Author: anissa beal

Fading Kitten Protocol
Fading Kitten Syndrome is a life threatening emergency in which a kitten, sometime one that was previously healthy, “crashes” and begins to fade away. If not dealt with immediately, it can result in death.
Symptoms: - Low Body Temperature – the kitten feels cool or cold to the touch - Extreme Lethargy - not getting up, unable to stand, not responding when pet - Gasping for breath - Meowing/Crying out It is caused by 2 things: Hypothermia (being too cold) and Hypoglycemia (not enough blood sugar). When this happens, it is vital that you take these immediate steps!
Step 1- Get them warm: - Create the “burrito” towel. Immediately wrap the kitten up in a towel like a burrito leaving their face exposed only. Their whole body, tail, ears, and paws should be in the towel, only nose and mouth exposed. Do not take the kitten out of the towel to adjust them, check on them, etc. - this is very important! Every time you take them out you will make them cold again, even if it is only for a second. - Wrap a HEATING PAD turned onto *low* around the burrito towel (to avoid burns) as an EXTRA source of heat. Secure it around the towel so it stays in place
Step 2- Get their blood sugar up: Once you get the heat on them, - - - - - Get a bowel or Tupperware and a few tablespoons sugar in hot water. Stir it up so you get a sugar water solution - as strong as possible while still pretty runny. Using a syringe or your finger give 3 drops every 3 minutes into the mouth. If they aren’t swallowing, try not to get it down the throat, try to get it on the tongue or gums. Set an egg timer or use the stop watch on your cell phone to make sure you are doing it at least every 3 minutes. Every 5 minutes or 10 minutes will not work, it must be every 3 minutes.
Step 3 - Call an the on call foster coordinator. Keep kitten with you and continue sugar every 3 minutes. They won’t have any extra advice for you that isn‘t in this handout, but they will need to be made aware of what is going on. Sometimes it can take hours for them to come out of it. Once they do come out of it, make sure you contact the foster coordinator.
Keep in mind, even with all the love and attention and perfect treatment of this condition, some of them still won’t make it. Try not to blame yourself during this difficult time and focus on all the kittens you have personally saved by fostering. Any kitten you’ve ever taken care of was given a second chance at life BECAUSE of YOU! The Survival Rate with our care FAR surpasses their survival rate in Nature.