One of my kittens has limping kitten syndrme?? Anyone familiar with this strain of Calici?

Limping and fever. That's it, although Clara's eyes were a bit watery last night I noticed. I put Terramycin in them.

I just reread again the info from hissy, are you saying the limping is a severe strain of calici? Is there some way to know what strain,mutation?

Sorry, I'm trying to brace myself for the hurricane ahead. I have so many to lose.

Honestly, hun, I don't think there's any way to know. And since you've no way to quarantine them from the others, and the virus is already ... "in" the foster's room.... I think just do your best to keep those that are sick separate. Do what you can to minimize you passing the virus from one set to another within the foster room despite the kittens already having played and passed it around... obviously do your best to prevent bringing it outside the foster room now that you know....

Provide those that are sick with the care you can.... Perhaps call the vet tomorrow to discuss your question about the vaccination.

....and let's just hope and pray it isn't the really virulent mutation.

Yes I will...although my personal cats, plus Hope (that's in the playroom) and my husbands cats are all vaccinated.

Are they protected do you know? OMG this is the worst.

I am simply sharing my experiece with this disease. Before a few years ago (I have been rescuing 30 plus years now) I never saw this type of calici in any fashion. No one can tell you what will happen- really not even a vet. The diseases seem to stay ahead of the game because they mutate and can be resistant to antibiotics. Just like with people who get C-Diff or MYRSA many of the drugs of today won't affect the disease. I always saw Calici that was strictly URI and at times oral ulcers. When you rescue stray kittens it is to your advantage and those you care for to have a separate room for the new kittens- a quarantine room and to keep them away from the others until you can get them vet-checked and vaccinated. Even after vaccination, you need to keep them away from the general cats and kittens for three more days so the vaccines can kick in.  I don't cage my kittens or cats unless they are ill- but I have a quarantine room for the newcomers and still do get diseases here that spread fairly quickly. You just do the best you can and breathe slow and try not to "what if" or worry yourself to death.That won't help the matter and could even make you sick. There are other reasons that kittens limp or don't feel good- lots of bacterial infections around for kittens outside to pick up- so this might not even be calici. I am not a vet and I don't play one on the Internet.In a situation such as you describe - I would be searching for a good feline specialist in my area and take the kittens in for the feline specialist to examine. That is what I would do-

Again I wish you luck-

Hissy, I am very grateful for taking the time to give your imput from personal experience, as I obviously have only known the URI and mouth ulcers as well, so any information will only give me knowledge, whether this is, or is not the same, and I always appreciate knowledge! Of course I am hoping not..

As you had stated I seem to be reading about several new and resistant strains as well. Scary to say the least.

What points me to calici in the first place is when I simply typed into google-kitten limping with fever, and saw alot of calici, calici, calici.

There really isn't any other reasons other than injury, which was ruled out when I saw the first kitten Clara limping on the other foot the second day. That was my red flag.

Now at this point with all 6 of the kittens down, I am pretty convinced it is very likely calici. What type, and the outcome will have to be seen to know, I understand.

It is all hitting pretty hard, and I might sound a bit freaked out here -I am.

All I can do now is what I am doing, and alot of good vibes can't hurt either.

It's times like now that make me question how life works, and why. I've been here before, and I know how unfair it all can be. When you work so hard to take the pain and suffering away from living creatures, well it just shouldn't go the way it does sometimes. I remember last year dealing with Panleuk, I thought that was about the worst I could go through. I could have lost 20 at that time, and lost 4.

Hissy, Laurie (what a gem you truly are) catnamedpanda, and anyone else here, I thank you.

I will update regularly on how this develops and please wish us luck.

The last kitten to come down with this illness, Daphne, just gave me a confirmation that this is indeed calici, she has a mouth ulcer right in front so it was easy to spot tonight.

  This is Daphne                                                                          


Baby Rosie


Dapper Dan


Fiona


Mimi - (with Daphne)


And then of course Clara posted above. Just felt like I needed them to meet you all. These are the babies. Crazy I just took these pics a few days ago. Now they are not looking so chipper.

Hoping for them to recover.

Beautiful babies. It is crazy how one day they will be playing healthy kittens and then the next just so sick. I'm praying your babies come through this and no one else in the foster room gets sick too. Hang in there.

Thank you! Me too...

I am a professional cat breeder with an Internationally known Cattery. Calici is quite common in youngsters. For the most part, it will run its course in just a few days without vet intervention, but with supportive care from you. Recently, a fostered litter of eight all came down with Calici, one at a time, over the course of several days. Three needed help in and out of the litter box. Most of them had minimal limping, but three of them went down pretty hard, not able to walk at all. Within a week, all eight were back on their feet and back into everything they could reach.

Make sure to push fluids (sub-q, or under the skin administered) if not drinking enough to remain well hydrated. To test hydration level, pick skin up on the back of the neck, let it go. If skin does not snap back into place, your baby is dehydrated and needs help. You can either carefully syringe water, or go to your vet for a bag of fluids and needles. This is scary at first, but very easily done at home. Have the vet tech show you how, and even have you do your baby while at the vet's office. It's easy...once you get over being nervous.

If kitten/cat isn't eating, and refuses food...this is unacceptable. Buy a couple of jars of Gerber, or BeechNut...ONLY these two brands are safe for kittens. Using a 3 ml syringe, draw the baby food up into the syringe, and *carefully* syringe small amounts into your baby's mouth. Be armed with paper towels, or a damp rag, as this can be very messy if your baby truly does not want to eat. Don't take 'no' for an answer. Nutrition is just as vital as water.

If you are seeing mouth ulcers, or sores, then you need a vet's help. If fever is persistent for more than a few days, or reaches 104+, you need a vet's help. Taking baby's temp is easy. Use a flexible tip thermometer, dip the tip into Vaseline, and gently insert the bulb into baby's anal opening. Don't go more than past the bulb, though. Normal temp ranges from 101-102; anything 103 or higher is considered a fever. Fluids are very important if fever is present as kittens will dehydrate quickly.

When in doubt, always go to your vet. Better safe than sorry. Over the years, I have learned many vetting skills, and can now even diagnose simple illnesses, and treat them; and also give my own vaccinations. This knowledge has been gained over a decade of vets graciously and freely educating me. Never be afraid to ask questions. Most vets welcome an owner who is caring and wants to truly learn how to do some of the simple things at home.

The unfortunate side effect of Calici is that once infected, that kitten can remain a carrier for life, thereby shedding the virus and infecting those around it. Your only defense is to make sure that all your furkids are vaccinated with their core vaccines...calici, rhino, and panleukopenia (distemper). Keep litter boxes, sleeping areas and feeding stations as clean as possible. This will minimize exposure and re-infection. Wash dishes in hot soapy water daily; completely change and wash litter boxes weekly, more often if someone is having 'issues' and making messes in the boxes. Rule of them is one box per kitten/cat, plus one extra.

Regards,

Amorino Cattery

Thank you procatbreeder for your information.

I have been rescueing for many years and have gained a ton of knowledge as well, I know about supportive care, giving sub q's, vaccinating, and all the other things associated with health and nutrition, illnesses/diseases, etc.

I am keeping them all hydrated using KMR in a syringe. I am also giving them each 0.15ml of clavamox.

I am familiar with calici, but in the form of an uri, not a fever and limping, so this is my biggest concern, as I am finding out there are many forms/strains of calici, and some are not simple viruses that need to take their course, but rather ones that are resistant to antibiotics, and that scares me, I know how common calici can turn into pneummonia without antibiotics. And they are so young, they are prime targets.

I appreciate your information very much!

Sounds like what Cassie had when I first brought her home. She refused to walk, feverish and refused to eat. When she did walk, she'd limp and immediately sit down as if her legs hurt. She also had pink eye too, but no URI. I had a thread somewhere around here.

When I took her to the vet, she said Cassie had a virus that affected the joints. I forgot what she called it, so I can't say if it was the same as Calici or not, but what I am reading, sounds the same. The vet gave me Clavamox to give her and she was bounding in days.

I hope your kitties has a speedy recovery!!

Continued vibes for the babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :heart2:

FYI, I no longer use Gerber's baby food. I don't know when they added cornstarch to it, but it was between the last time I bought it (some time last year) and the last time I went to buy some (a few months ago). I'd pass on the Gerber's and only use Beechnut at this point, if you need to offer baby food.

Oh how I love to hear this! It might not be the same, but is likely all calici. I am looking for reassurance that things will get better and not worse. Hopefully mine will have as good of an end result. Thanks!

How are they doing? I should have asked earlier. I know it might be early to see any changes, but..... and hopefully no one else seems to be coming down with it? :cross:

My Masq was the same way a few days ago, limping on a diffrent foot, lethargic, HIGH fever, hardly eating or drinking. turns out he was constipated, he got a vaccination for the virus he had, and cool baths to help break the fever, hes still got a limp and i had to force him to drink so he didnt dehydrate... poor guys though, best of luck

I am thrilled to share the news...Clara and Baby Rosie are improving by the hour. First Clara, then Rosie, it looks like it's not the really bad form of calici. I am so relieved and thankful!! Woohoo!

Thats awesome! I'm so glad to hear they are doing better.

Thank you, oh so am I. Maybe I worried too much-no scratch that I had never seen kittens suddenly limp, not want to stand, just sort of drop like ragdolls with a high fever before, and I have so many at risk since there were no signs of illness at all, they had played together, etc. so it could have been very, very bad.

Each kitten season I have had loss, and it's never any easier, mostly things I can't fix or have any control over, so near to the end of this yrs season I can't bare to lose anymore.

Other threads this year of mine were the loss of Fernando kitten, oh that was so tragic, the feral mom I still have here who ate one of her kids at 3 weeks old, pretty hard to take that one, and Hope, one by one we lost all 7 of her preemies and nearly lost her from pneummonia.

It's all part of rescue, as we all know too well, we just learn to accept it, but it doesn't ever get easier.

I slept like a rock last night for the first time in nearly a week, as I am confident they will all be just fine. It's like clockwork, the first one to get sick is getting well first, then the next one Rosie, then little boy Dapper Dan is getting better, and so on. Daphne who was last to go down is still the sickest, she will be last to recover but it's okay, as long as I know she and the rest will! 

Laurie thats good to know, I often times need to prompt kittens to eat and use the gerber chicken. I don't recheck the label assuming it stays the same. Good to know!

catwoman707 said:

I am thrilled to share the news...Clara and Baby Rosie are improving by the hour. First Clara, then Rosie, it looks like it's not the really bad form of calici. I am so relieved and thankful!! Woohoo!

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WHAT FABULOUS FABULOUS NEWS!!!!!!! Oh I can't tell you what a relief it is to hear this! Well - I guess YOU know! :lol3:

Continued :heart2: