Meeko and the other Kitties.

Meeko is doing a lot better. It turns out that all 4 of our cats have feline herpes. After Meeko started getting better all three other cats broke out with the same infection. We were given a lot of instruction on how to deal with and treat it. We bought antibiotics and more lycene treats.

I think that the cats have figured out that the treats are really medicine because they don't like taking them at all anymore. We've started crushing them to powder and mixing them into wet food. It's working pretty well.

Just wondering if anyone else's cats have this and what they do to help prevent outbreaks. Are there syptoms of an impending outbreak? I know that herpes is what causes the senondary outbreak (resp. infection), but can I catch it before that happens?

It sucks having four sick cats and I hate seeing them all wheezy and having to struggle with them to get the goo off of thier eyes. If there is any way to keep them healthy I'd love to know.

Thanks guys

My Hannah has herpes and it's best controlled with dietary changes and reducing stress. It's actually very common among shelter cats and even some purebred cats. The best thing you can do is change your kitties to a grain-free diet, both canned and dry. Keep the routine in your house consistent and keep your home as stress-free as possible. You can get lots more help and information from the Herpes Yahoo group: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/f...guid=353539644

Thanks! i'm looking into whole grain cat food now. If It helps I'm more than willing, but wont they be lacking on other nutrients with whole grain food since they are naturally carnivors?

Originally Posted by Noisette

Thanks! i'm looking into whole grain cat food now. If It helps I'm more than willing, but wont they be lacking on other nutrients with whole grain food since they are naturally carnivors?

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Grain-free means no grain at all, not whole grain.

Yes, no grain or grain-free means NO grain of any kind. We feed Hannah Taste of the Wild (dry) and Wellness grain free or Wellness Core and Innova Evo (canned). We have previously fed her Wellness CORE dry, too. There are several no grain foods out there, so find something your kitties like. This also means you have to find no grain treats if you give treats. We just use TOTW dry kibbles for treats.

sorry, I shouldn't read posts late at night

I'm going to petsmart tomorrow to look at grain free food. I've copied down all of the suggestions. thanks!

The only thing you'll find at PetsMart is Wellness. I don't know if they carry the CORE or not. I get Taste of the Wild from the feed store.

Originally Posted by Noisette

I think that the cats have figured out that the treats are really medicine because they don't like taking them at all anymore. We've started crushing them to powder and mixing them into wet food. It's working pretty well.

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I'm sorry to read that all of your cats are sick.

Yes the moment a cat figures out you're sneaking medicine in their food, they quickly stop eating it. However if you drop 1 of your own meds on the floor, they'll line up to eat it.

Originally Posted by My4LLMA

I'm sorry to read that all of your cats are sick.

Yes the moment a cat figures out you're sneaking medicine in their food, they quickly stop eating it. However if you drop 1 of your own meds on the floor, they'll line up to eat it.

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That is so true!!! After a half hour of begging Meeko to take kitty treat vitamin (and him refusing) I dropped an asprin and had to chase him all over the house to get it back from him!!!! Maybe I should just start dropping his medicine on the floor...

They all are just in a herpes outbreak... It will be ok in a few days I'm sure. I'm going to the vets instead of petsmart to look for the CORE diet... I think I'm going to bring all 4 love bugs in as well for a check up and to make sure that the no grain diet is good for them.... Nala is the only one that I think will probably be exempt from the new diet. She had ceptic stomach when we got her and her food seems to settle with her very well. I don't know if the vet will want to shake things up with her or not. Change is never very good to Nala.

The vet won't have Wellness. Most only have prescription food from Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina. Go to the Wellness site http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/cat-wellness.aspx and click on the link for "Find Wellness" and you should find where it's carried in your area.

Another thing to avoid is steroids, so try every other type of treatment before using steroids. The steroids just perpetuate the virus and cause a vicious cycle of sick-well-sick. It's like riding a roller coaster!

Lastly, try to find the powdered form of Lysine. I usually can find it on Amazon fairly inexpensively. http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Lysi...5842955&sr=1-1
1/4 teaspoon = 500mg, so I give 1 dose in the morning and once in the evening. I add it to wet food and add a teaspoon or so of water to the mixture. The lysine will dissolve easily in the food mixture.

Originally Posted by Noisette

That is so true!!! After a half hour of begging Meeko to take kitty treat vitamin (and him refusing) I dropped an asprin and had to chase him all over the house to get it back from him!!!! Maybe I should just start dropping his medicine on the floor...

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I've actually thought about doing that with Midnight, next time he has to take a pill.