Just as with humans, cats can contract upper respiratory infections that cause nasal discharge, sneezing, and noisy breathing.Īn upper respiratory infection is a viral or bacterial infection that affects your cat’s nose, throat, or sinuses and can cause sniffling, sneezing, and nasal discharge. Here’s what I learned about why they do this: 1. I was happy to hear this, of course, but I still wanted to know what would cause cats to make these snoring-like sounds when they breathe. This noisy breathing is something that caused us to take her to the vet twice, but our vet said that there wasn’t anything wrong with her. The long-term outlook for kittens that recover is good, unless there is a congenital or chronic viral infection, such as FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) or feline leukemia, that affects the kitten’s life expectancy.My wife and I have always felt alarmed by how our cat Cleo breathes through her nose, sometimes as if she is snoring, other times like she’s having a difficult time breathing. If a kitten does survive this crucial period and grows stronger, long-term management is aimed at proper nutrition, providing sanitary conditions and preventative health care, and close monitoring to ensure they gain weight. Unfortunately, Fading Kitten Syndrome is fatal more often than not, with the highest rate of mortality being in the first week of life. Recovering from Kitten Fading Syndrome is possible if an underlying cause can be identified in, and treatment started in time. ![]() Supportive care usually includes fluids, dextrose to support blood sugar levels, antimicrobials, nutritional support, oxygen support, and body temperature support. Treatment includes supportive care while the veterinarian works to identify an underling cause. For example, some bacterial infections can be treated if caught early enough, while some congenital (condition present at birth) defects such as heart, gastrointestinal, or brain defects may not, especially if the kitten’s quality of life would be poor. Treating for Kitten Fading Syndromeįading Kitten Syndrome may be treatable if an underlying cause can be identified in time, but often this is not the case. Tests may include bloodwork along with fecal and/or urine evaluation. Sometimes veterinarians cannot determine a cause before death or humane euthanasia, and a necropsy (or autopsy if the kitten passes or is euthanized) is required for definitive diagnosis. If your veterinarian does not see a kitten reaching certain milestones, they will do their best to determine the underlying cause of why the kitten is declining. How Veterinarians Diagnose Kitten Fading SyndromeĪ veterinarian will examine a newborn kitten in the first few weeks of life (from birth to weaning) to determine if he is thriving. Malformations present at birth (e.g., heart defects, gastrointestinal defects, brain defects, lung defects, etc.) Lack of maternal antibodies (cells that help protect kitten’s immature immune system) In general, causes of Fading Kitten Syndrome include: This condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. If a mother cat (called the queen) has a blood type that differs from her kitten, her maternal antibodies may attack the kitten’s red blood cells, causing anemia that can lead to Fading Kitten Syndrome. For example, having a large litter, trouble during birthing, or poor nurturing instincts or nutrition on the mother’s part can cause kittens to fail to thrive. Causes of Fading Kitten Syndromeįading Kitten Syndrome has numerous causes, and often more than one is to blame. Even with treatment, oftentimes these kittens will sadly die. ![]() Gradually worsening lethargy (lack of energy)Ī delay in evaluation and treatment could result in low blood sugar, dehydration, low body temperature, and death. Other signs and symptoms for the pet parent to watch for:Ĭonstant noises that indicate distress (such as whining or crying), even after feeding Some of these milestones include:Ībility to turn over from their back by day 3 of birthĪbility to support themselves on their feet by 2 weeks Kittens that fail to meet normal development milestones may be experiencing Fading Kitten Syndrome. Signs and Symptoms of Fading Kitten Syndrome Sadly, Fatal Kitten Syndrome is usually fatal, but recognizing the warning signs early can allow your veterinarian to intervene. This period lasts about four to five weeks (when a kitten is most vulnerable to sickness). Caring for a precious newborn kitten can be a rewarding experience, but it also can be heartbreaking if a kitten experiences Fading Kitten Syndrome.įading Kitten Syndrome refers to a kitten’s failure to thrive during the period between birth and when they wean from their mother or from a bottle for hand-fed kittens.
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