sneezes and growth spurts

I adopted my girls, Dixie and Georgia, about a month and a half ago. They were both bailed out of the shelter in mid-June by a rescue group and received their shots, were spayed and given a clean bill of health at that time. They lived in a foster home until I adopted them mid-August.

Question #1:
Georgia, who is about 2 years-old, has sneezed 2-3 times a day since she got here. They are single sneezes, not sneezing fits, and they're not juicy. No abnormal discharge from her eyes (though occasionally she has normal brown crusties.) Everything in the litterbox looks fine, she eats well, is active. I plan to take them to see a vet for a general check in the next month or so. Do you think this is more urgent than that? Could it be something in the air that's causing it? I've been sneezing fairly frequently in recent weeks myself.

Question #2:
Dixie, who the shelter aged at 3 years and the rescuer aged at 1 year (I've decided she's turning 2 on Halloween as a compromise), apparently was in the shelter with a litter when she was rescued 3 1/2 months ago (I assume her babies were close to weaned and adopted out). She has GROWN a lot in the last 2-3 weeks. I'm not at all concerned, as she's probably all of a whopping 6 1/2 lbs now, but I was wondering, how long do kitties continue to grow? My childhood cats were all full-grown when we adopted them at around this age. Is she a late bloomer?

Thanks!

Melanie

I volunteer for a no-kill foster-in-the-home rescue group and know of their limited funds for taking care of their foster cats. Every rescue group will handle testing cats differently depending on the money and resource available to them (most live on next to nothing). When they gave yours a clean bill of health, I couldn't be sure what they checked out and didn't. I suggest you call the rescue group and ask what specific tests they ran (e.g. they could have run an FIV/FeLV test but no distemper), what type of vet care did they receive, and what specific vaccinations were given to them? If in doubt, a screening by your vet on any cat from a rescue group is a good idea.

I have cats that start sneezing at the same time I do each year and quit when I do. I know them well enough to expect it from them. It can be normal, but without history on Georgia, hard to tell. By your description, I wouldn't be panicking.

Is your Dixie girl growing because she is regaining weight that she lost as an abandoned cat, or is she actually growing in length/height? I've never seen cats grow in length/height much beyond a year. She might just be regaining her health. Some foster homes can get crowded and while tremendously better than being caged in a shelter, they are not always the ideal environment for recovering from a shelter. Goes back to limited funding, limited volunteers, and too few homes for all the homeless out there.

btw, you are an angel for taking in 2 rescues!

Thanks for answering!

Their rescuer gave me the spay certificates for both of them and certificates/receipts for FIV and FeLV tests, negative on all counts. What exactly is distemper? I'll be sure to ask the vet to do a test.

It SEEMS like she's growing longer and taller, but I might just be imagining that because she's filled out so much. You're right, it's probably just her regaining weight she lost as a stray.

I'm relieved to hear I don't have to rush out tomorrow! I just moved out here 2 weeks before I adopted them and don't even have a doctor of my own yet, but I'll definitely call one of the vets the rescuer recommended next week and see when I can get them in.

Anything else you suggest I ask him/her?

I really feel like the lucky one to have them in my life.

Thanks again for your advice!

Melanie

Distemper is another name for the Panleukopenia virus. Symptoms (depression, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea) typically show within a few weeks of exposure - yours have been out of their previous environment long enough to not worry you (was using it as an example). It is prevented by one of the vaccinations given to cats each year.

I would talk to your vet about internal parasites - some may not show obvious signs of an internal parasites and a stool sample should be in order. My rescue group is great at fleas, mites, roundworms and hookworms, but doesn't treat for coccidia unless there are symptoms. These can be found with a stool sample. Again, not sure what the rescue group gave your babies.

Also confirm with the rescue groups which vaccinations were given or not. Our group does not give rabies and FeLV vaccinations, but give most of the others. You can talk to your vet on which shots are best given your personal environment to supplement what they have already received.

I looked at their paperwork and they got FVRCP and Rabies shots at the shelter, and got the Drontal/Advantage treatment. I think they're fine on vaccines for the moment, as they're indoor kitties, but I'll seek the vet's counsel.

In fact, I'll print this thread out before I go to the vet so I can remember to ask him/her about the things you've mentioned.


Dixie and Georgia thank you very much (as do I)!

Melanie

Drontal will treat tapeworms, but something like Panacur or Stongit will treat roundworms and hookworms. Advantage only treats fleas. The biggest problem that I have with my rescues are internal parasites - definitely start there.

About that sneesing , it also could be that you have very try air in your house . You said you snees lately too right . And also maybe pollen in the air can cause that too , for you and the cat .