Cleft pallet

[cookie-Dough]

Hi we have a kitten born last night. He had trouble feeding so I bottle fed him carefully. I think he has a cleft pallet. I don't know if he will survive or not. I noticed he was making weird sounds after bottle feeding. I want to know what can i do to help? I'm posting his photo.

I just saw him nursing from his mum. I'm also bottle feeding him.

 

[StefanZ]

Hi we have a kitten born last night. He had trouble feeding so I bottle fed him carefully. I think he has a cleft pallet. I don't know if he will survive or not. I noticed he was making weird sounds after bottle feeding. I want to know what can i do to help? I'm posting his photo.

true cleft palet may sometimes survive. The usual trick is to handfeed them, via syringe.... Human babies are feed by a little spoon...

Having this hole in the roof of the mouth, they cant get vacuum to suckle... but using a syringe or dropper, they dont need to suckle, its enough they can swallow...

With a little luck surgery not necessary; surgery being more of a cosmetic treatment than necessary for survival.

He nurses momma, because its nice, but if its real cleft palet, he doesnt get anything. ps. and bottle prob not good either.

Its quite common cleft palet babies dont make it, but those whom make it are handfeed. (or get tube feeding into the stomach - but very few do have the knowledge or possibility)


Weighting in grammes is as always useful. If they gaing good, its well. If not, you must do something.

 

[StefanZ]

kitten seems to be a tortie, thus probably a girl... Not important here, but will be easier to name it... Whatever you do, do name it before its too late.

 

[cookie-Dough]

She doesn't seem to have a roof of the mouth like other 3 kittens. For now she's the heaviest. She's suckling on mum and drinking 3ml by syringe every 2 hours. My heart is breaking thinking she won't survive. But I'm going to try all I can for her.

 

[cookie-Dough]

I've named her Ella

 

[StefanZ]

Good you began with syringe feeding. So she has a fighting chance.

Human babies manage and do grow up. There is a whole movement of surgeons whom voluntarily visit poor countries in Africa and do the cosmetic operation for free. Not because its medically strickt necessary, but its no fun to be a teenager with a big hole in the mouth or face.. They get ridiculed and mocked by the other children.

I have even read somewhere about a child with practically no face... They kept it alive with a little spoon...

And thus, its my belief, most kittens should survive too (if they dont have other internal damages) - IF the owner starts with syringe (or tube) feeing immediately and is consistent with it.

Can you get raw goats milk? It comes too from an alive momma, and may become the difference in some variations...

But lets pray...

 

[cookie-Dough]

I have simicat milk, the kitten seems to be drinking fine from the syringe as its a small 1ml syringe and she's drinking 3 ml.
But she literally has an empty void in the top of her mouth

 

[StefanZ]

keep an eye on her weight, in grammes. she should add minimum 6 grammes a day, 10+ grammes is good.

The usual dosage is 8ml kmr or goats milk / 28 gram a day. So a kitten having say, 90 grammes gives about 3x8 ml, the kitten should have at least 24 ml kmr / during 24 hours. More if she wish, shouldnt be much less.

Pray - and hope for the best... If the cleft palate isnt no open wound, kitten and child may survive.

 

[cookie-Dough]

Thank you so much. I'll keep you updated

 

[Sarthur2]

Here are helpful videos from Kitten Lady:




There are a couple others about Chou Chou if you look at her web site.

 

[cookie-Dough]

Here are helpful videos from Kitten Lady:




There are a couple others about Chou Chou if you look at her web site.

I'm unable to tube feed but I'm feeding her with a syringe. I've watched all these videos thank you. I found them on kitten ladies page

 

[cookie-Dough]

Sadly the little one didn't make it

 

[Sarthur2]

I’m so sorry. You did the best you could. Thank you!

 

[cookie-Dough]

I’m so sorry. You did the best you could. Thank you!

I'm bottle feeding the kittens as the mum isn't feeding them. Some of the kittens have lose poop but only poop once after feed or once after 2 feeds. Their bum is very red. Mum is grooming them but sometimes it's still dirty so I use a wet cotton wool thn dry cotton wool. I don't know what to apply to their bum for soreness. I'm attaching photo

 

[Sarthur2]

Use coconut oil — it’s non-toxic if mom licks it and will soothe and help to heal them.

 

[cookie-Dough]

Use coconut oil — it’s non-toxic if mom licks it and will soothe and help to heal them.

I was just cleaning one of the kittens, and he pooped and there was blood in it. What should I do. After cleaning him I've applied coconut oil. He has loose-ish poop and not a lot. Could it be that he's constipated? Mama cat not even once fed this litter and they've been on kmr since born last Sunday

 

[cookie-Dough]

Use coconut oil — it’s non-toxic if mom licks it and will soothe and help to heal them.

Photo of blood in poop

 

[cookie-Dough]

Also do you think this one's belly is too round? Like something not right

 

[Sarthur2]

The blood may be from irritation in the intestines. It may be bacterial. If so, this would require meds. They are a bit young for worms, but could be parasites. Not sure about the belly — kittens tend to have round little bellies when young and well fed.

 

[cookie-Dough]

The blood may be from irritation in the intestines. It may be bacterial. If so, this would require meds. They are a bit young for worms, but could be parasites. Not sure about the belly — kittens tend to have round little bellies when young and well fed.

Today there was no blood thank God, the poop was good colour and they fed good amount too. Gained 10 grams