Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

31. 

    Wow that is so sweet about sumi! I hope Hailey comes about to it soon. You know, right after I made the post, Hailey came right to me and rubbed on me and she cuddled with me all night. She is an older kitten, so I think thats why she detests being fed, but she showed me that she loves me and I think that she knows on some level I am making her better.

    They are bother doing well the morning. Hailey is not so dehydrated... I think she may have drank some water!

    I do not have any pictures of Hailey and Herbie, the picture is of Maddox actually. I will get some pictures hopefully today and post them on my blog. I need to up date it!

    Posted 2 years ago by Court #

32. 

    Maddox looks like a right character! Glad to hear things are still improving, also pleased to see you getting into the TDK spirit on other threads! Look out for the daily cafe & nightshift threads, it's where the general chit chat (& craziness!) tends to take place :o)

    Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

33. 

    Ok thanks for the tip madcat, and Maddox is pretty silly.

    OK so more great news! I was talking to another foster mom last night and she said to get Purina Sensitive Systems because cats with ulcers will still eat it. I was skeptical, but I went out and bought a small bag. When I got home I gave Hailey and Herbie some chicken broth and pedialite. I had to force it on Hailey, she wants nothing to do with food--even the tastiest wet foods. I then brought in a bowl of the Purina mix and she started to sniff it and then she started chowing down!!! AMAZING! She only ate about ten pieces, but still it's something. Herbie ate some of it as well.

    So there you have it. You can try the Purina Sensitive Systems if your kitty won't eat anything else.

    Posted 2 years ago by Court #

34. 

    YAYYYYYY! That's GREAT news :o)

    Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

35. 

    Kitties still have diarrhea, but they are eating. I have to sit with Hailey and make sure she eats her food, but she really likes the Purina. I bought Natural Balance Duck and Green Pea's because I have read that it makes sick kitties feel better... Hailey liked it and ate a good amount of it last night. This morning she has a sparkle in her eye that I haven't seen in a while. She is still wayyyyy to skinny, but we are getting there!

    Posted 2 years ago by Court #

36. 

    Oh that's great. Be careful though, as the Purina is a dry food? She will need much more fluids to counteract the dehydrating effect of dry. Also, I'm not sure about the calorie content, but carb calories are not as valuable to a kitten needing nutrition and body weight as protein-rich food. They need plenty of meat content, so as soon as you think they're interested in food generally again, get going with high-meat-content, low-grain wet food. And keep their fluids up. Good luck - great progress!

    Posted 2 years ago by eleniki #

37. 

    Yes, Hailey is getting fluids from me as well. She is not as dehydrated (you can test your kitties by doing a skin snap test.. Pinch skin up on their back, and if it snaps back quickly, they are hydrated. If it stays up they or snaps back slowly, they are dehydrated.)
    Yes, the Purina is a dry food, she will crunch on it throughout the day, and will eat her wet food, that she gets 3 times a day to help her gain weight, as long as I put a couple of kibble pieces on top of it. I caught her drinking water today on her own which is exciting. Normally I only feed Royal Cannin Baby cat for kittens and Wellness, but she wouldn't have anything to do with it. The Purina, to my surprise, has turkey listed as the first ingredient which made me feel better about using it.

    Thanks and they are coming along well!

    Posted 2 years ago by Court #

38. 

    was it turkey meal or just turkey though?

    turkey is 80% water and when it is put into dry it ends up being the 5th or 6th ingrediant. cat food companies make the ingrediant list before they cook it so they can legally put turkey as the first ingrediant even if it isn't once cooked.

    turkey meal is turkey with water removed, so it stays at the top of the list.

    Posted 2 years ago by furryfriends50 #

39. 

    It says just turkey. The food is just temporary. I am mostly using it to convince her to eat her wet food. And, its working! She is getting better.

    Posted 2 years ago by Court #

40. 

    I am sorry i havent been on here in a while... I work and go to school full time, so between all that and caring for all the fosters i dont have much time. I have finals next week and then I get a break, so I am glad I get to join the community again. I just wanted to update everyone....

    Herbie and Hailey got sick again, and the vet got concerned. Hailey was in the worst shape, so she had blood work done. Her results came back and it was determined that she had FIP. (there isn't a test for it, but they have to look at the other results/numbers and the symptoms to make the call) She was going blind and stopped eating, so the vet had me come in to put her to sleep. I have never lost a foster animal in my time volunteering, and it was one of the hardest things I had ever done. My baby Hailey never got a chance at a forever home or a long life. I miss her so much. She would brighten up when I spoke to her and when I reached out to pet her she would lean way into it... it was like she didnt expect you to love her. She cuddled and slept with me every night.. once i turned the lights out she knew it was bed time and rushed under the covers. I told her to find my other forever friends that I have lost at the rainbow bridge, and I know they are all watching after my baby girl for me. blah its hard to even type this
    Herbie most likely has FIP as well, since it is passed to the kittens from their mom. He hardly eats much by himself anymore, and he is showing some of the physical symptoms... he is slowing down... he goes in early next week to get an exam to see how his organs are and get a blood test done. The poor baby is so lonely... he doesnt know where his sister is.. i got him out the heated cat bed so he can cuddle in that while I am gone. Herbie is a lover.. one of those kitties that purrs when you are around him... you dont even have to pet him and he gets happy. He will run up to the mirror while i get dressed and put my make up on and talk to my reflection. he is such a character... it kills me that he doesnt have much time here

    Posted 2 years ago by Court #

41. 

    Court, I'm so, so sorry. It's a horrible virus and that is so sad that both Hailey and little Herbie seem to have got it. The loss of poor Hailey must have been unbearable and it is too cruel that you are now going through the same thing with Herbie.

    But these two babies could not have had a better foster mum to help them through it. I am so sorry their lives look to be cut so short. But they are both so loved, they could not have asked for more. It is the hardest gift we can give them, to let them go peacefully and surrounded by love, with no more suffering, when it is their time but it is also a blessing. {{{Court}}}

    Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

42. 

    yes, it is an awful virus... i wish something could be done about it... thank you jcat for your kind words. I am happy that they ended up at my house, rather then living out in the cold for all of this time.. they wouldnt have made it as long as they did. this way they do get to go peacefully, surrounded by people that love them.

    Posted 2 years ago by Court #

43. 

    I am so sorry!! I am very scared tht my little kitten has this virus as symptoms seem similar, is there no way they can get better? Also I have read that no vet can tell if this really is whats wrong with them and that they can live with it? Is an of this true?
    I am a little put off having another cat after this as i just find it too sad.

    Posted 2 years ago by amc18 #

44. 

    If you should lose this kitten, wait a bit until the virus has had a chance to die out in the house, but do consider taking another cat, preferably an older cat. There is so much love out there just going to waste because there are not enough homes and most people want kittens. But adult cats have a great deal to offer and are very grateful for a second chance.

    Posted 2 years ago by GizzysAuntie #

45. 

    AMC18-- i am so sorry to hear that you have a sick kitten, and i apologize for such a late response.

    FIP is a horrible virus that they do not know much about. they do not have a medical test that can be used to tell if the kitten has it at a young age like leukemia. there are 2 kinds of the virus. wet & dry. the "wet" strain causes the kitties organs to fill with fluid and they start to look some what like a bowling pin. the cat looks like it is fat, but if you pet the cat along its back it feels very skinny. Thats the one that herbie had. the "dry" version causes the cat to become skin and bones. Hailey had the dry. There is speculation on how easily it is passed from cat to cat, but like i said they do not know much about it. they do know that mom cat passes it along to their young.

    a lot of times cats do not show symptoms until they undergo a great amount of stress like getting neutered or spayed. usually they will start losing interest in food and stop eating. Herbie would run over to his wet food, because he knew he was hungry, but when he smelled it he didn;t want it anymore. it was very strange... he would only eat food off my finger the last few days of his life.

    if your cat is feeling sick, and the vet has ruled out bacterial infections, it is possibly time to do a blood panel. they can look at the results and if their blood titer numbers are way off the charts then it could be FIP.

    that is what i have learned about it... contact your vet to get a professional medical opinion...

    i hope it all works out, and i will check back here tomorrow to see if you have written anything back. i would like to know how your kitty is.

    Grizz-i totally agree with you. in my organization the kittens get adopted right away and we have tons of cats waiting to find homes, but sadly they never get a chance. i have adopted kittens and adults, but my favorite is adopting a older cat. you know so much more about their personality!

    Posted 2 years ago by Court #

46. 

    Thanks for the response!! Casper is like a different kitty these days! We have been having terrible cold weather the past month which has meant icy road conditions. So I was trying to bring him to the vet just b4 xmas but couldn't on account of the roads(was all set one day to attempt it, but then vet was stuck and couldn't come in to work!)
    Anyway just after xmas he changed, before he wouldn't eat hardly anything and now he is constantly begging for food and his weight has increased(i was very worried bout this as he was so skinny!) I noticed his paw pads though during the time he was sick looked like they were peelin(they're back to normal again now) and he would stand on his hind legs. I think he might have walked on the top of the stove(range) while there was no one in the room :( He absolutely cant get enough heat and the way he looks at the sstove it wouldn't surprise if he had been curious enough to atetmpt a walk on it!! I'm thinking now that may have stopped him from eating? His flu seems to be gone now. He is out climbing trees at the moment, i'm sure he#ll be at the door in 5 mins looking for food! (i wormed him again this week to be safe) I should be able to bring him to the vet next week as temp is set to rise a bit!(living in the country and our roads aren't the first to be looked after in terms of grit!!)
    RE adopting a cat- I would definitely adopt a cat now instead of a kitten if i had a choice(i dont tend to look for pets but rather they find us!!)

    Posted 2 years ago by amc18 #

47. 

    Great news AMC! So glad Casper is doing well now! (that's my nephew's name too!)

    Posted 1 year ago by eleniki #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.