Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2020 22:58:06 GMT 5.5
Fading kitten syndrome is another name for the death of neonatal kittens. It is a group of symptoms rather than a single disease. As foster parents of mother cats and their kittens, you are likely to encounter such cases, the symptoms of which appear shortly after birth, or as late as 6 to 8 weeks. There is no known single cause, though the poor health of the mother cat does have a strong correlation.
Common Symptoms
• Low body temperature – kitten feels cool or cold to the touch
• Extreme Lethargy – not responding when called, unable to stand or move
• Gasping for breath • Meowing/crying
Action Plan
IMMEDIATELY, AT HOME 1. Get them warm
• Use the burrito method and wrap them warmly, with only the face exposed. Don’t remove them to keep checking on them; this will make them cold again every time you do this
• Use a covered heating pad around the kitten as an extra source of heat. Remember, you are not a source of heat since your own body temperature is lower than a cat’s.
2. Raise their blood sugar
• Sugar sources: warm sugar syrup, corn syrup
• Provide drops every 3 minutes
• If the kitten is not swallowing, try rubbing it on their gums and tongue
• Be CLEAN. Do not contaminate the syringes and droppers by double dipping
Once the kitten is stable, bring the kitten to a vet for a temperature check and fluids. Giving them immediate attention before rushing them to a vet is their best chance for survival.
It is possible that even with all efforts and medical care, the kitten might not survive. Kittens can fade very quickly, in a span of hours sometimes, but they are worth fighting for in every single case.
Common Symptoms
• Low body temperature – kitten feels cool or cold to the touch
• Extreme Lethargy – not responding when called, unable to stand or move
• Gasping for breath • Meowing/crying
Action Plan
IMMEDIATELY, AT HOME 1. Get them warm
• Use the burrito method and wrap them warmly, with only the face exposed. Don’t remove them to keep checking on them; this will make them cold again every time you do this
• Use a covered heating pad around the kitten as an extra source of heat. Remember, you are not a source of heat since your own body temperature is lower than a cat’s.
2. Raise their blood sugar
• Sugar sources: warm sugar syrup, corn syrup
• Provide drops every 3 minutes
• If the kitten is not swallowing, try rubbing it on their gums and tongue
• Be CLEAN. Do not contaminate the syringes and droppers by double dipping
Once the kitten is stable, bring the kitten to a vet for a temperature check and fluids. Giving them immediate attention before rushing them to a vet is their best chance for survival.
It is possible that even with all efforts and medical care, the kitten might not survive. Kittens can fade very quickly, in a span of hours sometimes, but they are worth fighting for in every single case.