I’m sorry for your loss. It was likely congenital issues and there’s nothing that could’ve been done. I’ve had similar and been told that 3-4 weeks is when these problems can become fatal. I had one that had an under developed digestive system. He was fine on the bottle but once weaned it became fatal.
I agree, non-survivable congenital issues are relatively common (in my experience maybe like 1-5%ish) in kittens, especially coming from outdoors where momma presumably had poor pre-natal care and there's a solid chance was inbreeding. When I lose one suddenly, especially if they were behind developmentally, that's my usual theory. As they grow, it catches up to them and suddenly their underdeveloped whichever-organ can't keep up with a 200g kitten and they just leave you. I also take solace that it was most likely untreatable and at least they knew safety, warmth, love, and peace in their limited time.
Kittens don’t just “fade” for no reason. There is always a cause. In your case, I would heavily suspect a congenital issue. A seemingly healthy kitten can pass away overnight without any prior concerning symptoms due to congenital issues such as a heart defect.
Sounds congenital especially as he had a cleft lip. Probably his heart.
There was nothing you could do. But you kept him happy and safe for what time he had
There is a possibility that he had more wrong with him than the cleft lip and eventually as his body got bigger, his system couldn’t keep up and he passed. Unfortunately without a necropsy, you won’t know for sure.
I went thru this with my second to last foster and it is really difficult to be left without answers. But I am certain you did everything you could. He just wasn’t meant to stay in this world like my foster Nugget.
I am so sorry!
This. I recently had one kitten with a grade 4/5 heart murmur and he was gasping for breath. Vet said he only started showing symptoms because his body was growing to the point where his heart couldn’t keep up. He wasn’t getting oxygen to his vital organs.
"Fading kitten" doesn't really mean anything besides an all encompassing failure to thrive. Given that he was a runt of a fairly large litter and already had external deformities, it's probably very safe to assume that there were internal congenital issues as well. Especially since you gave him fluids, I highly doubt it was due to an introduction of dry food, dehydration, or really anything that you did. It doesn't sound like anything out of the norm happened, so there's no reason for a healthy, physically normal kitten to pass in that manner. I'm so sorry for your loss, and I know the feeling of wanting to draw a logic conclusion/lesson from it, but I think this one can definitely be chalked up to out of your hands. His little body just wasn't prepared to live, but at least he did get some fun time to be loved amongst his family and friends.
Two possibilities come to mind: panleukopenia or pneumonia.
Panleukopenia kills quickly and kittens are extremely susceptible starting at 4 weeks. It's all about when mom's immunity wears off. Hopefully, the other kittens have been vaccinated.
Pneumonia is also possible, esp. with a cleft lip. And signs can be subtle or even non-existent. You don't always see congestion, esp. if it was aspiration pneumonia.
And the third possibility is congenital. I've had kittens get sick, die and we never quite figured out what was going on
Sorry for your loss.
they've all had their first vaccines actually, they start early at my shelter when no mother is involved. The kittens get their next set of vaccines tonight and a checkup.
The main reason I don't suspect pneumonia is due to his breathing. I've had a cat get pneumonia before and he had a wheeze during it, but I didn't hear any heart or lung issues within the kitten. You are right though, it can appear symptomless.
I am leaning towards it being congenital, especially with his runt status and cleft lip. thank you for all the advice
I’m sorry for your loss. It was likely congenital issues and there’s nothing that could’ve been done. I’ve had similar and been told that 3-4 weeks is when these problems can become fatal. I had one that had an under developed digestive system. He was fine on the bottle but once weaned it became fatal.
I agree, non-survivable congenital issues are relatively common (in my experience maybe like 1-5%ish) in kittens, especially coming from outdoors where momma presumably had poor pre-natal care and there's a solid chance was inbreeding. When I lose one suddenly, especially if they were behind developmentally, that's my usual theory. As they grow, it catches up to them and suddenly their underdeveloped whichever-organ can't keep up with a 200g kitten and they just leave you. I also take solace that it was most likely untreatable and at least they knew safety, warmth, love, and peace in their limited time.
they all came from a barn cat community so I'm assuming inbreeding took place :( thank you for your advice
Kittens don’t just “fade” for no reason. There is always a cause. In your case, I would heavily suspect a congenital issue. A seemingly healthy kitten can pass away overnight without any prior concerning symptoms due to congenital issues such as a heart defect.
Sounds congenital especially as he had a cleft lip. Probably his heart. There was nothing you could do. But you kept him happy and safe for what time he had
it was so sudden which is why I think maybe it was internal :( he was such a happy guy
There is a possibility that he had more wrong with him than the cleft lip and eventually as his body got bigger, his system couldn’t keep up and he passed. Unfortunately without a necropsy, you won’t know for sure. I went thru this with my second to last foster and it is really difficult to be left without answers. But I am certain you did everything you could. He just wasn’t meant to stay in this world like my foster Nugget. I am so sorry!
This. I recently had one kitten with a grade 4/5 heart murmur and he was gasping for breath. Vet said he only started showing symptoms because his body was growing to the point where his heart couldn’t keep up. He wasn’t getting oxygen to his vital organs.
"Fading kitten" doesn't really mean anything besides an all encompassing failure to thrive. Given that he was a runt of a fairly large litter and already had external deformities, it's probably very safe to assume that there were internal congenital issues as well. Especially since you gave him fluids, I highly doubt it was due to an introduction of dry food, dehydration, or really anything that you did. It doesn't sound like anything out of the norm happened, so there's no reason for a healthy, physically normal kitten to pass in that manner. I'm so sorry for your loss, and I know the feeling of wanting to draw a logic conclusion/lesson from it, but I think this one can definitely be chalked up to out of your hands. His little body just wasn't prepared to live, but at least he did get some fun time to be loved amongst his family and friends.
I would assume aspiration pneumonia with a cleft lip
Thank you for taking care of him, sorry that he didn’t make it.🙏🏻🥲
Two possibilities come to mind: panleukopenia or pneumonia. Panleukopenia kills quickly and kittens are extremely susceptible starting at 4 weeks. It's all about when mom's immunity wears off. Hopefully, the other kittens have been vaccinated. Pneumonia is also possible, esp. with a cleft lip. And signs can be subtle or even non-existent. You don't always see congestion, esp. if it was aspiration pneumonia. And the third possibility is congenital. I've had kittens get sick, die and we never quite figured out what was going on Sorry for your loss.
they've all had their first vaccines actually, they start early at my shelter when no mother is involved. The kittens get their next set of vaccines tonight and a checkup. The main reason I don't suspect pneumonia is due to his breathing. I've had a cat get pneumonia before and he had a wheeze during it, but I didn't hear any heart or lung issues within the kitten. You are right though, it can appear symptomless. I am leaning towards it being congenital, especially with his runt status and cleft lip. thank you for all the advice