Help with new baby.

I agreed to foster two 7 day old kittens on Tues. A boy and a girl. We named them Moogle and Minna. Shortly after I got them they developed liquid diarrea. Nothing I did seemed to help. Yesterday I took them both to my vet. He said they had roundworms. He gave me antibiotics and wormer for them both. He said that otherwise they were in good health, and weren't dehydrated. Their weight was good for 10 day kittens. Moogle at 7oz and Minna at 6.

Early this morning one of the kittens died without warning. It was Minna. She never got weak or cried or anything like that. She was eating a bit less but that was the only warning sign. I'm feeling guilty and freaked. I'd just fed her about 4 hours before and she seemed strong and energetic. I'm scared I will lose Moogle too now. He isn't showing any signs of fading but I'm still scared since she didn't either. I guess I'm just looking for people who've been through something similar with a foster kitty. And any suggestions on how to prevent it with Moogle.

Edit:This is Moogle...

I could be wrong, but I never heard of deworming 10 day old kittens. You should check with the vet and see if he/she wants to continue or stop the medicine.

Otherwise, I think at that age their chances are not high, anyway. Maybe there was nothing anyone could have done.

Originally Posted by Kathylou

I could be wrong, but I never heard of deworming 10 day old kittens. You should check with the vet and see if he/she wants to continue or stop the medicine.

Otherwise, I think at that age their chances are not high, anyway. Maybe there was nothing anyone could have done.

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He said they were already passing worm eggs in their feces. And that the worms were what was making them sick.

Mercymac, I moved your thread to the Pregnant Cat and Kitten Care forum, where the kitten experts are more likely to see it.

Good luck with your little one.

Depending on how bad the infestation was, the round worms could have killed them. If the mom had the roundworms the kittens will have them too.

Keep Moogle warm, and I mean warm. Out of drafts, in a box with lots of soft bedding, you can make a heater out of uncooked Minute Rice and socks. Just fill the sock up halfway with minute rice. tie off the ends and nuke the sock in the microwave for 30 seconds. It will give the little one about a hour and a half of heat, plus offer him a warm something to snuggle with.

I would also look into getting some pet vitamin drops and GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) and add to the formula.

Just to be safe, brew a pot of strong coffee and just let it cool down. keep about a cup of it on hand you can syringe a little bit of it into the mouth of a kitten if the kitten starts to fade.

It is a waiting game now, you have to hope the surviving kitten has the will and the courage to live through the parasite invasion.

Thanks Hissy;

My Housemate made us big ones of those rice warmer things last christmas. So when I told her what I was doing she made moogle a little one out of supersoft baby blankie flannel. He curled up with it right away.

He already had a heating pd under him covering half his little kitten tub. With his sister gone now I'm sure the extra warmth is a big comfort.

I will see about the liquid vitamins and make some coffee too.

Don't forget to watch for fleas, when our kittens died without warning, my vet said that it was possible fleas sucked them dry, and it's quick. HOWEVER please do not use ANY insecticide on them. To my knowledge right now all you can use is a flea comb and gently pick them off... This may not be the problem, I'm definately no expert but it can cause a problem. Just a thought, from what happened to us a few months ago.

Originally Posted by MommaLori

Don't forget to watch for fleas, when our kittens died without warning, my vet said that it was possible fleas sucked them dry, and it's quick. HOWEVER please do not use ANY insecticide on them. To my knowledge right now all you can use is a flea comb and gently pick them off... This may not be the problem, I'm definately no expert but it can cause a problem. Just a thought, from what happened to us a few months ago.

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Thanks for the suggestion. They were both covered when I first got them. But I managed to get them flea free by Wed. I gave them a gentle bath with mild soap, and kept them well combed. No insecticide. Sorry you lost babies too. It's is very hard.

okay. Here's what I'm doing as of now.

I've cycled his feedings back up to every two hours. When I make his bottles they are 3 parts hartz kitten milk replacement, 3/4 part pedialyte, 1/4 part buttermilk. The vet said this would keep him from loosing all his good bacteria to the antibiotic. I help him eliminate after every feeding. The diarrea. The runny leaking everywhere has stopped. I hope this means he's getting better and not that the ringworms have caused a blockage.

He is peeing every time and the color is a good light yellow. The one time he pooped today it was thicker and brownish orange. He's still bloated from the worms though. I will worry till he's passing them.

I have a bottle of pedialyte on hand so if he cries for food between feedings I can give him that. He seems to like it.

His tushie is getting better quickly now that the runs have stopped.

He seems a bit quieter though. Not listless, but not as strong as yesterday. *worries*

I check on him often just to see that he's okay, but I try to make sure I don't wake him.

Best of luck with Moogle. He sure is cute! I bottle fed a baby at one of our cat adoption shows-oh, too sweet! I also lost some apparently healthy kittens this spring, and they were being fed by their Momma! So it does happen. The last one went to the vet for a necropsy, and they found nothing. So do not blame yourself for losing Minna. She was loved and cared for gently til her end!

Now I hope Moogle can beat the odds, and grow up to be a big strong boy!

I`m praying that your little boy willmake it and grow up to be a big strong kitty that will spend many,many happy years with you.

I want to thank all of you for the advice and well wishes for Moogle. I can't tell you how much it means. I took the loss of Minna pretty hard. Enough to make me break down twice today. I kept thinking I had done something wrong. It had happened while I was asleep so I kept thinking if I had just stayed up with them...

But even if I had, I know I might not have been able to save her. Still it's a bitter pill. Your kindness has made it an easier one to swallow. And has renewed my hopes for yet saving Moogle.

I sure do hope moogle pulls through alright... I know how tough it is losing one, especially when you're taken the time and energy (and I mean that in a good sense) to bottle feed.. you get even more attached after playing mommas role. You are both in my prayers

He is now 11 days old. 6 1/4 oz.

VERY energetic, and LOUD when he wants something. His tummy is still upset by the parasites but it's noticeably better. One eye has opened a little so he looks like he is winking.

He escaped his bin once last night! The sides are rather high he cimbed the edge of the towel I keep over his tub to protect him from the ceiling fan's breeze. Once he was out he didn't know what to do so he promptly squeeled for rescue. I've fixed it so he can't do that again. I'm kinda proud of him though.

Originally Posted by mercymanic

He is now 11 days old. 6 1/4 oz.

VERY energetic, and LOUD when he wants something. His tummy is still upset by the parasites but it's noticeably better. One eye has opened a little so he looks like he is winking.

He escaped his bin once last night! The sides are rather high he cimbed the edge of the towel I keep over his tub to protect him from the ceiling fan's breeze. Once he was out he didn't know what to do so he promptly squeeled for rescue. I've fixed it so he can't do that again. I'm kinda proud of him though.

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Awww... He is so cute!!! Great job!!

Keep growing baby Moogle!

Sounds pretty strong for a little fella! And that is a GOOD THING! :-)
Linda

Originally Posted by stampit3d

Sounds pretty strong for a little fella! And that is a GOOD THING! :-)
Linda

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Yep, he's already walking instead of crawling. He's a little wobbly but rather determined. It's amazing since he was so sick.

I've heard people saying that the odds are bad for keeping such a young kitten alive.

I really want my Moogle to make it. I'm determined to make sure that he does. But still I worry. A LOT.

How long before I can say we are over the worst? "Out of the woods" or what have you?

Is it not till after he is weaned?

This is just a guess, but at four weeks I would start feeling fairly confident. At six weeks almost entirely confident.

He is such a cutie pie! Sounds like he has a strong will.