My Kitten needs help…

Blossom01
Blossom01 Posts: 658
edited September 21 in Chit-Chat
My cat delivered 4 kittens on the 10th of July. They are only I month old 3 of them are growing healthy but one of them “Pettit” has not grown much at all! We bottle feed him with mixture of cow's milk and egg yolk with corn starch but he is not getting any bigger. He also does not show any interest in playing or anything else. He finds it hard to grab or feed off his mom any suggestions? :flowerforyou:

Replies

  • linzismith
    linzismith Posts: 139 Member
    oh man, i have no idea but good luck! i hope someone knows an easy solution.
  • ToughMudderAddict
    ToughMudderAddict Posts: 290 Member
    Perhaps a vet visit could give you more insight.. I know that means money but having just dropped $100 on my new kitten I can say that knowing an answer is better than wondering what you're doing wrong (if anything)... Best of luck and sorry I don't have a better answer!
  • riveraphx
    riveraphx Posts: 380 Member
    oh no :-( I don't know anything about that kind of stuff, but you should definitely call a vet.
  • lisahays
    lisahays Posts: 2
    We've had some kittens and puppies that sound like they've had the same issue. If the kitten can't feed off of mom, have it checked for a cleft palate. When this happens, the kitten has no power to suck since it can't close off air going into and through its mouth. Also, as far as being small, it's possible that this kitten has a heart murmur. A heart murmur would keep it from growing, although it may not have anything to do with not being able to eat.
  • Learning2LoveMe
    Learning2LoveMe Posts: 1,430 Member
    Have you tried soft food? I know he may be a little young still, but you'd be surprised what a little guy will do for some yummy soft food. lol

    If that doesn't work definitely call your nearby vet for some advice.
  • obifatkanobi
    obifatkanobi Posts: 190
    Get some good baby formula, or better yet, some kitten formula. Most large department stores that have pet supplies will have some kitten formula. Is the kitten passing the food? The corn starch may have it plugged up. Maybe call a vet and get some professional advice. Best of luck.
  • weaklink109
    weaklink109 Posts: 2,831 Member
    I agree a vet would be a good idea. If money is an issue, check to see if your local Humane Society or animal shelter might be able to offer some tips. I also did a google search and came up with this website, which appears to have been put together by a DVM (vet). It has specific suggestions for what to feed, how often and how much, based upon the age of the kitten

    Here is the link: http://www.2ndchance.info/orphankitten.htm

    Good luck. My doggies, AKA "The Three Little Pigs" love kitties and wish all yours well.
  • ghostlystate1980
    ghostlystate1980 Posts: 27
    Urgent care must be taken. I am a cat lover and am getting this information from one of my many cat reference books. This one is called "ASPCA: Complete cat care manual" and I am quoting what it says about kittens that are born with the problems you are saying.

    pg. 174
    "Consult a vet for advice. Orphan (rejected kittens) must be kept warm, well fed, and clean. To begin with, they must be fed every two hours with special replacement cat milk. After feeding, the anal area of a kitten needs to be gently wiped with a piece of damp cotton to encourage elimination of waste products. The mother cat may accept the kitten back when they are partially weaned"

    the kittens should weigh 8 -15oz at three weeks, 9 -18oz at four weeks, 10 - 22oz at five weeks, 11 - 25 oz at six weeks and 14 - 31 oz at seven weeks.

    You should never feed a cat or kitten cows milk as most cats are lactose intolerant and it can give them upset tummies and diarrhea. A kitten could end up dying if this happens since they are so small and lose a lot of fluid if they get diarrhea.

    I would suggest taking the cats to a vet clinic and having them checked for health issues. Also, once your adult cat has finished nursing, you should have her fixed and the kittens once they have had their first heat. DO NOT let them outside because female cats can get pregnant right after giving birth.

    Good luck with your cats. If you cannot afford the vet bills for your cats, try finding a non profit organization, they may be able to give you a lower cost.
  • Voncreepy2
    Voncreepy2 Posts: 1,450 Member
    You could get some kitten formula and try to bottle feed him and give him lots of attention. He may just have failure to thrive.
  • Blossom01
    Blossom01 Posts: 658
    Thank You MFP friends :flowerforyou: I have read and taken into consideration all your post and have did some more back ground check with the information I was provided. Serafina The mama cat does not reject her son rather that her son does not know how to grab and feed off his mom too well. He does not have a face condition but is still very small in size and does not weigh much at all. We have already token his sister to the vet for a different reason about 3 weeks ago but I am going to take him as well as soon as it is possible. If you have any other advice or experience please let me know. :wink:
  • Blossom01
    Blossom01 Posts: 658
    I agree a vet would be a good idea. If money is an issue, check to see if your local Humane Society or animal shelter might be able to offer some tips. I also did a google search and came up with this website, which appears to have been put together by a DVM (vet). It has specific suggestions for what to feed, how often and how much, based upon the age of the kitten

    Here is the link: http://www.2ndchance.info/orphankitten.htm

    Good luck. My doggies, AKA "The Three Little Pigs" love kitties and wish all yours well.

    Thank you:smile::smile: and a :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: for all Three Little Pigs.
  • Blossom01
    Blossom01 Posts: 658
    :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: MFPIt is 5:08 am and we have been up since a few hours trying to find a 24 hour vet hospital but unfortunately we were not able to find one open or that answered the phone and Pettit has now gone home. My daughter heard him throwing up in our bedroom and very weak and beyond the attempt to save him it was not possible. Pettit died in the hands of my daughter as she sang the song Amazing grace he gives up his last breath. Serafina his mother attempted to pamper him but he did not respond. He was a blessing to us all and memories of him following and responding to my daughter will be cherished. Pettit did all he could to survive he will be remembered as a survivor that despite his new born frame body he strived to be as normal as possible.
    Pettit leaves his mother Serafina, Snugles,Coudles, and Emily and will b e greatly missed.
    We will be going to vet today as we already had this planned but unfortunately we will only be taking Emily and her sisters but to get their eyes checked. My regret is that my health was not well enough to go yesterday but today in another day and there is still yet another kitten to fight for.

    Thank you all for your love, advice and support:flowerforyou:
  • weaklink109
    weaklink109 Posts: 2,831 Member
    So sorry to hear your little kitten didn't make it. I hope the remaining ones do better.
  • Blossom01
    Blossom01 Posts: 658
    Thank you for your thoughts:flowerforyou: The vet told us that even if we had taken him a bit before that there was probably not much he could of did for him because that some cats that are born like pre-mature looking really never develop properly but we are thankful to God for allowing him to live his tiny body for 5 weeks compared to other that leave much sooner because of this condition. He was so tiny the last thing we I did was caress his hears and he starched out his tiny arm and my DD sang to him as he left this world within 20 minutes later.

    For the other kittens the Vet said to wash her eyes with Chamomile tea and to add ointment and this is what we did and he is better now but we still need to keep a close eye on her.
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