Kitten with cleft lip?

Question
HI my cat just had 3 kittens today and i believe the first kitten born has a cleft lip. his nose is uneven and one nostril has a hole to his lip. but he seems to be eating and healthy,,this is the first time this has happened thorughout our many liters. will this kitten survive and if so will it be a hard life for him?? please help

Answer
Hi Brittany.  If the kitten is able to eat normally, chances are good that he will survive (if he survives beyond the first 48 hours, this is a good sign he's eating pretty normally).  Many times, the hole in the palate will actually close up on its own within the first several weeks of life.  If not, but the kitten does survive, he may be more likely to suffer nasal and sinus problems, as bacteria and food from the mouth can make their way into the nasal passages.  A surgery could correct the deformity in most cases to prevent this.  Generally, though, a cleft palate is not considered a debilitating deformity as long as the kitten survives his first few days.

Best of luck!

Jessica