Feral kitty sick. I want to help, what could be the problem?

It's good odds his problem is feline herpes. It's extremely common, as common as it is in humans (and virtually EVERYONE has been exposed to it at some time or another). It will cause runny eyes, right down to the point of killing the cat.

The easy cure is L Lysine, which you can get from your vet or you can make up yourself. The tablets are readily available at any pharmacy (in the supplement section), including at Wal-Mart. It's not expensive, and, fortunately, it apparently doesn't taste bad to cats. If you crush it and put it in their soft food, they'll eat it right down, usually. About 500 mg per day is enough to fight off the herpes infections and keep it away.

Other real experts here will probably chime in with more specifics.

First of all, thank you for caring for these kitties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes, it could be feline herpes - though without a vet check, there's really no way to know. There are some nasty bacterial infections that can cause things like that, but herpes is extremely common. Unfortunately, if it's a really bad infection, kitty may not be able to beat it. We rescued our little Flowerbelle with her eyes glued shut. She was a kitten though, not an adult with a developed immune system. But we fought for seven months to save both of her eyes. In the end, one had to be surgically removed.

But adding L-lysine to the food you feed them is a great idea. It's good for all of them, and helps boost their immune systems. It's not a cure, and may not help the advanced cases, but it will help them fight it, and may help prevent some from catching it. It can actually be purchased as a powder - makes it easier to use. Of course, it works best when added to wet food - maybe begin feeding them one wet meal of food a day - perhaps in the mornings before work?

Have you gotten the cats spayed and neutered? I know manning the traps is a problem. But maybe on the weekends? You may find yourself inundated with kittens in a few months if you don't get them sterilized. There may also be feral programs willing to help you trap, neuter, (vaccinate) and release the cats (TNR). LA has a very active feral cat community (of people LOL).

I know you said cost isn't a problem, but if you want to locate a low-cost spay/neuter program, this is a good start for the LA area: http://www.rescueguide.com/lavets.html

Here are other resources that may be helpful you:

http://www.feralcatcaretakers.org/Overview/Mission.html

A search for Feral Cat Services using a San Gabriel zip code at Pets911: http://www.pets911.com/services/fera...75&search-zip=

If you'd like more resources, information, or help searching, please let us/me know.

Wouldn't be wise to assume that it is herpesvirus without a vet check. You can contact a local feral group rescue, tell them you will foot the vet bill for just this cat- they will come and trap and take it to the vet. Their funds are limited (more than likely) when someone steps up to the plate and offers financial assistance "most" groups will act quickly.

It could be herpes, it could also be as a result of a fight especially if this is a tom, because the toms go for the 'jowls' or cheeks and this can cause some major abscesses to work on the face. It could also be chlamydophila, corneal edema the list is long. Eye problems can go from minor to major in a blink of the eye (no pun intended) Contact the local group make financial arrangements only after the cat is in the trap. I have heard horror stories of people writing large checks to cover vet costs- the group vanishes and phone calls are ignored. Tell them once the cat is in the trap, you will pay for the vet bills only and the check is going to be made out to the vet treating the cat. If you want to make a separate donation to the group- that will help them respond even faster.

Best of luck

I just wanted to thank you for caring for lost/stray cats. I couldn't agree more with mrblanche, LDG's and Hissy's responses. I do give my cats the L-Lysine as I have some new additions and rescues into my home and as a result have had some minor URI's going on.

I am so far lucky (knock on wood) with my feral's, no one has been sick. I did have a barn feral who got quite ill after his TNR. I gave him 500 mg. of L-lysine for two weeks and he recovered and whether the Lysine helped, or the virus just ran it course, I felt I was doing something to help him.

I did have a cat come around my house a couple of years ago that had the same issue as your feral but worse. A big orange tabby tomcat. His eyes were so infected they were practically closed up and his ears were so filthy dirty I don't think he could hear. I started putting food out in the hopes of him coming back and trapping him and getting him medical. He did come back to eat and so I set a trap. I don't know if he couldn't see it or was just too smart to go in. I tried for a week straight but never saw him after day three, but kept trying for that whole week. He never came back. And after that I never saw him again, although I kept watch for awhile. I still wonder about him to this day, but I am sure he is gone. He was so very sick and I felt so terrible that I couldn't have saved him from suffering in his death. I really hope you can trap this cat and help him. It sounds like he needs you and you are doing a wonderful thing in wanting to help feral cats.

I don't have anything to add to LDG and Hissy's great advice, I just wanted to thank you for being so kind to these lost little kitties.

Good luck catching that guy! Are you off this weekend? Home Depot sells sturdy, inexpensive Havahart traps that are easy to set up. They collapse down for easy storage, too (I carry one in the trunk of my car and it takes up no room at all).

Again, thank you and good luck!

AC