kitten deaths question

[buzz2400]

A feral cat had four kittens and we caught them on 6/18. I have been fostering them. They seemed to be healthy. On 6/26 one of them died within a day of getting sick. Bad diarreah and it looked like something was hanging out of her rectum. All four were quarantied in my bathroom. We have five other cats in the house so I was careful. I always washed my hands after playing with the kittens and kept them on me when we weren't in the bathroom. Now another kitten just got sick with vomiting yesterday evening and died this morning. They did not get their distemper shots because the cat rescue lady said not to because their white blood cells were low and if they have distemper in them, the distemper shot might activate it. They also were negative for feline leukemia. No I am worried that the other two kittens are going to die also. I am also worried that my other five cats are going to get sick and die. I have been deworming them also. Does anyone have any experience with this. Any advice would be helpful.

 

[luvwinnie]

I would take them to vet for testing. Hope your other kitties are ok.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I would definitely take them to the vet. We foster cats for our local humane society and have had the good experiences and some bad. They can be infested with fleas that will kill them, or have other disorders. It is so difficult to list them all. I would get a vet involved because there is nothing more that you can do for them. Please take them to the vet as the odds at this point are that you will lose them if you continue without any medical intervention. Sending good thoughts!

 

[buzz2400]

The thing is is that the cat rescue lady, Lisa, did take them to her vet and they could not figure out what was wrong. This was after the first one, Nala, died and the one who just died, Tucker, looked a little ill. Lisa then put them on deworming medicine which would also control diarreah. Tucker seemed to bounce back and I didn't think any more of it as long as he made it another week, which he did. My mother is going to pick up Tucker's remains and she will ask my vet if they think we should bring them in. Lisa also said that they don't get there shots until they get fixed which would be in another month.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

The thing is is that the cat rescue lady, Lisa, did take them to her vet and they could not figure out what was wrong. This was after the first one, Nala, died and the one who just died, Tucker, looked a little ill. Lisa then put them on deworming medicine which would also control diarreah. Tucker seemed to bounce back and I didn't think any more of it as long as he made it another week, which he did. My mother is going to pick up Tucker's remains and she will ask my vet if they think we should bring them in. Lisa also said that they don't get there shots until they get fixed which would be in another month.

With five of your own kitties in the house, I wouldn't be relying just on the cat rescue lady. Take them to your own vet for a second opinion.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

The thing is is that the cat rescue lady, Lisa, did take them to her vet and they could not figure out what was wrong. This was after the first one, Nala, died and the one who just died, Tucker, looked a little ill. Lisa then put them on deworming medicine which would also control diarreah. Tucker seemed to bounce back and I didn't think any more of it as long as he made it another week, which he did. My mother is going to pick up Tucker's remains and she will ask my vet if they think we should bring them in. Lisa also said that they don't get there shots until they get fixed which would be in another month.

Sometimes rescue people get a bit carried away and feel they are the authority on medical things. For simple things - absolutely but this has turned into a situation that would only warrant you taking the kittens to the vet - not waiting for him to demand it. Every minute does count with kittens. We have learned that in the past and it is not fun to go through losing kittens. Vets are schooled at handling critical situations - and although I have handled more kittens than I wish to admit, I trust the vet to assess the situation and do what is needed. I would honestly consider helping another rescue in the future. Most good rescues would not let it get to this point. Just most don't have enough money to deal with critical things like this. My vet would have never dewormed (can't tell if it was the vet or the rescue) kittens before they were fully weaned.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Bad diarreah and it looked like something was hanging out of her rectum.

This sure sounds like worms to me. Did the vet prescribe the worming medicine they were receiving? If not, there might have been a problem with that: either too much, not enough, or who knows what else - ? bad brand ? Hartz comes to mind (someone here a few years back had some major problems from it). I agree you should take them to a vet yourself. I had to do the same thing when I trapped a feral cat and her kittens two years ago. Good luck.

 

[fenrir58]

Is it possible that the kittens were taken from their mom too soon, or is it known that they were definately done nursing? That can cause a load of problems, especially if they are missing nutrients. Anything with a feral cat always ups the risk. Do they know anything of the dad cat and what he might've carried? Or was the mother found pregnant? Sorry for so many questions, but there's so many variables in these kinds of situations.

I applaud you for taking on such a tough responsibility. Good luck with it all.

 

[chager]

The babies are just a couple weeks old if I am reading correctly. Do you have momma too or are you bottle feeding still? With bottle feeding it can sometimes get tricky. Did you go to the vet with the rescue girl? I have gone almost everytime with my crew so I can hear first hand what is said. That way nothing gets lost in between. It sure does sound like worms. Another concern should be heart murmers if they have not been checked. We just lost a little guy at 7 weeks due to heart issues. Thankfully his siblings checked out ok. You are doing right by keeping them seperate and washing hands really good after handling them. Kittens are so fun yet so challenging!

 

[swald91]

I have no advice...just well wishes. Hope everything turns out ok.

 

[pooh98378]

We rescued two feral kittens last year. One was fine, but the other one had really bad diarrhea. The vet diagnosed him with coccidia. He was fine with meds. However, if we hadn't brought him in, I think they said he could have gotten dehydrated very quickly and then die. I would go ahead and take the cats into your vet for a second opinion!

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Is there a fever? Any upper respiratory issues? You must make sure this is not a panleukopenia
outbreak-this is very contagious and hard to clean out of your home as it can live up to a year.

Chances are that it is just some sort of parasite that is causing diarrhea. But they are dying from dehydration. You will have to just pump as much fluid into them as you can. Does the rescue have someone that can come and give fluids thru an iv or
just subcutaneous?

 

[DMRick]

My vet would have never dewormed (can't tell if it was the vet or the rescue) kittens before they were fully weaned.

Interesting how different all the rescue groups are. I give strogid the first day I get kittens, before I even test, even if I get them with a mama. Sending a sample in for each kitten is expensive, and 90% of them have rounds, so we just treat. Worms can be dibilitating and if we don't treat we can end up with dead kittens, quickly. If I see tapes, the second worming will be drontal instead of strongid. If I see loose stools, especially with blood, I bring a sample to another AHT that is set up to read samples, and have her check for coccidia, and if it's positive, I put the kitten on Albon for 21 days (yes, I know the dossage is 14 days, but it's seldom taken care of in 14 days).
We spend a fortune on vet bills, as well as meds and vaccines, but sometimes it's still not enough.

Sometimes it doesn't matter what we do and we lose kittens. If they had been left in the wild the same thing may have happened. We do the best we can, with the funds and volunteers we have. Ferals are the toughest, and hopefully you are keeping them away from your cats..preferably in their own room. Ring worm is easily spread from rescue kitten to home cat. FIP and FIV is another concern, along with feleuk. Once one kitten in a group is dx'd with distemper, the rest can follow, so please, if you are new at rescuing, please be sure to not mix these with your own kittens. I am concerned since it sounds like blood work was done and the white blood cells are up.

We've just hit 360 rescue kittens in our home (at different times of course..just adopted out my last 4..all to the same house!), and so far have only lost one, but that was luck and a lot of work. Working for so many years with a vet has really helped me a lot in assessing these kittens. We've had some very close calls. Unless the rescue group has unlimited funds, sometimes certain tests just have to go by the wayside.

Someone mentioned that they thought these kittens were just a few weeks old. I didn't get that from your post. Can you give us an aproximate age? Are their ears straight up yet? Are they on kitten replacement milk (which can also give loose stools) or they eating on their own? Can you give fluids (which you don't want to do unless they are dehydrated). I would never give fluids through an IV. If they are dehydrated, you just want to give kittens fluids under the skin.

I wish you good luck with these. My internet will be iffy starting tomorrow for several days, but if you have specific questions, or want advice on force feeding them, please pm and I'll try to answer you.

Be sure to let the rescue group know you think the vet should see them again...they may not agree, but at least you will have done your part.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Is there a fever? Any upper respiratory issues? You must make sure this is not a panleukopenia
outbreak-this is very contagious and hard to clean out of your home as it can live up to a year.

Chances are that it is just some sort of parasite that is causing diarrhea. But they are dying from dehydration. You will have to just pump as much fluid into them as you can. Does the rescue have someone that can come and give fluids thru an iv or
just subcutaneous?

Actually, for some reason, panleukopenia aka feline infectious enteritis is epidemic among kittens this year. That's what it definitely sounds like. There's not a lot you can do for it either, other than pallative care. If it isn't enteritis, they might make it though. Keep doing what you're doing - and no, I wouldn't give them a distemper shot; it might make things much worse, much faster.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[DMRick]

We've been lucky in our area and this hasn't hit. Thank God, cause that can put a foster home out of business for awhile.

It could be so many things..kittens can be so darn hard to foster. They are great, and cute and fun when all is well, but they can turn in an instant. Often just going off their mom, even if older makes the loose stools and dehydration sets in, which is ultimately what affects so many kittens. Not the actual reason they are ill, but the dehydration. Fluids can work wonders. Gets them up and going enough to eat.

Actually, for some reason, panleukopenia aka feline infectious enteritis is epidemic among kittens this year. That's what it definitely sounds like. There's not a lot you can do for it either, other than pallative care. If it isn't enteritis, they might make it though. Keep doing what you're doing - and no, I wouldn't give them a distemper shot; it might make things much worse, much faster.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[buzz2400]

UPDATE: Tucker died yesterday morning. I did bring him to the vet as soon as they opened and basically was told he was going to die very shortly. I am not sure if they put him down or if he died on his own. I was too upset to ask.

Third kitten is sick now, not eating or drinking and now is throwing up. The vet is closed today but rescue lady said she will come by and hydrate both of the remaining kittens. I do have an appointment with my vet tomorrow morning for both kittens.

The kittens are approximately 2 months old. Dad cat is "healthy" as well as the mom. Mom still hangs around on back porch and dad comes and goes.

Rescue lady says it really sounds like distemper and that there is nothing really you can do but see if they pull through. All I know is that my stomach has been in knots for two days now. I am a big cat lover and I feel that I could have done more but I know that I did everything I could.

 

[Patricia721]

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry!

 

[buzz2400]

Thank you everyone for your replies. My vet says it is distemper. She put the third kitten down this morning. She said that the fourth kitten's temperature is up meaning she is also fighting the disease. We are going to aggresively help her survive by giving her antibiotics and hydrating her. This has been such a devasting thing. I was just going to foster these four kittens and then get them adopted (since we already had 5 cats) but my family wanted to keep them. I was the main person taking care of them so it is so hard to see each little one go. Also for anyone who wants to know, the vet said that if your cat is vacinated for distemper, you don't have to worry about him/her getting it from another cat. I just hope at least this last one makes it. They were such cute kittens.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Such heartbreaking news. I am holding out hope that the last one can fight this!!!

 

[mamamary]

Such heartbreaking news. I am holding out hope that the last one can fight this!!!

Me too. Lots of luck.