Kitten advice please

[Cocopogo]

I asked a few weeks ago whether I should get one or two kittens, as the single kitten I was to get from rescue had been bonded with another kitten.
Now I have two kittens and they are completely different and def not bonded. One is a typical boisterous kitten and the other barely moves. He sleeps all day and struggles to clean himself.
Both don’t seem to be eating much. How much should a kitten eat?
They are having 1/4 to 1/2 a pouch each, each day.

@CurlewKate that might be a good idea but I can’t think of anywhere or how they could help.

Bigger kitten is fine and no issues apart from fleas and worms, which is bad enough.

Smaller kitten is still lethargic. Back at the vets tonight.

The little kitten probably needs round the clock care - along the lines of syringed milk every two hours if she won't take a bottle, etc.

Unfortunately if she really is only four weeks old and riddled with fleas and worms her chances probably aren't great. The rescue sound awful and should never have let her leave with you in that condition.

I hope that the little one survives. The rescue has behaved appallingly in this.

Can you say roughly where you live? People might know where you can go for help.

You can find all rescues local to you here:

www.catchat.org/index.php/cat-rescue-centres-uk-ireland

Thanks. I contacted the rescue first thing this morning but I’ve had no reply.

Little one has had subcut fluids and needs to go back in the morning for possible IV fluids. He’s on 2 hourly fluids now.
Not what I signed up for and I’m hundred of pounds down so very unhappy but more concerned as kitty not looking good.

I suspect you won't hear from the rescue :( they sound absolutely appalling.

That poor kitten, I hope she makes it through the night.

Your local Cats Protection will help you.
Or your local RSPCA chattery.

Your local vets have a duty of care and they will know who can help. Vet nurses often hand rear tiny motherless kittens because they have the skills and knowledge necessary.

Please advocate for these babies and get them proper care.

Thanks, I’m giving them proper care. Not sure what I would ask the rescue as the vets are doing all they can.

The problem is you don't know what you don't know!

Call a few local rescues and ask them if they can help. It's no use you deciding they can't do anything.

Have you even watched the appropriate KittenLady videos?

You ended up in a situation that should never have happened - so you need a crash course on caring for a young orphan kitten - from a rescue or from legitimate online sources.

The vets can only do so much with failure to thrive young kittens. It's about dedicated, knowledgeable care.

Makes sense. I’ve messaged the rescue again asking for him to go to a foster carer with experience until he’s older. But still no response. I might be best messaging other rescues to see if they’d be willing to foster him for a bit

I hope you get the help you need with these babies @Cocopogo , you definitely need to report the rescue that you got them from to the RSPCA as it’s appalling that they have landed you in this situation.

Thanks @GardeningIdiot i’ve contacted one of the rescues off the list to see if someone more experienced can advice or visit or take the kitten for a week or two until he’s thriving.

I hope they can. Just be aware that many rescues are overwhelmed with kittens this summer. You might have to contact a few. They are usually run on a shoestring by very dedicated women who inevitably reach a limit. (No excuse for what your rescue did though.)

Glad he got sub cut fluids.. that is what he needed two days ago… if he is already poorly and needs flead/wormed please prepare yourself cause he is likely need a lot of medical support to get him through…
The rescue has behaved appallingly.

I’ve contacted the RSPCA too to see if they can support.
I’ve posted on the rescue FB page too to see if any of the foster carers are on there and will contact me.

@Potentialmadcatlady if he needed it two days ago I’m not sure why the vet waited until now to do it. I’m sure they had their reasons.

You’re doing everything right in a difficult position you should never have been put in. I hope he improves soon. Best wishes.

You won’t like my answer to the fact that the vet didn’t give sub cut and more supportive care two days ago so I won’t give you it.
The rescue has badly messed up. I hope you talk to them and they learn from this mess.

@Potentialmadcatlady i don’t know what you mean? I’ve had a range of messages on here. Mostly helpful and support. Some more presumptuous and goady but that’s MN for you. I’m happy to hear everyone’s opinions.

Thanks for all the support. I’ve a feeling there’s quite a road ahead yet.

I’ve had a reply from one of the rescues that asked further questions and a reply from the rescue centre that’s adamant wormer was given and asking what the vet thought was wrong but the vet hasn’t given me any ideas, more treating the symptoms than any sort of diagnosis. I’ve replied to both but neither have got back to me, I guess they’ve gone to bed now. Whereas me and DC have set alarms every two hours to push fluids in.

Just getting 10mls in causes him a lot of stress, he hates it, if anyone can recommend a way of getting more fluids in without the stress of syringing please tell me, I feel so sorry for him when his tiny little bony is so panicked by it.

I got my girl at 11 weeks from Cat Protection. I noticed she had worms on the second day I had her. I contacted CP who dropped round the wormer they use. I told the vet this was what she had had. They seemed happy but the worms showed up again 2 weeks later. I didn’t get rid of them until we got some serious worming pills from the vet.

I think PP meant that the reason the vet didn't give fluids before is because they didn't expect the kitten to survive the night.

That’s exactly what I meant. The vet may have thought it was kinder.
If pushing 10mls is causing him a lot of upset you could try literally dipping your finger in the fluid and then into the side of his mouth, bit by bit by bit ( not two hourly) just to get him through tonight.

Who told you to syringe?

Feeding from 8mins:

www.kittenlady.org/syringefeeding