The girls are sick!!!

Hi the feral kittens i recently trapped and have been taming have URI's. They received their second vaccine and are now sneezing and have watery eyes. Started them on clavamox and one of the girls is better after four days. The other girl, Pixie, is the same with no improvement.

I also moved their playpen upstairs so they could start getting used to household noises, etc. And that means that my own cats (I have four, three of which are five month old siblings) have been near the cage where the feral girls live. Now I am worried my own cats will get sick. They all have their shots but one of them is mildly sneezing too. My gosh! What have I done! I am trying to save these poor ferals and keep my own cats well too. I assumed that the girls were just fine after three weeks of quarantine and thats why I brought the cage upstairs. Figures the sneezing starts the day after I did that. Since all of my own cats are now exposed it seems useless to move the feral girls downstairs again.

Is it possible that all my cats will get sick now? And Pixie is not really better on the clavamox. How long do I keep her on it before I should change to another stronger antibiotic? Or will she just get over it on her own?

Thanks for listening! And I plan on getting pictures up of my babies soon.

I'm sorry but I don't have any info for you, but will send some vibes your kitties way! Hopefully they won't get sick!

It might just be a kitty "cold" (viral infection). If so, antibiotics won't help, the virus just has to run its course, and the only thing you can do is provide supportive care (making sure they eat and drink enough, running a humidifier, etc.).

And, yes, sadly, kitty colds are highly contagious and all of your cats will probably get it. Hopefully they won't feel too bad!

It's entirely possible the girls are sneezing from something they caught from your cats. After all, they're the ones in a new place with a new environment and new viruses and bacteria, right?

You had them tested for the real nasties, right, like FELV and FIV?

What I would suggest hun is to get ALL of the kitties on L-Lysine right away. It can be purchased at most drug stores in the vitamin section. I get mine in 500mg capsules. Mix 1 capsule per kitty into their food. This will not only help your cats from getting sick (if it is viral, which it sounds like it is.) but it will help Pixie get through it as well. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi, Yes, all of the cats have been tested for the deadly diseases. But, I am still worried. Yesterday at the shelter, picking up meds, I met someone who just lost their one year old cat to FeLV and it had tested negative when it was adopted as a kitten. So I am SCARED

Kailie, thanks for the advice about the L-Lysine. I wasn't sure how much to give but will start all of them on 500 mg. once a day. I had heard about that before.

MrBlanche, I never thought of that and you are so right! My own cats could have given the URI to the newby's since the newby's hadn't been vaccinated. And I read on the internet last night that cats can shed the virus for a LONG time after recovering from it earlier in life. I couldn't believe that, I had never known.

I am getting support from Animal House Shelter in Huntley, IL. They have been so generous and will be helping me adopt them out to homes. If I can even let them go. I am getting more attached each day. I know Pixie will do OK back at the shelter as she is quite out-going. Fern is another story. She will definitely be a one-person kitty. She is finally accepting me and gives me little chirrups each time I touch her and she finally comes out of the cage to play with the interactive toys. But as soon as my daughter or husband come around, off to the cage she goes. She hisses at them still too. So I don't think she will do well back at the shelter, she needs more time. Or is it me who needs more time??!!!

And, thank you Willowy I know if it is viral that the antibiotics won't help, just like for people.

Pixie is drinking, eating and wanting to play still. So I will keep a watch on that. The nice lady at Animal House said she will lend me a Nebulizer if I need it. I hope it doesn't get that bad though.
Thanks

I hope your little ones get better and the others don't get it.

You are so good to take these poor babies in!

Don't forget that they also could have gotten their cold at the vet's. ( I know, just what you needed, right?)

I think little Fern may come around quicker than you think. I tamed a feral cat and for a long time it was only me, but when other people started feeding her, that helped. She now lives in my house! With 3 other people, 3 other cats, and 2 dogs! It's been about 6 years since I tamed her!

Thank you Farleyv!! Good comments and good vibes all help

Kluchetta, it is great to here others stories about taking in and taming poor lost feral strays. Pixie and Fern have made such HUGE progress in as little as three weeks, it is amazing. Two of the five I trapped are released back out in my yard and shelter and I feed them daily. I have also now seen (I think it is the big daddy of all of them) a HUGE grey long-haired tabby strolling through around feeding time. He is so big I don't think he will fit through the hole in the shelter entrance. There is also another smaller black long-haired tabby who is probably another sibling. So I will have to trap and TNR two more. I believe in TNR and also believe in TNK (trap, neuter, KEEP) if possible.

Thanks for everyone's support and ears This is a wonderful site and I have such a great story to share and only just begun (if anyone wants to here it )

We always like great stories.

You've already gotten lots of good advice - I just second the suggestion to get everyone on L-lysine. My only other comment is that when we were actively rescuing and fostering, it took a lot of vet visits here and there - and the cats ALWAYS seemed to pick up a URI at the vet. I think it's just - there - and the stress of being there made them susceptible to it.... this stopped as they got older and built up their immunity - so I hope your girls won't get sick. But the lysine will only help!

!!!

Originally Posted by Feralvr

Kluchetta, it is great to here others stories about taking in and taming poor lost feral strays. Pixie and Fern have made such HUGE progress in as little as three weeks, it is amazing. Two of the five I trapped are released back out in my yard and shelter and I feed them daily. I have also now seen (I think it is the big daddy of all of them) a HUGE grey long-haired tabby strolling through around feeding time. He is so big I don't think he will fit through the hole in the shelter entrance. There is also another smaller black long-haired tabby who is probably another sibling. So I will have to trap and TNR two more. I believe in TNR and also believe in TNK (trap, neuter, KEEP)

if possible.

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Haha, not only did I TNK, I did it in the wrong order, so I did TKN, after 8 babies were born in my house!

WOW that is not the way to do it Hopefully you found homes for those eight babies. Or did you "K" them all?

I can't believe how much my life has changed in just a few short months in regards to CATS. I have always been a cat lover and rescuer but in the last six months it has been cat rescue 24/7!! Does anyone seem to notice that along with the bad economy came so many more strays suffering without homes too??

We found homes for 7 of them with friends and co-workers. One we kept, but he passed away at 6 months. It sure was expensive getting all their shots though! Wow!

I am sure it did cost a bundle!! I feel it here, the vet costs are never ending... but they are worth it :-)

We live in a rural area, so there just seems to be a slow steady stream. But I will say it has been apparent on this board and at other rescues that things have gotten worse with this economy.

Bless you for all you're doing!

BTW - how is everyone? Did the sneezes bloom into URIs or did the lysine help?

Originally Posted by LDG

We live in a rural area, so there just seems to be a slow steady stream. But I will say it has been apparent on this board and at other rescues that things have gotten worse with this economy.

Bless you for all you're doing!

BTW - how is everyone? Did the sneezes bloom into URIs or did the lysine help?

Click to expand...

The girls are doing just fine. Fern is completely recovered. Pixie still has congestion but sneezing is way down. Two of my own four cats have very mild symptoms and I am treating everyone with the L-lysine!!

I got a call from the wonderful Animal shelter that is going to take the girls into their kitten room and try to find homes for them now that they are more socialized and recovered. They will go sometime beginning of next week. Here is my dilema Two of the three girls I am fine with letting them go and find their forever homes. One of the girls, Fern, I am completely attached too and have bonded. She makes the cutest chirrup and trill noises, and loves to make them all the time I am around. I already have four cats in my home but of course would make room for Fern. I am so torn up about what to do. Do I let her go to the shelter with her sisters and see if she can get a forever home??? Or is it selfish of me to want to keep her and then my own cats will have to accept a new member??? They all have met her and like her though. How do you know your limit with taking cats into your home??

These cats I trapped from my neighbor's abandoned house and released the mother and a brother who were extremely feral. So I feed them still outside in the shelter I built for them. I am emotionally attached with these girls due to the circumstances of the rescue, so close to my heart.

Anyone out there, can you tell me what you would do in regards to Fernie???

After our first two indoor-only rescues, we stuck to our rule of adopting out the adoptables and keeping the special needs kitties. But there are a number of people here who have multiple kitties that were "foster failures." Basically, you know your girls and your financial situation better than any of us, and those (and your heart) are what have to make the decision.

We have a total of 8, and the first 2 were our "limit." Initially, finances weren't a constraint for us. When we got so active in rescue, and wound up with kitties that needed special care, we decided our limit was going to be how many we could fit in the car at one time - you know, the logic being how many cats we could care for in the event of an emergency.

Now finances are a constraint, but the cats still come, and our latest rescue was FIV+, and we couldn't responsibly release him back outside - and we weren't going to kill him! On the other hand, we have a mini van now, so while we sometimes have to do without ourselves, the cats never want for their prescription food or care - but technically we're not at our "how many we can move in an emergency" limit.

If you've fallen in love, the biggest question is... is she bonded to her sisters? It's not likely the three get adopted out together anyway. And how difficult do you think it'll be on your girls? We have one female who is REALLY pissy about new intros. Takes her six months to get over it, especially if it's another female, and a full year (usually) before she totally accepts the "new" kitty as part of the family. On the other hand, we just keep telling them all they need to get over it - the kitty needed home and care, just like them.

Follow your heart, but check in with your logic. If you have the time for them all and the finances to handle medical emergencies, I see no reason to feel guilty about a foster failure or two. One big question is - will it affect your ability to rescue or foster in the future? And how do you feel about that?

Others know their "owned" cat limit, and stick to it like glue. That limit is very individual.

We were terrible at fostering, and just weren't emotionally cut out for it. One of our rescues developed an autoimmune disease and the vet told us we had to stop fostering. Honestly, it was a relief.

We enlisted vet techs and staff in our foster/finding homes efforts, and eventually hooked up with a local foster network - but it didn't stop us from adding special needs kitties to our family. We just confined them to the vet in "quarantine" until we were sure they weren't carrying any viruses or anything, and then brought them home for intros.

Thank you so much for your advice. I took it to heart and have thought of most of the things you said and I think five would be my limit. Finances are not a problem at the moment and emergency space is available in my car for five too. Oh and I have five carriers!!! I also have the time for everyone as I am home most of the day.

Of the four cats I have now. Three are male and one is female. And you are right about girls. Perla does hiss and turn her nose up at Fern and wants nothing to do with her. The boys have accepted the ferals with no problem. I still keep them all separate. The ferals are in my third bedroom with a huge plexi-glass sliding door so everyone can see each other. Before the move to the bedroom though, the girls were in a big cat cage and my cats could go right up to the cage if they wanted. The boys would sleep on top of it. Funny!

The only thing I thought of and you mentioned this too was my ability to foster in the future. Would it be too much? I don't think so but I do feel I would have this problem again about letting the fosters go. I do get emotionally attached and very protective. I just think this particular rescue is close to my heart and extra difficult because I watched these babies from my window for a few weeks till I could figure out how to trap them and then what to do with all of them. In the meantime I started feeding them outside and built that shelter I
told you about. Sorry. I am babbling

Well I have already decided not to send Fern with her sisters to the shelter. Fern is not too attached to them and in fact she likes one of my boys Presley and he likes her too. I might keep Presley in the room with Fern for the first night after the sisters leave. I will see. I just don't think Fern will do well at the shelter. She is so shy and timid and she is making such great progress here with me.

It was great to here about your family of cats and you have such a big heart to take in the special needs kitties. I love this site and love to hear about everyones cats. That way I don't feel like the crazy cat lady. I am in good company.

I just read about all your cats too. You and Gary are awesome people!! Your days are so lucky to have you both and I am sure you feel the same way about your kitties. I did reply to your post to me from yesterday. Talk soon.