all my babies are sick

catlady · New member Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 11

It has been getting fridged here (temps topping in the teens some days, nights around 0) and I didn't want to leave my outside cat out in the weather when it dropped to the 30's. I found him and brought him in, but a possum had ripped his ear & face up. I cleaned him up, applied ointment and kept him in. Within a few days, he started sneezing. I said he was allergic to my daughter's perfume. Well, his eyes began to run and sneezes increased. Now, all of my cats are sneezing and coughing. My oldest cat is Midnight. He is 8 years old, a short haired domestic that I delivered, and bottle fed from birth (every 2 hours, like my children). My other cat Willie, has mild palsy, epelepsy and a cauliflower ear, can't run climb or jump and he is 3 , the outside cat, Nikita, is 2. Midnight hasn't ate or drank today. He just lays in my bed in front of the heater. He hasn't even been to the litter box. He just started getting sick, but he seems the worse. Willie is sneezing alot, coughing some, but he has had 2 seizures today. Nikita seems better but is still sneezing. I am afraid that because of Midnight's age and Willie's health problems, that they may die. The vet isn't in until Monday. Both Midnight & Willie have had problems with kidney stones. They eat special formula food because of this. My water filter broke last week, and I know that the water is part of the stone problem because, not only the cats have had stones, but myself and my daughter also. Anyway, do you have any suggestions to help me until the vet is back?
I would really appreciate it.

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4396

and welcome. I'm so sorry about your furbabies. You might need to syringe feed Midnight both watered down foods and water. If you can get your hands on nutracal and or pedialyte, the better. If not, boiled chicken and broth might do. See if you can stimulate eating by giving your kitties the stinkiest foods available like canned tuna. They also need steam baths every couple of hours to clear their sinuses. Feeding them in the bathroom may not be a bad idea. *Hugs* and keep us posted on their conditions.

rcrgal31 · Senior Member Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Posts: 617

that was what i was gonna say...steam helps emensly w/ kitty colds...when my baby had cat flu...my doctor just prescribed penisilan (sp) good luck

catlady · New member Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 11

Thank you all so much. I gave the kitties broth from chicken and thickened turkey broth. They took very little. They will drink water now if I hold the bowl for them. Midnight isn't taking much, but he has gotten up and walked some today. Nikita even ate some softened food and is a bit more active. Nikita drank a whole bowl of water. Midnight drank about 6cc's . Willie continues to sieze. He began to have blood tinged froth for a while this evening. But he ate and drank about 3 oz. of water. He began to walk around some. Both Midnight and Willie are having very labored breathing though. They are acting like it hurts to swallow, grimmacing I will keep you posted.

Mary_NH · Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 3:37 pm Post subject:

that would be awfully quick for a URI infection to hit them that hard. If these symptons continue I'd get them to the vet. Sounds like you have a couple of special needs kitties (and how kind of you to take care of these kitties like you do - so many people would have dumped them at a shelter) that might not be able to fight off a URI and would require antibiotics.

Good luck and I hope they continue to improve

Poey's mom · New member Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 3 Location: ct

Hi
I was reading your post sound like they may just have a cold when one cats gets a cold it spreads quickly to other cats. I have had this happen to me many times.

Just would like to mention regarding kidney stones
As far as your cats with the kidney stones what food are they eating. I know you said a special diet. But just wanted to mention that My cat was in danger of losing a kidney as he had kidney stones in both kidneys the Vet put him on Waltham S/O cat food prescription. and the stones disappeared. if you aren't using this food you might want to check it out. It was the only food that saved my kitties life.

If your other cats have a cold it is just a matter of giving them antibiotics hope this helps

Laurie Poey's mom

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4396

It's best to check with the vet. You can only give antibiotics for bacterial infections. If it's viral, there's not much you can do except to give symptom relievers. How are the babies now?

catlady · New member Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 11

I wanted to let you guys know what has happened with my kitties. Nikita is well, Midnight is much improved, they have both been eating and drinking well. The vet put them on cephalexin for 2 wks. Now all of the humans in the house have what the cats had, it seems.
Willie is another matter. I took him in to the vets because he was deterriorating so rapidly. He lost weight, He looked pitiful. I told them to help him if they could , but not to make him suffer any more, if he was dying. They put him into the hospital, gave him an IV, put him under an oxygen tent, ran a humidifier in his room, gave him breathing treatments, did precussion on him and had him sleep on a heating pad. His body temperature was about 8 degrees below normal. They kept him for 2 days, then called me to pick him up. They gave him orbax to take , said to run the vaporizer keep him warm and give him breathing treatments q 4 hrs. do precussion on him and he'd be ok. He looked worse when I got him than he did when I took him. He hadn't been home 2 hours when he started coughing and was coughing up blood. I couldn't reach the vet, and so I waited. Within 4 hours, he had a nose bleed, and I thought maybe it was from his sinuses, but the vet hadn't called back yet. I took him in the bathroom with me when I showered thinking it would help, but he started to cough again and thrash about. I helped him get up the flem, but then he ran under the bed. I checked on him at 2 a.m. and he looked bad. New Years day, that morning by 9 am, I picked him up, where he had crawled under the bed and he had blood comming from his nose and eyes. He was gone. It was the 3rd before I could call the vet. I was angry because he died so horribly. He had had a rough life, and to die like that just wasn't right. I still can't talk to them at the vets. I keep seeing him and he suffered so much. It was wrong. My daughters and husband were upset too, but they say I am always taking in rejects (other people's discarded animals and kids) and set myself up for heartbreak.
The vet said the cats had pneumonia, developed from a cold. She also said that cats and humans can't give each other illnesses. (She is new to the vets office, and doesn't usually act as my primary care vet) I am pretty sure that she is mistaken, because my daughter and I have both developed a mild pneumonia also. Willie's death was so frightening to my daughter she actually asked to go to the doctor (she is 17 years old and never goes to the doctor). Have you got any views on this.

Bente · Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 10:47 am Post subject:

I'm so sorry to hear about your Willie Crying or Very sad

I don't know much about this, but I would be angry at the vet too for not advicing to put him to sleep... I think that would have been a better way to die for him. Sadly there is nothing to do about it now, all you can do for yourself is to remember him as the wonderful cat I'm sure he was. And comfort yourself with the fact that you did everything you could, the one to blame here is he vet that sendt him home. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss Crying or Very sad

Ginny · Member Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 203

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Howcome the vet wasn't available?? I lost one of my cats over the christmas holiday, and although my veterinary hospital was closed, there was an emergency number to call. Of course it's more expensive but worth it, I couldn't have waited another day for my cat to see a vet.

Good luck with all your other pets.

Ginny

Mary_NH · Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 1:39 pm Post subject:

that is so sad...I'm so sorry.

bionca · Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 2:29 pm Post subject: I'm sorry to hear about Willie

I'm sorry to hear about Willie. Crying or Very sad

I agreed with Bente the vet Mad

is to blame not you. You have done your very best to provide Willie everything possible. I'm sure you know that yourself. I know its hard watching him died so horribly but there nothing you could do. And I'm sure Willie knows that you loves him and time to let him go. Don't blame your self ok.

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4396

I am so sorry for your loss and that you could not reach your vet to help cease Willie's suffering. Crying or Very sad

I'm sure cats can give germs to us and vice versa. I remember one year, our entire household was sick with a very back cold that lasted weeks. We probably cought a mild pneumonia as well.

nern · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 5047 Location: NY

I'm so sorry for your loss. Crying or Very sad

Cassie · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:43 am Post subject:

I'm so sorry you lost Willie but sure am happy that Nikita and Midnight got past it ok.

I agree with the others that you did everything you could and that it was the vet's fault. Discharging such an ill kitty with no emergency contact instructions is just plain stupidity. If I were you, I'd find a new vet immediately, this clown is an idiot.