Yawning in neonate (new born) kittens? Fading. PLEASE HELP.

Question

Hi,

I'm after anyone who has experience with new born kittens that are being hand raised because of mis-mothering. These kittens have been to the vet, blood work is being done etc etc.

I have two males, who seem to be fading. They seem to continually yawn. Any suggestions? They are 5 days old and slowing starting to refuse their formula. So despite being under vet care, I love to know if anyone has any experience with yawning kittens.

Please, if you could help, I would be more grateful than you know.

Answer 1

I bottle raised a lot of little sickly kittens and would love to help you but can't say that I've ever attributed the act of "yawning" to "fading".

Fading is a term I'm used to and is a very serious condition in bottle raised kittens, typically associated with Coccidia and any other number of ills for newborn kittens off a feral or sickly mum.

The last one I hand raised nearly died on me twice before I was able to go to sleep at night and not worry about him.  He took about 4 to 5 droppers full of kiten formula every two hours around the clock.

Didn't mean he always wanted it though.  One morning I actually woke thinking he was dead, but after rushing him to the vet the vet said his sugar level had just dropped drastically.

He gave him a shot of B-12, he was all ready on Albon for the Coccidia.

If you'd like to contact me personally and tell me a little more about whats going on I'd be glad to help if I can.  Your determination and paitence and keeping any amount of fluids into these little babies may be the best you can do.  And I swear......they really do always get worse at night.....then they seem to rally when the sun comes up.

My e-mail is in my profile if I can help you further.

Answer 2

Try a different formula. The one you are using may not be what they need.

Answer 3

are you sure they are yawning and not gasping? could they have come down with an upper respiratory infection and are having trouble breathing? could be they have aspirated some of the formula into their lungs too. run a vaporizer in the room they are staying in and keep them warm. you are feeding them in the belly down position right? and stimulating them to go potty?? don't know what to tell you other than I am glad that they are under a vets care and thank you for trying and caring

Answer 4

Is there any possible way you can find them a new mother? You can try checking at your animal shelter or vet clinic and see if anyone knows of a mother cat that recently had kittens. Perhaps you can get this cat to adopt and care for the kittens. That's because I think it's what they really need right now. Good luck.

Answer 5

I have never raised kittens that need to be bottle fed, however, I do have something to contribute. Human beings yawn when the oxygen level in their brain gets low. The act of yawning allows you to take in more oxygen all at once than just normal calm breathing. It's like a jump start to your brain. The reason people yawn more when they are tired is because when you are tired your oxygen level gets lower, and your heart rate slows, and your body temperature lowers, and so on. I would presume the same is true for any other animal just because it's science (excluding where animals yawn as a body language symbol of agression or anything else, but that's something cats dont do). Watch how the kittens are breathing and keep a close eye on them. If they are continually yawning I bet you they aren't getting enough oxygen... maybe need to be put in an oxygenated unit like premies or something, maybe sleep apneay, SIDS. I really don't know.  

Answer 6

Could be a neurological insufficiency. Unfortunately mothers will abandon kittens if they since something is wrong with them and fading kitten syndrome is not uncommon, even with the best medical care.