Fading Kitten Syndrome
Fading Kitten Syndrome is not a common occurrence, but if you ever encounter this condition, YOU will need to take action IMMEDIATELY.
The worst thing you can do for a fading kitten is to delay treatment - most kittens will not survive the car ride to the shelter or a vet.
YOU are this kitten's best chance at making it.
Fading Kitten Syndrome is a life-threatening emergency in which a kitten "crashes" and begins to fade away. Kittens under 3 weeks old and/or kittens who are, or were recently sick, are most susceptible to FKS. Oftentimes, it occurs in kittens who have been eating poorly, and losing, or not gaining, weight. This is why it is VITAL that you weigh your kittens daily. Although it is rare, FKS can also occur in healthy kittens at any age.
Symptoms
Extreme Lethargy - not getting up, unable to stand, not responding when touched
Body feels cool to the touch (not just inside the ears - all over)
Panting or gasping for breath
Meowing/crying out in distress
When this happens, it is vital that you take these immediate steps!
FPS is caused by 2 things :
Hypothermia (being too cold)
Hypoglycemia (not enough blood sugar)
You must combat both of these things or the kitten will die.
Treatment
Step 1 - Get them warm
Create the “burrito” towel.
Immediately wrap the kitten up in a towel like a burrito leaving their face exposed only.
Their whole body, tail, ears, and paws should be in the towel, only nose and mouth exposed.
Do not take the kitten out of the towel to adjust them, check on them, etc. - this is very important!
Every time you take them out you will make them cold again, even if it is only for a second.
You must apply an extra source of heat (listed below).
The kitten's body can’t warm itself up with just a towel alone, you have to apply extra heat.
Your body temperature is much lower than what a kitten should be, so trying to warm them up with your body heat won’t work either.
If you have a heating pad - Then wrap a heating pad *turned onto low* around the towel - duct tape it or secure it around the towel so it stays wrapped around them.
Don’t let the heating pad touch them directly, it can cause burns, make sure the ‘burrito’ towel is between their skin and the heating pad.
If you don’t have a heating pad - you can either
Keep your dryer running full of towels. Grab a new hot one every 5 minutes and wrap this new hot towel around the “burrito” towel. After 5 minutes, trade that towel out for a new hot one. Don’t remove the “burrito” towel.
Fill 2 socks full of rice, tie the ends of them so it doesn’t spill out. Throw them in the microwave for 3 minutes. Keep them next to the kitten on the outside of the burrito towel. Every 30 minutes reheat one sock and leave the other next to the kitten so she doesn’t cool off.
Step 2 - Get their blood sugar up
Heat them up first!
Get a bowl or Tupperware and a few tablespoons of sugar in some hot water.
Stir it up so you get a sugar water solution
You don’t want it super syrupy like pancake syrup, but you do want it to be as strong as possible while still pretty runny.
Undiluted Karo syrup, or agave nectar can be substituted.
Using a syringe or your finger, give 1 drop every 3 minutes into the mouth.
If they aren’t swallowing, try not to get it down the throat, try to get it on the tongue or gums.
Set an egg timer or use the stopwatch on your cell phone to make sure you are doing it at least every 3 minutes. Every 5 minutes or 10 minutes will not work, it must be every 3 minutes.
Step 3 - Contact us immediately
If during shelter hours, bring your kitten in. You do not need an appointment. If you do not have a second person who can continue to treat the kitten, please wait until the kitten is stabilized.
If it is after hours, call the after hours emergency line at (502) 515-3135 and leave a message. If you do not hear back within 5-10 minutes, please call again.
Don’t leave your kitten to make this call or forget to do your sugar every 3 minutes.
Prognosis
We generally have very good success with these kittens if you follow the above steps.
It is best if YOU start treatment rather than rushing them into us. Your kitten will continue to be cold/hypoglycemic on the way to the shelter. Many kittens won’t last long enough for them to start the treatments here.
These protocols are based on what would be done if the kitten was in a vet clinic or here at the shelter.
Keep in mind, it can sometimes take hours for them to come out of it and start acting normally again. Once they do come out of it, if you have not already done so, contact us to discuss what could have possibly caused them to fade in the first place and make sure we have the kitten on all the right medical treatments for any illnesses they have that may have caused it. An exam may be necessary.
Also keep in mind, even with all the love and attention and perfect treatment of this condition, some of them still won’t make it. Try not to blame yourself during this difficult time. Remember, if it wasn’t for you, every kitten you’ve ever fostered would have never been given a chance at life.