PLEASE HELP!!!!

This kitten is older than I thought.

Will your parents take him to the vet for help?

He might make it if he can get antibiotics.

sarthur2 said:

This kitten is older than I thought.

Will your parents take him to the vet for help?

He might make it if he can get antibiotics.

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I really don't know if they would. My dad isn't coming home till Later and he has the car so I have no transportation either... & my anxiety is already on the rise

I don't mean tonight. I mean Monday if he makes it. He needs an antibiotic.

Do you have any tuna?

Or can you wet some dry food to soften and see if he will eat that? Leave it down for him tonight in your room?

How much pedialyte has he had?

And just keep your cat away from him and things should be fine. You need to put a litter box in your room for this cat. Even just a little pan or box with a bit of litter.

sarthur2 said:

I don't mean tonight. I mean Monday if he makes it. He needs an antibiotic.

Do you have any tuna?

Or can you wet some dry food to soften and see if he will eat that? Leave it down for him tonight in your room?

How much pedialyte has he had?

And just keep your cat away from him and things should be fine. You need to put a litter box in your room for this cat. Even just a little pan or box with a bit of litter.

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I have a can of wet food that I bought for him. I'm not sure how much he's had but I've been giving him often since the afternoon. I've been giving him plenty. He also peed like an hour ago also. Oh and I noticed that he's also drooling saliva..

Can you post a picture of him as he is now on this thread please?

Did you give him a litter box?

How much pedialyte have you given him?

I only have a few minutes. It's 2:30am here in Florida!

sarthur2 said:

Can you post a picture of him as he is now on this thread please?

Did you give him a litter box?

How much pedialyte have you given him?

I only have a few minutes. It's 2:30am here in Florida!

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I apologize for the time taken, but I really do appreciate your help.

I give him pedialyte little by little with a 10 ml syringe. He sometimes look like he's trying to gasp for air even though I give him a little bit.

Also it is very hot in my room. Will it be ok to turn on the fan?

Oh, Lord.

Is he sad looking. Very malnourished - very. It's no wonder he can barely eat. God knows when his last proper meal was.

He is at least 3 months old - maybe four. His back paws are big. He's probably been on his own and starving for awhile. On death's doorstep he is.

His breathing is bad because he is VERY ILL. He needs immediate care - antibiotics and fluids.

If your parents are unable or unwilling to help, he must get to a rescue organization fast.

Oh my....poor baby! I can't add anything more than Sarther2 has said, but wanted to say I hope he makes it over the weekend and you can get him to a vet! He is very sick

And yes, you may run your fan.

He probably feels awful - very infected. I cannot stress how badly he needs immediate medical care. You must get him help tomorrow somewhere!

Continue with the pedialyte - very slowly so he does not choke. Offer the wet food. I doubt he'll eat much because he is too ill. This is very sad.

If he survives he could be a very beautiful cat!

Thank you for bringing him home and attempting to give him a chance. At least he is off the streets now.

sarthur2 said:

And yes, you may run your fan.

He probably feels awful - very infected. I cannot stress how badly he needs immediate medical care. You must get him help tomorrow somewhere!

Continue with the pedialyte - very slowly so he does not choke. Offer the wet food. I doubt he'll eat much because he is too ill. This is very sad.

If he survives he could be a very beautiful cat!

Thank you for bringing him home and attempting to give him a chance. At least he is off the streets now.

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Tomorrow I will call rescue places and hope one will take him in. My heart is currently shattered because I feel so helpless. I feel guilty... I'll continue with the pedialyte. Wish us luck :'(

I take it your parents will not help, so please call. Perhaps if you tell the rescue that you will foster him and adopt him they will treat him and give him to you to care for. You must tell them he has a URI and appears malnourished. I believe he can be saved if he gets help quickly. You will need a ride to the rescue though.

I know you are doing your very best! Thank you!

Please give an update tomorrow!

I don't know about your area, but in mine a lot of vets have information about available rescues that might be able to help. Even calling a local er they might know of a er rescue group

hteft said:

I don't know about your area, but in mine a lot of vets have information about available rescues that might be able to help. Even calling a local er they might know of a er rescue group

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I live in LA. It's 3:30 in the morning and I'm up searching for rescue groups, & I can't find any. I can't stop stressing. I can not care for this kitten and I want him to have a chance at life. It makes me so upset.

Any luck yet finding a rescue?

How is the cat today?

sarthur2 said:

Any luck yet finding a rescue?

How is the cat today?

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He's still the same. However around 5 am he woke me up. He was wide awake, alert. He left the little bed I made for him and went straight to my door and starting meowing. That drew the attention of my other cat and they both started meowing at each other. He didn't want to go back to sleep after a while. Right now I'm feeding him more pedialyte.

As for the rescue, I still haven't had any luck. I was up basically all night searching online for rescue groups and most don't even have a phone number. I want to find one around LA who will have the open doors for him. The sooner he gets to a rescue group the more chance he has. I

Has the kitten eaten anything more? He really needs to eat.

Have you called an emergency vet number and asked if they have a phone number for a rescue?

sarthur2 said:

Has the kitten eaten anything more? He really needs to eat.

Have you called an emergency vet number and asked if they have a phone number for a rescue?

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I found only 2 hospitals that are open Sunday's. The first hospital had me on hold for a long time and then hung up on me, & the 2nd hospital does not have a phone number for a rescue group sadly

I understand your frustration, wanting to make this kitten better, but in reality you need to get him vetted. He has a low immune system right now and not getting enough nutrition will only make it worse and could potentially turn into pneumonia.

You said you have the kitten separated from your family cat. That's a good thing! Being a stray and not knowing the health of its mother, it 'could' be carrying distemper, herpes or calici virus. Not to mention fleas, ear mites, worms, or other parasites - all of which are easily transmitable to your cat. Be sure to wash any blankets/towels etc. in hot water every other day and after he recovers to get rid of any lingering virus or bacteria! (Note: do not treat him for fleas beyond 'combing them out'. Sick kittens cannot tolerate flea treatment!

Be SURE to wash your hands well with soap and water after handling the kitten and before handling your other cat! 

Pedialyte is good to give. Be sure it is unflavored - he might not enjoy 'grape'. 

Try giving him a few drops of warmed chicken broth/stock. Don't get the unsalted or low sodium; the salt will be good for him.

Pick up some natural or organic baby food that contains only meat (NO onions or garlic!). Warm it a bit and use your fingertip to place it in his mouth. You could also dilute it a little with the pedialyte or broth. He might not be able to chew right now, so more liquified foods would be better right now. 

Warmed food emits a stronger smell so he might be able to detect it. Be sure you test it on your wrist like you would with a baby bottle to ensure he doesn't get burned!

Take a wash rag and soak it in very warm salt water (not hot). Wring it out so it is damp - not dripping and not so dry - and hold it across the bridge of his nose. The moist heat will loosen up the nasal mucous and the salty (saline) vapors will help loosen things up.

Children's saline drops might also help. Be sure whatever you buy is free of medications - you just want plain saline. Lavage his nostrils just like you would with a human infant to loosen the mucous. Do this about twice a day - three times if needed. 

L-Lysine might also help. For dosaging, I would call a vet (any in the phone book) and explain your situation. They might give the parameters for dosaging and might even offer or recommend free or low-cost services. Call several different vets and pet hospitals. They might even have payment plans.

Regardless of any improvement, the kitten DOES need to be seen by a vet; and the sooner the better. The first 24 hours are crucial!

I took the liberty of Googling "low cost or free veterinary clinics in Los Angeles, California".

You might want to start here: Orange County: The Orange County SPCA's Pet Rescue Fund provides financial assistance for homeless and rescued animals, as well as pets of low-income residents of Orange County. Call (714) 374-7738. If tehy can't help you, they can probably refer you to someone who can.

I hope this helps!

You did not say whether he has eaten anything today.

And how much pedialyte is he getting?

sarthur2 said:

You did not say whether he has eaten anything today.

And how much pedialyte is he getting?

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He still refuses to eat sadly. I'm giving him a little more than 10 ml of pedialyte every hour and surprising he's not spitting it out as much as before..


Sorry for the late reply. I've been busy between caring for kitty and calling around hospitals and rescue groups and unfortunately I'm not having any luck with that. I'm so frustrated and feel guilty because I can not give it the care it needs. I do not regret saving him from off the streets, but it is quite stressful because I feel helpless.