My kitten passed away...

Question

The about 3-week old kitten we found on Friday died an hour ago (and we planned to take him to the vet today). He had been sneezing a bit since we found him and had an infected eye (runny, oozy, etc). He also wouldn't drink much of his kitten formula and used the bathroom (urinate) a few times. I did notice bubbles coming out of his nose once or twice when I fed him. I have had no prior experience with kittens so I guess this was because I didn't know how to feed him properly.

In his last few moments he seemed very weak and lay sprawled out on me. I saw him twitching: his ears, tail, head, everything. In between the twitches he wasn't breathing and I knew something was wrong. Then I noticed he completely stopped moving.

Now his legs are sprawled, mouth open, one eye is open. His body has cooled down as well. He urinated at the same time he passed. I am a bit heartbroken but I can only assume he was too sick to save? Do you think he might have had a URI? He had been abandoned in a schoolyard when he was found. We just decided we'd keep and care for him on Sunday instead of taking him to a shelter.

janeway · Accepted Answer

That poor little thing, goodness know's what sort of neglect it had suffered but I think he was beyond saving and it wouldn't have made any difference had you taking him to a shelter. You gave him some love and affection in his little life and I for one am grateful you did that. Bless you.

silverfangd · Answer

Im so sorry! But i want to say you did the right thing but you were only half right in what you did. You should of took it to a no kill shelter, they would have been able to help it far better then anyone without the correct knowledge. there are also many ricks in taking in a stray without it being checked out by a vet, 
you and/or the kitten could a caught a disease. Please dont feel that bad, you did not know better, you did what your heart wanted not your brain. but now you do, thanks for at least trying, his life was better in your home then in the Schoolyard.

ragamuffin45 · Answer

Well, I think Angela (the first answer) is being on the harsh side, because your intentions were good. But yeah, it sounds like the little guy needed some medical attention much sooner than you realised. At least now you know for any future finds.

I HATE IT that some people are so cruel as to abandon animals (like it was abandoned in your schoolyard). It makes me so mad! Thanks for taking him in.

. · Answer

A kitten that young that passed that quickly...IDK It may have been saved or you may have been able to give it enough treatment to prolong it's life for a couple days. Who knows? 

Don't beat yourself up over what if's. You were tryng to help this kitten, at least he knew love and safety in his last couple days. Not all of them get that, thank you.

catloverme123 · Answer

why didn't you get the poor kitten to the vet as soon as you found it?  that would have been my first reaction instead of making it suffer for 4 days before you even thought to get it to the vet.  that kitten with antibiotics and fluids and warming blankets probably could have survived with proper vet attention.

Anonymous · Answer

I am very upset. If you knew nothing of raising kittens and he was that young, a shelter would have had a vet on staff. In the fututre, please do not do this again. This kitten could have been saved if you would have done the responsible thing.

pinksunshine_usa · Answer

hey there's always a vet on-call you should have called someone right away. at 3 weeks old the poor kitty didn't have a chance.

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My kitten passed away...

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