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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Rescued Amber kitten is in animal hospital with an infection(?). We've only had her four days!

231 replies

MissingKittyCat · 28/04/2015 21:43

Think I'm going for the hat trick on threads in The Litter Tray.

I posted about my cat getting killed by the neighbours dog.
A week later I posted about our beautiful new rescue kitten.
Four days later, she's in animal hospital.

She went downhill fast today. Wouldn't play, constantly asleep, wasn't purring, didn't want to cuddle, wouldn't eat despite prompting. All she wanted to do was curl up in my cashmere cardigan and deep sleep.

I knew she wasn't right earlier but thought I was being paranoid and anxious due to my nana dying recently and kitty getting killed.

Realised my intuition was screaming and got her into the emergency vet who sent us to the animal hospital. She's dehydrated, has a very high temp and needs antibiotics and IV fluids. I got her there in time, she still had a bit of fight left in her. So relieved I didn't leave it until morning!

I'm terrified. The vet can't say if she'll be ok. She's all skin and bone really, she's tiny. The rescue lady said she was about 8 weeks but none of us agree. She said if anything was wrong to take her back to the shelter rather than the vet as the bills would be too high. I took her to the vet anyway. The insurance won't kick in for a couple of weeks so I am going to be hit hard but I just want her better Sad

I can't lose her too. Has anybody been through this? Please tell me she'll be alright.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 29/04/2015 16:26

Speak to your vet. Have they still got her on fluids?

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 29/04/2015 16:33

They have. She starts shift at 7.30 I think.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 29/04/2015 17:39

I think I'd maybe ask her about home nursing. Good and loving as vet nurses are, there's little to beat a warm cuddle-snooze with their person for lifting spirits. (And with cats, the body often follows the spirit in my experience.)

RubbishMantra · 29/04/2015 18:22

You poor thing. You must be in bits.

I agree with the home nursing, if she's no longer on IV and your vet thinks it's a good idea.

Blessings to the little mite.

RedCheckedTablecloth · 29/04/2015 18:27

She is very young for FIP. Is her stomach swollen with fluids? There is wet and dry FIP and is affects a tiny minority of cats.

Hugs to you both.

isadorable · 29/04/2015 18:36

I've been following this and thinking positive thoughts for Amber. I've lost two cats to FIP and it has been very fast. Horrifying but fast. There are lots of viruses they can catch when they're small. They look terrible, it is terrifying and then they bounce back. I have an ancient cat who will be 16 next week, he was on a drip at one stage when he was little. Your vet sounds great. Trust their advice - it is often not as bleak/clear cut as it sounds. I am sorry you have so much to contend with. You are all in my thoughts.

cozietoesie · 29/04/2015 21:20

Any news of her?

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 29/04/2015 22:06

Got through to the receptionist earlier. Her temp is stable. She's still having to be syringe fed. No more vomiting. Still on fluids. What do you think? Calling back at 11 to speak to the vet (she's busy with emergencies) I'd pretty much convinced myself she'll die (self preservation I think) but now I feel a spark of hope. I really need her to pull through. We miss her so much. She's the one.

We can't afford to keep her in hospital for any more nights after this. I want to nurse her. If she's going to die, I want her to come home. I want her to know she hasn't been abandoned again. I need her to know she's loved.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 29/04/2015 22:26

Well it's good that she's keeping food down isn't it?. I wouldn't want to get my hopes up either.

So frustrating isn't it.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 29/04/2015 22:38

Thinking of you Missing and sending very unMumsnetty hugs to you and Amber.

cozietoesie · 29/04/2015 22:58

Speak to the vet in 20 minutes. I'd more or less have to have brought any of my boys home because they've been so bonded to me that they'd likely turn up their toes at any extended separation. They would need to be back.

There may be clinical issues, though, so you need to ask the vet about those.

Fingers still crossed.

slippermaiden · 29/04/2015 23:13

Sending best wishes and hope your kitten feels better soon x

stareatthetvscreen · 29/04/2015 23:19

argh sorry to hear this x i saw yr pic yesterday and my first thought was she didn't look well but didn't say anything as saw you got her from rescue so thought she must have been checked.

fingers crossed - kittens are like babies up and down x

Wolfiefan · 29/04/2015 23:22

I opened this thread desperately hoping it wouldn't be you. (Not that I'd wish this on anyone but you've been through so much.)
So sorry. Nothing I can say except thinking of you. Xx

ozymandiusking · 29/04/2015 23:29

I do hope she pulls through.I'll be thinking of all of you.xx

Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 29/04/2015 23:48

stareat, out of curiosity, what about her made you question her health? The shelter owner told us she was vet checked. Maybe she seemed ok to them? Need to find out which vet really.

Spoke to the nurse a little while ago. She's had some syringe feed and cuddles, when the nurse then tended to a dog, Amber was meowing at the cage door for more love Sad. She's still on IV fluids and doesn't appear to be eating for herself. Her temp is still higher than it should be but has responded and is stable.

I don't know what to do. Money is becoming an issue. Insurance hasn't kicked in yet. We don't want to give up on her. How do we put a price on a life? What do we do???

OP posts:
Original poster
MissingKittyCat · 29/04/2015 23:50

They won't let her home on IV fluids. So if we bring her home and she still needs that support, we are sealing her fate.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 29/04/2015 23:50

Did you raise the issue of bringing her home?

cozietoesie · 29/04/2015 23:51

Sorry - x post.

cozietoesie · 29/04/2015 23:54

Goodness, Missing - if you haven't got the money for continued treatment then that's pretty well that isn't it? She has to come home.

Are the vet practice aware that there are financial issues? (Some practices may proceed in a certain direction without thinking about that but it's a very real issue for you I think?)

stareatthetvscreen · 29/04/2015 23:54

her eyes looked a bit cloudy and her nose wasn't clean.my kittens have been ill in the past so maybe i just recognised that.

its a tough call re money vs health.you know your limits though - for both.

sending a hug.x

stareatthetvscreen · 29/04/2015 23:55

i wd speak to rescue in morning and ask for financial help before making a decision.if you didn't adopt her you wdn't be in this situation.

stareatthetvscreen · 29/04/2015 23:57

sorry another point - our vets bill the insurance company direct.that has helped a lot.

cozietoesie · 29/04/2015 23:59

I was just about to post something on those lines, stare.

Missing - speak to the Rescue ASAP. They said to take her back if there was any problem but it also might well be that they have their own vet arrangements and could assist with additional treatment which would be free for you.

cozietoesie · 30/04/2015 00:00

I think the OP said that insurance doesn't kick in for a couple of weeks, stare, so that would be a moot point in this case.