Found stray baby in a parking ramp...

So...We found "Pumpkin" in a parking ramp at Mayo Clinic yesterday ( I think his Momma was trying to get him seen ).

We kept him isolated from the other cats until I could get him to the vet today. He had very nasty discharge from his eyes, and a lot of sneezing. He is also limping and favoring his back left leg.

Took him to the vet today. Poor little guy has calicivirus and lots of worms...They gave him subq fluids. We have antibiotics, eye ointment, wormer, and hills a/d. They estimate him to be 4-5 weeks old. I will take a picture in a minute...he has been sleeping since we got home from the vet, but will have to wake him soon to feed him.

Anyone with experience with calicivirus?...I'm under the impression it's like a kitty flu?...

crimmie said:

Anyone with experience with calicivirus?...I'm under the impression it's like a kitty flu?...

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An 'easy read' for you (from a very reputable author): http://harpsie.com/cat_flu.htm#feline_calici  

I forgot to mention his weight... 1.16lbs
Does that sound about on track for a 4-5 week old, worm infested, sick stray? :rub:

Pumpkin is adorable. Yay ginger tabbies! [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

Bless you for caring for this little one. I've no experience with kittens so don't know about the weight - just wanted to say, well done! [emoji]127775[/emoji]

How could I say no? Look at him! :lol3:
Poor little guy :heart2:

crimmie said:

How could I say no? Look at him!

Poor little guy

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I don't think any of us could say no. He is precious. Thank you for helping him. He's very lucky that a caring person like you came along when you did. Did you see the momma cat at all?

@sarthur2  @StefanZ  @catwoman707  

Yes, just about right for a stray 5 week old's weight.

I do have plenty of experience with calici, unfortunately!

It's the one that tends to turn in to pneumonia in kittens, makes a sore mouth and paws from ulcer sores, another form is limping kitten calici, and no doubt he has this one also.

Limping form is so odd to see, yet it clear up so easily and fast. 3 days it takes from start to finish as the virus runs it's course.

You might notice his limp switches legs.

He will sleep constantly, but it's very important to syringe feed and keep well hydrated.

Here's one of the litter who first showed the limping calici, each sib came down with it too.


This was a plastic shoebox I made as a hidey hole they would play on and in, she took it over while sick. Poor little punkin.

Anyway, the eyes will heal if you stay on top of those eye meds, the antibiotic will help get him through the uri part, just keep well hydrated and syringe fed.

Poor things, such a rough start in life......

So glad they found you!

No Momma
He is eating very well, a mixture of kitten formula and a/d. He has peed twice tonight. We are all locked up tight in the bedroom :lol3:
I worry about carrying the virus on my clothes to Crimmie and Doug. Crimmie has *just* recovered from a very serious condition...e-tube and sub q fluids at home...I don't want to expose them to Pumpkin's illness(s). Pumpkin is isolated, but i have been reading that we can carry it on our clothes and so on...How do I prevent it from getting to the other cats?!

Thank you so much for your reply @catwoman707

It is in the fvrcp vaccine, so as long as they had their kitten vacs they are good.

No problem

They did...but that was several years ago. Do they require a booster at all?

UC Davis says if they were fully vaccinated as kittens then for their 1 year, they are protected for life as much as they ever will be.

I work directly with Dr. Kate Hurley.

catwoman707 said:

UC Davis says if they were fully vaccinated as kittens then for their 1 year, they are protected for life as much as they ever will be.

I work directly with Dr. Kate Hurley.

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So, pardon my ignorance...but does that mean my vaccinated cats don't need to be separated from this sick baby?

No ignorance, I wasn't clear 

Personally, I would tend to use some amt of precautions like using hand sanitizer after dealing with her, before interacting with yours or everything else in the home you would touch, just to not all out contaminate everything with the virus.

But the bottom line is, while there is no such thing as 100% protection, it is very close to it.

The chance of yours getting her illness is VERY slim to none, the slim would be nothing like her full blown outbreak either.

Her weak and unprotected immune system being immature as it is, is why she is sick with this.

Probably from her mom as far as that goes too.

crimmie said:

No Momma

He is eating very well, a mixture of kitten formula and a/d. He has peed twice tonight. We are all locked up tight in the bedroom

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Some sort of a good probiotic never hurts, esp as he gets antibitics...  BeneBac is made especially for kittens, but evan a mild plain youhurt, whith added acidophilus and bifidus bacteria, is useful...

There are also other commercial good probiotics.

If you can get unpasteurized) goat milk , raw or frozen, it cat harm but may be good.   That advice is sound in many occasions...  So you arent the only one whom get it.

You can give it main food, or as extra.  It too works as a some sort of natural probiotic, containing interesing enzymes and antibodies... Them not destroyed in the pasturizing and fat standarding process of bottled milk.

Poor little guy has some icky poops
Every time he poops it's a mess. Like a have to give him a bath type of mess I think the a/d is way too rich for his tiny tummy. I'm considering sticking to the KMR and mixing it with Royal Canin Baby Cat, and then the RC dry also mixed with KMR.
I know it's all a lot for his itty bitty system...antibiotics, wormer, KMR, a/d...
My Daughter and I constructed a kitty ICU for him using 2 large cardboard boxes. It keeps him safe when we can't be in direct view of him, and also helps with how much I have to clean up when he poops :lol3:

Oh he is so darn cute!! I LOVE his condo too! Very creative

KMR, dry babycat and a probiotic while on antibiotics.

If no probiotic (like fortiflora or benebac) then a spoon of plain yogurt a day will help balance out the tummy.

It will get better just with sticking with the foods I mentioned too.

The canned will cause messy poop, and babycat is very good for him too!

Crimmie you are doing such a nice thing - I'm so happy that you saved this little baby!

And I also love the kitty ICU that you created - it looks great!

Are you planning on keeping him or getting him well and into a rescue/humane society?   Whatever the case, you've done such awesome work!!   

Oh he is a keeper!

Oh, he is SO sweet. Love the tummy shot!