HELP!!

I recently rescued 5 kittens, 2 black and 3 black and white, all males. they are 10 weeks old, and I am assuming they should be eating wet cat food bye now, only 1 will eat it the rest I have to bottle feed, now one of them is very (hope I spell this right) latharigic, I helped him go to the bathroom and I am up every 2 hours feeding him, he is very very cold to the touch, and all he usally does is lye around... HELP!!!! I know he should go to the vet, but there are none open until monday and I want to try to save his little life...

 

any suggestions?

 

:m23: and welcome! What a wonderful thing you are doing for the kittens. I recently had a small batch of 5 week old kittens. They all preferred soft foods- kitten canned and occassional dry. I leave out mortared down dry kitten food and feed them can foods 4 times in the day-6AM,12Pm,5PM, and before bedtime, could be 10PM or 11 PM. They enjoyed occassional KMR feedings although they didn't really need it at this age. I also leave out water for them to drink. They say to replace the water 2x a day but the kittens are so messy I ended up changing the water 5 or 6 times a day.

Your kitten need to see an emergency vet. I'm going to be blunt. There's a very high percentage that the lethargic kitten will die. It happens in nature quite often. Generally, there's something genetically wrong with the kitten, or it has a very bad infection or disease that only the vet can treat. It could be Fading Cat Syndrome and in this case there's basically nothing you can do. Right now you should be wrapping a hot water bottle in a towel and place it next to the kitten. The kitten also needs to be bundled in towels or a blanket. I'd force feed KMR and/or Pedialyte for hydration. A lethargic cat that doesn't eat or drink will go downhill fast. I'd also water down can foods or baby foods that has no salt or onions and water it down with Pedialyte and syringe feed the kitten.

How are the kitten's stools? Check for the coloring and consistency. It should be brown and firm. If it's running and light- whitish in color, the kitten is very dehydrated and has some kind of infection going on.

Have the kittens had their distemper shots yet and tested for feline aids and leukemia? Have they been examined by a vet yet?

I was devasted recently when I lost 1 out of the 3 kittens I was fostering. Her name was Luna aka Blackie. 1 1/2 weeks after getting her, she was crying and restless one morning. She could not move her rear legs and eventually she could only lift her head. She was dying. I rushed her to the emergency clinic and they told me there was nothing anyone could have done for her. I later took her and her brothers to their regular vet as recommended. The brothers were healthy. She on the other hand had a congenital kidney disease and they had to put her to sleep.

Cold to the touch is a very bad sign. Please warm and feed the kitten as suggested and if you can call a 24 hour emergency clinic and explain your situation. They may be able to give you tips on the phone.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

very nice post vene.... :wink:

good luck with your kitten...and all the kitties....let us know the outcome.

 

Please read:

http://www.kittenrescue.org/handbook.htm

http://www.animalclinic.com/orphnkit.htm

http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/orphans.shtml

http://www.kittencare.com/

BTW, even our moderator Chessmind lost 4 out the the 5 kittens he fostered once. Even professionals lose kittens. And he also lost Handsome the last of the litter to wildlife. :cry:

 

thank you!! I have him in a box with his favorite blanket and a heating pad- set on low so I dont burn him, he had a hard stool brown in color, and urinated regularly. he is drinking the kitten milk I have for him, but he is very cold... and just lays around, I have him on antibiotics I got from the vet, the vet stated they were all healthy I definately need to get him to one ASAP. he is breathing normally, and seems to be getting better.. he doesnt want me to put him down.. LOL.. he keeps trying to climb out of th e box if I put it down, so now I have the box on my lap as I sit here and type, I want to thank you all for welcoming me!!!

 

Since the vet gave him antibiotics, what was he diagnosed with? If he has an URI, you can give him 10 min. steam baths every few hours to help clear up his nose and sinuses. Cats won't eat if they can't smell the food. Your cat must not be too lethargic if he's climbing out of the box.

What are their names and do you have pics to share? :m7: :m10:

 

he passed away last night.. It was very heart breaking.. today we are going to bury him in our pet cemetary.. His brothers are all healthy though.. I'll have pics later today... thank you all for your help..

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: :cry: :cry: :cry: I'm so sorry.

 

Thank you.. :cry:

 

I am so sorry...he passed knowing he was loved and cared for.

 

:cry: very sad. im very sorry....

 

I'm sooooooooo sorry.............you did everything you could. It was nature's way.

:cry:

 

im sorry to hear that aleat u tryed your best though.