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.

ToffeeKitten tells me it's time for a snack and a play, so I am joining him. He seems so much better .

I hope that this is a betterness-level that lasts for as long as possible.

So, did you & Toffeekitten use your being awake to do some online shopping for babygrows & a sling for him then

As long as it wasn't a flipping TUTU !

I may have browsed for some dresses for me instead, Zebra . Didn't buy anything, just drooled over unaffordable stuff whilst ToffeeKitten curled up on my lap.

The tutu is being delivered next week, cozie .

ToffeeKitten and I went back to sleep about 4.30. He curled up next to me and fitted his head against my chin. He has the softest fur ever.

Later, after I was up and doing stuff, I found him sitting peacefully on top of DS1, who was fast asleep.

ToffeeKitten was pretty good about biting his wounds last night and stopped when I told him, although not without a protest yowl. During the day, I can wrap him in a towel when he starts biting and cuddle him, then he forgets about it.

He is still very hungry and is eating wet and dry food mixed up. The D&V has cleared up.

I have reminded everyone not to let him out of the kitchen/dining room area unless they are going to stay with him, as he really is too wobbly to wander round the house alone and we can't risk him having an accident. Family keep forgetting and leaving doors open so that he tries to go upstairs. I feel sorry for him not being able to have the run of the house as he used to, but it's the only way of keeping him safe.

Hope Seniorboy continues to improve today, cozie.

Aww he sounds so sweet. Glad he has picked up a bit.

Good news that he's picked up if only that it means he can enjoy life a bit more than he was doing a few days ago.

Seniorboy is pretty good -although he's in a mood because I just changed bedding and he was turfed out of his pit. He'll be fine later once he's made his point about the Terrible Treatment.

Took ToffeeKitten into the great outdoors again. Pics on profile.

Glad Seniorboy is doing well, cozie.

Thanks, Diary.

My next-door neighbour, who uses the same vet, said they usually give you the worst-case scenario and pointed out that their cat, which was given days to live, is still going strong several months later. Hope he's right.

Doesn't he just look so happy, eh?

(I see what you mean about really skinny, though. )

He looks as though he is having a wonderful time exploring the garden.

Am actually falling over-tired after day spent confusing baby medics in their exams (not on purpose, am just Complicated And Rare, me) but wanted to see how you all were...

Aww how sweet he looks like he is having a great time, your DS is also very sweet, what a lovely little boy!

Manic week here, but so glad he is doing well

Am considering a night in my own bed tonight. Feeling a bit claustrophobic because ToffeeKitten is following me everywhere and now even DS1 has noticed that he only wants me. DS1 is still sleeping downstairs tonight, so I know kitty will sleep with him and not be lonely, but am still feeling guilty at wanting to get away for a night. I need a good night's sleep though.

Zebra - it's good to be Complicated and Rare . Hope you are sleeping soundly now.

You need sleep to be able to function, Toffee: long-term this means better care for KS & will hopefully make DS1 feel happy he's still loved by Toffeekitten, too.

Well, my Rare & Special is definitely preferable to some of the things candidates were trying to wish onto me. I felt so sorry for the candidates this afternoon cos I was essentially a bit of a trick question...

I slept for about 3h30 earlier but now been awake for about 2h so hoping for More Sleep Soon. Was just stopping in in case more KS news. And now to see if I can get more sleep. Esp cos two sets of sharp little ears have heard sounds of Awake from my room & will start doing Serious Squeaking if they think I'm getting up & not letting them in...

And a little message for all sleep-deprived thread followers. While up at the health food shop earlier in the week, I bought some L-Lysine thinking to try it on Seniorboy (upaways in the thread) if he didn't recover from the bout of cat flu under his own steam.

Well he did recover - so sitting there with a bottle of the stuff, I decided to take some lysine myself to see if it helped my sinuses. Which it may well - I have no idea yet - but what I do know is that I've had three nights of relatively deep sleep and I'm an insomniac of umpty years standing. I even slept in yesterday!

I've had a look see and can't find any hugely obvious indications on the net of this effect. I certainly would never have thought, either, that with my diet I was lysine deprived. But there you go. I put it to you for what it's worth.

Oooh, that is interesting.

My GP has prescribed me melatonin (despite not really being able/allowed to... hem...) to see if it helps counteract the effect of my body producing ridiculous amounts of adrenalin all the time. The chemist had to order it in & I need to go & collect it (along of the rest of my painkillers) today. Of course, if it DOES work I'm going to be a bit stuck because she's not able to put it on my repeat prescription. Plan is to try it for a few days & see if it dampens things down & then hoard the rest of the presc to use when I really-desperately need the sleep. Ech.

Am having a wee read & am really interested now cos they think it helps with collagen!stuff & also with combating osteoporosis. Both of which interests are dear to my heart, even having managed to slightly baffle Rheumo!Prof (II) by improving my bone density far more than I should have been able to. The Nice Lady who does my DXA scans got awfully excited-pleased about it, too, bless her. As did the receptionist when my review appointment was so much later than usual. It was quite nice to cheer people up like that...

I hope ToffeeKitten has a good day today & that he & DS1 both slept well

Wow cozie that's amazing, Ive had it in my cupboard for years and never once thought to take it myself.

I still put in my cats water all year round whatever their health, I need to get more, it was a 70 yr old man who has been breeding for many years who told me about it - I will have to try some.

As I said, it wasn't expected at all - just happened - so it may be a coincidence. The timing was spot on though. I've been taking 2x500 mg tablets at about 21.30 with the rest of my supplements and supper.

I slept well last night (no interruptions) and ToffeeKitten is on good form this morning . He is even playing with us again - play biting and batting at us with his paws. DS1 and he slept well together and DS1 gave him his favourite chicken and pumpkin for breakfast.

He is now eating another breakfast of proper wet food, mixed with biscuits and the probiotic paste prescribed by the vet.

All is well with the kitten tum now too .

Zebra - hope the melatonin works. Great news about the osteoporosis improving so much and you baffling the professor. Long may you continue to baffle him!

cozie - that is intriguing about the lysine. I found this - scroll down to 8, which says it helps reduce anxiety, which could stop you sleeping. And, in fact, googling lysine and anxiety brings up all sorts of stuff about it helping stress and insomnia. Am now wondering if I should try it on DS1, who is in a right old state about his insight week at the new school next week. Actually, I might take some myself! I have just come out in a cold sore, which always happens to me when I'm stressed, and lysine helps combat that too.

Sounds as if Seniorboy is doing well. Is that right?

Diary - am putting lysine in ToffeeKitten's water, but he doesn't drink it all up and so I'm not sure how much he is getting. How do you ensure your cats get enough lysine?

I put around 1/2 a teaspoon in a large bowl of water I have for the dog & cats - the cats also have a water fountain but still to drink from the big bowl of water, I think as long as he is drinking from it at all it should be going into his system.

I know it's good for their overall immune system and particularly good at keeping flu flare ups at bay, herpes and fleas in cats and can help insomnia in humans.

Well clearly I couldn't recommend, Toffee, although from a quick scoot around the available literature, it seems hugely difficult, if not impossible, to overdose on the stuff. (I haven't looked at the science behind the absorption mechanism and there doesn't appear to have been much testing done on it.)

It would be easy enough to explain to DS1 if you were minded to try it though.

So glad that KS is batting and playing. I like to hear that he's enjoying himself.

Thank you Toffee! My life is all about confusing medics - sadly not always in the good way. But managing to build bone density & keep The Wheelchair as a climbing frame for the cats are definitely good

Glad to hear that you slept well & that Toffeekitten sounds to be on good form. I hope all the Toffees have a good day

PS - Seniorboy is fine now.

(At least I think so - he's sleeping flat out in a big warm lump under his fleece right at this moment. No spontaneous sneezing anymore.)

Well, I think we'll all start taking lysine in the Toffee family. We need something to reduce stress levels in this household. If nothing else, it may have a placebo effect on DS1 when he starts his insight week at school.

Diary - that's roughly what I'm doing (one capsule in a small bowl of water), so at least some is going into ToffeeKitten's system.

Good to hear the wheelchair is only being used as a cat climbing frame at present, Zebra.

And lovely that Seniorboy is so much better, cozie, thanks to prompt veterinary attention and your TLC.

ToffeeKitten is such a happy kitten this morning. He has been chatting, eating loads and - for the first time in ages - is playing with his kitten toys again. And he is now very, very curious about the outside world.

I really think we have a reprieve .

I do hope so.