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 of FKS 

• Extreme lethargy -- unable to stand or hold head up, not responding when touched

• Body feels cool to the touch (not just insides of ears-all over)

• Panting or gasping for breath

• Meowing/crying out in distress 

If you see these symptoms, it is crucial that you take the following steps NOW!

1 - GET KITTEN WARM

1. • Grab your heating pad and a towel

   • Place the towel over the heating pad

   • Place kitten on top of towel.

   • Roll heating pad up to create a "kitten burrito" – like you're swaddling an infant.

   • Leave the kitten's face exposed, and do not remove kitten from the burrito even if he/she struggles and cries to get out!

   • Make sure the heating pad is still on the low setting. 

• If you don't have a heating pad, (if fostering young kittens, you should invest in a heating pad!) you can either; a) Keep your dryer running full of towels. Grab a new hot one every 5 minutes and wrap it around the "burrito" towel. After 5 minutes, trade that towel out for a new hot one. Don't remove the "burrito" towel. b) Fill 2 socks full of rice, tie the ends 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. 

2 - GET KITTEN'S BLOOD SUGAR UP

2. • Grab a small bowl and fill it with either corn syrup (Karo, etc), or sugar water. The more sugar content, the better. Make sure you have your syringe handy. 

   • Warm the contents up in the microwave for a few seconds until the liquid is a bit above room temperature. 

   • You will administer this sugar water (with the syringe) to the kitten while he/she is in the burrito. Give the kitten about 1 drop every 3 minutes.

3 - CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY

2. • If during shelter hours, bring your kitten in. You do not need an appointment.

   • If after shelter 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.