Hello! I googled some info on how to care for a kitten with an URI and found a thread from a conversation about 8 months ago- and that kitten pulled through, so I thought I'd thank everyone for their advice (from the other thread) and see if there was anymore out there! I have a 5-6 week old kitten that we rescued from a shelter in South Korea (yeah that's part of the biggest challenge...not being able to just run to the store or emergency vet!) I'm an experienced pet owner/lover so I know the drill, but it doesn't make the worrying that much easier. If anything it makes it harder because I know what I need and I can't get it! I know that Kimchi (and I) could use any support you're willing to give. I've done nothing but hold him today because he gets too stressed if I put him down and that causes him to struggle to breathe/cough/hack etc. His immune system is pretty weak right now- we got him 11 days ago and he weighed 14.1 oz... 11 days later he's still only 14.8 oz! (he had severe vomitting and diarrhea from COCCIDIA!) I'm pretty sure the coccidia (and the toll of the vomitting/diarrhea) weakened him so the URI popped up a couple days later. He still has diarrhea (we just started the meds for it) but MUCH less frequent and no vomitting for a week! The problem with the meds to treat the coccidia is they cause him to foam/drool which is horrible coupled with his conjestion! He has the sweetest personality and it's so hard to watch him be so miserable. He's sleeping in my lap while I type this and he demands to sleep on my chest at nighttime (he's very opinionated to be so small!) Anyway, thanks again for some wonderful ideas for "at home" care (the vaporizer, pedialyte, etc) My husband was able to pick up my requests today, so paws crossed for a more restful night sleep (for all of us) tonight! ~Kimchi and Mom
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Oh, poor wee darling. Welcome to TDK, KimchiKat, I'm sorry that it's under such circumstances but you sound like you're doing your very best for your wee one and this is a great site for support and suggestions and fun, too. I hope the meds help him soon and that you get some more helpful suggestions. I look forward to chatting some more and when your boy's feeling better, we would love to see more pictures! He looks like a total sweetie!
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Kimchikat, it sounds like you are doing a great job looking after Kimchi. Keep holding him if that keeps him calm. When we got our kitty Shadz she was very ill with cat flu and spent the first 10-14 days being cradled in our arms or laps. Contact helps the wee ones. If singing to Kimchi helps soothe him then sing. Sending Healing Energy for wee Kimchi to get better.
Posted 8 months ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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Kimchi, you're a cutie! Orange kitties are great. We had a vet once who told us "orange cats fight to stay with you" This was in regards to our old, sick orange boy who lasted sixteen and a half years. Even at the end, he still wanted to be with us, he didn't go off and hide the way a lot of sick kitties do.
Kimchi shows signs of being a real fighter, if he's insisting on sleeping on your chest, this is a great sign! He's enjoying the closeness and the comfort of your heartbeat. As MS said, contact helps the wee ones more than we may think.
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Hi and welcome to TDK Kimchi and Kimchikat. Poor baby, he is just so precious. I am glad you are taking such good care of him. Contact is a wonderful things, all living things need it. I hope he gets better soon and that we hear all about his adventures!
Posted 8 months ago by cricketsmama #
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Welcome to TDK Kimchi & Mom!...... Sounds like you're doing a great job with your new baby!..... I held my Abby almost full time the first few months we had her...... we had another adult (grumpy) cat already, who made it her mission to scare the little one out of the house, so she was constantly in my arms/lap.......now, 4 yrs later, she's my velcroe lap cat!
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Wow thanks so much for the support already! Kimchi ate his pedialyte infused cat food without a hitch! (good thing for unflavored!) He notices everything else I try to "sneak" into his food! He's sleeping now...I promise more updates as things move along...patience is never my strongest virtue...I wish the meds worked faster! I promise updates as we continue the fight! He did weight 15.3 oz after eating! :)
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Yay for Kimchi. You keep eating wee one. Thanks for keeping us updated and let us know when he has his first real kitty pooh, we celebrate pooh here. I have a feeling you are going to learn all about patience.
Posted 8 months ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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Welcome to TDK, KCK! Kimchi is adorable and I love the name! Hopefully he doesn't smell like kimchi :-)
What a little fighter, and lover, he sounds like. How wonderful that he has found such a loving family where he will have all the special care that he needs.
We'll look forward to pictures and stories of little Kimchi!
Posted 8 months ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Adding my best wishes for Kimchi; love the name! LOL at WWM, and the smell!
Posted 8 months ago by paulajeanne #
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Thanks again everyone! Kimchi woke me up meowing and coughing because he wanted some food (always a good sign that he's hungry). His little coughing spell had me worried, but we did sleep with the vaporizer...hopefully the nasty stuff is breaking up! Time to go back to bed for at least another hour! I'll update periodically throughout the day!
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Awwwwwww, all tucked up with his Meowmy.
Keep getting stronger Kimchi. Thanks for the update KCK.Posted 8 months ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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Welcome to TDK, Kimchikat! I'm glad you found us! Something that may help Kimchi's immune system is Lysine. I got that from the vet and later bought some on my own when my baby Milo had a tough URI as a kitten. Don't know if you can get that in South Korea, but it may be worth a try.
Best of luck and please keep us posted.... -
Kimchi is gorgeous - I love marmalade cats, had 2 sisters many years ago.... Sounds like he's gonna be ok, but it must be so worrying for you - you are very welcome here, and I'm sending you and your furbaby lots of positive healing energy and light. He's a real little fighter - it never ceases to amaze me how kittens assert themselves from such a young age and tiny size. All good thoughts coming your way KCK!
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GreatDane- Yes, i'm giving him Lysine twice a day with his food. Thanks for the tip too :)
I have access to the Army vet but it's about 45 minutes away, so it was a fun train and taxi ride in the rain to the vet clinic with a sick little boy! The problem that I ran into was that the old vet was leaving and the new vet was coming in when we first got Kimchi (had I known this we could have planned better!) So we couldn't get him in to see the vet when he had the severe vomitting and diarrhea. That's when we had to take him to the Korean vet. The Army vet put him on clavamox, something that starts with a T for the coccidia (it's not albon but is a sister drug), lysine, and nutri-cal. He hates everything to do with the meds, except the lysine hides well in his kitty tuna! He's stopped foaming and drooling from this morning's dosing...it's MY least favorite part of the day! He looks so miserable while foaming at the mouth and gurgling for air! Before med-time he played with us while lying in bed...he tried to bite my husband's nose! It was funny- because my husband has a big nose and Kimchi's mouth is so tiny! Each passing hour is a glimmer of hope that we're (all) going to make it through this...paws crossed! More updates later! :) Thank you ALL! -
Welcome KCK from California,USA. I Love the way your taking such good care of Kimchi. He's such an adorable looking furball. It's a very good sign that he's putting on weight. Keep up the great work your doing on him. I had to giggle at the image of Kimchi biting hubby's nose. He must be feeling lots better if he's doing that. I also can't get past how BIG little Kimchi's ears are. So,so cute.
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KCK, welcome to TDK! I don't have any medical advice to offer ~ it's very good that Kimchi is eating; I've had to 'force feed' two of my kitties baby food (gerber strained meats) with a syringe to get them thru an illness, tough to do, but both of them survived and lived long and healthy lives.
Love, the proper meds, and the constant care you're giving Kimchi will hopefully bring him thru this.... Mac, Grommie and I are sending prayers for him, and we have all fingers and paws crossed for his complete recovery, and a long and healty life! Please keep us posted on his progress {{{KCK and Kimchi}}}
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Hi all! Kimchi got lots of sleep today.. great news- just pulled him off the scale ONE POUND!! Yippee! I knew that joining here would be the good luck we've needed! He has the hiccups...which really means the "hack-ups" because he's still so stuffed up!
I'm just so grateful he's finally 1 lb! Hopefully this means his little immune system is getting stronger and we can start fighting off all the other nasties. More updates to come...I'm sure I'll post again before bedtime! -
Hi Kim, I've not been around for a few days, but a belated welcome to TDK Chat :o) - and congratulations for breaking the 1lb mark!!
Posted 8 months ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #
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