How can I protect my other cat?

lallorona · Aug 22, 2015

I posted another thread about a small kitten I found on the street who looks seriously ill. I did not have the heart to leave it to die: I found it sleeping next to a trash can and people who walked by just looked at him but did nothing. And I wasn't going to allow this small cat to be out in the streets so I brought it home. He's approx. 6-8 weeks old. His eyes and nose where full of discharge and I wiped it off. All he does it sleep, refuses to eat and I think he may have a runny nose. I googled the symptoms and I'm suspect he may have an upper respiratory infection and I read it's contagious. Im currently giving him fluids and I am doing every thing I can to nurse him. However, I do not have money to take him to a vet, I barely have enough for my other cats needs and I'm currently looking for rescue organizations. I'm currently keeping the kitten in my room and letting my cat in the living room. I'm worried about whether my cat may also contract this infection and I'm wondering what can I do to keep my other cat safe?

stephenq · Aug 23, 2015

lallorona said:
I posted another thread about a small kitten I found on the street who looks seriously ill. I did not have the heart to leave it to die: I found it sleeping next to a trash can and people who walked by just looked at him but did nothing. And I wasn't going to allow this small cat to be out in the streets so I brought it home. He's approx. 6-8 weeks old. His eyes and nose where full of discharge and I wiped it off. All he does it sleep, refuses to eat and I think he may have a runny nose. I googled the symptoms and I'm suspect he may have an upper respiratory infection and I read it's contagious. Im currently giving him fluids and I am doing every thing I can to nurse him. However, I do not have money to take him to a vet, I barely have enough for my other cats needs and I'm currently looking for rescue organizations. I'm currently keeping the kitten in my room and letting my cat in the living room. I'm worried about whether my cat may also contract this infection and I'm wondering what can I do to keep my other cat safe?

He needs food plus medicines from a vet. Hand feeding from a syringe isn't generally difficult especially with a sick kitten. There are many links on youtube, here is one:
Keep them apart fro each other and wash your hands between contact. I would also suggest possibly wearing a smock or apron when handling the sick kitten.

mrsgreenjeens · Aug 23, 2015

Doing as StephenQ suggests is about all you can do to try to prevent cross infection.

As to getting the kitten to eat, try heating up the stinkiest wet food you can find (probably a fish flavored one) so that it really smells. Often cats with upper respiratory infections don't eat because they can't smell the food. If that doesn't help, you can also put him in a steamy bathroom to see if that will help break up the stuffiness in his nose. Keep him warm and dry

Good luck and thank you for rescuing this little one. Hopefully one of the rescues will take him.. We had two kittens on our doorstep about 6 years ago, and it was the 4th of July weekend. I called around and no one would take them that would guarantee they wouldn't be killed if not adopted. Guess what? You can see their adult pictures in my Avatar and below. We LOVE them with all our hearts. I guess it was meant to be. (but I understand that monetarily it's not in the cards for you right now

) Maybe this link will help you there: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/155462/cant-afford-a-vet-please-read

fluffscruff · Aug 23, 2015

I have a bunch of home remedies collected from when my kitten was a stray with a URI, lol.

I used to flush her eyes out once a day with plain saline solution; there are eye rinse brands for cats, but I just used the "saline solution for sensitive eyes" store brand that I had on hand. Though, it's basically just salt water, so you may be able to make it at home yourself. I gave l-lysine supplements because I was told that it helps with URIs. There are flavored l-lysine chews, pastes, and powders for cats that you could mix into food or give by itself. Some folks swore that rubbing apple cider vinegar diluted with water between the kitty's shoulder blades once a day would help clear up the goopy eyes, lol, so I tried that. I fed her high-calories nutri-cal paste a bit at a time (just rubbed it onto her teeth or her tongue), just to get some calories in her. Raw egg yolk (just the yolk, not the whites) is high calorie, great for kitties (though, of course, it's not nutritionally complete), and can be fed with a dropper/syringe. Stinky wet food! I would heat up wet food for 5 to 10 seconds (any longer than then that and some parts would get burning hot, or it'd explode in the microwave..) and that'd be enough to get her sniffing and eating.

URIs are usually viral and should clear up after 1 or 2 weeks. She's likely to need a vet for antibiotics if she has a fever and the discharge from her eyes and nose is deep yellow to green, and the big red flags would be if she develops things like coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, pale gums. Good luck!

lallorona · Aug 23, 2015

fluffscruff said:
I have a bunch of home remedies collected from when my kitten was a stray with a URI, lol.
I used to flush her eyes out once a day with plain saline solution; there are eye rinse brands for cats, but I just used the "saline solution for sensitive eyes" store brand that I had on hand. Though, it's basically just salt water, so you may be able to make it at home yourself. I gave l-lysine supplements because I was told that it helps with URIs. There are flavored l-lysine chews, pastes, and powders for cats that you could mix into food or give by itself. Some folks swore that rubbing apple cider vinegar diluted with water between the kitty's shoulder blades once a day would help clear up the goopy eyes, lol, so I tried that. I fed her high-calories nutri-cal paste a bit at a time (just rubbed it onto her teeth or her tongue), just to get some calories in her. Raw egg yolk (just the yolk, not the whites) is high calorie, great for kitties (though, of course, it's not nutritionally complete), and can be fed with a dropper/syringe. Stinky wet food! I would heat up wet food for 5 to 10 seconds (any longer than then that and some parts would get burning hot, or it'd explode in the microwave..) and that'd be enough to get her sniffing and eating.

URIs are usually viral and should clear up after 1 or 2 weeks. She's likely to need a vet for antibiotics if she has a fever and the discharge from her eyes and nose is deep yellow to green, and the big red flags would be if she develops things like coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, pale gums. Good luck!

Thank you for your comment

I have already taken the kitty to a vet and he's on antibiotics right now

prayers for Anubis plz!

jenny82 · Aug 24, 2015

lallorona said:
Thank you for your comment I have already taken the kitty to a vet and he's on antibiotics right now

prayers for Anubis plz!

That's great! I hope he feels better soon. Please let us know how he's doing

lallorona · Aug 24, 2015

mrsgreenjeens said:
Doing as StephenQ suggests is about all you can do to try to prevent cross infection.

As to getting the kitten to eat, try heating up the stinkiest wet food you can find (probably a fish flavored one) so that it really smells. Often cats with upper respiratory infections don't eat because they can't smell the food. If that doesn't help, you can also put him in a steamy bathroom to see if that will help break up the stuffiness in his nose. Keep him warm and dry

Good luck and thank you for rescuing this little one. Hopefully one of the rescues will take him.. We had two kittens on our doorstep about 6 years ago, and it was the 4th of July weekend. I called around and no one would take them that would guarantee they wouldn't be killed if not adopted. Guess what? You can see their adult pictures in my Avatar and below. We LOVE them with all our hearts. I guess it was meant to be. (but I understand that monetarily it's not in the cards for you right now ) Maybe this link will help you there: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/155462/cant-afford-a-vet-please-read

What beautiful little babies you have there. So glad their forever home was right in front of them!!

Baby boy has already seen a vet. He's on antibiotics so hopefully he recovers soon!

mrsgreenjeens · Aug 24, 2015

Glad he's been to the Vet and is on antibiotics. I see you've named him......wonder if that means something

Perhaps he's founds his furever home too!

lallorona · Aug 25, 2015

mrsgreenjeens said:
Glad he's been to the Vet and is on antibiotics. I see you've named him......wonder if that means something Perhaps he's founds his furever home too!

Well actually no. There's no meaning why I named him Anubis haha I just think it sounds cool! I like the -is at the end.

now I regret naming my female cat princess. I should've named her "Bastet" (the Egyptian cat goddess) but I found out about her years later :/ I could've have my little Egyptian God/goddess pair... However I noticed Anubis has long ears like the Egyptian God himself. Haha

How can I protect my other cat?

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