My newborn kitten is weak, not eating, and has a swollen eye. Help!
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Persian | Female | 11 months and 12 days old
My cat given birth to 5 kittens They r 5 days old but 1 kitten is so week we r giving him mild replacer but that 1 kitten is not drinking properly and his weight is 100 GM and his eye is buffed as compared to other so what to do
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 17th, 2018
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor baby! I am worried about the eye. I would get the kitten to a Vet to see if it needs an antibiotic. Sometimes there is a kitten or 2 that doesn't make it not matter how hard we try. If the kitten isn't taking the bottle or nursing you will have to be taught by your vet to tube feed the kitten. Sometimes we never know why some kittens don't thrive: genetic issues, trauma, infections, etc. I wish you the best
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on August 1st, 2017
There are no alternatives but to take her to the vet urgently, she is very sick and probably suffering from a severe infection, she will probably need antibiotic treatment and only a vet will be able to help you with that.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
I'm worried about my cat's kitten! My Birman cat has given birth to two kittens 5 days ago, She looks well, she eats and drinks water and she's been doing great, yet one of her kittens isn't, while one of them looks healthy and full of hair already a
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco!
Sometimes the mother knows when something is wrong with a newborn kitten and will take it off somewhere. It is hard to know why some kittens do not thrive, also called "Fading Kitten" syndrome. There is likely some genetically wrong or a health issue with this kitten. You can have the baby examined by a vet, but a lot of times they appear normal and still do not survive. You can start bottle feeding it and take it away from the mother and see if it will thrive.
I wish you all the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Stray 1 month old kitten eyes swollen out I need help asap
HI, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor baby! Usually the cause of swollen eyes in a kitten so young is a viral or bacterial infection causing conjunctivitis or corneal ulcers. You can take a warm (not hot) wash cloth and warm compress the eyes until the discharge is broken down to see if he/she will open her eyes. I recommend you take the kitten to the Vet. They can check the eyes for ulceration and prescribe eye ointment and possibly antibiotics. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
my kitten seems paralyzed for past two days. Have to force him to drink by a dropper, and she CAN swallow but doesnt eat. Her eyes are dilated. Seems to respond to flashlights but pupils dont appear to change. Poor girl cant move her limbs, or seems
Thanks for using Boop by Petco. I’m so sorry to hear about buttercup. You have her listed at 1lb so I am assuming she is a kitten. I can’t diagnose her over the internet but i can tell you that her situation sounds very grave. A cat -especially a kitten- who will not eat, seems blind, and is not moving, needs intensive testing and care- and may still not make it. Hypoglycemia and hypothermia (they often go together) are first on my list. Congenital brain or heart problems and infectious diseases are also possible. If she can still swallow you can continue the water. You can place a little white Karo syrup or honey on her gums for some blood sugar stabilization. If she perks up with that, keep her warm and continue small amounts of water and Karo syrup every half hour or so. But if she doesn’t perk up within a few minutes of warming and karo, she may have bigger problems. And in that case, those won’t be enough to keep her hydrated or from losing weight. She would need a vet for
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My newborn kitten's mouth is open while sleeping. She's a five day old kitten. Her mom doesn't want to be with her so we're the ones who take care and feed her. The last four days, she was well and moves a lot. But today, her mouth is open and she do
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Oh no!! I am very worried about this kitten. I don’t think she will pull through. If you can get her to a vet I would do so immediately. Sometimes we never know who some kittens don’t make it, whether is a genetic or congenital issue or infection. But the mother usually knows. I with you the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
good day. may i ask what vitmains can you recommend for a 7 days old kitten who losses its appetite?
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! I do not recommend vitamins for kittens this young. If the kitten is not nursing from his mother I recommend bottle or tube feeding with kitten milk replacer. Tube feeding needs to be taught by your Vet. When a kitten stops nursing it likely means that they are sick. The best thing is to have the kitten examined by a Vet. He could have a genetic problem, something infectious or be constipated. Be sure you are stimulating him to defecate and urinate. I wish you the best.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
I have a stray kitten in my yard who looks very ill. She has mucus in her eyes and coming out of her nose. I got her to drink water but she isn’t eating any food. She looks very weak and out of it. Help! What can it be?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is likely an upper respiratory infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics and eye drops. She needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and start therapy accordingly. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Our family just got 3 kitties. All 3 have been sneezing and have drainage coming out of their eyes. Their eyes are swollen and have this red film. They are still playing, eating, drinking water, but seem to be sleeping more than usual. What should we
They have a viral upper respiratory infection. I recommend gently wiping around their eyes and nose with a warm wet cloth to remove the eye and nose drainage If the discharge from the nose and eyes is yellow or green then they have a secondly bacterial infection and will recover more quickly if they get antibiotics from your veterinarian. Also should the cornea on the eyes turn white or not look clear please take them in right away for an exam as that could be a sign of a corneal ulcer which is a serious medical problem. They may take a week or more to get better and resting will help them heal. To encourage eating and drinking I like to feed wet food that has been warmed in the microwave for five to ten seconds. That will make if smell more. Cats tend not to eat as well when they can't smell the food. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my kitten is 2 weeks...i gave her curd after which she vomitted.she has not pooped since yesterday night...now ch is not taking feed what should i do???
Hello, & thank you for using Boop by Petco. Make sure what you are feeding the kitten is an appropriate kitten milk replacer. Kittens this young are not able to regulate their temperatures well, so make sure you have her on a heating pad set on low with a towel on top. There should be an area for the kitten to move off if it gets too warm. Make sure you are not overfeeding the kitten. A kitten needs 2 tablespoons ( 30 mls ) per 4 ounces ( 115 grams ) of body weight daily. Divide the daily amount into equal portions for each feeding & fed every 3-4 hours until bedtime. Stimulate the genital area after each meal, but do not be concerned if she does not have a BM each time. You can try feeding her a congee, which is often tolerated by the sickest kittens. Take 1-2 cups chicken broth ( low or no salt added ), add 1/4 cup white rice & a tiny sliver of fresh ginger. Boil for 2 hours. While cooling, add 1 Tbsp good quality protein powder - egg or casein, not soy. Stir together very
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My kitten barely eats, wont eat from her mother either. She doesnt move much and shes extreamly tiny. I keep trying to feed her kitten milk. She just doesnt seem very well. I need advice
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco. I am sorry to hear about Midnight.
Sounds like she may be the runt of the litter. Sometimes we do not know why some kittens stop thriving. We call it "fading kitten syndrome." The best you can do is continue to bottle or tube feed her and keep her hydrated. If you have a Vet that is open they may give her fluids under the skin or prescribe antibiotics if warranted. They can also check for constipation which can make babies feel very sick.
I wish you the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat is not feeding her 4 week old kitten she had 2 but 1 died last night her breasts are very swollen with white nipples kitten is weak I've been feeding him replacement milk every hr but he is still weak and mom won't even go to him
Some kittens don't make it no matter what we do to help them out, and some cats are just not cut out to be moms. There is also the possibility that there is a congenital internal defect. If the kitten is very weak and won't suckle from the nipple or a bottle, you can try to slowly syringe the kitten milk replacer, but there is an increased risk of it going into his lungs and causing aspiration pneumonia. If this doesn't work, you should take the kitten to get checked out by a vet. The vet can show you how to safely tube feed the kitten to get its proper nutrition. Make sure that the kitten is staying warm and clean, and that you are stimulating urination and bowel movements. Here is a good article on raising orphan kittens: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=576
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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