HELP 4 day old kitten with ANENCEPHALY

Jennie, I’m so sorry, this is a terrible thing to happen. I don’t know anything about this condition but Sarah Hartwell, who wrote the Messybeast website, does deal with it. The photos on her pages are very disturbing to anyone who loves cats so I hope she doesn’t mind if I repost what she says about anancephaly here, so you don’t have to see the pictures.

Her case study deals with a very strong kitten born with anancephaly as part of a litter. She says:

‘After the remaining kittens were born, Joen (the cat owner) removed the deformed kitten (and was surprised that it was still alive) to see if it had any instinct for food in spite of apparent lack of the forebrain. It had a good deal of strength, but lacked the co-ordination to initiate feeding, however it took kitten formula from a small dropper. Though it became excited at being dropper fed, it showed no sucking ability. When placed directly at the mother’s nipple, it showed interest in feeding, but could not grasp the nipple and was only able to lick at it with its enlarged tongue. The inside of the mouth was badly deformed. The rest of the body appeared entirely normal and the weight was 200 grammes. At 9 hours, it was active and looked “like a bat”. Joen decided to let nature take its course. The kitten survived only 20 hours. After 12 hours it began crying loudly, probably due to inability to feed (because it lacked a forebrain, it lacked the ability to feel pain; the crying was a reflex and did not indicate suffering (this has been studied in human cases of anencephaly)).’

She also talks about two more kittens from a different litter born with this problem. They both were stillborn or died soon after birth. She says:

‘Anencephaly is a neural tube defect that occurs when the cephalic (head) end of the neural tube fails to close early in gestation, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. Affected individuals are born without a forebrain i.e. the largest part of the brain comprising mainly of the cerebrum which is responsible for thinking and coordination. Lack of cerebrum explains the kittens inability to co-ordinate and suckle. The remaining brain tissue is often exposed (not covered by bone or skin) and matches Joen’s description of a visible membrane. The braincase does not form properly and this distorts other features, in this case the lidless prominent eyes and the placement of the ears. According to human medicine, anencephalic newborns are usually blind, deaf, unconscious and unable to feel pain. Some individuals have a rudimentary brainstem, but the lack of a functioning cerebrum makes consciousness impossible. Reflex actions such as breathing and responses to sound or touch may occur. In humans, the condition is found more often in females than in males. Affected individuals are usually stillborn, those that survive birth die within hours or, at most, a few days.’

{{{Jennie}}} a very sad situation indeed.

Sometimes Nature does things we don’t understand. Perhaps, in this case, the little one was sent here to give veterinarian science a chance to help find a way to prevent this in the future. Please rest assured that you did all you could do and in the end you gave your little kitten the ultimate gift – that gift of no pain and life in the Meadow. He will wait for you there, happy and healthy, and eventually you will meet him again.

Be comforted in knowing that your kitten knew how much you cared. He was warm and secure even though his life here was very brief.

Oh my, just saw this thread. I am so sorry for your little one’s great challenges with such a short life. He knew unconditional luv & care from you as a true blessing during his short time. He is now purrfect and whole in the Meadow under the care of the Wolf.

Not meant to alarm of insult just as information:

http://messybeast.com/freak-face.htm

Echo everyone. You were a star and your little one an angel. I am crying, but happy thinking of this baby in the meadow.