When Kittens Get Sick
Monday October 29, 2007
There is absolutely no fear that compares with the one that strikes a parent when a baby gets sick, and that applies almost equally to "cat parents." Kittens, by their very size, seem so fragile, and it is such a helpless feeling to watch them sneezing and coughing with a cold.
Because kittens are so fragile, when they are sick, they really need to be seen by a veterinarian. Even colds can be serious for young kittens, and colds can easily develop into bronchitis or even pneumonia. Other serious infectious diseases can mimic colds, and only your veterinarian can properly diagnose and treat them.
I am reposting this article which was first posted in 2004, because so many people are still posting comments three years later, asking me and my readers for medical help, something none of us can provide. The bottom line is to read the linked articles to learn more about the things YOU can do, but take your kitten to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Because kittens are so fragile, when they are sick, they really need to be seen by a veterinarian. Even colds can be serious for young kittens, and colds can easily develop into bronchitis or even pneumonia. Other serious infectious diseases can mimic colds, and only your veterinarian can properly diagnose and treat them.
I am reposting this article which was first posted in 2004, because so many people are still posting comments three years later, asking me and my readers for medical help, something none of us can provide. The bottom line is to read the linked articles to learn more about the things YOU can do, but take your kitten to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
More Suggested Reading for Parents of Kittens With Colds:
Comments
my kitten is realy ill i dont no what is up with it. last night it was being sick and its got weaker n weaker n its back legs are wobbly. i told my dad we might have to take it to the vets but he said it will be ok and its our first kitten. we have had it for 3 days …
Your dad is wrong, Shama. Kittens are very fragile and yours needs immediate veterinary attention. I hope you can convince him of that.
My sisters 2 kittens started acting really wierd a few days ago. They won’t shutup with the whole meowing thing, and they don’t ever sit down.
Is this kitten “in heat”? They aren’t fixed so that might be it, but yesterdy one started foaming at the mouth.
What to do?
My cat had four kittens a month ago and they were growing very healthy. Now one of the kittens won’t nurse from her mother and is getting weaker. We have tried to feed her some softened kitten food and baby food, but she won’t take that. She will drink water however.
I called the vet and asked them what I could do and they said that they need to see her but will not look at her unless they get their money. I don’t get paid until the 15th and they said that I can make an appointment then. I don’t know if we have that long.
Is there anything I can do to make sure that she makes it to the 15th. I’m already a bit upset that they will not help when I have always taken my animals to them and have always made sure that they were paid in full.
Please help.
Stormy, if your kitten will take water, but not softened food, then try going to a pet store and picking up some milk replacement for kittens. Normally the kittens love it and it isn’t thick like baby food or softened cat food, plus it has plenty of vitamins that the kitten needs. I’ve had to do this with some of my kittens and it’s been successful in most cases.
what does it mean if your kittten gets sick on the floor once in awhile ,and its not hair balls, am i over feeding ? or is it the food ? is he not happy what is it ?
today i was putting a warm towel over my kittens eyes and then large amounts of puss were coming out im really scared for them. there mom is also losing large amounts of furr.the kittens have been sneezing. i will be taking them to the vet tommorrow but does any one have any suggestions? there only two weeks old and im afraid there eyes did not develope.
my cat had babies around2 weeks ago. they breath wierd and sneeze. 3 of the 5 kittens have one of their eyes that won’t open. the mother had a cold and is about over it. i’m worried about them what should i do.
Grace, a 3-month old blog entry is no place to seek medical advice for endangered kittens. Just in case you find this page again, take the kittens to a veterinarian immediately! They are too young to take chances with. I hope you will also make arrangements to get the mother cat checked out and spayed.
My cat has the same problem terri, and she just turned a year old.
what does it mean if your kittten gets sick on the floor once in awhile ,and its not hair balls, am i over feeding ? or is it the food ? is he not happy what is it ?
Can someone help us figure this out?
ok my mommy cat had 4 kittens, they all were doing good until about 2 weeks or so when they could start going to the bathroom, they one kitten has white poop, and was not eating and throwing up, the vet sat it was eating litter, ok took the litter away for another week til they could older, now the kitten won’t eat the kitten food and really don’t see it drinking water, still throws up, looking like sour milk, feel so bad but going throw a really hard time and can’t take back to vet, but am getting rid of them but want to know what it maybe before giving it away, plus now she is pulling at our hearts, oh yea and they all have bee wormed, thanks animals always find me knowing I can’t turn them down please help thanks
My cat had kittens about 3 weeks ago. She disappeared about a week ago…still looking for her, but I am afraid she will not be found. After she had been gone about 24 hours, I began feeding her kittens (5) with KMR formula. I do not have a scale, but they have grown visibly and are putting on weight. They have finally mastered bottle feeding, but I can’t seem to get them to poop. I have tried stimulating them, but nothing happens. They are urinating in their nest and I change the bedding daily. At first, they were frantic and cried a lot. Now, they seem calmer and sleep more. I am hoping it is because they are more content. I feed them four times a day. Because they outnumber me 5 to 1, I have not been able to keep dtailed measurements of how much thye eat. They typically eat about 8oz of formula between them at each feeding. They seem happy. They purr after each feeding and nurse each other as they fall asleep. I have started letting them walk around a little and plan to move them to a small room in the next day or so. I am just worried because I have not been able to get them to poop. Could they be pooping and me not know it? Sometimes the urine in their bed seems to be dark yellow/brownish. They seem to be doing so well…I would hate to lose them.
Sorry for the rambling, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Nancy
My cat had kittens about 3 weeks ago. She disappeared about a week ago…still looking for her, but I am afraid she will not be found. After she had been gone about 24 hours, I began feeding her kittens (5) with KMR formula. I do not have a scale, but they have grown visibly and are putting on weight. They have finally mastered bottle feeding, but I can’t seem to get them to poop. I have tried stimulating them, but nothing happens. They are urinating in their nest and I change the bedding daily. At first, they were frantic and cried a lot. Now, they seem calmer and sleep more. I am hoping it is because they are more content. I feed them four times a day. Because they outnumber me 5 to 1, I have not been able to keep detailed measurements of how much thye eat. They typically eat about 8oz of formula between them at each feeding. They seem happy. They purr after each feeding and nurse each other as they fall asleep. I have started letting them walk around a little and plan to move them to a small room in the next day or so. I am just worried because I have not been able to get them to poop. Could they be pooping and me not know it? Sometimes the urine in their bed seems to be dark yellow/brownish. They seem to be doing so well…I would hate to lose them.
Sorry for the rambling, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Nancy
My friend just rescued this kitten from being outside. She’s been bottle feeding it and giving it water. The kitten was fine a couple of days ago, but now he won’t eat and won’t drink water. He still is using the bathroom but now is breathing with his mouth open. she won’t make it to a vet till tommorrow, any suggestions on what she can do to keep him alive and going till tomm!!! Please answer ASAP greatly appreciated any advice is welcome. thanks,
RESA
my mom rescued a kitten from a window well that was covered with fleas, sadly it died. But, we took in its twin that wasnt getting much love from its mom outside. This kitten seems healthy and eats and plays ALOT! but it wont POOP!!!! i just put litter in a little pan to start to train him, after he eats he does that reflex with his paw like hes mushing litter. HELP, i need him to poop
mt kitten who is about 4 weks old has suddenly stopped eating and just lays around like its going to die. her stomache looks bloated also. I have been trying to give her pedalyte and kayro syrup but its hard to get her to take it and I can’t get her into a vet till tomarrow because its late and they are closed. Im affraid she won;t make it thru the night. what can I do?
I’m a kitten parent. I’ve had several die and fewer live. I think one of my more recent kittens either injested styrofoam or is just ‘fading’. Also when I try to feed him, his mouth starts to crunch and he moves his jaw awkwardly. What is that? He also just sits pathetically in front of the water bowl and most die shortly after. Please.. someone reply soon.
hi, i need some help right away. we got a kitten yesterday, but he won’t eat, or poop. when he pees his urine seems a bit white(it might b just my imagination). what should i try before bringing him to the vet.i don’t know if i should take him to the vet at all. PLEASE help!!!
Natalia,
Your odds of getting a reply to a comment on a three-year old post are extremely low.
Take your cat to the vet. NO ONE can diagnose a medical problem on the Internet, and it sounds like your kitten really needs medical help.
Thanks!
hi everyone.
i am fostering a mother cat and her 9 kittens, which are between 2-3 weeks of age. they have been doing great the first week theyve been here. i have been feeding them every 6-8 hours, as they are still nursing from the mother. as of this morning, all of the babies have been throwing up what looks like sour milk, and 2 of them have had diahreah. im afraid they will get dehydrated, as i am taking them to the vet in the morning. is there anything i can do to help these little guys out? i hate to see them sick, and i really dont want to lose these guys overnight. is it possible i am overfeeding them? any advice would be great.
Thank you
My kitten has been trowing up and runny stool. what do i do about it
We found some kittens that were born under our deck and brought them inside. First we noticed one of them could not walk and was doing an army crawl type of thing. We gave a little milk and now it can walk but is unsteady. It now refuses to eat, and its eyes look unhealthy. What’s going on?
I just found two kittens under a small building. the next day I went and caught one of the kittens (a female)It was about five weeks old. a day later my friends very little sister who is six years old. as soon as they got there my friends little sister wanted to go get the other kitten. I insisted we didint but they wouldent shut up so we went and I caught the other one, it was a female to. every time the new little kitten tride to go and hide in a corner my friends little sister would grab it by it’s tail and pull it back! I would say “dont do that! How would you feal if someone grabed you by the leg!” But every time I said that, she would say “dady felix is being mean!” Then my dad heard that and then I would get in trouble! anyway I took the first kitten I caught to my mom’s house. it’s rilly playful and it’s been doing good for three weeks but about 12 hours ago she started getting rilly lazzy and got a warm nose. and when she meaoues it’s like “mea-ea-ea-eaou” what is wrong??? please help.
Our family cat Tigger just had 4 kittens. Kit Kat is the runt of the litter and the other cats wont let her eat until there done, even though Tigger has 6 nipples, and shes not getting enough food. We tried taking the other kittens out while Kit Kat ate, but she wouldnt eat till her sisters did. She is alot smaller then the others and not very strong. She barely crawls and dosnt make noise when she tries to meow. What can we do for her?
Hello, what could be the cause of my kitten having blood when he throws up?
I gave him to a friend to get his last shots two days ago. Today she says he was ill at the time and was peuking blood. Apparently he is now on an iv for two days. I believe it’s his kidneys, will he be ok??
3-4months named ziggy
Can flea shampoo harm a kitten just by putting it on them? We gave are 4 month old kitten a flea bath this morning and tonight hes walking with his back legs stiff and grinding his teeth when he eats and hes sleepy. Could this be the flea shampoo?
My cat just had kittens and out of three,one of them died,and there is one that im worried about because it lost its leg from the knee down and I dont know what to do,its only 4 days old. Its acting fine,drinking milk,and sleeping,but I still dont know. Will it die,what can I do?
Damn - why did i only see 2 responses from cats?
Do you respond only to the person asking the question, or do you not read the urgent pleas for help?
I have kittens.At 4wks they startd vomiting and had diarrhea.I took them into er vet.They gave me a wormer for them. Afew days later they seemed to have gotten worse. So I took them back to the vet.We did almost every test that we could think of,they could not come up with nothing.They gave me some meds just incase it was in their intestines,then gace me Amoxil.They are still vomiting (not as bad).One died last night Oct.26 9:14pm.Her name was Buttercup. We miss her. Can you please send me some information and some help about this.Thank you in advance.If you nee more info let me know, I have kept a journal on all of this.
Just a reminder - as Franny’s blog post says, we on the cats forum can’t replace a vet. If you have questions, please come into the cats.about.com forum and ask, rather than adding new comments to a really old blog posting. The link to the forums is on the left in red.
melanie said: “Damn - why did i only see 2 responses from cats?
Do you respond only to the person asking the question, or do you not read the urgent pleas for help?”
Melanie, and everyone else who has posted “urgent pleas for help:”
This original blog was posted in November of 2004, and most of those urgent pleas were posted YEARS afterward, and unlikely to ever be seen by me or anyone else. Sick kittens need to be seen by a veterinarian, NOT continue to get sicker while their owners post pleas on the Internet.
In any event, my reply would be exactly that: Take your kitten to a veterinarian!
You’re right, Franny. When a kitten is obviously ill - RUN - don’t walk - to the nearest vet. Minutes count so don’t waste time on the Internet unless it is to find the nearest Animal Clinic. Even at nighttime - most cities have “emergency clinics” that stay open all night.
Hi, I understand and agree with the need for immediate veterinary care for sick kittens. I have an unusual situation, though, and am looking for information from anyone who may have experienced something similar. I have had cats my entire life and have never seen anything like this. I adopted a kitten from the SPCA in August, they said she was 12 weeks old but was a runt. She was very small to be that age. At any rate, she eats regularly, although not voraciously, and has not grown a lot in these past few months. We have been to the vet several times, at first they felt her age was wrong, then they thought a URI was causing her not to grow, and then they thought we would just wait it out. As she is getting older it is apparent that her rear quarters are not formed correctly, she walks with a waddle and her lower back is hunched, her rear is small. She is affectionate but only mildly responsive to stimuli and playing, often missing the object she is half heartedly swatting at. You can hold her in any position and she will stay, she has trouble jumping of of things and landing safely, she won’t even try stairs. I have been telling the vet something is wrong for months, now it is very obvious, I just have never seen or heard of anything like this. Has anyone got any ideas?