Cat Chat Feline Forum

This is a long shot as both myself and my vet are out of ideas but right now I have to try anything I can to save this little baby
I have 2 hand rear kittens who are 3 weeks and 2 days, there was 3 in the litter but I lost one 3 days after they came to me, background: they came to my rescue aged 4 days as born very prem and mummy had no milk and rejected them, the smallest 2 weighed just 60g when I got them, the bigger one 70g. I lost one of the smaller 2 aged 1 week, and since about that time the other smallest has been struggling with on off diarhoea and like a colic where every time he fed well he struggled and strained with tummy ache, the last 3 days have been terrible, he only weighs 190g now and has watery diarhoea pouring from him, he is having regular sub cut fluids and pro kolin, kaogel and today had some ranitidine (please understand I hate giving him meds but his chances of survival are now very slim), tonight he had an injection of vetegesic so he won't be in pain overnight and in the hope it will slow down his gut motility, if no better the dehydration will end his life so a decision to poss pts will be made at our app in the morning, however if any hand readers have any gems of advice I will try anything. To give you an idea of how prem they were he only opened his eyes on Sunday aged 2 weeks and 6 days

Fingers crossed for this little one. I know prem kittens are known to have digestion issues, have you tried something like goats milk rather than kmr?

They were on cimicat originally but both had bad tummies so we switched to rc babycat milk which seemed better til last few days. But can try some if he makes it til tomorrow. Thanks.

Top Life Goats Milk is good and can be bought ready made from most supermarkets but I'd suggest just a extremely dilute formula at this stage of 25% kitten milk to 75% water to keep him hydrated but allow his guts to settle for 24hrs. 190g is small but big enough to forgo milk for 24hrs.

I use Infacol for colic in kittens which seems to help.

Hand rears are so bloody difficult as you never know if you are doing wrong for trying everything as there little bodies are so fragile but what else can you do.

Goodluck

Thank you hunnybunny, I did wonder about diluting the formula down a bit, my vet is great and will try anything we discuss but like you say it's so hard and always a bit of a 'what if' guessing game. Far too early to say but he slept 3 hours following the meds, then just took 10 mil (a lot for him) and had diarhoea again but it wasn't as watery and he seems perkier is playing a bit with his sister. I think the colic has been hurting him.
How much infacol do you give please HB?

That is sound advice, as always, from Hunnybunny.

Poor baby. I wish I could help.

The only thing I can offer is a real long shot. More comfort than anything else

When I found Willow she was so young he eyes had not yet opened. I had absolutely no experience of cats of any age. Her survival was down to pure luck and my dog's mothering instinct. Rosie not only taught me that a kitten needs 'toileting' but she wanted to lick and nuzzle willow's tummy before I fed her. Whether it was the warmth of her tongue and breath, or whether it was the massage her tummy got, Willow was always ready for her feed and didn't seem to suffer from any of the digestive problems that I (later) found out about.

If the kitten's digestive system is not fully formed, there is nothing we can do - except pray for a miracle. I wish you all the best with this little one.

Keeping everything crossed for this little mite, I hope he made it through the night.

Thanks yes he did make it through the night and is improving, although I daren't think he is going to make it, he is at least no longer at deaths door! The vetegesic seemed to relax him enough to sleep more so I didn't feed him as often as usual and gave him sub cut fluids instead, he awoke quite bright at 4am and had 20mil of slightly watered down formula and has fed well all day and the diarhoea is settling (I think the vetegesic stopped everything for a few hours so his tummy had chance to hold on to the anti diarhoea medication)
I will update later, thanks everyone

fingers crossed that he continues with small but steady improvements x

A tiny amount. At 190g .2ml

Hope he pulls through but I feel for you as have hand rears so often and they are just so unpredictable.

A tiny step in the right direction...

Still early to say yet, but that is very good news. I'll continue to keep my fingers (and everything else) crossed.

Thanks all ESP HB, I have got and started infacol, we are celebrating our first solid poo tonight so he is def improving

whooohooooo -- go little one!

here's really hoping you've crossed a corner with him now; well done everyone x

I never thought I'd be pleased about cat poo! Well done baby, we're all rooting for you!

I'm away for a few days over the weekend - but I'll still be thinking about you. xx

Aww, I'm so pleased to hear this, hope he continues to improve

That's great news, a good forum at it's best

Keeping all paws crossed for continuing solid poo's!

It's been a huge help. He is still very up and down with his tummy and his feeding but continuing to hold his own, he has that skinny 'pinched' look about him, so desperately underweight :/

How is the little one after the weekend? I've been thinking of you.

He is really good thank you
Weight is up to 248 grams this morning, feeding really well and no more diarhoea

Yay! Miracle kitten... I have everything crossed that he's turned a corner and is now on track for a lovely little life. He's very lucky to have had you!

Aww look at that little dot. Keeping everything crossed that he continues heading in the right direction.

Aw, too cute, bless him

Aww, I'm so glad he is improving.

Just got back from my weekend in England and had to find out how little'un is. Oh sooo cute! Glad he is doing well!

Oh bless him. Well done you. Xx

Well done Sally

Thanks guys
He continues to get bigger and stronger, I took him to see for a check up again this morning and he is now up to 280 grams and really playful and full of energy, I really thought I had lost him Wednesday night so am so pleased.

That's brilliant - well done!

Fantastic news, really pleased he's rallied round