Poorly kitten with cat flu.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Our six-month-old Balinese kitten has a recurrence of cat flu again . He first had it a month ago. This time, he has a high temperature, an eye infection, the sneezes and is sleeping all the time. He is still eating and drinking, thank goodness, but he is very underweight.

If he gets another recurrence, the vet will check for other diseases.

I have come away from the vet with a bagful of medicines and a much depleted bank account.

The vet did reassure me that this wasn't life threatening. We are all besotted with this kitten, particularly my oldest son. The other day, DS1 fell asleep during the day and I found him and the kitten tucked up under the duvet, both heads on the pillow .

Has anyone else had a cat with cat flu? If so, did it keep coming back? Any tips?

Also, any tips on telling the breeder would be welcome. I chickened out of telling her the first time round, but I really feel I should this time. However, I don't know what to say without sounding as if I'm asking for a refund or blaming her in some way. Also, I'm not sure what she can do about it if her cats are carriers. Does it mean that she shouldn't be selling kittens, or is this just a risk you take when you buy a cat from a breeder?

Incidentally, the only reason we bought a pedigree was because I am allergic to cats and this was one of the few breeds that don't trigger my allergies. Am not particularly bothered whether I have a moggie or a pedigree, just don't want to spend my days sneezing and wheezing.

No, it's not porridge, it's his morning chicken. Have just seen what DH gave him for breakfast and it's exactly the same.

I don't mean to be mean about saying I'll shower him (I won't), but I really don't cope well with cuddling a pooey cat. Makes me worry about germs. As for DS1, who is genuinely OCDish about germs, I don't know how he'll cope, although it is probably good for him to challenge his anxieties.

Of course you don't mean to be mean - and I completely understand. I just think that showering is such a desperately stressful thing anyway and what with his poor plucked chest just now scabbing over and maybe getting wet again ......

I thought you might be stressed and cats can pick up on eg everyone running around being headless. I trust that DH is helping out there and not headed for the woodshed?

Get the boys out - or at any rate, leave them shut in the kitchen washing the dishes - and go for a relax once you've cleaned the kit. The visitors will just have to take you as they find you for once. I'm sure it's not the first time your Mom has seen a bit of poo and some disorganisation!

The vet went fine. He doesn't like it but at least it was only a jab and not an attempt to get bloods. I came back, got into 'leisurewear' (sweats) and went to the computer so he's happy now that everything is back on track. A stickler for routine, that cat.

Mission achieved with wet tissues and an old towel. DS1 held him whilst I did the wiping. Kitty's still smelly, but he's grooming himself now to get the water off, so I hope he'll manage to clean himself thoroughly.

Good to know the vocalising isn't pain related.

Well done.

DS1 got lots of praise? Helping out with that must have been quite difficult for him and the fact that he got through it might be useful.

DH has run away taken DS2 out for the day.

The boys won't go out. I even promised them money to walk into town and buy themselves lunch from a cafe, but DS1 won't go. His OCD has gone crazy today - cat diagnosis and school visit obviously being triggers - and isn't being helped by his best friend thinking it's funny to wind him up about it. So I think they will probably spend the day playing on the XBox, which is far from healthy, but at least they are up in DS1's bedroom, so not under my feet.

Am sitting down with a cup of tea and cuddling kitty for a while. We both need it. Trying to ignore the farmyard smells wafting up from his paws .

Goodness, I thanked him, but was probably too distracted by the wriggly cat to be make much of it. I'll go up and say something later and it will also give me a chance to judge how relations are between him and his friend. He wanted to handle it his friend's teasing himself, which is probably wise, but I will step in if necessary.

One of my cats does those long porridge slug like fur balls, Nutri-care at P@home do a good paste for it, I need to get more, those fur slugs make me heave.

Good to hear he is being nice and vocal again.

Ah well - going up to officially thank him and see how he's doing sounds good. Bet you could see his 'friend' far enough, today.

His OCD may have gone crazy but he did manage to help which is no small thing. Maybe he used up all his anti-stress though so will have to relax and re-build it. Bit like kitty, eh?

Golly.

Good on DS1 for managing to help with cleaning up KS: hope that he's able to manage his friend's teasing & relax.

Glad Seniorboy's trip to the vet went okay.

I know they're pricey but it might be worth forking out for the pet-wipes if runny poo is likely to be an ongoing problem as they'll help deal with the smell as well as (hopefully) making the clean-up a bit easier?

Well, runny poo does seem to have been the main symptom for KS today. It has been a full-time job wiping him down afterwards. He is also doing poos in unexpected places, eg. in a corner of the sitting room and on the front-door mat.

I mixed some biscuits with his chicken and he ate them. Am hoping if I keep doing this he will be consuming more dry food and, hopefully, this will help control the diarrhoea. Of course that depends on whether it is diet related or illness related.

Will bear those wipes in mind, Zebra. Thanks.

My mother arrived today. She hasn't seen ToffeeKitten for six weeks and she was shocked by the change in him. He looked relatively healthy last time she saw him, but she really noticed how thin he is now and how unhealthy his fur looks.

DS1 said this evening that he is trying not to interract with the kitten because he knows he's going to die. We explained that that would only bewilder and upset the kitten and also that he would probably very much regret that after kitty died. That seemed to hit home and he cuddled him after our conversation. He is sleeping downstairs with kitty tonight and will fetch me if he needs me to deal with any issues in the night.

Diary - thanks for the tip on Nutri Plan fur ball lotion.

cozie - really glad the vet trip went fine for Seniorboy. Hopefully you will see a lot of improvement after this latest AB jab.

Pauvre KS: suppose if his poo is runny he may be having issues getting to his tray on time &/or recognising his need to toilet.

Am glad you were able to get DS1 to understand withdrawing from KS would be bad for both of them. Sounds like an excellent arrangement you've fixed up for overnight: KS gets attention; DS1 gets time with KS; you don't get husband!grump; & DS1 doesn't feel as though he's got to handle everything alone.

Do hope ToffeeKitten's tummy settles.

Yes, Zebra, am finding runny poo in all sorts of unexpected places, mainly the front-door and kitchen mats. Have just followed the smell...

Overnight arrangement seemed to go well.

KS ate breakfast of Applaws chicken mixed with biscuits. Am hoping that sneaking biscuits back into his diet will help his tum.

How many trays has he got, Toffee? (Wondering whether an extra one or two would help.)

How has he been today, Toffee?

Funnily enough, the extra litter trays are next on my shopping list, cozie. That and some extra towels/blankets as I'm having to wash his stuff a lot.

He has not been at all well today . He has had a lot of dashes to the litter tray or the mats and was also sick all over the fleece blanket in his basket (hence me deciding to buy extra).

I don't know what to do about feeding him. Googling advice on cats with D&V comes up with advice to withhold food for 24 hours. However, I'm not sure that's the right thing to do in his case because he doesn't have food poisoning or a bug. It would be good for him to have a break from D&V though.

What's so touching is how he always tries to get to a good place to be ill. He doesn't always make it to the litter tray, but he makes a heroic effort to get somewhere that he thinks is suitable (and I suppose mats feel rough, a bit like litter).

We have been watching him walk and he is compensating for his wobbliness by holding his legs differently. As a result, he can now go up and down stairs on his own again, which is an improvement.

But, generally, it is pretty obvious that he is a very ill cat and that he probably won't last that long. It's heartbreaking. My DM is staying this weekend and she is not an animal lover at all, but even she is terribly upset and has been giving him lots of cuddles. He is such an affectionate, communicative cat that he is hard to resist.

DS1 is still in denial and has decided it's not FIP. He has said he'll come with me to the vet next time so that he can ask him questions.

The vets on this board have given us very clear advice on feeding with D&V, Toffee, and that is that latest thinking does not recommend withholding food for 24 hours. (It can actually be quite dangerous apparently.) Try and give him bland food (and fresh water of course) and hope that if it's a bug it will work its course through. If it's the illness of course - well, you'll need veterinary advice tomorrow, in case there's some palliative care they can give him in the shape of meds.

I take it you can now just phone the vet instead of having to box up KS and taking him along?

Have they said what bland food, cozie? Someone mentioned scrambled egg further upthread, I think. I have some cold roast chicken too.

I assume I can now phone the vet for advice. I wouldn't think he'll want me bringing a possible FIP-positive cat into the surgery unnecessarily. And I really don't want to put ToffeeKitten through that stress.

Cold roast chicken chopped up a bit sounds good to me if he'll take it.

Oh good. Should I give him a break from food tonight, though? He had a good breakfast of biscuits and Applaws and has eaten some biscuits this evening.

I think I'd ensure, given his current poorly state, that he has fresh food available any time he wants it. If you're chopping up some chicken, though, I'd recommend you only do a small amount at any one time. It seems to dry up and harden even more quickly even than normal cat food.

Sorry, only just got a minute to pop back.

I have chopped up a very small amount of chicken. He loved it . So satisfying to see him enjoying it so much.

I won't give him any more tonight. He has some biscuits and two bowls of water - one in the usual place and one by his basket.

I never leave his food out for long because I think I read somewhere that it can go off. That's the last thing he needs.

DS1 is sleeping downstairs again, with the usual caveat that he can call on me at any time if necessary.

Well done.

You can buy frozen coley fillets in small portions sizes, and most cats love them! take seconds to cook in the microwave and then flake.

Sorry his tummy has been so poorly, Toffee. Not a symptom you needed.

Poor KS: sorry (for all of you) he's having such a tough time of things.

If you can give DS1 the opportunity to talk to the vet it might be a good idea - will hopefully help him feel he understands exactly what's going on & there might be questions he wants to ask that need specialist knowledge to answer fully. He might well find the answers upsetting, but it's likely that facts would be less distressing than what he might imagine & it might help ensure he opens up rather than bottles up.

Bless KS trying not to make a mess when he's poorly.

It does all just seem terribly unfair. And I know, oh how I know only too well, that Life's Not Fair (& nor, by extension, is death) but it is still epically sucktacular.