Rescue kittens - what are the chances?

[Queenofknickers]

Hi, I'd be grateful for anyone with knowledge on this. We met 2 beautiful rescue kittens yesterday aged 12 weeks but the shelter told us they have been on a prescription diet for sensitivity, having had diarrhea. They were found starving and scavenging at a few weeks old - does anyone know if this will have done permanent damage? We are desperate to bring them home but have another cat whose normal food is obviously around for her so if it is a special diet for life we will have to say no . Anyone know the chances they will transition ok to normal food?

the reascue i work at puts cats and kits with dicky tuimmys on sensitive food its mainly because its more gentle than normal food and hopefully gets the kits tummies settled down again, a couple of weeks will tell if it has worked, presumably the rescues vet has checked these kits out ask them what the vet said if its temporary or not

We got kittens from the cats protection at 5 weeks who had terrible, bloody diarreah from the minute we got them for months. They were on special diets, mad no difference. We fell in love with then and didn't give them back (came very close - 3 small children and diarreah all over the floor every morning for months was not fun). After months of investigations, expensive special food an 850 pounds out vet eventually discovered that they were suffering from tritrichomonas infection, from very tiny at the shelter (he said they probably had it from birth, they were found almost dead with no mother cat). It's a parasitic infection which used to mostly effect livestock on farms but has now crossed over into domestic animals and is apparently rife in shelters due to then being kept with lots of other animals. It is not yet part of the standard "cat with diarreah" tests and te vet has to do an extra (expensive) test. The only cure is (expensive) medication from the US where there is one vet doing research into it in cats. The medicine is quite aggressive and is "kill or cure" for a 10 day treatment.

The good news is that if the medicine works and they survive it (50% chance of fatal neurological side effects) they recover well and it doesn't seem to have any long term side effects. Our cats were completely cured after the 10 day course and a few weeks for their irritated digestive systems to settle down. They are now completely normal, happy and affectionate cats that eat normal supermarket cat food and poo normally. As it is a lower gut infection they were apparently getting most of the nutrition they needed even though it was going straight through and they were seems 100% healthy at their one year check, one is a even a bit fat now as they like their food after all that trauma (poor things were constantly eating and always hungry due to the sever diarreah)

The US vet and my UK vet said this infection if rife in UK shelters. Cats protection of course deny all knowledge and all responsibility. My advice is this. By all means take these cats - hopefully they jut need the right medication. But do not take them from the shelter until their vet has signed them off as bit being infected with any parasite that causes diarreah and make sure they have been tested for and cleared of tritrichomonas infection specifically. This means 2 separate fecal samples from each cat sent to a specialist lab for detailed testing. I would not take rescue cats with diarreah now without something in writing from the vet saying they were clear of any infection including this one.

We live our cats and I don't regret keeping them - they are lovely cats and very bonded to us because they were so sick I think. But is cost me £1000 in vets bill. the insurance wouldn't pay as they had diarreah from birth from the shelter - we naively accepted what we were told - they jut had upset tummies from being moved and it would settle down .... also be aware that if they just have diarreah due to sensitive suggestions or allergy then the specialist food is also very expensive and isn't covers by the insurance companies (as is classes as a pre-existing birth defect)

Not trying to put you off - just make sure the diarreah is resolved before you get them. Three small children and bloody diarreah all over the floor every morning for 6 months was not fun and I still really resent the cats protection for spoiling those first few kitten months when we couldn't pick then up or cuddle them and the children weren't even allowed in the same room with them.

Sorry about spelling, on phone, you get the gist.

Get a specific test for tritrichomonas infection.

Thanks flatmum that is really good advice. Am speaking to the rescue again tomorrow. Thy are very lovely people but clearly over stretched and a bit haphazard......

Forgot to add that the kittens are otherwise very bright eyed and lively.... Hoping that is a good sign...

Oh, also, on the special diet they are fine - no diarrhea ...

Thank you issey6cats, too - will check exactly what the vet said.