Orange kitten died and I'm worried about the other orange kitten.

by Christy Taylor
(South Charleston WV)

I had 6 kittens born on the 1st of July. Everything was looking normal and fine until I noticed one of the kittens wasn't progressing and gaining weight like the others. He was very skinny and frail looking. He was weak and couldn't get around like the others. So thinking it was a feeding matter i called my vet and picked up some kitten formula and a bottle and began feeding it myself every 3 to 4 hours. I thought he was just getting pushed aside and bullied and wasn't getting enough milk from mommy. It appeared at first this was the case. I would watch him also try to feed on her and it was like he had trouble. He would suck for like 3 seconds then he would stop. His head would shake and he would make this noise like he was having difficulties. Like a sneeze, grunting noise. I thought he was choking and just couldn't do it. The vet advised me of a disorder they can have where they have no roof in their mouth or a hole in their roof preventing them to eat. She said if this was the case then he would starve to death and die. I looked at his roof and he had one and not even a hole was present. So I just continued feeding him myself. He wasn't looking better or gaining weight at all. He was looking worse. When he tried to hold his head up his head would shake like crazy like a bobble head. He couldn't even stand on all fours like the others. Then I noticed he was losing his fur. Eventually it got to the point where he didn't want to eat at all with me or with his mother and he become very sick and would just lay there. He died yesterday and I'm just wondering if this could be something contagious or hereditary? I ask this because now I've noticed the other orange kitten is starting to shake as well and has hair that's missing. He was big and healthy at first and now I'm worried he's getting the same stuff the other one had. All the other kittens are big and healthy. They are walking around with no problems and playing. He was too at first but now it seems his walking is deteriorating and his head is started to shake a little. Is this something that happens in orange cats only? Thank u for your time.

Reply
Hi
I am so sorry for your loss, unfortunately this can be a common occurrence that you loose a kitten from a litter. It sounds to me like this kitten was the runt of the litter, this means that they are not as strong as the other kittens and may have been born with genetic defaults which mean that they simply don't survive.

i don't think it has anything to do with their color although as you know a cats litter can contain kittens from many different fathers, so their may be a genetic problem with the father of the orange kittens.

My advice would be to take this little chap to see the vet as soon as possible. let him have a though medical and take it from their.

It may be a simply case of a virus he has picked up or perhaps he is not getting enough nutrition. Also have you made sure the cats are flea free as this can be dangerous for kittens too.

I think your best option is a vet visit, that way you will know what you are dealing with and will be able to manage the situation properly.

best wishes kate