Author Topic: Poor kitten!!! (Read 8722 times)

Sinorejas · « **on:** August 17, 2008, 09:42:44 PM »

When he came home from the fair on Wednsday, Steve found a little stray kitten in front of our van, & thinks she may've come from the field the Fairgrounds uses for parking. To say she is emaciated would be the understatement of the year - she is literally skin & bones, and extremely weak. We decided to take her to the vet, & if she didn't have anything terminal, we'd see if we couldn't fatten her up & keep her. We were afraid a predator might get her in her weakened state, so we put her in our gazebo with food, water, & litter. She's an extremely friendly little thing, purring & kneading to beat the band.

Took her to our cat hospital, where she was too thin to even get blood from!! - she weighs only 1.6 pounds. They examined her - she's about 10-12 wweeks old, but the size of a six-week old. They wormed her, and gave her something for ticks & fleas (she was loaded with both), and we brought her home with special food & instructions to fatten her up, bring her back in a week or two & they'd do bloodwork & shots.

The next morning, however, things were not so good................she couldn't hardly walk well, was listing to the left. her head was pulling around to her left side. She just seemed to get weaker & weaker. She didn't seem interested in eating or drinking - throughout this time, all she's starved for is love. The way she was looking Sat. a.m., I really thougt she was dying, and our cat vet was on vacation. Steve found another vet to take her to, & we had agreed to have her put down if it was thought she was too bad off. Well, he returned with her! - the vet there said kitty's ear was full of blood, and that with the neurological symptoms makes her think kitty climbed up omn something (she loves to climb on stuff) in the gazebo, fell, & hit her head. She also said she thougt she migt be blind. So the symptoms made her think a fall first, or possibly rabies or feline distemper, althoug she thinks those are unlikely. They were able to get enough blood from kitty to test for feline leukemia & feline AIDS(?) - both negative. They gave her SQ fluids, a steroid injection, and said she was eating well for them. This vet said she was confidant that kitty could beat this, but I'm not so sure. They sent her home with some kitten milk-replacer, too.

Kitty is hardly eating anything, is extremely weak, & still showing the neuro. symptoms, although not as obviously. Steve (Yes, the same STeve that used to not like cats) has been syringe-feeding her the milk replacer; again, she shows little desire to eat or drink. She still looks like she has some blood, along with a clear fluid, a little bit, in her left ear. We would love to see this little girl pull through, but I'm trying hard not to get attached to kitty, as I doubt she'll make it. We will put her down if it becomes necessary.

Not sure what I'm asking of you guys - advice, maybe, on how to get her to take more food??? Opinions on what we could maybe do for her until the cat hospital reopens tomorrow????

Chaty · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2008, 12:11:17 PM »

I know this is a little late but with head injuries is the food hard type of food? I would give or try to give can food. The smell will get her going hopefully. I hope she gets better for you Doreen.

Sinorejas · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2008, 01:07:07 PM »

Well, she is still hanging in there.................we have tried her on wet food, dry food both, and just want her to eat anything she will. Steve has stopped giving her the milk replacer, as she started having diarrhea after getting it. I have not looked at her yet this morning, but he says she looks a little stronger & is maybe not leaning so much to the left.

GoatTech · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2008, 02:10:52 PM »

Ahhh, how sad Doreen!!
No, I do not really have any better advise for you. When baby animals get sick like this, it is so touch and go and they really need a lot of intense care to pull through. Call the hospital back as soon as you can. Did they send home extra SQ fluids? Keep encouraging the wet kitty food. Sounds like the love will help her want to pull through this, so keep that up as well!!

Little Farmer Debi · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:41:51 PM »

2 words "tuna water."
cats love it and it could help to replace lost fluids.
if she will eat it the tuna is good for her too.
she is adorable.
good luck.

GoatTalker · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2008, 05:43:59 PM »

Sweet little kitty. I wonder if they thought about Prednisone? There is also a tube of high calorie, high energy supplement you can give her to boost her calories and energy. Once you have finished the tube, she should be eating on her own. Both the Pred and the supplement should be available through your vet (Pred is rx). Were her lungs clear, did they give her iron?

Sinorejas · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2008, 06:59:24 PM »

Nic, it may have been Prednisone that they gave her on Sat. a.m. I didn't hear him say anything about her lungs being clear, so they probably were; no, didn't send home any iron. I'll mention these things to him for when he talks to them. Steve put in a call to them this morning, but the vet who treated kitty didn't come in until noon, and is supposed to call him back. Actually, tuna is what seems to jumpstart her appetite more than anything, but my BFF's cat vet told her that tuna is not really good for cats' digestive systems - something their bodies can't process correctly or something? I may try her on it or definitely the tuma water...............good idea, thanks Debi. Jennymae, nope, no additional SQ fluids sent home, and I woould be so scared to put a needle anywhere on this poor kitten's body - honestly, she is SO thin I can see her heart beating, she is just a skeleton. I'm going out to cuddle her now & try to get her to eat/drink a little.

Don't really want to name her until/unless I'm pretty sure she's on the way up & might be with us for awhile, so we've just been calling her sick kitty/stray kitty/kitty girl (Rupert is KittyBoy). Steve says he'll call her Bones until they're covered up....................but how weird is this??? - completely independent of each other, Sam & I thought of the same name for her.......................Gypsy.

Sinorejas · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2008, 02:49:50 PM »

SHE'S STARTING TO GROOM HERSELF!!!!

She's getting more active, fighting any treatment we give her, and putting up a struggle when we put her back in the dog box where we're keeping her. Steve took baby wipes & clened up her little butt, tail, & rear of her thighs, & she didn't like that at all!! She's eating with a better appetite, too - Debi, she loved the tuna water, & is eating some of her dry food, too!!!!

GoatTalker · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2008, 03:25:44 PM »

Sounds like Gypsy has a new home.

Sondra · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2008, 07:27:25 PM »

AH now how great is that. Tell you what an old dear friend of our had a cat from a baby to 14 or 15 yrs old and all that cat ever ate was tuna and mackerel never had a bite of real cat food.

sanderterry2 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 19, 2008, 10:27:50 PM »

Sounds good!!!!!

Sinorejas · « **Reply #11 on:** August 20, 2008, 01:57:45 AM »

This is so up and down...................update is that although kitty is eating better, it looks like her neurological symptoms may be coming back - she seems to be staggering again & listing slightly to the left. This afternoon, she walked (slowly) over to her favorite patch of sun, laid down on her side, stretched, then rolled over onto her other side. If she wasn't so horribly skinny, she would've looked like any other kitten, lazing & stretching in the sun. And now the wobbliness & leaning are back.

Nic, you had asked about Prednisone, & I asked the vet kitty saw on Sat. This vet said they gave her Dex!! When I said that's what we have here for the goats, she said I could give her some, especially since I did find an insulin syringe in our kidding kit. She said .5cc SQ between the shoulder blades. For goats, isn't Dex dosage 1cc/20#?? This poor kitten weighed in at 1.6# on Friday.

I feel a lot of ironic guilt about this kitten........................before we put her in the gazebo Friday night (to keep her safe), sure, she was emaciated & loaded w/parasites but didn't have these neurological problems the vet thinks were caused by a fall & hitting her head. So what we thougt would keep her safer has actually made her worse.

GoatTalker · « **Reply #12 on:** August 20, 2008, 02:01:39 AM »

I use 1ml per 10lbs of body weight for trauma in goats. Cats are dosed a bit differently, so I would go with what the vet said. Please do not second guess yourself, I doubt very seriously that her neuro symptoms are trauma induced, I would almost bet they are related to her condition. Did you ask about the tube of nutrition?

GoatTech · « **Reply #13 on:** August 20, 2008, 12:50:02 PM »

Yes, you can't blame yourself one bit!
When animals are sick and depleted like this, their pressure is down and they can wobble in a daze.
If kitty doesnt make it, you have to remember you gave her the best shot, otherwise, she would have been gone already.

Little Farmer Debi · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2008, 02:02:58 PM »

Doreen , you gave this kitty a chance that she would not have had if you hadn't taken her home.
Take heart and maybe she will get better
When sick we all have up and down days.
keep feeding and get her strength up.

Sinorejas · « **Reply #15 on:** August 20, 2008, 06:07:55 PM »

She's still having diarrhea.................if she was loaded w/parasites (external), and was wormed, could coccidia be a possibility?? She has a pretty good desire to eat, and is eating a little here & there, now & then, and is drinking water. She's got litter stuck to the backs of her thighs & butt, and we're cleaning it off her as best as possible. She is still leaning to the left, and has now begun shaking her head & inclining it more to the left, and I may be crazy but it looks like a little discharge from left eye & left nostril. This poor kitty.............what a mess she is!!!!

She's going back to the vet this afternoon, in case she needs more SQ fluids, and I want them to look at her again. I called Steve to let him know they wanted to see her, and after he said, "This f*&^ing cat is gonna send us to the poorhouse," he told me where to find his checkbook to pay for the visit.

GoatTalker · « **Reply #16 on:** August 20, 2008, 06:14:20 PM »

Diarrhea is common when you are getting them on food after being starved, I wouldn't worry about that one too much. You can shave her rear quarters to help keep her clean for now, better a shaved butt than maggots. Yippee for Steve, he is truly a hero under that gruff exterior.

Little Farmer Debi · « **Reply #17 on:** August 20, 2008, 09:07:22 PM »

definatly normal. the shock of no food to a full belly is hard on digestion.
Steve's a HERO !!!!!!bad words and all

GoatTech · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2008, 12:50:27 PM »

MEN!!! Sounds like something my husband would yell.
I ruined his fun when I started working,...LOL!!!!
How is kitty today?

Sinorejas · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2008, 01:15:00 PM »

(posting to you from the poorhouse)

Kitty has gained 5 ozs. She is not dehydrated, and this vet (this is the 3rd vet kitty has seen, due to vacations & other vets covering patients) said she thinks kitty is getting around pretty well, considering her level of emaciation. They've been cautioning us all along about the possibility of rabies, as they say stray kittens are quite often infected, and since we have all three handled kitty, should it turn out to be rabies, we will all need the shots.

This said, the vet examined kitty's left ear carefully, and guess what she found?? - a wound, two, actually, Bigger one is a puncture that looks suspiciously like a bite. I looked through her scope & saw it myself. Anyway, this wound had abcessed, and there was a pocket of pus right underneath the bottom of the ear, by the jaw. She flushed it out, & got out a bunch of pus. So kitty is now on an antibiotic, one that was chosen to hopefully have the least occurance of stomach upset/diarrhea. Vet agreed that it looks like maybe an URI starting, so we also have antibiotic ointment for kitty's eyes. We're also supposed to apply hot/warm compresses to left ear, followed by upward massage where that pus pocket was/is, in an effort to draw pus up & out.

Oh, and Nic, I got a tube of NutriCal - is that what you were talking about??

Little Farmer Debi · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2008, 01:28:08 PM »

I hope she is on the mend for you !!!!
the swollen infected ear might be messing with her equilibrium

Chaty · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2008, 01:37:57 PM »

I hope with the absess opened she will be walking better as that like Debi said will throw off the walking straight...Yep I stay in the poor house with my critters and Randy will say take them to the vet...whats new as long as they are getting the right care its only MONEY...

Dont think its rabies or she would not want any water...Thats the first sign ...hopefullt with the infection on the mend she will be better soon...

GoatTalker · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2008, 01:55:21 PM »

Yep that is the stuff, I just couldn't remember its name. Nutrical seems to sooth their gut while uping their nutrition and sugars. I can't believe it at this point pus is the best news yet. Easy to fix, no long term problems, and Gypsy should be feeling terrific within a week.

doublebowgoats · « **Reply #23 on:** August 22, 2008, 05:37:45 PM »

Wow! I just read thru all this. It's amazing what these little creatures can survive. I'm so glad you're taking such good care of her! And just from experience I can vouch that the "free" kittens and puppies are always the most expensive!

Sinorejas · « **Reply #24 on:** August 22, 2008, 06:09:54 PM »

This kitty continues to improve.......she is still kinda wobbly on her feet, but is gaining speed, so now she's quick & wobbly, head still turned slightly to the left. She really is diggin into the canned food the vet recommended for her, to "bulk up" the stools - she is now doing turds in the litterbox! never thought I'd get excited over seeing that!! She's showing more interest in her surroundings, & is resisting being put in either her carrier or the kennel where we're keeping her. When we let her out of the kennel for supervised "outside" time, one of her favorite things is still just plopping down in the sunshine comin into the gazebo.

GoatTalker · « **Reply #25 on:** August 22, 2008, 06:27:17 PM »

Maybe it is time to bring her into the house? Has Rupert met her?

Pepper · « **Reply #26 on:** August 23, 2008, 03:22:06 AM »

hoping kitty continues to improve for you Doreen, she sure is a little cutie.

GoatTech · « **Reply #27 on:** August 23, 2008, 03:23:24 PM »

Ahh, well no wonder! Kitty had an infection in her ear! I'm glad the vet found that. Hopefully she's continue just to get better for you!

Sinorejas · « **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2008, 05:05:36 PM »

Well, the diarrhea is gone, but now we're thinking kitty may be constipated! Her appetite is not quite as good, despite giving her the NutriCal; she now has a thin layer of fat over her bones. She still seems weak, doesn't walk around much, and has to sit down often. We've just in the past couple of days started letting her out of her kennel to straetch her legs more, but she doesn't seem terribly curious or adventuresome - could I be expecting too much too soon from kitty??

Nic, Rupert saw kitty through the storm door before we began putting her in the gazebo. We've been bringing her in at nights, kennel & all, into the master bathroom, and closing both doord, but I know Rupert knew she was there. Last evening, for the first time, we opened the bathroom door & let him go in there. Kitty came rigt up to the bars of the kennel door right away...............guess what Rupert did?? Turned tail & ran, like he was terrified!!!!!!! She weighs probably about 2 lbs. - he is 17+ lbs!!

It was hilarious to see! I let him into the bathroom later, though, and sat in there to see what he would do this time. He approached the kennel very cautiously, went around to the side of it, and hissed once - at the kennel, not at the kitty. They will not meet face-to-face for quite awhile yet

GoatTalker · « **Reply #29 on:** August 25, 2008, 05:42:20 PM »

Poor Rupert, his house is being disturbed by an intruder. I wouldn't expect her to be lively for at least a month, it takes quite a while for their internal organs to start working full throttle.

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Author Topic: Poor kitten!!! (Read 8722 times)