Sick 9 week old Kitten

Question
Hello, I hope you can help me.  About 8 or 9 weeks ago, my friend's cat gave birth to 4 kittens, one a stillborn.  The three that lived were doing relatively well until the mother cat started ween them off her milk (this was a couple weeks ago.)  Two of the kittens are doing fine, eating wet food and running around like normal kittens.  The third will not eat.  He will drink milk if you coax him to, but no much at that.  He is getting very skinny.  We have also noticed that he falls asleep in awkward ways.  For instance, he will be walking around the living room and start wobbling and then fall down and be asleep.  What do you make of this and is there anything we can do to coax him to start eating.  I have tried kitten milk, cat milk, regular milk along with various types of wet and dry cat foods.  He just simply will not eat.  I hope you can help me, I have grown quite fond of him.  

Thank you in advance,
 Kristen

Answer
Kristen,
       I am concerned about the little kitten you mentioned. From the sound of your description, he can be suffering from many different aliments from some not so serious and treatable such as worm infestation, to something considered more of a serious nature such as brain damage.
        Unfortunately, the only sure way to properly diagnosis this little kitten's exact cause for his lack of appetite, would be to exam him. Since I can not provide you with this service, I recommend you call your regular veterinarian, and schedule an appointment for him. Although, I suspect he may be suffering from low blood sugar, (in additional or not to other possible aliment(s), administering him a 1/4 teaspoon of Kyro corn syrup, will not hurt him, and may help raise his blood sugar and  stimulate his appetite. I strongly recommend against feeding him cow milk, as this is not able to be processed as well as cats milk and can cause intestinal upset. Instead continue to feed him the milk replacement and try to offer him jarred baby food in meat flavors, such as chicken or lamb, until you are able to have him seen. Your veterinarian will be able to not only physically exam the kitten, but will be able run any needed tests as well as prescribe medication for treatment.
     Understand that in many cases this is just nature's way of ensuring survival of the fittest, and if the kitten is choosing not to eat, it can be an indication that he is not well and suffering. Regardless, having him looked over by a veterinarian will be the only way to determine if this is the case. I will hope for the best for him. Please feel free to get back to me with any additional questions or concerns.
                                         Jodi