Calling all kitten experts-again!?
I posted previous a couple of weeks ago about the rescue I worked with, the two kittens that died, and the mystery illness plaguing my cats. I am here, yet again, to see if anyone can figure out what is wrong with my cats.
This is long, but here is a back summary:
I made the mistake of working for a rescue. It went well at first, but then I was being in charge of fostering too many cats all at once. At one time I had 2 from a litter, a single kitten, a litter of four, a mama cat with her two kittens, and my four cats all at once. Yup, that's a grand total of 14 cats all at once. Once can say, once you pile them up, one thing leads to another! I got the litter of 4 and mama within a couple of days of each other. Now, three of my cats were current on vaccines, my newest member, a kitten, was due for a booster at the same time all of this is going on. The litter of 2 that I had, were current on vaccines and tested already for feline leukemia and aids (as well as all of my cats). The litter of 4, mama, and the single kitten had not been tested. Single kitten was only 5 weeks old when I got him (almost 7 weeks at the time of this event) so had not had shots or testing, etc. The litter of 4 was a new foster litter that were brought in feral and still be tamed before taking to the vet. Mama and babes were brand new to the rescue, and had not been tested of vaccinated as we just got her. Now fast forward, I have the litter of 4 in my walk-in closet. It's a nicely large closet with a/c, food, water, and toys. mama and babes were in my living room in a xxl dog crate (that I kicked my lab/dane mix out of to use for them), which of course had bedding for mama, babes, litter box, food dish, etc, and plenty of room to move around. My four, the litter of 2, and the one single kitten all co mingled. Out of this bunch, the single kitten was the only one not tested or vaccinated because he was just becoming old enough. He was co-mingling because he was a hand raised kitten that desperately needed kitten socialization before he became unadoptable ( he was biting human hands trying to "wrestle" them because he didn't know better).
Now the symptoms and sickness begin.
Within a few short days of bringing in the new guys to my litter of 2, single kitten, and my four, the single kitten becomes ill. I notice bloody diarrhea. Alarmed, as I've never seen this before (I am still learning in the cat world), I called the rescue lady right away. She tells me not to be alarmed as it could be something minor and to take him to our vet Monday. This is a Friday, and the rescue vet is only available Mondays. Sunday, the single kitten is not eating or drinking, anything, period. He is lethargic. He looks dull in coloring, sleeping, is non social, and has visibly lost weight, when I pick him up he feels cool to my touch. Monday rolls around, the vet says he can't do anything w/out a stool sample, says he doesn't look like he's going to die so he isn't worried about. Gives him a vitamin paste. The next morning, I awake, and the single kitten is laying in the bed next to me. He is lifeless, panting, drooling, eyes open, and unresponsive. I rush him to the vet where he dies within five minutes. This was a Tuesday.
That day, the mama cat starts having bloody stool, also. I would like to take the time to note that the stool is very yellow in color, loose, and is not completely covered in blood. It normally has one spot where there is a sort of puddle of blood. My kitten, starts showing all the same symptoms rapidly, but does not have the bloody diarrhea. Take mama, babes, and my kitten to the vet. it is discovered that mama has hook works so all cats taken to the vet have been wormed and treated for hooks. Diagnosis my kitten with a URI. (all the rescues have been wormed besides the mama and babes and the single kitten before this day). Hooks is declared the reason for the bloody diarrhea. My kitten tested negative for hooks, but was treated as a precaution. (I should also note that all my guys are on advantage multi which also prevents worms+treats for worms so mine having worms was ill likely) Un happy with the answer, I stay up two nights with my kitten. He goes through various time periods where I have him in hand and keys in hand in case a trip the ER vet is in need which is a good 45 minute drive away. He goes through times where he is unresponsive, but breathing well, no panting or drool. His temperature appears to fluctuate, but this is all through touch as I don't have a thermometer to check him and won't take the time away from him to go buy one. After a couple of nights, he presents bloody diarrhea. Astonished, I take the stool back to the vet where is still comes back negative for hooks. A smear fecal is done, which discovers coccidia.(sp?) he is given Albon as treatment. Should also note that my kitten presented a new symptoms: discharge from the eyes and nose. Now, one of
- Flakefur
Your question was cut short. Email me at greensmy@yahoo.com with the whole question and I might be able to help :)
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