Kittens: necropsy is different than adults

- color of skeletal muscle
- presence of thymus
- scant adipose tissue
- prominence of thyroid glands, adrenal glands, mesenteric LNs
- thinner kidney cortex
- softer brain (high water content)
- limited ossification
- histologically evident hematopoesis in liver and spleen (for several weeks after birth)
- (possibly) unseparated eyelids
- (possibly) closed aural canals
- (possibly) prominent urachus (between umbilicus and urinary bladder)
- males have descended testes that can move in/out of scrotum until 5-7 mos.

In addition:
- frequent use of heat lamps may accelerate autolysis
- empty stomach/jejunum may indicate

• mom can't make milk
• mom neglecting baby
• baby is diseased

- full stomach may indicate death due to

• rapidly progressive illness
• trauma

- gas-filled stomach may indicate

• hypothermia (decreased gut motility led to fermentation of ingesta)
• aerophagia (swallowing air) due to pulmonary disease or agonal death