Neonatal kittens cannot regulate their own temperature, have almost no glucose reserve, and depend on colostrum for immunity. Most losses happen in the first days, so exam questions focus on warmth, nutrition, colostrum, weight checks, and the two named problems: fading kitten syndrome and neonatal isoerythrolysis.
Key facts
Neonatal care at a glance- Species and system: cat; neonate (first weeks of life).
- Neonatal period: the first 21 days of life in dogs and cats (MSD); reported neonatal mortality is 9 to 26 percent, highest in week 1.
- Temperature: kittens lack thermoregulation until about 4 weeks (MSD).
- Immunity: passive, from colostrum; intestinal IgG absorption generally ceases by 24 hours.
- Growth: after a transient loss of up to 10 percent on day 1, kittens gain 50 to 100 g per week (MSD).
- Named problems: fading kitten syndrome; neonatal isoerythrolysis in type B queens.
What's inside
16 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis
- Clinical signs of a sick neonate
- Diagnosis and monitoring
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Orphan and supplemental feeding
- Using weights as a monitoring tool
- Emergency order of care
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 self-test questions and 4 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.