As an experienced kitten fosterer, I’ve encountered fading kitten syndrome on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, some of these kittens did not make it, but some did pull through and recover.

When it comes to critically ill and fading kittens it’s crucial to know that there ARE things you can do to help.

A fading kitten is not a lost cause. It may be possible to save them. And, as a fellow cat lover, I’m sure you’ll agree that every feline life is worth saving!

In this article, I’ll explain what makes a kitten critically ill and, more importantly, what you can do to save them.

Fading Kitten Syndrome: When Kittens Crash

Fading kitten syndrome is not a disease but a term used to describe a critically sick kitten.

Fading kitten syndrome occurs when neonatal kittens fail to thrive due to one or more underlying health issues.

Often, these kittens are underweight and develop at a slower rate than their siblings. They may slowly get sick, or they might be fine one minute and then suddenly start crashing.

The signs of a fading kitten include:

• Refusing to eat or drink (no appetite)
• Severe lethargy or weakness (i.e., not moving around or inability to hold its held up)
• Uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing (gasping for air)
• Feeling cold to the touch (low body temperature)
• Pale or blue-tinged gums
• Having seizures

Fading Kitten Syndrome is common in young neonatal kittens who have lost or been separated from their mother or those who have gone too long without nursing.

It also affects kittens with birth defects or diseases like Feline Panleukopenia, either contracted from their mother or caught shortly after birth.

However, because young, orphaned kittens are so vulnerable, many other things can lead them to crash, such as:

• A bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea or vomiting
• A bad case of intestinal parasites, such as coccidia
• Going too long without food or drink (causing low blood sugar)
• Malnutrition
• Anemia caused by a flea infestation

What To Do If You Find A Fading Kitten

You MUST act fast if you find a kitten displaying the above signs. I cannot stress enough how important it is to act as soon as you notice the symptoms.

Do not wait and see. Do not give it a few hours to see if they improve, as when a kitten starts to fade, they can die VERY quickly without medical intervention.

If it is within your budget, I strongly suggest bringing them to an emergency vet.

There are many things vets can do to stabilize a sick kitten. Then, once the kitten is stable, they can determine the underlying problem and treat it.

Can A Vet Save A Fading Kitten?

I’ll be honest: The first time I encountered a fading kitten, I thought there was nothing I could do to save them.

When kittens fade, they can appear almost lifeless, so it’s not uncommon to think they are past the point of no return.

But as I gained more experience with fostering sick kittens, I learned that this is often not the case, if you get them to a vet clinic or animal hospital ASAP.

I have seen firsthand vets revive dying kittens, and let me tell you, it pretty impressive to see.

Vets are able to stop a kitten from fading because they have the knowledge, skills, and equipment to do so, something we do not possess.

This is why if a kitten is severely sick, I strongly suggest bringing them to a qualified vet instead of trying to save them yourself at home.

Moreover, vet prices in Thailand are very reasonable. So, rescuing a sick kitten from the street and taking it to an emergency vet will not be a financial burden for many people.

However, if it does leave you out of pocket, consider posting in animal community groups asking for assistance with paying the bills. Sure, it may be a bit of effort on your part, but isn’t the kitten worth the effort?

Fading Kitten Protocol

So, what will a vet do to try to save a fading kitten?

Here are the procedures vets in Thailand have used when I or other rescuers have brought in fading kittens.

Note that not every vet clinic will have all this equipment. You may need to go to a larger pet hospital for things like incubators and oxygen chambers.

IV Fluid Therapy

If the kitten is malnourished or is having diarrhea or vomiting, the vet will hook them up to an IV, giving them continuous fluids to treat or prevent dehydration.

For many sick kittens, fluid therapy is crucial. Young kittens can get dehydrated very quickly, and it doesn’t take long until the dehydration causes their little bodies to shut down.

Fluid therapy is especially important for kittens with ongoing diarrhea, whether due to an infection, parasite, or virus. IV fluids won’t cure these issues, but they serve as important supportive care to help stabilize them.

I’ve also found that fading kittens WITHOUT diarrhea or vomiting often benefit from IV fluid therapy. The additional hydration to their organs can help to combat lethargy and perk them up, along with other supportive care methods.

Glucose Injection

If the kitten has low blood sugar (another common symptom of fading kitten syndrome), the vets will likely administer a glucose injection. Glucose can help rapidly boost the kitten’s blood sugar levels.

Incubator

Many fading kittens have hypothermia (low body temperature). If the animal hospital has an incubator, they will put the kitten in it to manage their temperature.

For hypothermia, it’s crucial to warm up the kitten BEFORE giving any fluid therapy or injections.

Oxygen Therapy

Many fading kittens will struggle to breath. You might notice them gasping for air or breathing too slowly. In these cases, giving the kitten oxygen can help.

Heart stimulator

If a sick kitten is in and out of consciousness, the vets may use a heart stimulator to revive them. While this doesn’t treat the underlying issue, it can revive a kitten long enough to determine and treat the medical condition.

Treating A Sick Kitten Once Stabilized

The procedures mentioned above are used simply to stabilize a critical sick kitten.

You might notice that the kitten appears much better after these procedures, but it’s important to remember that they are still very sick.

An underlying issue caused the kitten to fade, and these emergency procedures do not treat the problem.

So, determining the underlying problem is just as crucial as stabilizing the sick kitten.

Without finding and treating the medical issue, the kitten will just crash again. And in my experience, when a kitten crashes for the second time, their chances of surviving are minimal.

Once the kitten is stable enough, the vets will likely run some tests to diagnose the condition.

Because of this, the kitten must stay at the vet clinic for at least a couple of nights. A 24-hour pet hospital is best, as critical kittens need round-the-clock observation to prevent them from crashing again.

Once the kitten is stable and the vets have identified the illness, you might choose to move them to a cheaper clinic for treatment and further observation.

Final Thoughts On Fading Kitten Syndrome

On a final note, there is no guarantee that a fading kitten will survive and recover from the veterinary procedures mentioned above. Sometimes, kittens are just too sick, and there is nothing anyone, including a veterinarian, can do.

Moreover, while there are some fading kitten protocols you can try yourself at home, from my experience, these are far less effective than the protocols a vet can carry out.

That being said, if you rescue or foster kittens regularly, admitting every sick kitten to the vet clinic may not be financially feasible.

The good thing is that vets in Thailand are far less expensive than other countries. So treating a critically sick kitten at the vets here is likely cheaper than you think.

Check out my Vet Prices In Thailand guide for estimated costs.

And if you’re based in Phuket, you can find my Phuket Vet Recommendations here.