please help

Question
My cat had kittens this past friday night. sunday morning one of the kittens who seemed to be thriving was found at the front of the cage deceased. im just guessing, kitten fading syndrome?! Now the runt of the litter(the sweetheart) is breathing in a jerking motion, kind of hard maybe. not smooth like the others. looks for the nipple but often gives up. cries. and yawns alot. I have no money for a vet visit until the 1st and no one around here will work something out with me. is he dying? and if so of what? CRF? Upper Respiratory? Any Ideas? and will it be hard on him when and if he goes? Is there anything I can do to prevent it on my own?

Answer
Has the mother cat been vaccinated or ever tested for leukemia? Fading kitten syndrome can be a lot of things, but one of the main causes of they have discovered was leukemia, which is passed from the queen to the kittens.

Newborn kittens are very weak and have barely any immune systems so it would be hard for you to treat it by yourself. Fluids and antibiotics are needed if the lungs are compromised. You should get some kitten milk replacement and bottle feed these little ones to give them a boost. Maybe mom doesn't have enough milk. If she isn't eating kitten food it might be hard for her to produce enough milk. She should be free-feeding on kitten food- and not Purina kitten chow because it has cow's milk in it, very bad for cats and kittens.

Get some nurturall or esbilac and a small pet nurser and start supplementing these babies. Keep them warm also.

How much is just an exam at the vets? Call and ask for just that and see if you can get this little one in or at least the mom to be tested for leukemia. Then you would know why they are dying.

Leukemia, not being warm enough and being underfed are probably the three biggest causes of kitten deaths.

I hope that is some help in the right direction. I know it's heartbreaking to lose any of them. When they are 6 weeks old get Mama spayed so you and her don't have to go through this again.

I am so sorry they are sick. I hope your little one makes it.