Fading Kitten Syndrome

WaffleyGoodness · October 2012

I had a kitten that was about 6-7 weeks when he got him, which was a week ago. Last night he was being extremely vocal and wouldn't calm until I held him. I went to work at 9:00am and he was sleeping, but when I pet him he woke up. He gave me little chirps and I told him I loved him and I'd see him when I got home.

Around 1pm my husband told me that the kitten was dead. My manager let me go home, and when I got here I found out that the kitten was still alive, but barely. He lifted his head and gave me little meows. I had to call an emergency vet since a lot of the places we called were on lunch.

When I arrived I found out he wasn't breathing but his heart was still beating, so I made the decision to have him put to sleep to end his suffering. I didn't think he'd actually live anyways and took him to the vet for the purpose of ending his pain.

So now my heart is a little emptier for being without my little Flynn, though I have an older cat to fuss over. She had ran away last week but is safe and home now. I will never forget the images of Flynn giving me little mews, but I am glad I was able to give him a last goodbye and comfort him.

Have any of my fellow nesters experienced FKS? I feel a little reminiscent of my miscarriage 2 years ago since it's another death of something so small and helpless that I couldn't do anything about. It is bringing back bad memories for my husband regarding his dad's death about 13 years ago.

Stepmicham · October 2012

I'm so sorry for your loss My DH used to foster kittens, and I remember he said he had one named Marvin that the same thing basically happened to. He was fine, and then the next day he just seemed weak and they rushed him to the Emergency Vet, and he died on the way.

At least your kitten is not in pain, and he was very loved during his short life!

littlemisswitness · October 2012

7 years ago I found a litter of 4 kittens in my dad's shed. My little brother and I decided to take care of them. one of them died the day after we found them. They were maybe 2 weeks old, so we bottle fed them for a long time, multiple times a day. Two of them grew quickly and our grandma took one of them to keep as a pet. My dad decided we could keep the other two. But one of them was stll tiny and not eating a lot. She was very lethargic and quiet. She slept all the time and always wanted to be held. We found out she had pneumonia and probably wasn't going to make it. About a week after we were told, I was holding her while watching tv with my brother and dad, and I just knew she wasn't going to wake up that night. i pet and cuddled her for an hour and felt her leave us. I have never felt so helpless. I am so sorry for your loss. Just take comfort in knowing you kitty is not in pain anymore...