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1 month kitten

14:24:49

Question
I have a one month old kitten who is not eating... he will suck on the bottle for like 3 seconds and be done. He's not gaining weight and it's really starting to scare me. I've tried the Dropper and the bottle but it's like Im forcing him to eat and I don't like that..Im scared Im gonna lose him if I don't get him to start eating more.

Answer
Hi Sharon,

I think your fear is founded. When kittens start to "fade" for no apparent reason, they call it Fading Kitten Syndrome. Kittens can be a few days to several weeks old when they start to fade. There are various reasons why a kitten may fade, but often, an infection is the cause. If the baby is still with you today, I would get him to the vet. The vet will ensure the kitten isn't constipated, which can cause a lack of appetite. If he's not, I would suggest a liquid antibiotic be dispensed. He's young, but not so young that he can't have an antibiotic. If he continues on the path he's on, he certainly will not survive, so trying an antibiotic without really being sure what's wrong can't really hurt. I've had antibiotics cure some unknown infection and save some of my orphans. The vet might also suggest some fluids under the skin with dextrose to combat dehydration and low blood sugar.

Unfortunately, you cannot force the baby to eat. We are at the mercy of nature when we foster orphans, and sometimes nature isn't the easiest thing to cope with. We don't always know why mothers abandon their kittens, and sometimes we're taking on cases that are losing battles from the start. I hope you will feel good knowing that you did your best to give this little one a chance at life, no matter what the outcome is.

Best wishes,
Jessica