Please a little help

lizard lady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 19, 2007
Messages
18
Purraise
0
Location
washington
Hi, I am new to these forums. I run a reptile rescue and have been doing so for many years. A couple of months back I got a phone call about a bunch of hurt, sick, hungry cats in a trailer park. I do not usually do cats, dogs, etc.

Well I went out to take a look and it was worse than I ever thought. So I decided I would try to help them out. My heart got the best of me, lol. Long story short I got online and on the phone and hooked up with two different cat rescues. Since then I have taken 42 cats and kittens to the rescues that are working with me.

Here is the problem,, A lot of them are sick with upper respitory, severe skin problems, etc. I have already put advantage on all of them I could catch. I also took the ones that had broken bones, etc to the rescues, I am working with Noah to spay and neuter. I have 5 here at the moment who are being treated by the vet for a number of different things, one including having his eye removed next Wednesday. I cannot bring anymore here at all and On Sunday I can only take two more adults to the rescue.
Is there anyway I can treat the rest for upper respitory with something I can buy over the counter? And what can I give them to start their skin healing and their hair growing back?

The whole thing is so sad!
 

mbjerkness

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
7,583
Purraise
18
Location
In the middle of BC
I don't have any answers for you but. I am sure you will get some answers soon, It is wonderful that you are helping these helpless kitties
 

graciecat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 23, 2006
Messages
3,365
Purraise
4
Location
In Steelers Country!
There's not anything you can buy over the counter to treat a URI.
The one and only thing that has ever worked when one of my cats has a URI...and Gracie gets them a lot...she has the Feline Herpes Virus...is amoxicillen ( I'm sure that's not spelled right )...it's an antibiotic.
It's not expensive at all, I'm not sure about the prices where you live or the prices of other antibotics.

As far as the hair loss, it could be from the fleas or it could be something more like ringworm.
IMO the URI's and hairloss should be taken care of by a Vet.

Also, bless you for helping these babies.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

lizard lady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 19, 2007
Messages
18
Purraise
0
Location
washington
I agree that they need to be seen by a vet. I have 5 here at the moment that are being treated by a vet. I cannot take in anymore myself, and I can only get two out a week to the other rescues. I am not a non profit cat rescue, so all money is out of my pocket. Not to mention the time and space. I have a 5 bedroom house and can only quarantine 5 at a time. I have one going in Wednesday to have his eye removed, which is pretty spendy, lol. I do have the Amoxicillen but it is for the others here at the moment. The advantage worked well on removing the fleas and ticks,, now I just want the red itch sores for them to go away. Of all the ones I have pulled out of there and went to the rescues or my house then the vet, none of them have ringworm. They just had a ton of fleas and ticks. All I can basically do is keep feeding and hope for the best. When I have another opening in my home or the rescues can take more, I will take them. It just seems to be a slow process. Some Mommas are finally bringing their babies out to feed,,, just when I thought I had all the babies, lol. It is a very sad situation.
 

tnr1

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
7,980
Purraise
13
Location
Northern Virginia
Originally Posted by lizard lady

I agree that they need to be seen by a vet. I have 5 here at the moment that are being treated by a vet. I cannot take in anymore myself, and I can only get two out a week to the other rescues. I am not a non profit cat rescue, so all money is out of my pocket. Not to mention the time and space. I have a 5 bedroom house and can only quarantine 5 at a time. I have one going in Wednesday to have his eye removed, which is pretty spendy, lol. I do have the Amoxicillen but it is for the others here at the moment. The advantage worked well on removing the fleas and ticks,, now I just want the red itch sores for them to go away. Of all the ones I have pulled out of there and went to the rescues or my house then the vet, none of them have ringworm. They just had a ton of fleas and ticks. All I can basically do is keep feeding and hope for the best. When I have another opening in my home or the rescues can take more, I will take them. It just seems to be a slow process. Some Mommas are finally bringing their babies out to feed,,, just when I thought I had all the babies, lol. It is a very sad situation.
You need to contact a TNR group in Washington:

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html#wa

They can assist you with getting these cats spayed/neutered.

Katie
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
If the URI is viral based, then antibiotics aren't going to help. L-Lysine is used for herpes virus and you could lace their food or water with it. It doesn't stop it, it's a supplement that helps to restore their health, which in turns gives them a better ability to fight it off. You can buy it at most places that carry vitamins, or if you want it in powder form, they do sell it online.

I buy this one and give it daily to my herpes boy. A standard dose for an adult cat is 500mg a day for preventative maintenance, and it can be increased to 1000+ mg a day during flare ups. 1/4 tsp of the powder is roughly 460mg. The cannister will last me a year for one cat:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails....1&pid=653&at=0

And I agree with Katie - reach out for more help if you can get it. It sounds like there are a lot of cats needing help right now!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

lizard lady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 19, 2007
Messages
18
Purraise
0
Location
washington
Thanks for your replies,,, I am working on getting them spayed and neutered. I work with an orginazation called NOAH. I only pay 25.00 a piece for the ones that are tame. I get free feral spay and neuter. My long term goal on this project is to get them all to the shelters, and out of that horrid environment. I am at 40 percent of the goal. I have an estimate of around 30 left to spay and neuter. Which if my numbers are correct would leave me with 10 females left. I fix the females first naturally,,, then I am going in for the males. I go in on Sunday with 4 more than Next thursday with 7 more.

My problem is not getting them fixed it is getting their illnesses treated. When I take up sick cats to the rescues it takes them longer to be adopted as they have to treat the problem before they can even think about putting them up for adoption. Which then slows the process of how many more I can take to them. I was hoping there might be something I could give them to get rid of their UR infections that are spreading like mad.

There is a little good news though since yesterday, I found a Siamese rescue who is meeting me at my house this evening after I pull the 6 siamese out from there. She will be picking them up. So that is 6 less cats to fend for themselves and they will get the vet treatment they so desperately need. She also agreed to take one normal cat, so I am happy about that.

The whole thing is so sad and frustrating at the same time.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

lizard lady

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 19, 2007
Messages
18
Purraise
0
Location
washington
Thank you momofmany! I will look into that!

The only question I have is, if the URI is virus based, why is the antibiotics working for the ones I have here? All 5 are being treated by a vet.

Please excuse my ignorance as I do reptiles only usually, lol. In reptiles the URI is usually caused by too low temps, and improper care. With treating that I bump the temps up higher and get antibiotics from my exotic vet. I did already ask,, cats cannot transfer to reptiles or vice versa, So these must be two different strains. So what is causing it with these cats?
 

dauntingfire

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
348
Purraise
2
Location
Atlanta, GA
I so wish I could help you! I am saying prayers for you and the kitties, I know with your tender care they are in good hands. You are a true animal lover, it's so great you are doing this.
 

lady20

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Messages
234
Purraise
2
Location
Ohio
You are a wonderful lady to help these cats. I know it is a strain on you financially and I wish I could offer any help, but I cannot. Keep up the good work and I cannot sing your praises enough. Thank you for caring.
 

lnbandcats

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 20, 2006
Messages
2,871
Purraise
1
Location
Watching the robins sing!
Now I am reading your second thread, and understand your "name"!!!

Thank you so very much for everything that you are doing - and for branching out from reptiles to cats. You are really a special person to take on this responsibility!
 

catcaregiver

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
1,338
Purraise
1
Location
Doublestandardville
Originally Posted by lizard lady

The only question I have is, if the URI is virus based, why is the antibiotics working for the ones I have here? All 5 are being treated by a vet.

Please excuse my ignorance as I do reptiles only usually, lol. In reptiles the URI is usually caused by too low temps, and improper care. With treating that I bump the temps up higher and get antibiotics from my exotic vet. I did already ask,, cats cannot transfer to reptiles or vice versa, So these must be two different strains. So what is causing it with these cats?
The improvement you are seeing from the use of antibiotics are probably because the cats also have secondary bacterial infections in addition to the viral URIs. The antibiotics help the bacterial infections but the URI will just have to run its course.

Here is a site that will help answer some of your questions
http://www.sheltermedicine.com/porta...pper_res.shtml

Blessings to you for taking care of these cats in need of help.
 

brittany

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Messages
146
Purraise
1
Location
Spokane, Washington
You are amazing for taking on this project!!! I was wondering, what part of WA are you located at? (If you don't mind me asking)
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
Originally Posted by catcaregiver

The improvement you are seeing from the use of antibiotics are probably because the cats also have secondary bacterial infections in addition to the viral URIs. The antibiotics help the bacterial infections but the URI will just have to run its course.

Here is a site that will help answer some of your questions
http://www.sheltermedicine.com/porta...pper_res.shtml

Blessings to you for taking care of these cats in need of help.
Thank you for responding on my behalf! I've been out of pocket for the last 5 days.

This would be my exact answer.
 

catcaregiver

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
1,338
Purraise
1
Location
Doublestandardville
Originally Posted by Momofmany

Thank you for responding on my behalf! I've been out of pocket for the last 5 days.

This would be my exact answer.
I'm glad you didn't mind my stepping in. I am always hesitant to do so but wanted to help answer the OPs question quickly and I didn't know if you would be coming back to the thread.
 
Top