US Ex-pat w. new stray needs help - kitty won't eat! :-(

AAWW, Is Luna balding too? I link Lei (xocats) is probably right about it being ringworm, and she has already said all the right things.

On the plus side, the fur around Slooty's eyes doesn't look so yellow today.

Originally Posted by Shad

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This doesn't look like ringworm, but more like an infection. I'm not saying that it isn't ringworm. If he scratched a spot and went through the skin, that scratch could have gotten infected. That looks exactly like the sore that my Pinky has right now, and the vet put him on antibiotics.

I can't believe I'm just now finding this thread, I don't know how I could have missed it! Your kittens are absolutely gorgeous. You and your fiance have done an amazing job!!

Originally Posted by Momofmany

This doesn't look like ringworm, but more like an infection. I'm not saying that it isn't ringworm. If he scratched a spot and went through the skin, that scratch could have gotten infected. That looks exactly like the sore that my Pinky has right now, and the vet put him on antibiotics.

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Momofmany has a lot of experience with cats...
To be safe...I would have your vet check out the area for a diagnosis because if it
is a bacterial infection, your baby will need antibiotics.

Originally Posted by xocats

Momofmany has a lot of experience with cats...
To be safe...I would have your vet check out the area for a diagnosis because if it
is a bacterial infection, your baby will need antibiotics.

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I agree. Always best to get the vet to check it. I know that is not always going to be easy for you in your location, but infections can be serious if not treated quickly.

Keep us posted!

Are the ears crusty at all? If there is a crusty appearance to the affected area, it could be feline scabies. The crust would be very hard to the touch. Heres some info about it
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...&S=0&C=0&A=512

If it isn't crusty and just looks like hairloss (could also have a scaley appearance), I would have to agree with everone else, that it is more then likely ringworm. Heres some info on that...
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...&S=0&C=0&A=512

I would take them to the vet as soon as you can since both require treatment. (And you dont want to get ringworm or scabies)

Good luck to you!!!

Saturday Evening Update

Hi everybody - thank you for the quick advice about Slooty's skin. We've started her on anti-fungal creams. Her entire left ear is just about bald now, poor kitty, and she's missing a large swatch of fur above her left eye, and a growing but still small stretch above her right eye. She'll go back to the Vet on Monday, but we've talked on the phone and ringworm or a relative thereof is suspected.

Luna was a little more sleepy today than she has been recently, preferring more time curled up on the comforter than rolling around on the floor with Slooty. My fiancee is a bit concerned she might be having a relapse of something or other. We're watching her toilet trips, eating, and general behavior closely.

I just started a 2nd job today and will be working 7 days a week until New Years. I don't get to see my two kittens as much as I'd like to (which, let's face it, would be 24/7!) but my fiancee is always home so they're never lacking for company.

I'll include some pictures of the latest fur troubles with tomorrow night's update. In the meantime I hope everyone has a nice weekend, this little piggy needs to head to bed!

Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

I agree. Always best to get the vet to check it. I know that is not always going to be easy for you in your location, but infections can be serious if not treated quickly.

Keep us posted!

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The general condition is very typical of ringworm or other fungal based infection. But the spot where it looks infected is a spot that they easily get to when scratching themselves. If the ringworm was itchy and they scratched, you might have an infection on top of the ringworm.

Are you aware of any type of skin disorders in China? Our minds all go to ringworm because that is prevalent here. But I know in my travels I've picked up other fungal infections that you don't find in the states.

China has skin disorders like Italy has pasta. They've got about a half dozen alone that are lumped into the "ring worm" category. We're taking it day by day with the cream now.

Unfortunately, we think Luna has now contracted the same URI that Slooty had. She's lethargic, has little appetite, is unsually warm, and can only muster the most pathetic broken purr. Poor thing. She'll be at the Vet tomorrow for shots, if not sooner...

Oh poor Luna...
I pray that soon, you will have passed through all of their inevitable health obstacles so that you can just sit back and simply cuddle with your sweeeties....

We are all behind you in your struggle to save Luna and Slooty.

Monday Morning Update

Slooty is still doing fine. Tearing all over the apartment with her awesome fungus ear & eyebrows . We've got her on the anti-fungal creams and all other aspects of her health appear to be normal so we're doing ok.

Luna is still sick - she went to the Vet again Sunday and the Vet's official diagnosis was that she "has had too much to eat." She's whimpering instead of meowing and squeaking instead of purring. She got a shot at the Vet to help her breathing and she sounds a lot better today. We also steamed her last night and will continue to do so. Her appetite has dropped quite a bit again though and she's having runny BMs, so it's boiled chicken & potatoes for the next few days at the very least - poor girl.

Slooty, in her exhuberance, is now driving Luna nuts. Slooty wants to continue wrestling and stalking and ambushing but Luna is in no mood for such activities. Slooty has generally figured it out and seeks her play elsewhere, but there are still times we have to separate Slooty from a non-resistant and completely passive Luna.

Hopefully we can get her up to speed soon so they can be full-on partners in crime again!

Hello to everyone from my fiancee!

Shad - What beautiful babies you have I've been reading this thread for a while and always look forward to your posts on how the kitties are doing. Today I just looked back to the original pictures you posted and then again at the latest....what a difference!

When I adopted my cat Lilly she had been a pregnant teenage stray living on the streets. She was bone thin, had worms, horrible ringworm, mites and a host of other health issues. It seemed like ages before she was totally healthy, but she's been the most appreciative and loving cat anyone could ever have! I can never imagine not having her in my life. It was totally worth all the extra effort to get her healthy.

Little Forrest was our recent addition. He was a feral kitten and came to us with worms and feline herpes. He's rid of the worms and the herpes is now under control. He is so very loving and special.

You are doing such a great job with your babies Although it seems like the health issues take so long to clear up, it is so worth the effort. Luna and Slooty will love you and your fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] for the rest of their lives. We wish you the best of luck with your kitties and look forward to your future posts.

This is now the first thread that I check when I come online.
I admire your patience and tenacity with your two girls.
If you and your fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] had not brought them into your lives,
they most certainly would not have survived on the mean streets.

As dear Luna continues with her struggle toward health,
my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Slooty, you go girl.

Monday Evening Update

It's nice to have fans, especially ones as supportive and wonderful as you all!

Slooty was up to her usual tricks today - attacking toes, wrestling with crumpled up pieces of paper, battling invisible box demons, jumping on convalescent Luna and then quickly running off before we could grab her (that's a new one! ) ... yep, the usual. We've made a concerted effort to play directly with her more often while Luna is under the weather, we don't want our little fungus cat to be under stimulated.

Luna is so-so. She lazed around today but did spend some time curled up with Daddy getting a gentle backrub. She's been picking at her chicken and rice but is eating a little. She's drinking plenty so that's good. She seemed a smidgen better today, hopefully tomorrow she'll keep progressing back towards healthy.

We love them both dearly, they're as cute as can be and we already cannot imagine life without them.

See you all tomorrow! I'll have some new pictures then

Thank you for your consistent updates.
I am looking forward to seeing new pictures of your sweet beauties.
Luna & Slooty

Have a peaceful night.

I really enjoy your updates. I have one suggestion. Since Luna is so much smaller than Slooty, could you get a sturdy, cosy cardboard box, put a towel or blanket in it, and cut a Luna-sized opening in it, so that she has some place to retreat to when Slooty is being overexuberant?
Of course, Slooty will probably want her own!

Just checking in on the progress and it's looking good I hope Luna get's a bit more energy inside her soon so she can play with Slooty again

Tuesday Evening Update

First of all, thank you for the wonderful suggestion jcat, I'll begin working on it as soon as this post goes up.

The health status of the two kittens hasn't changed. Luna is still a bedbug with a small appetite and Slooty is still a fungus-faced tornado.

As promised, I have some pictures for you all to examine. They're not particularly cute though, this is more for you to see their faces up close and possibly offer us advice or tips on how we should be treating this.

First is Luna, she's got some dark reddish/brownish stuff around her eyes and nose. Additionally, the skin on her nose is a little strange looking. What do you think? More ringworm?


And here are four pictures of Slooty the Funguskat from different angles. Please pay particular attention to her eyebrow and ear areas, as those are where she's having the worst trouble.



and



and



and



What do you all think?

Thank you so much!

Oh poor Slooty...
Has your vet seen her recently?
Did she have a diagnosis other than ring worm?
Is the brown color blood from them scratching?
Did you ask about an infection that would require antibiotics?

Sorry about all the questions but I thought your answers might help someone who has see this before on other kitties.

After more research I did find a couple of things that might help...
In this one, pay attention to "Clipping the hair coat, Environmental treatment and Treatment length."
I would ignore most of the info about meds...but the other parts could be useful to you.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...en-US%26sa%3DN

Here is an image I found of a kitty with ring worm....
Does it look similar to Slooty's infection?
http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/...ian_before.jpg

More vibes for Luna and Slooty
You will get this resolved.