Runt Of Litter Help!

RejoiceErb

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My cat has a litter of five kittens and the runt isn’t doing to well. She’s a lot smaller than her litter mates and she doesn’t have much of an appetite either. She had giardia a few weeks ago and it’s all cleared up now. But while she had giardia, she lost a bit of weight. She has a URI right now so our vet gave her antibiotics. Because she can’t smell her food, she hasn’t been to interested in it. I’ve been syringe feeding her KMR and she’s also still nursing on her mom. She’s seven weeks old now but only weights 391 g!!!! Her litter mates weight a lot more! She’s not completely lethargic but definitely not as active and playful as the others. Please any help will be very appreciated! How can I get her to eat more food? Should I continue syringe feeding? How do I get her to gain weight?
 

StefanZ

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Yes continue to syrige feed. How much are you giving?

What brand?

You can smear some karo with water on her lips and gum, gives quick energhy.
 

Sarthur2

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She really is behind the others!

Definitely continue syringe feeding as often as possible.

Does she have her baby teeth? Are the other kittens weaning to soft food yet?

You may be able to interest her in lapping Gerber turkey meat baby food from your finger, a spoon, or a flat plate soon, or better yet, mix it with her milk into a paste, and syringe it as usual.
 
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RejoiceErb

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She really is behind the others!

Definitely continue syringe feeding as often as possible.

Does she have her baby teeth? Are the other kittens weaning to soft food yet?

You may be able to interest her in lapping Gerber turkey meat baby food from your finger, a spoon, or a flat plate soon, or better yet, mix it with her milk into a paste, and syringe it as usual.
The other kittens are eating food. And yes she does have baby teeth. She’s just lost her appetite. I’ve been syringe feeding her KMR and I mix pate wet food in with it too.
 
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RejoiceErb

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Yes continue to syrige feed. How much are you giving?

What brand?

You can smear some karo with water on her lips and gum, gives quick energhy.
Yes continue to syrige feed. How much are you giving?

What brand?

You can smear some karo with water on her lips and gum, gives quick energhy.
I’d have to check the brand. She’s seven weeks old so I couldn’t find any charts for feeding kittens as old as her. Should I feed her by weight or by age?
 
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RejoiceErb

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I’ve been feeding her 16 ml x 5 times a day of KMR and Sheba pate mixed in. She was eating solid food before
the URI. She lost complete interest in her food so I’ve been syringe feeding her. How can I get her to start eating again? Or should I just wait her URI out and see if she eats again once she can smell?
 
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RejoiceErb

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Is your kitten still on medications? What has she been taking? It sounds like she is not well yet.
Yes she is still taking her antibiotics. She is still pretty congested- why I think she’s not eating. But she’s definitely better than she was a few days ago. She is more active and not as lethargic. She also pooped and peed in the litter box.
 
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RejoiceErb

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I would keep trying every day, with the baby food, with different brands of wet cat food and even try some kibble.
.
Ok. What do you think of trying with tuna? I was reading some older threads and saw that others had success with that. She LOVED Sheba! Would go crazy for it lol!
 

susanm9006

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Sitting with her in the bathroom while you run the shower will produce steam in the room and help her congestion. I would do it a couple times a day for ten minutes or so.
 

susanm9006

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Ok. What do you think of trying with tuna? I was reading some older threads and saw that others had success with that. She LOVED Sheba! Would go crazy for it lol!
Worth trying. Tuna as a single meal is fine you just don’t want her to eat it every day. Maybe some fish flavored cat Food?
 
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RejoiceErb

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Sitting with her in the bathroom while you run the shower will produce steam in the room and help her congestion. I would do it a couple times a day for ten minutes or so.
Will try!
 
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RejoiceErb

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Because we are giving her antibiotics, is it useless giving her yogurt as a probiotic?
 
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