Strange kitten sounds? Probably going to vet, but wanted opinions...

Okay, so Nina gave birth on July 3rd. All's been generally well, except for the runt, who seems to have exceptional difficulty both finding and keeping a hold of any given nipple. Here's what I'm noticing:

It can't seem to keep its head from wobbling all about and shaking, and it takes forever for it to find a nipple. The other kittens are still just crawling about, but they don't seem so wobbly-headed. Should I worry?

It doesn't seem to be putting on weight as fast as the others.

I've tried bottle feeding it, but it doesn't seem to ever fix on the bottle's nipple, and I have not yet successfully managed to feed it any KMR by hand. I've managed to get the bottle nipple in its mouth, but no sucking action, just a lot of squirming, head wobbling and a bit a crying.

It makes odd snuffling sounds, maybe they are sneezes. This is the thing that most gets me - it sounds and seems like it is trying to find and suck a nipple. It only makes these sounds when on the mother's belly, and scrambling about in its wobbly way. I noticed that the other kittens also make these sounds - at least I think I've observed it in the others. But they catch and stay on a nipple much more easily, and the sound stops when they latch on.

Is this snuffling sound normal behaviour for all nipple-seeking kittens? Am I only noticing it more in the runt because of its long, difficult time in latching on to a nipple? Or should I be worried?

I think I notice a bit of clear fluid gathering around the runt's nostrils. I cannot tell if this is because of its snuffling for nipples or if it is a runny nose. Should there be any kind of fluid around a kitten's nostrils?

The mother, btw, has not abandoned or ignored this kitten, so it doesn't seem like she's particularly picked up on anything that would cause rejection, like perhaps illness.

I'm worried, and will probably take the kitten to the vet, but wanted to ask those more experienced because maybe I'm just worrying too much because it's the runt.

Also, the mom threw up some time during the night, and now won't eat her wet food (and only picked at her dry). I gave her a bowl of KMR last night to bolster her weight (she's SO skinny now!) - could that have upset her stomach?

Thanks for any advice you can give me on what's normal, what's not, and whether that snuffling sound is standard for kittens seeking a nipple.

Huh, now that you mention it, yes, the runt rolls a lot! I've tried holding its head still and fixing it on both nipples, as well as the bottle. It just doesn't work. It won't suck, and if there's no coordination of sucking when the nipple hits, it's futile. Usually, it starts the sucking and then I poke it near the nipple and the holding of its head makes it stop sucking and start twisting.

It's so frustrating. I just want it to get its fair share of food, and it seems to actually want to nurse. It tries so hard but doesn't get it most times, it's so sad.

Oh how sad, the poor little thing! I've bottle fed kittens with no problems whatsoever. My heart goes out to this little baby. I wish you much luck. Keep us posted.

Originally Posted by Scavenger

Huh, now that you mention it, yes, the runt rolls a lot! I've tried holding its head still and fixing it on both nipples, as well as the bottle. It just doesn't work. It won't suck, and if there's no coordination of sucking when the nipple hits, it's futile. Usually, it starts the sucking and then I poke it near the nipple and the holding of its head makes it stop sucking and start twisting.

It's so frustrating. I just want it to get its fair share of food, and it seems to actually want to nurse. It tries so hard but doesn't get it most times, it's so sad.

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When you take it to the vet, mention Vestibular Disease.... that's what Annie has, and your kitty sounds identical to her sypmtoms.

It's hard to get it nurse, and you don't want to hurt it, but you have to force it's head still, and put it's mouth on the nipple... it's very frustrating but it's well worth it.

Thanks so much for giving me hope and something to ask the vet about. I held off on taking the runt in yesterday because it did manage to finally get two nursing sessions in (after much frustrating efforts on both its part and mine!).

You nailed exactly my concerns, CJandBilly, I'm afraid of hurting the kitten when I hold its head still. Since it squirms so much, I'm afraid that it will twist its neck or something. The minute I hold its head, it starts squirming and kicking and crying. Even the mom becomes tense over what I'm doing, though for the most part, she seems to understand when I'm holding the kitten's head to her body, that I'm trying to get it to nurse. She only gets up and starts gently trying to stop me from holding it when the kitten starts to cry. The kitten definitely doesn't understand what I'm trying to accomplish; it's so sad to see it struggle for the same thing I'm trying to help it with but it doesn't know that! I keep trying, though.

Vestibular Disease - what is that and does it get better? Did Annie grow out of it?

So how's kitty doing?

Do you know the gender yet? Can't wait!!!

Howdy...well, the kitten's been able to get a few more feedings in, so I'm feeling better. I can't get to see the vet until Monday, but if it continues to nurse, maybe I won't take it in. The clasping between the palms trick seems to have helped the success ratio, so thanks so much for that tip!

As to sex - I've seen the diagrams on how to sex the kittens, but truth be told, I'm still completely in the dark. A couple seem to have bulges of sorts at their bottoms - almost seems like a sort of scrotum or something. Is that possible at this age? From the pictures I've seen, it appears that there are supposed to be two holes either close together or farther apart, signifying the different sexes. Nothing says anything about little bulges... is this odd?

They all seem to excrete readily when stimulated, so I'm not worried there. Long story short, I've no idea what any of them are yet! I have tentatively named the runt "Stevie" after both Stevie Wonder and Steven Hawking - the body and head movements reminds me of both. :-) I figure the name is good for either male or female.