Kitten with Swollen Joints on All 4 Legs

A friend recently called me about a litter of three kittens that showed up at their country home, probably around 8-9 weeks old. They are very friendly, obviously dump offs. Two of them are very healthy, active. All three are clean, no ear mites, no fleas, no goopy eyes/noses. But the one, a calico, is VERY underweight, very bony. Her joints are very swollen in all four legs. I originally thought it was only her two rear legs, but I was wrong, it's all four.

She has a hard time walking, her back is hunched. Her spine is very sharp. She is SOOOOOO friendly. She has a purrmotor like you wouldn't believe. I was worried about her ability to escape predators and traffic. So, I went and picked her up. I have her here, in my bathroom. I'm such a sucker. A stupid, royally screwed, sucker.

She goes to the vet tomorrow. I wanted to take her in tonight but I had a 6:00 appointment I couldn't reschedule, and they aren't open this late. So I will take it in first thing in the morning.

Anyway, it's drivin' me crazy wondering what would effect all four legs like that, with no visible injuries, like a hit by a car, animal attack, bug bite..... or anything. Does anyone have any suggestions, experiences, thoughts? I have secluded her from my personal cats, for her sake and in case she is carrying something contagious.

I hope to know more tomorrow, but figured in the meantime, I could hop around the internet and see if I could find anything out myself. Anyone?

Very interesting, thank you for the link..... (fellow sucker. This kitty makes #6 for us. But thats temporary....she is not staying Get her healthy, and then adopted.)

I've been searching and searching on 'cat swollen legs' etc. and I get a LOT of broken leg type results. I don't think this is the case since it effects all 4. My husband suggested Lyme Disease, which scares the bejeezus out of me, because I have a very unreasonable fear of bugs and the thought of possibly bringing a tick into the house has me doing tick checks and am phantom itching. I looked her over, but I found nothing.

She seems to be doing "ok" but maybe slightly more unstable and sore than she was when I went and picked her up. To the vet bright and early tomorrow.

I hate going into the vets office without at least some clue as to what is going on. I know they're the one with the degree, but I don't like going on blind faith when it comes to the health and lives of an animal. Hopefully they can give me some definitive answers.

Well the vet seems to feel that her joints are filled with infection. He compared it to an umbilical infection seen in calves, where the infection settles in the joints even after the original umbilical is healed. So he has put her on antibiotic and now we 'wait and see'.

She's as sweet as they come. Such a trooper. She is 'served' her food and water wherever I find her at feeding time, so she doesn't have to get up and walk too much, but even in her uncomfortable, painful state, she STILL makes the effort to get up, walk to the litterbox, gets in, and even tries to cover when she's done. She's such a wonderful little kitten. I'm really pulling for her.

Kitty is not making any improvement. If anything, I believe it is worse. She is at the vets right now for xrays and I will pick her up this afternoon. I'm hoping to get some pain meds for her. Vet feels that if she makes any recovery at all, she may have some joint freeze in her back legs. He feels this would not be painful, but would restrict movement in her legs, making her walk 'wierd'.

How do you all feel about this?

Doc is thinking in terms of adoptability. I am thinking in terms of pain and suffering. I want to fight for her, but I don't want her to suffer for it.

Anyone have any experience with this type of thing? Joint freezing?

THIS is exactly my thoughts. I'm glad as an outsider lookin in, you feel the same way. I try to keep an even balance of what is best for the animal, without attaching too many of my own personal feelings. It's hard (impossible?) not to completely fall in love and become emotionally involved with cases like this.