of age they have been able to eat dry food but in trying to put weight on them I figure extra calories won't hurt at all.

I will get pics soon.

Mom is now fixed, as is auntie/sister.  We took the kittens only on the condition that they fix the cats in the house.  They are still waiting on appointments for the boys, is my understanding.  We offered financial and logistic help to get their kitties fixed.  They are not bad people but took in mama cat without realizing that if they didn't spay her, she would continue to get pregnant again and again and they didn't want to spay/abort.  We talked them into doing it anyway.

Today is weighing day again, so we shall see if Luigi has gained any weight. 

If I didn't know for a fact that these kits were born Dec 26 I would peg them as much younger, it's true.  But Mario shows definite promise; it's just going to take a while.  I don't want to seem like I am in a hurry to get rid of them.  As far as finding a special needs home for Luigi, I don't think there's much hope there.  Frankly, if he hits the 2 pound mark and still can't use the litter box, I would be very concerned about him making it through neuter surgery as well.

We have a hard time here placing happy, healthy, gorgeous kittens--one that doesn't use the litter box is probably not an option for placement.

Why only 3 days? It sounds like he is capable of improvement, albeit very slowly. Do you put him in the litter box at intervals throughout the day, and show him how to dig with his paw?

Could you ask via a Facebook group if anyone is interested in taking him?

We have a member here now with a kitten with manx tail syndrome who is currently wearing diapers.

I just hate to see the little fellow put down so soon.

We don't have unlimited time or funds.  He has lost weight from the last time I weighed him, now only 12 oz.  However since he is cleaning himself, or trying to, and accessing the top part of the cage, that is improvement.  It was three days without any improvement that we would euthanize.

He potties pretty frequently...maybe every hour or so.  I have tried showing him into the box and he just looks confused and jumps back out.

This is Luigi.


This one, Mario.

Personally, I would let Luigi live out his life until he does or does not die. No way could I euthanize him.

He looks like a sweetheart! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

They both do. Love their fur color.

Perhaps one of the local rescues has a foster who might be interested in working with Luigi.

Perhaps Luigi needs supplementing with high calorie food, Nutrical paste, or an appetite stimulant. I feel sad for him. I hope you will spare him.

Poor little dude. Has he been de-wormed multiple times? Sometimes those nasty parasites can be persistent. Maybe some high-calorie paste such as Nutrical would help too, along with the KMR (I would use the actual formula, though, not the weaning stuff). FWIW, I don't think their issues are caused by inbreeding, just plain neglect/malnutrition from a young age.

I forgot, did they get antibiotics? He look like he has/had a URI.

I took in a litter who weighed 4 ounces at 5 weeks (when I took them) and even after 3 weeks of constant care and feeding still only weighed 8 ounces at 8 weeks . 2 died but 2 made it, and are nice big healthy adults now (9-10 pounds). It took them forever to put on any weight; they were 6-7 months old when spayed/neutered and barely made the 3-pound cutoff. Early malnutrition really takes a while to overcome, it doesn't happen as fast as you wish it would :/.

I would give him longer, too, as long as he wasn't suffering.

Can I ask of you, will you replace the current dry food with Royal Canin Babycat dry?

It is not the kitten dry but the one for newly weaning kittens.

Then continue with any pate style wet food, but babycat does have canned also.

It's expensive, yes! But the small amt that kittens eat helps alot.

It is what I consider having made the difference in kittens I have taken in many, many times who were malnourished and/or emaciated. They looked like Ethiopian kids, skin and bones with bellies.

It has been a life saver and made it possible to turn these kittens around so dramatically, making it well worth the cost.

Packed full of nutrition and fat, protein, high calories, and a taste they are crazy for.

As for the pottying, 2 things come to mind, one is, it seems often times that undersized kittens are also behind in behavior and learning too.

I bet as they grow in to their bodies they will act older and catch up on that too.

If need be, contain him/them in a small crate so the litter box is right there under his nose until he learns to use that faithfully.

I have a feeling it is the small size that makes him not use it.

Like a 3 week old, what the heck is this for?? lol

Thanks everybody for the suggestions.  Luigi showed some improvement but passed away in his sleep yesterday morning.

Mario is doing well, active and eating and using the litter box faithfully, however, he is terribly lonely.  We have reached out to local shelters to see if there are any (healthy) kittens his size we could take to give him a buddy or two.  Nothing yet.

In the meantime, we are giving Mario lots of attention and love and some out-of-cage excursions.

I will keep the Royal Canin Babycat in mind for the next time this happens...but hopefully it won't.  This has been an eye-opening experience.  I have NEVER had kittens that were that underweight and behind developmentally. 

(Mario just got done giving himself a bath and now is playing with one of his toys...ahh, peace and quiet!)