{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T18:27:01Z","timestamp":1792175221525,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,1]],"date-time":"2024-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1727740800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["U.I.D.B.\/00772\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["U.I.D.B.\/00772\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Neonatal and pediatric mortality in kittens could be associated with bacterial infections, complications from inadequate management, congenital malformations, neonatal isoerythrolysis, parasitic diseases, and viral diseases. The complexity of causes, coupled with kittens\u2019 physiological and immunological immaturity, complicates the diagnosis and treatment of disease, highlighting the necessity for preventive measures. This study aimed to identify the leading causes of death and the occurrence of congenital malformations in stray kittens. Necropsies were performed on 68 kittens, all aged under two months. Results indicated that respiratory lesions were the leading cause of death in the youngest group, while gastrointestinal problems were more prevalent in older groups. Infectious causes were predominant across all age groups. Congenital malformations were observed in 40% of the animals, with megaesophagus, cardiovascular anomalies, bone defects, and kidney defects being the most prevalent. The findings underscore the critical importance of hygiene in preventing infections and related complications. Promoting sterilization and sanitary control in stray cats is essential to reduce overpopulation and improve living conditions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci11100461","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,1]],"date-time":"2024-10-01T03:57:52Z","timestamp":1727755072000},"page":"461","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Mortality in Stray Kittens under Eight Weeks Old: Focusing on Congenital Malformations"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Gael","family":"Contreras","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8796-5037","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Viegas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adelina","family":"Gama","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6602-0926","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Filipe","family":"Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6330-4560","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Isabel","family":"Pires","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McDonald, J., Finka, L., Foreman-Worsley, R., Skillings, E., and Hodgson, D. 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