Fading Kitten Syndrome – 11 Things You Need To Know

Raising a newborn kitten is a joy like no other, but it's essential to be aware of the risk of fading kitten syndrome.

In the first weeks of life, kittens are vulnerable and fragile, with some estimates putting their survival rates at only 75 percent.

As a kitten caregiver, you may be worried about this mysterious phenomenon that can claim entire litters without a clear cause.

However, armed with the right knowledge and a watchful eye, you can help protect your furry little friends from this heartbreaking fate.

In this article, we'll share 11 crucial things you need to know about fading kitten syndrome, and how you can give your kittens the best chance to thrive.

1. Know The Common Risks To The Lives Of Young Kittens

It's not a pleasant topic, but in this case, knowledge may give you the power to save a kitten's life, so let's review the list.

Temperature/Chilling

Kittens are unable to effectively regulate their own body temperature. If they are left in an environment that's too cold or hot, they can suffer hypothermia or hyperthermia and die.

Malnutrition

Newborn kittens who don't get enough nutrients will likely stop thriving and die. Their mother's milk is the best food for kittens.

If that's unavailable, they must receive a milk-replacement formula appropriate for kittens, such as KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement).

Infectious Pathogens

Kittens are too delicate to fight off a severe infection, whether bacterial, viral, or fungal.

This is especially true of orphaned kittens, as nursing queens provide their kittens with some amount of immunity from the antibodies in their milk.

Parasites

Internal parasites (worms and protozoa) or external ones (fleas, ticks, and mites) can easily kill a young kitten as they take away nutrients its body requires for sustaining life and growth.

Non-Infectious Diseases

The most common lethal non-infectious disease in kittens is pneumonia, caused by inhaling fluids during birth or by inhaling milk formula instead of swallowing it. Other conditions can be just as lethal.

Birth Defects

Severe birth defects often result in the birth of a stillborn kitten. However, some birth defects allow a kitten to survive while in the womb.

Such a kitten may look healthy at birth, only to deteriorate within a few hours or days and die.

Physical Trauma

Any trauma incurred at a young age, such as a drop or fall, a bite from an older animal, or even a traumatic birth, can cause injuries preventing the kitten from thriving.

Dehydration

This goes hand in hand with malnutrition, as the kittens' only source of water is their mother's milk.

When feeding orphan kittens, carefully follow the instructions when preparing the formula so the kittens get the nutrients and the water they need to survive.

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2. Know When There Is An Increased Risk For Fading Kitten Syndrome

Some kittens are more at risk for early death. They need extra care to make sure they're not failing to thrive:

• Premature kittens.
• Orphaned kittens.
• Kittens with visible birth defects.
• Runts (kittens that are noticeably smaller than their littermates).
• Kittens in litters of more than four (the more kittens for the mother to handle, the more likely some of them are not to be properly fed or cared for).

3. Track Your Kittens' Weight

Sometimes the only indication that something is wrong is a kitten's inability to gain weight. When that happens, you must seek help sooner rather than later.

Learn more about Weighing Newborn Kittens And How This Could Save Their Lives.

4. Watch For Elimination

The mother cat will encourage kittens to eliminate and clean up their secretions, so you may not see the consistency or quantity of their urine and feces.

When caring for orphaned kittens, you should encourage them to eliminate.

When you clean up the "produce," keep an eye on it for diarrhea or constipation. Either condition can be dangerous for the kitten.

5. Watch The Mother Cat For Signs Of Distress

The mother cat's health can sometimes provide the first indication that the kittens may soon be going downhill.

A sick or malnourished queen puts the kittens at risk. You may have to care for the kittens and provide extra feedings to save their lives, and it's best to start sooner rather than later.

6. Keep Your Kittens Warm - But Not Too Hot

The harsh reality is that a cold kitten is very likely to become a dead kitten. This cannot be stressed enough. Newborn kittens cannot regulate their own body temperature.

If their body becomes too cold, they are also unable to digest their food, and their condition can deteriorate within hours.

7. Keep Pathogens At Bay

As mentioned above, kittens - particularly orphaned kittens - are susceptible to infectious diseases.

Keep other cats away from your kittens, and thoroughly wash your hands before handling the kittens. Keep the area generally clean and hygienic.

8. Avoid Over-Handling Kittens

Socializing kittens is important from the time they open their eyes. Until then, they need to focus on feeding and sleeping.

Even after they open their eyes and as you begin socialization, make sure the kittens get plenty of time to nurse and sleep.

Don't allow children, or adult guests, to handle the kittens to an extent that will interrupt their feeding and sleeping patterns.

9. Care For Rejected Kittens As Soon As Possible

Sometimes the mother cat rejects a kitten, either because she senses something is wrong with the kitten, or because she herself is not well.

If you notice one of the kittens being kept away from the others or being refused to nurse, you must intervene right away.

Remove the kitten from the mother and raise it as an orphan kitten.

10. Be Prepared - Get Supplies In Advance

If you are caring for a pregnant cat, be prepared to have to hand-rear one or more of the kittens. 

As our article Pregnant Cat? What To Prepare For The Birth explains, you should be ready to feed kittens on your own, with appropriate gear and a kitten milk replacement formula.

Hopefully, you won't need any of it, but if you do, you don't want to waste precious time going out for supplies.

11. Be Prepared - Find Your Mentors In Advance

Unless you're a very experienced rescuer, chances are you'll need help in your efforts to save a kitten from Fading Kitten Syndrome.

If possible, find a mentor in advance.

If you foster, this can be someone working within your rescue organization. This could be your breeding program mentor if you're a registered breeder.

If you're not sure who to reach out to, let us know in the Pregnant Cats & Kitten Care forum.

You should also find a veterinarian who can work with you.

Not all vets are experts on newborn kitten care, but they can always help you with the basics and carry out procedures that may be needed to treat a sick kitten.

Caring for newborn kittens is a challenge. When something goes wrong, that challenge intensifies, as the responsibility for a precious kitten's life may lie in your hands.

Unfortunately, you may not always be able to save a kitten that's failing to thrive, but hopefully, equipped with enough knowledge, you'll be able to give it the best possible chance.

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Help spread this information about Fading Kitten Syndrome by sharing the image below on your social media accounts. Together, we can raise awareness and save more kittens!

Read more in this guide:

Hand Rearing Kittens: What You Need To Know To Save A Newborn’s Life

Premature Kittens: The Comprehensive Guide To Care

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