My kitten has died.

Initially I placed the kitten and his mother in the cat carrier to encourage her to nurse the baby and keep him warm. She crates well and that worked well for awhile but a few days ago when I did that she ignored the kitten and was scratching at crate door trying to get out so I bought the hot water bottle (have used heating pad in past with kittens before my electrical troubles)

I bought some powdered kitten formula at the vet and they gave me two different size syringes and a bottle. I have read that cow's milk is too low in protein and fat for kittens and the source suggested adding an egg yolk to eight oz cow's milk as a temporary measure. http://www.saveacat.org/tamingferals.html Not sure why you suggest watering down the cow's milk. Perhaps my source is outdated/wrong.

Yesterday evening the kitten walked off the hot water bottle into another area of the box to void and defecate. I thought that was a positive sign that he wanted to keep the area where he slept clean. But he was too fragile to make it. I know kittens often die young. I read that 30% die in the first four weeks and up to 75% die in the first year. I try not to get attached when they are so young but this little one liked to crawl up my chest and lie by my neck. I sorrow for what could have been.