Why isn't my newborn kitten gaining weight and struggling to nurse?

This could be a case of fading kitten syndrome which unfortunately has a poor prognosis. You can try Nutrical on her gums as well as a dab of Karo syrup to see if increasing her blood sugar helps. Unless she starts having a better suckle you will have to keep going with the dropper for feedings.

You should be weighing them every day or two to make sure they are gaining weight. If the little on is not gaining weight then you will know it is a problem and you will need to get it to a vet. You can use a kitchen gram scale to weigh them.

Since they are only just getting the idea of how to nurse from the nipple that may be what has caused their weight to stall. You can try another brand but you may consider buying a different feeding system, try just a slip tip syringe, or using a bottle instead. Most kittens figure out the Miracle Nipple pretty easily. Make sure the syringes you're using work easily, that the plunger is not getting stuck and making it harder for them to suckle. If they are harder to move, you can pull out the plunger and wipe the rubber stopper part with and drop of mineral oil to make it slide easier. Also, call your vet and ask if they have anyone good at bottle feeding kittens that can show you what they do and give you some tips.

If all of the kittens are passing away and this one is no longer nursing/seems ill, it would be best to seek veterinary care immediately. It is possible there is some illness going on, a functional issue, etc and since very young kittens can easily become dehydrated/require frequent meals, a vet exam is important to treating the condition ASAP.

At six months of age, Ritsu is way past the point of needing to nurse from his mother, and I would not encourage that behavior by giving him kitten milk replacement. It can take some kittens up to eight weeks of age to fully wean, and that's normal. He may be trying to nurse off of her for comfort, but it is concerning he's having trouble gaining weight. First thing to do is to make sure he's eating a high quality kitten formulated food, such as Hills Science diet or Royal Canin. You can try soaking the dry food in gently warmed low sodium chicken or beef broth, or tuna juice to tempt him to eat the dry food. If that works, then slowly reduce the amount of liquid you soak his food in until he's eating the dry only. Also make sure he is up to date on his deworming treatments, as intestinal worms will prevent him from gaining weight. Finally, I would have him seen by a vet for a health check. The vet can identify if there is a medical issues causing him to gain weight, such as an inability to digest nutrients properly, and can discuss treatment with you. I hope this helps :-)

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

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lack of growth and failure to gain weight in a kitten can be due to a number of medical causes- viral or bacterial infections and parasitic infections could be potential causes among others. I would recommend having the kitten seen by a veterinarian for an exam and assessment. You may wish to bring a fresh fecal sample to the vet appointment in case your vet wants to test the kitten's stool. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!