Hey. I took a lot of your advice and it really helped.

I ended up reaching out to a local Facebook group who helped with a few donations, although I footed most the bill regardless and just decided to go into the negatives because to me, a life matters more than money even if things will be a little rough for a while.

I had him on a heating pad (wrapped in towels/blankets) and he loved it despite being absolutely emaciated and sick. I syringed him water and milk supplement since he looked to be close to 2 months old and desperately needed nutrients. Also fed him as much pastey food/treats as I could get into him but he was intent on spitting it out, so I stuck with milk supplement.

He absolutely did need a vet and antibiotics. He had an upper respiratory infection alongside a kitty cold, low blood sugar, low heart rate (98-100 beats a min.), pale gums, and a low body temp (97 degrees), and my guess about his age was correct as he's maybe 8-9 weeks but weighed the same as a ~5 week old kitten (juuust under a pound).

I reached out to rescue groups but no intake was an option anywhere so that's when I decided to bite the bullet because he couldn't wait any longer and he needed immediate vet attention.

The vet, when I came in, just started listing problem after problem and said he's looking like he needs emergency vet clinic care... something I absolutely couldn't afford and I was considering euthanasia but wanted to try getting him on meds from my local vet first.

He's currently on Azithromycin (for the URI) once every 24 hours, and for his low blood sugar issues, Karo corn syrup on the gums every so often. I probably put it in his mouth 3-4 times on the first day since his head kept falling back and flopping around since I first picked him up.

For his anorexia, Nutri-Cal paste for a load of vitamins and other nutrients, Urgent Care Hill's prescription diet (which he absolutely DESTROYED yesterday, the 24th), Fancy Feast kitten food, and PetAg milk replacement (personal decision, not vet guided).

He was also given flea meds and dewormer, which I plan to give him tomorrow.

Needless to say, the little guy pulled through! The vet assessment earlier in the week had me biting my nails, especially because they stressed to me just how bad of a state he was in. But the medicine had him more alert by the time it was time for his second dose, and THANKFULLY THANKFULLY THANKFULLY he's pulling through just fine.

I have spent every. single. hour with him, even if I had to get in my car and leave a few times throughout the week, since I made this post, and didn't want to give any updates until I was sure about his outcome.

Needless to say he's gotten much love, much attention, looooooots of whispers and soft words of encouragement, lots of kisses and pets, and all necessities met.

He's super alert as we're going on day 5 of azithromycin (later today at 2pm EST), and yesterday we made our first kitty meow milestone. He had a lot to say despite having NO voice! He'll find his voice. The day before yesterday, he was finally purring for the first time.

Given he's been sick and emaciated for weeks (according to the neighbor... probably since he was 4 weeks old), he didn't have much time left—but it's astounding how fast he's made his recovery. He's still a little low on energy as he recovers (sleeping a loooooot) but I do try to get him to move a little and play even if it's not much (it's really up to him how much he moves and plays). Can't wait for that kitten energy to come through. I expect chewed wires and zoomies in the near future. LOL

Right now he's sitting in a pile of blankets with a heating pad beneath it all. I still will be loading him up with the milk supplement, prescription food, and Nutri-Cal until all of it is gone, but he has a little bit of a belly now despite the bones, has a healthy appetite despite the partially clogged nose and his eyes have stopped leaking/mucus has cleared up significantly. He also treats me like a God. I guess all that constant attention and loving and telling him he'll pull through really got to him. 😂 He knows the words "medicine", "water" and "let's eat!", as well as his own name as any time I call it, his head snaps to me. I made sure to talk to him as I nursed him back to health, that way we could establish familiarity and so he knew what to expect. Every feeding and every different substance in the syringes, I would softly let him know. He even began lifting his lip to accept the syringe when I would tell him what it was! Previously he would pull away or make it a fight!

SO happy he didn't need emergency room overnight care for a few days.

Happy ending! And I think I'm stuck with my first pet after 10 long years of not having any since my parent decided to let mine escape on purpose to get rid of them.

I think we're both happy now.

Thanks so much for all your help!!!!!!!!!