Feline neonatal disorders

Kitten mortality rate in the first 7 days of life is reported at about 27%, with reported causes including bacterial, viral, and protozoal infections; parasitism; maternal neglect or trauma; neonatal isoerythrolysis; and the broad disorder termed “fading kitten syndrome” that most likely is a manifestation of one or more of the disorders are described in this chapter. Septicemia is body-wide infection, presumably commonly associated with bacteremia. Feline leukemia virus is a retrovirus that can be carried asymptomatically by cats or may cause immune suppression or neoplasia. Bradycardia, hypoxia, dehydration, and hypothermia are assumed to all be similar to that in neonatal puppies and thus kittens should be treated in a similar manner. A syndrome of chronic, voluminous, small bowel diarrhea with no specific etiology is described in cats. This may respond to increase in fiber in the diet, or treatment with metronidazole or amoxicillin.