3 week old kitty not eating much, sleeping a lot?

Question

We rescued 2 3 week kitties. They were doing great and now last night they do not seem the same. One of them does not cry much, sleeps a lot and doesn't really want to eat. They have both been going the bathroom regularly. Will walk around for a bit then go back to sleep. I'm getting most of my information of the internet and people I know. This is all so new and scary for him and I!! We tried diluting down the replacement milk, giving them a little bit of "sugar" water. They just want to sleep...

Answer 1

take them to the vet they will know

Answer 2

they may have been traumatized if you had rescued them and they may need to go the vet and soon... at that age they should be with their mom... that is scary and i hope things work out poor kittys...

Answer 3

don't dilute kmr it is called fading kitten sydrome, they need to go the vets and be given some vitamin b shots and ask for probiotics to put in to their milk. they also need to be washed and stimulated to p**p and wee before and after feeding give no solid food especially dried at this tender age and feed every couple of hours. i would also get them checked by the vets to make sure nothing else is wrong. the number of times i nearly lost my hand raised kittens and spent alnight nursing them and i soon learnt rub from ribs to bottom while they are eating stops gas building up and stimulates them to eat more.  

Answer 4

I would contact your vet and make an appointment to have them seen. Being this young, you really have to be carfeul with them as something very simple could become very bad very quick.

Answer 5

There's so much involved in taking care of a little kitten like that.  If you can, try to take them to the vet so the vet can check them out and give you the proper instructions on how to take care of them.  We just had to foster a puppy from a day old, and had to do a tremendous amount of research on how to take care of her.  Every website had different information, or contradicted the other.  Check for hydration, for if they're dehydrated...they will go down very quickly.  To do this, pull up the skin on the back of the neck and if it doesn't pop back into place immediately then they're dehydrated.  Depending on how dehydrated they are, you can give them a little pedialyte but I'd still take them into the vet incase they need fluids intraveniously.  If they're not eating/drinking, there's a good chance that they are dehydrated already.  

Oh no...I'm so sorry.  You're right, atleast she got some luv.  The puppy we tried to save died last Sat.  We did all that we could too, but sometimes...you can't fight the inevitable.  I'm sorry you lost her.  :(

Answer 6

First, thanks for rescuing them. They are very young and fragile as you know.

Kittens do sleep a great deal, but if they are not eating well, and listless something is out of kilter with them.  The kitten that is not doing well, may also not be eliminating completely. I am assuming your are stimulating them by rubbing their bottoms with a warm damp washrag or cotton ball, and you actually see them eliminating, both urine and f***s.

Healthy kittens can thrive from a high quality kitten milk replacement, such as KMR, following the directions on the label carefully, using a bottle or an eye dropper, but  kittens who are week and may be hypothermic (low body temp) should not be fed formula. Instead, a dilute (5 percent) dextrose solution (sugar water) and lactated Ringer's solution (a sterile, saltwater solution for injection) should be given orally as directed by a veterinarian. If the kitten has a low body temperature it should be warmed gradually increased in a warm environment.(85° to 90°F).

Formula can be fed after the kitten's rectal temperature is over 94°F"

http://maxshouse.com/kitten_care.htm

Once the kitten is doing well there are some excellent instructions how to feed and handle orphans at:

http://www.hdw-inc.com/tinykitten.htm



If this kitten's behavior has changed dramatically from how it was acting when you rescued them, the kitten may be sick, or cannot tolerate what you are feeding. Kittens this age can succumb to dehydration very quickly, so getting them to the vet is urgent.

I wish you all the best with these babies.  Three week old orpans who are exhibiting behavior as you describe are difficult to raise without professional assistance.

Hope everything turns out well for you, and again, thank you for all your efforts to save them.

Troublesniffer

Owned by cats for over 40 years

Former breeder of Siamese and Oriental Shorthairs

Freelance writer and blogger for http://www.petside.com/