Neonatal and paediatric feline emergencies, part 1: physiology and clinical examination

Neonatal and paediatric kittens are predisposed to multiple comorbidities because of their developing physiologies. Early identification of deterioration is crucial to allow lifesaving medical intervention, improving the patient's chance of survival. Understanding of the physiological differences allows tailored nursing care to be applied specifically to the patient's life stage. The feline viability index and the feline Apgar index score can be used immediately after birth, during routine/ emergency assessment or in the event of peri-resuscitation to help identify the neonates with the lowest chance of survival, allowing for emergency intervention. The term ‘fading kitten syndrome’ should be used cautiously to describe a range of different disease processes resulting in death of the neonatal or paediatric kitten.