6 Day Old Kittens Dying

[Keithtx]

need help please
We have a mommy cat we took in she was an abandoned indoor cat and is only 9 months old.
Well she got pregnant and had her kittens on 5/28/2017.
We took her and the babies inside to protect them from the feral strays.
Well on Tuesday I entered the room where we have them and found one dead.
About an hour later another one died and then today yet another one died.
Now mommy cat isn't eating and one of the remaining babies is weak and keeps mouth open all the time.
I'm at my wits end as this is breaking my heart and I have no idea what to do. I can't tell if they are getting milk but one of them is very chubby the weak one not so much.
Help anyone.

 

[abyeb]

I'm sorry this happened!

Can you take mom and the remaining kittens to the vet? Sarthur2 and @stefanz have more knowledge about post-natal care for cats and caring for young kittens than I do, so they might be able to help you out.

 

[orange&white]

Do you have milk replacement formula for kittens to feed them every 2 hours, and are they warm enough?

 

[abyeb]

Do you have milk replacement formula for kittens to feed them every 2 hours, and are they warm enough?

Yes, and you can also give them pedialyte and honey for additional electrolytes and energy.

 

[Keithtx]

Yes they are kept warm in a nice place
We have formula but we have never done this before and scared we will cause another one to pass away but we are trying
We have a friend willing to help with vet in the morning but I'm afraid the weak one may not last the night
Not sure how we can move them without causing injury to the tiny ones

 

[Keithtx]

 

[orange&white]

Good to hear you can get them to a vet in the morning. They may have fading kitten syndrome which has many, many possible causes. I know this must be heartbreaking, but try not to feel too bad. You are their hero right now.

Try to get some formula into them. I'll leave it to the experts to post how much and how often.

 

[Keithtx]

I do not feel like hero
My heart is broken as I feel like failed the ones that died

 

[Sarthur2]

Keithtx

I am guessing that they all need antibiotics. Good you are seeing the vet tomorrow.

Put mom and babies together in the carrier. Put a towel on the bottom.

Is mom eating anything at all?

Kittens are fed tummy down, head up, drop by drop in the side of the mouth. Allow the kitten to swallow and breathe in between. Try to get 1-2mLs into each kitten every 1-2 hours. Use a small needleless syringe or dropper.

I'm sorry you are going through this too. Poor mama kitty and kittens. I hope everyone gets better soon!

 

[haleyds]

You've gotten very good advice but I want to add please don't feel horrible about this. I know it's hard, I know it absolutely hurts. But kittens are one of those creatures that pass very unexpectedly sometimes. I've known of many people who have rescued babies hundreds of times who still lose them to unknown causes. It's not fair, but you can't dwell on those lost and it's best to focus on the ones you have saved! You're doing the best you can and they know it!

 

[orange&white]

Yes, listen to Haley, and keep your chin up for the survivors. I never fostered tiny kittens, but volunteered with the shelter fostering older kittens and cats long enough to have heard the stories about the bottle babies. Sometimes they just don't make it no matter how hard we try.

Are you getting some food into them now?

 

[Keithtx]

Mommy is not hardly eating or drinking
Babies seem to be showing signs of fight in them
One was standing best he could and meowing

 

[Keithtx]

He was first born and is the biggest
We are wondering if they were premature

 

[Sarthur2]

Have you now supplemented the babies?

What has mom eaten today?

 

[orange&white]

Can you offer momma cat a little dish of the kitten formula?

 

[Keithtx]

We gave the babies formula twice so far
We offered mommy some she tried it a little and that was it

 

[Keithtx]

She had a partial can but no interest in water
Gave her a couple of cat treats that's about it

 

[Sarthur2]

Okay. At least she's had a little something. Keep feeding the babies, and keep trying to feed mom.

Please let us know what happens at the vet tomorrow.

 

[Keithtx]

I will
I have such big heart this is killing me to see such precious life lost without living

 

[Sarthur2]

I know. It's very hard.