My newborn kitten is weak, not eating, and has a swollen eye. Help!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m so sorry to hear about buttercup. You have her listed at 1lb so I am assuming she is a kitten. I can’t diagnose her over the internet but i can tell you that her situation sounds very grave. A cat -especially a kitten- who will not eat, seems blind, and is not moving, needs intensive testing and care- and may still not make it. Hypoglycemia and hypothermia (they often go together) are first on my list. Congenital brain or heart problems and infectious diseases are also possible. If she can still swallow you can continue the water. You can place a little white Karo syrup or honey on her gums for some blood sugar stabilization. If she perks up with that, keep her warm and continue small amounts of water and Karo syrup every half hour or so. But if she doesn’t perk up within a few minutes of warming and karo, she may have bigger problems. And in that case, those won’t be enough to keep her hydrated or from losing weight. She would need a vet for anything beyond that, and you may need to make a tough decision to humanely euthanize her. :( I’m so sorry and I wish the best for you and Buttercup.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Oh no!! I am very worried about this kitten. I don’t think she will pull through. If you can get her to a vet I would do so immediately. Sometimes we never know who some kittens don’t make it, whether is a genetic or congenital issue or infection. But the mother usually knows. I with you the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I do not recommend vitamins for kittens this young. If the kitten is not nursing from his mother I recommend bottle or tube feeding with kitten milk replacer. Tube feeding needs to be taught by your Vet. When a kitten stops nursing it likely means that they are sick. The best thing is to have the kitten examined by a Vet. He could have a genetic problem, something infectious or be constipated. Be sure you are stimulating him to defecate and urinate. I wish you the best.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely an upper respiratory infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics and eye drops. She needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and start therapy accordingly. Best of luck!

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Make sure what you are feeding the kitten is an appropriate kitten milk replacer. Kittens this young are not able to regulate their temperatures well, so make sure you have her on a heating pad set on low with a towel on top. There should be an area for the kitten to move off if it gets too warm. Make sure you are not overfeeding the kitten. A kitten needs 2 tablespoons ( 30 mls ) per 4 ounces ( 115 grams ) of body weight daily. Divide the daily amount into equal portions for each feeding & fed every 3-4 hours until bedtime. Stimulate the genital area after each meal, but do not be concerned if she does not have a BM each time. You can try feeding her a congee, which is often tolerated by the sickest kittens. Take 1-2 cups chicken broth ( low or no salt added ), add 1/4 cup white rice & a tiny sliver of fresh ginger. Boil for 2 hours. While cooling, add 1 Tbsp good quality protein powder - egg or casein, not soy. Stir together very well. The mix should be a bit thick. Drip into kittens mouth 1/2 - 1 ml at a time. Hopefully she will start to turn around. Just keep at it. Good luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear about Midnight. Sounds like she may be the runt of the litter. Sometimes we do not know why some kittens stop thriving. We call it "fading kitten syndrome." The best you can do is continue to bottle or tube feed her and keep her hydrated. If you have a Vet that is open they may give her fluids under the skin or prescribe antibiotics if warranted. They can also check for constipation which can make babies feel very sick. I wish you the best!

Some kittens don't make it no matter what we do to help them out, and some cats are just not cut out to be moms. There is also the possibility that there is a congenital internal defect. If the kitten is very weak and won't suckle from the nipple or a bottle, you can try to slowly syringe the kitten milk replacer, but there is an increased risk of it going into his lungs and causing aspiration pneumonia. If this doesn't work, you should take the kitten to get checked out by a vet. The vet can show you how to safely tube feed the kitten to get its proper nutrition. Make sure that the kitten is staying warm and clean, and that you are stimulating urination and bowel movements. Here is a good article on raising orphan kittens: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=576