Sick, possibly FIV+ Feral Kitten

I found a sick kitten in the car park of my local super market this afternoon. At first I thought she'd been hit as she way lying just in front of the front tyre of a parked car. I went over to say hi and she lifted her head up and mewed at me. Her eyes were completely crusted shut. I talked to her for a bit and she let me pet her, actually stood up and walked a few paces. I managed to find a cardboard box, used my sweatshirt to bundle her up in and took her to my vets, which is just round the corner.

The vet cleaned her eyes and ears, put her on a drip, gave her an injection to help with her breathing (She's very congested) and kept her for a few hours while I arranged a ride home for her. He thinks she's "almost certainly" FIV+, but I didn't have enough money on me to pay for the blood test right there and then.

Now she's at my place. As I don't know exactly what's wrong with her I've put her in my cat cage out on the deck, covered that cage with waterproof sheets and blocked the cage off so that the other cats can't go near. (Changed my clothes and scrubbed my hands too.) I'm hoping she'll eat on her own, if not I guess I'll try syringe feeding her tomorrow.

I think she's around 6 months old, possible a bit older and just very small and malnourished. 

Does anyone who has experience of FIV+ cats know what her chances might be? I've had an FIV+ cat before, but he was a much older feral tom who'd got infected by fighting.

Does the fact that she's so young and so sick already mean she'll stand less chance of recovering?

Thanks for any input.

I think it partly depends on whether the FIV has progressed into aids or not. I've only had adults with FIV. I'm sorry to say that once they'd progressed to being noticeably ill and struggling/unable to eat it was pretty much a death sentence. I'm so sorry, and I hope I'm wrong (the last FIV cat we had where the disease progressed was at least 13 years ago, and treatments have come on a lot since then).

At least this little girl has you now. She has a chance, which is more than she had this morning. I hope I'm wrong.

I have not had experience with FIV except in an adult.  He was in the advanced stages when he found me. 

I hope this kitten has a fighting chance and possible it is only a URI. 

If you need a really good nourishing meal that most cats love, try bone broth.  It does take 24 hours to make, but the first stage is done in about 4 hours.  It worked really well on Sadie.

Thank you both.

I'm hoping it's just a URI too. I've just been out to check on her and take her a hot water bottle and she's eaten all her food by herself. I'm feeding her wet kitten food at the moment, as her gums are inflamed, but she was able to polish off a whole can of tuna. I think that's a good sign.

Thanks for the tip about the chicken broth @ShadowsRescue  I'll make some of that tomorrow.

@LDG do you have any experience of FIV+ kittens?

Very good sign she is eating and eating by herself.  Kittens can get so sick with URI's and the fact that she is eating while so congested is really good. 

Will you get her a blood test in the future?

Keep us posted.  I am sending good thoughts your way.  Thank you for rescuing her and giving her a chance.  She definitely found the right person!

Fantastic that she's eating by herself. I really hope it isn't FIV. Definitely keep us posted.

Thanks, I'm very happy that she's able to eat too.

She'll definitely be seeing more of the vet. I'll see how she does this week, she may need something stronger to clear up her URI. The injection she had today was the same one Freya and Henry had when they had a URI. They were both limp and drooling when I picked them up and they both made a full recovery, so fingers crossed.

She'll need to be spayed when she is strong enough too. I wonder if the vet can do the FIV and FiLK blood tests while she's under the anaesthetic for a spay? They always cry so piteously when they have to have a blood test.

I'm sure they can do the blood test when they spay. If it were me, I'd want it doing sooner rather than later though. It could be a while before she's strong enough to operate on, and I'd want to know her situation because of the other cats. Just my two cents

I hope she gets over the uri soon, and that there's nothing major wrong. The vets were pretty sure Asha would be FIV or FeLV positive when they first saw her, but she turned out to be fine. There's always a chance. Mega for your little one. Do you have a name yet?

She's doing a lot better this morning. Her eyes are much clearer, her breathing is easier, she's used the litter box. (Only peed, but at least she knows what it's for.  ) She ate a huge breakfast and then purred while I petted her.



I'm sure she must have had a lot of human contact before. There are a couple of farm houses near where I found her that feed ferals, so I guess she came from one of them. I get paid on Friday, so I'm going to call the vet and see if I can take her down again sometime over the weekend, while I have the car. (I don't fancy taking her on the bus)

I might be off line for a few days while my computer gets serviced but I'll update with some pictures when I can.

No name yet, I have a few ideas though........

Oh wow. That purr must've been so good to hear. So glad she's doing better already. She's so lucky you found her :nod: I can't wait to see her pics

Such good news.  Hopefully she continues to improve.  Looking forward to knowing her name.

Day 1. Didn't want to come out of the cat cave but she'd let me pet her.


 Day 2.


Day 3. I've been trying to clean her up with a warm, damp cloth so that she'll groom herself. She's slowly getting the idea.


Day 4. All the way out of the cat cave for some cooked chicken.

Aw Happy!! 

She's wonderful, and so are you for helping her!! You have saved her life, and she will be fine now!! 

Lots of love and food, she will have the sense of belonging in this world, someone truly cares, wants her even! 

I love this!! 

Is she on clavamox? It sounds like you have experience with fiv, so as you know it takes a bit more vigilance to get her well again, but she will, and will never get to this extreme ever again.

Any kind of nutrical, lysine, immune system boosts are great too if possible.

I adore her face! She has so much depth to it, not exactly sure why I see this but I do. Lots of depth.

She's going to be a beauty once she recovers and grows new fur, eyes will be bright, peace on her face.

She's just beautiful Norachan :heart3: :love: :heart3: I can't begin to imagine how stunning she'll be when she's fit and strong again.
Happy is a perfect name for her. She's so lucky you found her. Great news that she's free from FeLV. At least FIV is manageable.

I want her!!!!!! :lol3:

Welcome to the clan Miss Happy!!!  She looks absolutely precious.  You were at the right place at the right time.  Keep us updated on her progress.  I bet she will be better in no time!!

Ah @Norachan, the great cat Goddess just puts these little gems in your path, doesn't she..

She sure does. I think there was some divine feline intervention at work when I found this one. I got the bus an hour earlier than usual. If I'd got my regular bus it would have been raining when I reached the shops and she would have moved. Also I always get off the bus and turn right but for some reason I got off and turned left. At the time I was thinking "Now, why am I going this way? What was it I was meant to do?" and then suddenly Happy was lying right in front of me.



@catwoman707  so far all she's had is an injection that's down on her record as Feline Influenza anti-inflammatory. It's worked wonders though, she's looking better every day. I've got drops for her eyes and nose and also some cream for her eyes. She's being very patient and lets me clean her up and give her the drops and cream several times a day.

Aww how sweet! That's because she loves having somebody care about her, she knows! 

God bless you, Norachan. I doubt Happy would have survived the hour had you not seen her and brought her home. She's got a will to live, doesn't she? I think she laid down knowing she would either die, or be rescued. And she was rescued!!!!

Her colors are neat. Does she have blue eyes? She appears to have Siamese in her or am I seeing wrong?

Happy was definitely meant for you Norachan :nod: Great to hear she's doing so well, and that she's being so patient with her treatment. I think you must be her guardian angel