Tina
This is Tina at about five months old. I adopted her brother, Pedro, about a week before her. I couldn’t get Tina off my mind though, because she had some kind of problem with her left eye. Given this I thought it might be tough to place her. Sure enough, a week later she was still at the shelter and her last litter mate had been adopted. She was all alone! So, of course, I brought her home to be re-united with her brother. As it turned out, she has EK in the left eye. She is a trooper though, and never complains about medicine or vet visits. She is the sweetest cat I have ever owned. She loves everybody and loves to give kisses. Her coat is so soft that I call her my “minky” cat. I just love this little girl!
Tina is a lovely little lady. Please explain to those of us that do not know what EK is so we may be aware of it. Tina is repaying you for your love and caring with her love and kisses. A long loving life to both of you and Pedro.
Please reply with information about EK. I have a cat with a bad eye and the vet cannot diagnose what is wrong with her.
Hi Deborah! Check out the great posts below. Great info provided by others who got to it before I could! Tina sees a kitty opthomologist for her condition. It wasn’t until I took her there that her condition was accurately diagnosed. Since then there has been steady improvement and her eye looks nearly normal. Kudos go to Dr. Belknap at Metro Animal Hospital for her skill and kindness!
Tina has a very lovely coat. It was very sweet to adopt her brother too.
Tina is a sweetie! And darling too!
Lovely kitty. I bet her and Pedro are thrilled to be together.
Most people are too shallow to even consider a pet with a problem. Once they find one who isn’t, animals bestow more unconditional, ingenuous love than these shallow types will ever experience. Tina is a good example. May the three of you be blissfully happy.
ive resolved that the next kitties i get (wich will be when i get a bigger place) will be the ones that dont look “perfect” cause they are just perfect to me
Amen Chey. I believe that too.
I am the same way with Christmas trees.
Rene, may God bless you and your kitten family!!!!!
Hugs & Kisses from my Sammy …
Tina is such a sweetie cat. Most of my cats look just like her.
I had a kitten once that was born with birth defects. She was what someone called “Twisty cats”. Her front paws were deformed and she had other health problems too. I treated her real nice when she was born so her mother would accept and not hurt her. The vet said she would only live to 3-4. She passed away on my lap when she was 3 ½. That was over 10 years ago and I still miss her very much. I wouldn’t hesitate to take in another cat like her.
I too have 3 kitties with eye problems. 2 of my kitties only have 1 eye (one born with 1 eye-the other lost hers as a feral due to sickness) and the last one has cronic pink eye w/the 3rd eyelid always showing. These are very loving cats and I don’t think I would ever live without them. Your Tina looks like one we have over the Rainbow Bridge. She is lovely just sleeping there. I hope you enjoy her and her antics.
The same thing happened to me, only thing was that I went back the very next day for the kitten I thought nobody would want. They were sleeping on each other in the pet store, I took the one home I wanted, but the other looked so thin, sick and frail I felt so bad, like if I left him there, he wouldn’t make it.
Sure thing, when I got him home he had a lot wrong with him, ear mites, something with his respatory tract, weepy eyes, and he wasn’t walking very well on his hind legs…now he’s fatter than the other cat and full of energy.
I’m glad that you went back for Tina, as are you and certainly as are Tina and Pedro. A happy ending all around.
Eye to Eye FUZZ
Sleepy FUZZ
oooh give Tina a kiss from me:)
That’s tooooo sweet!!!!
You have been blessed by an angel.
*~Give us a Wink FUzz~*
what’s EK?
This is a lot to read, but its what I found on a vet website.
Eosinophilic keratitis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the cornea that is characterized by progressive vascularization and cellular infiltration of the cornea.3 It most commonly affects young adult, mixed breed cats. There is often little discomfort present. The disease often starts near the lateral or ventromedial limbus, and may affect one or both eyes. Typical clinical findings include vascularization and infiltration of the perilimbal cornea, presence of gritty, white corneal plaques, inflammation of the adjacent conjunctiva and third eyelid and ocular discharge.3 Eosinophilic keratitis should be suspected in any cat with a relatively pain-free slowly progressive corneal vascularization with white infiltrative plaques in the cornea. Treatment consists of topical corticosteroids such as 1% prednisolone acetate or 1% prednisolone phosphate. These medications are used initially 2-4 times a day until all clinical signs disappear and then slowly discontinued over months. Recurrences are common, especially if medications are discontinued too quickly. Systemic megestrol acetate can be used if ulcerative keratitis is present or if the character of the cat prevents treatment with topical eye medications.
Something else I found is that approximately 1/3 cats who have this have a herpes infection. Something I guess a vet should be asked to check.
Thanks for explaining EK! I just came back in from lunch to see that my little girl was todays kitten! I suppose I should mention that Tina’s EK is much better than it was 6 months ago and she is on prednisolone only every 3 days. She gets L-Lysine 2x a day, because as you mentioned, cats with EK are always suspect for the herpes virus as well. So, while EK is not cureable, is manageable.
Thanks for a great site that never fails to put a smile on my face!!
Renee
You’ve a kind heart. Both Tina and Pedro are lucky to have you as their human!
Smoochie Fuzz!
Good for you for going back for this lovely girl! I know Pedro is happy to have his sister home.
She looks happy and well loved!
Your little Tina looks like such a sweet tabby
How could anyone not fall in love with such a sweet silver tabby 
EOSINOPHILIC KERATITIS
What is an “eosinophilic disease”?
An eosinophil is a type of white blood cell. It is seen in all mammalian blood. It is often increased in numbers in patients with allergies and parasitic infections. Cats have several types of dermatologic (skin) eosinophilic diseases: Eosinophilic plaque, eosinophilic or “rodent” ulcer and linear granuloma. The eosinophilic ulcer occurs on the upper lip with the eosinophilic plaque and linear granulomas occurring on the limbs and abdomen. These dermatologic conditions are called the “Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex” or EGC. Over the years, a condition has been recognized which is also unique to cats: Eosinophilic keratitis.
What is eosinophilic keratitis?
In the eye of a patient with eosinophilic keratitis, the conjunctiva (white part of the eye) will initially be reddened initially. Next, a few white “cottage cheese” deposits will develop on the cornea (clear part of the eye) and/or on the conjunctiva immediately adjacent to the cornea. Finally, the cornea will become pink to red and a white plaque will develop on the cornea. If left untreated, the cat can become blind in the eye!
An area of eosinophilic keratitis on the dorsal aspect of the cornea of a cat (arrow).
What causes eosinophilic keratitis?
The cause of eosinophilic keratitis is not known for certain. The cause of EGC is likewise unknown. Eosinophilic keratitis and EGC may be similar diseases due to similar pathologic (biopsy) findings and response to treatment. Pathology results reveal an infiltration of inflammatory cells including lymphocytes, mast cells, plasma cells, eosinophils and histiocytes into the area of biopsy. Over the years, we have noticed several cats with simultaneous infections with herpesvirus and eosinophilic keratitis. In recently published papers, one third of cats with eosinophilic keratitis were positive for feline herpesvirus when corneal and conjunctival scrapings were tested using a viral immunofluorescence test (IFA) and 76% of cats with eosinophilic keratitis were positive using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test for feline herpesvirus.
How is eosinophilic keratitis diagnosed?
Diagnosis of eosinophilic keratitis is by cytological examination of a scraping of the cornea and conjunctiva. Examination reveals eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes and corneal epithelium. Deeper corneal scrapings or pathology sections, obtained by performing surgery, often reveal plasma cells and lymphocytes, with mast cells, eosinophils and histiocytes. In some patients, the scrapings are devoid of eosinophils. In these patients, a different cause is suspected and the term Proliferative Keratitis (PK) has been used. As was stated above, some patients with eosinophilic keratitis also have herpesvirus. It is highly recommended that when collecting a corneal scraping for cytology, that a sample also be collected for a herpesvirus PCR and IFA test. When performed concurrently, these tests are very sensitive indicators of the presence of feline herpesvirus. If these tests are positive, concurrent use of antiviral medications is necessary.
How is eosinophilic keratitis treated?
The first reported case of eosinophilic keratitis was thought to be a corneal neoplasm (cancer). The mass was removed by a superficial lamellar keratectomy. Once the surgical wound had healed, the eye was treated with subconjunctival and topical steroids. When the medication was stopped, the condition returned. Due to similarities between the pathology findings of this case of eosinophilic keratitis and the eosinophilic granuloma complex, veterinary ophthalmologists used a birth control medication, megestrol acetate (Ovaban, Schering), for the treatment of the recurrence of the condition in this cat with excellent results. The dosage used was 5 mg daily for 30 days, at which time the dosage was reduced to 5 mg every other day. Other authors reported varying dosage regimes of megestrol acetate which would provide clinical remission. The 5 mg daily or every other day is an extremely high dosage and can lead the cat to develop diabetes mellitus or other side effects such as increased appetite and weight gain, behavior change, mammary gland enlargement and adrenal gland suppression. These side effects are similar to those caused by steroids in cats. Because of these side effects, Dr. Hacker recommends that megestrol acetate be used at much lower doses when appropriate. Alternatively, topical antiinflammatory therapy may be used. Most patients with eosinophilic keratitis respond when topical dexamethasone or prednisolone acetate is applied 2-to-3 times daily. Treatment frequency is reduced as the patient responds to the medication.
When accurately diagnosed and treated, eosinophilic keratitis is a readily controlled disease. It may require lifelong treatment for the kitty. Each case is different.
Have any questions on this subject? Contact Dennis Hacker via E-mail:
Thanks, JAS. This information is very informative.
I’m so glad you went back for this sweetie. She’s a little beauty!
Pedro must be happpy to have his sister home.
I always adopt the rescues, rejects etc. They are my favorites. They can feel our compassion and they love us all the more for it. They always get fat, sassy and roudy as the result of being spoiled by humans that adore them. They are the luckiest fuzzbutts and we are the luckiest humans.
Kitties are mysterious creatures, who dance in supernatural places of the heart and of the physical world. They keep me in touch with the Divine and I need that.
Tina is a cutie. (So peaceful when she is sleeping) I bet she and Pedro can raise a riot when they are awake. God bless them both and you, they’re mama.
I have to agree here. The cats that come to you that need help are the ones that give the most back in return. I adopted a Maine Coon kitten only to find out that he had IBD!!! We worked through it and with the help of a wonderful vet, my Bart is just fine. He showes us his gratitude everyday with soft snuggles.
when my cat cookie was a kitten her right eye had an infection but im not sure if it was EK!!! ( :
what a sweetheart! she looks like one of my babies.
for info on ek (i had to look it up to find out what it is):
http://www.animal-eye-specialists.com/ek.html
Everytime you put love out into the universe, it returns it to you three fold. Tina just showed you how that works. Love and blessings to you both!
Kudos to Pedro and Tina’s mom for reuniting them, and kudos to everyone who adopts the “rejects” even when it means expensive vet bills.
Tina is so beautiful and I bet she’s such a little sweetie. Special needs kitties are just as sweet, if not more, because they know we love them. I have had several special needs kitties over the years and I wouldn’t have traded them for anything! They gave me so much love. Hugs & Kisses to Tina and Pedro.
Sweet, soft, sleeping Tina–but I bet when you and Pedro are awake, you can raise a riot! God bless you
Tina is a beautiful girl. I love those grey tabbies!
What a cutie! Three cheers for you and everybody who takes in the ones who aren’t perfect on the outside or are already grown up and harder to place.
peaceful bliss and “happy-to-be-stuck-with-you” FUZZ
when you do things for others it pays back in karma. it might not be when you want it or need it but you will be blessed none the less. and thats in anyones religeon. even an agnostic.
I’m so glad you adopted sweet little Tina.
However, I don’t think people who avoid adopting kittens with health problems are necessarily shallow or only interested in perfect specimens. Some people don’t have a lot of money, and even regular vet bills are costly - kitties aren’t covered by health care.
All the kittens in our shelter when we got our boys looked fine. But my sweetheart, Gromit, ended up having epilepsy. He’s currently on twice-daily medication, and because he was incredibly difficult to dose we get an unflavored suspension that we can put on some food or tuna for him. It isn’t cheap. I’m so glad that we are the ones who adopted him, and not someone who couldn’t afford the medication, or couldn’t deal with an epileptic cat.
Lovely serenity.
“Happy Together” Fuzz
Lovely serenity.
her furr coat is stunning.
“minky” and family I wish you nothing but the best…. Had a deaf kitten it was the greatest ever…. even liked my harley…. best wishes for the family…..MS tturtle50…
Hugs and bestwishes to all and thanks for taken the less of the two…2nd comment of the day…??!!!
i feel very bad for your kitten. the reason i even came on here is because our kitten has recently been put down. i know how it feels to own a suffering cat.
BDindahouse, Sorry that your little kitten passed away…. It’s really never easy when an innocent goes over the rainbow bridge. I’m sure you did the right thing, though. Sometimes suffering is tough to bear for the little creature, and is tough on it’s human too. You need to do what you need to do to help alleviate the pain. The little bundle will be waiting for you at the rainbow bridge whenever the time comes. You have our support. Be strong and try to get another little bundle to love as soon as you’re ready…. There are a lot of fuzzes that need someone to love them out there.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss! I found Tina and her brother about a month after I had lost “Dexter,” who was my faithful and loving kitty companion for 17 years. I still have Dexter’s brother Isaac who I love dearly, but I just had to find another kitty to fill the Dexter hole in my heart. Thus, Tina and Pedro. So, please, after you heal a bit, open your heart to another who needs someone to love them!
My kitten died just before Thanksgiving last year, so I’m right there with you. I still miss her and grieve the loss. Consider going to http://www.rainbowbridge.com and setting up a memorial site for your baby.
PLEASE everyone be aware-my Colby was about 3 months old when I saved him-his eyes always had a little discharge so after a week I took him to my vet (she has been my vet for years) and she said his eyes had had many infections before I got him and they would always look like that. A YEAR LATER I heard of an animal eye surgeon/specialist and took Colby to him. Turns out he has been in EXTREME pain with a birth defect of his eyelashes are all turned IN instead of outwards. He operated-but a year of eyelashes scratching his eyes has permanently blinded him. I AM SO DISGUSTED THAT HE SUFFERED. Please- the eye surgeon says this is a COMMON problem that he sees often- the medical term for the surgery that has made him happy and playful is “eyelid agenesis correction” and was worth much more than the 500. it cost. Please tell anyone and everyone that inverted eyelids need to be verified by an eye specialist-like I said, my vet of many years checked his eyes and didn’t catch it.
Tina is so cute I have a cat named philp he is five year old and he looks the same as my cat.
Tina is so beautiful. Kudos to you for adopting her and her bro! Far too many people are afraid of taking responsibility over a special needs kitty.
Kitty head butts and purrs for you!
Colby’s Mom:Thanks for the warning! It is so easy to trust in professionals and forget they are humans too. I feel so sorry for your Colby who didn’t get the treatment he needed and paid such a high price for it!
I wish you have a long and happy life together!
Thank you.
Oh…. that little beauty has a great looking coat, happy for the three of you .
Oh…. that lucky little beauty had a great looking coat, Happy for the three of you !
She Has a great looking coat…….. I really should learn to type!LOL
Hi. I just wanted to say that I e-mailed that vet, Dennis Hacker, mentioned in JAS’ comment in response to the questions about eosinophilic keratitis — my cat had sort of shown a bit of symptoms, though I didn’t really think she had this condition (my vet has checked her out, but I’d never heard of this condition, so I hadn’t specifically asked her about it).
ANYWAY — I received a kind and informative response e-mail from Dr. Hacker within 15 MINUTES!!!! I was surprised and very pleased — I would have been happy to receive a response within a couple of days! Actually I first received an automated “I have received your e-mail and will respond as soon as possible” e-mail, a few seconds after sending my e-mail, then received the real e-mail soon after.
Great karma going out to Dr. Hacker!
I have a cat like Tina, he too is very soft, I call him my little bunny kitty. Tina is beautiful!!
I’m glad you adopted both Tina and Pedro. I hope they bring you double the pleasure!
I hope to see a picture of Pedro soon. Tina is a stunning baby girl.
what a petite lovely striped baby girl fuzz! It’s great that you went back to adopt her after already getting her brother. We had similar situation as we were looking only for another male kitty to keep our older male cat company after our oldest cat has to be put to sleep due to cancer (he was almost 16 yrs old). We were only going to pick ONE, and my husband and I keep saying, only ONE, only ONE on the way to the rescue place…well a little girl fuzz insistently with 2. Both were the last ones in their litters and seemed destined to come home with us. THey’ve been great fun every since!
Thank you for going back for Tina. What a gorgeous baby she is and she will be your dearest friend for life!
You both win in the deal!
About five years ago I adopted a kitten who had been born a runt , her mother would not accept her so I tried raising her my self . After about a week she was just struggiling to live , and the vet had to put her to sleep just one or two days later . I miss her , but i’ll never regret taking her in .
She has found a good home with you and her brother! God bless you!
oh! tina is so adorable! she looks exactly like my cat tinkerbell.
I have a kitty named Ricky (she is a girl) who could be your Tina’s mother (or aunt.) My cat is so soft just like Tina. Best of luck with your felines.
awww Tina is just beautiful and i’m soooo glad you went back for her! i would’ve done the same thing. what a little trooper she is. bless her and you! and her bro too
may you have a healthy long life together.
i’m glad you went back for this little cutie! bless you for taking her and having the patience for the meds and vet visits. she’ll pay you back with a lifetime of love. she is beautiful and i’m sure her brother is too
Bless you for your kindness in taking in both Tina and Pedro. Tina is so beautiful. May you have many happy years wiith your babies.
rrr how sweet!!
God bless you for going back and taking in this little girl. I wish you both and Pedro long, healthy lives together!
OMG!!! that kitten is soooooo cute!
im looking for a kitten myself but that one is just so cute!
It was very generous that you gave this kitten a home…..
im sure that Tina gets lots of love from you.
Tina is a beautiful kitty ((Good Bless You for taking her and her brother in)
Glad to see I’m not the only sucker for lost and abandoned cats. At this time my household is up to 12. [add crazy catwoman comments here!] I don’t regret bringing home any of mine, but i wish people would stop dumping them like trash! I wonder how a person would feel to be dumped like that? Anyhow, way to go Tina,keep up the good work!
God bless you for rescuing this sweetie and the others, too.
When and where did you adopt Tina? If you don’t mind me asking.
Could you please describe Tina’s eye condition more and show a photo of her eye? It would be very helpful to me since we also adopted a cat with a similar eye problem (whiteish layer ontop of cornea which was in some extent taken off by surgery). What is funny is that he is also the sweetest cat ever and his coat is also really soft like a minks!
Thank you.
Hi!
I think my cat has EK. How did your vet treat your kitten. What medication and for how long? How is her eye now?
Thank you,
Cindy