I did, and he just died. I am very sad. I took him to the vet today and they said he was 3 weeks old. I tried everything and it looks like he had pnemonia and could not breath. I feel so terrible. Anybody ever have a similar experience? How did you get yourself to feel better? When you care for them, you get so attached, and it just broke my heart.
2006-09-15 05:14:12 · 10 answers · asked by Sunshine 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
That is so sad. People don't realize how delicate kittens are. All babies are delicate and have very weak immune systems. They can get sick very easily, very suddenly. And when you have an orphaned kitten it's even harder. A mother cat passes all her immune boosting antibodies through her milk, so when you are caring for an orphan by yourself, it's really, really tough. Don't be so hard on yourself. Even with treatment, this little kitten may have just been too weak to recover without his mama's help. You did the best you could. You should feel good that you tried to rescue him and give him a loving home. At least he didn't die alone, scared and abandoned. He had you as his surrogate mama and he got to experience love and affection during his short life instead of fear and loneliness. And that's a beautiful gift you were able to give him. Somebody with a compassionate, loving heart like yours will get the opportunity to rescue a litter of kittens again. And those kittens will be very lucky to have you to help make them healthy and strong. The next time you will know what to do. Get them to the vet as soon as their eyes open for deworming and a general health checkup, keep them warm, and keep them away from other animals who could pass on disease. Your little kitten is smiling down on you from Heaven.
2006-09-15 05:35:12 · answer #1 · answered by Alleycat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have when I was a kid. My parents would always take in strays or abandoned animals. You do get attached very quickly. If you did all you could to care for the kitten, then it was probably weak to begin with. The mother cat may have threw it out of her litter because of something wrong with it. The best thing you could have done was to take it to a vet right when you found it. There are also many local pet rescue places that would care for the kitten for you (depends on the area you live in). I am sorry to hear of your loss. You can feel better by knowing that you tried to give the kitten a chance at staying alive. Who knows? If you didn't rescue it, it could've been a meal for a larger animal, or it could have been run over by a car. Thanks for caring!
2006-09-15 12:27:40 · answer #2 · answered by Penny 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry to hear this but I to have went through the same experience. First off you have to remember that you tried everything that you could do for the kitten & remember that since he was only 3 weeks old there wasa slim chane of him making it because kittens are not suppose to be away from their mother's until they are 8 weeks old.
When this happened to me I found it easier to deal with by knowin that the kitten was in a better place & was most likely thankful that I found he & tried to help he so you just have to think like that.
Then I was even better when I got another kitten to care for but I made sure it was a young kitten & not a cat. You can tryy this too but it may not have the same affect on you.
2006-09-15 12:23:45 · answer #3 · answered by Davey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I once took care of 3 kittens. I washed, fed, and cuddled them for 48 hours. They got very lethargic and we took them to the vet. The vet told us that they had been born prematurely and that their internal organs weren't fully formed and wouldn't live much longer. All we could do is make them comfortable during their last couple of hours. It's very sad, but I'm sure there wasn't much else you could do. At least you have a heart and did your best! I hope you feel better soon!
2006-09-15 13:18:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry for your loss.I too have had this happen to me.If your little one had pneumonia it it very possible that he aspirated while you were feeding him,if you get another chance to foster a baby try this...when its a really small one use a dropper at first to get it used to hand feeding but literally give it drops at a time,keep it in as natural position as possible,like it would be if it was with mom.Get kitten nursers and formula at the pet store,(be carefull about how large the nipple opening is sometime there to big or to small)at first it will be hard to get it to nurse but in no time it'll be fine,just be patient and don't give up.I have fostered many babies so I understand how you feel,I had a baby I had cared for for over 6 weeks,it crawled into bed with me and I didn't know it was there,in the morning I found my precious one under me.I was too.like you, devastated.Just give your self time,you will never forget but just remember that you gave you're little one lots of love and a chance that it might never have had with out you.Again I am truly sorry.Best of luck to you
2006-09-15 12:36:04 · answer #5 · answered by daisydame357 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. Kittens that young are very hard to care for. My sister in-law had three 1 week old abandoned kittens. All but one died, we managed to find a foster mother for him. Why not go and rescue a kitten from the pound in the little ones memory? It might make you feel better to save one of their lives.
2006-09-15 12:21:35 · answer #6 · answered by Jay B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OH I am so sad for you. I couldn't bear losing one of my babies.
Sometimes nature just takes its course. Both of mine were abandoned but they were somewhat healthy. They just had worms.
The poor baby was probably too far gone for you to help. I'm sure it loved having you there and taking care of it while it was sick.
Maybe you would feel better if you got another kitten. A healthy, happy, playful one. That would be the best thing.
I'm so sorry. :(
2006-09-15 12:19:20 · answer #7 · answered by sour_apple 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't like cats but my ten year old daughter was outside when a car passed by and threw a sack with three cats out the window as they drove by and the sack got ran over by another car, she opened the bag and two were still alive the other was mush, we now have two cats named guacamole and cabbagepatch.
2006-09-15 12:17:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
im so sorry, I know how you feel, my cat gave birth to 2 kitties and they didnt make it cause her milk had dried up and I didnt know it. I felt so horrible!!. that was 9 yrs ago and I still think about it and feel bad.
2006-09-15 12:21:40 · answer #9 · answered by feline 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i looked after a nest of new born hedgehogs and after a week of 2 hourly feeds day and night they all died,and i cried and cried.
2006-09-15 12:23:45 · answer #10 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋