- Joined
- Aug 30, 2005
- Messages
- 56
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We took in a momma and two kittens - neighbors found them playing in the street and since we're the crazy cat people and they don't care so much for cats,, they came to get us before the kittens got hit. Mom is young, under a year. Kittens are ?? The little girl looks to be around 9 weeks but her brother seems more like 13. We're splitting the difference for their paperwork.
Mom has already been spayed. She was being hormonal and switching between friendly and nasty, so we didn't waste any time. Kittens were weaned save for a suckle now and then, and when they fixed her they found she was already in heat again. They checked her out thoroughly and she made it through surgery extremely well. One of the best and fastest recoveries of an adult cat we've ever had, actually.
However, both mom and the kittens open-mouth pant a LOT. Mom was panting frequently, and I hoped it was just a stress reaction from being inside. The kittens I just noticed today - the little boy when he was laying down after playing and the girl when she was being a bit active.
Granted, it has been hot, but none of our other cats have ever panted like this in the summers. The only times I've seen it happen was with extreme activity, a couple always do during the car ride to the vets, and my baby who had asthma and COPD would pant often. I know it can happen, but the three of them all doing it so often and for what seems like no real reason is making alarms go off.
The shelter who is going to be finding them homes has had their vet check them out and they say nothing is wrong that they can find. Their stools came back clear as well, but I know that the rarer stuff like lungworm is hard to catch.
I guess I'm just trying to figure out if this really is something that can be watch and wait, or if I need to be pushing more for an answer. It could just be that since they're all related they all have a similar reaction to things. I'm concerned about it possibly being heartworm or lungworm, especially since mom is affected.. The three of them desperately need socialized with other cats if they're going to make it in the shelter (or if they stay
) , but I'm still a little worried about exposing our cats to something nasty so have been holding off for now, but we need to figure out something soon before they get too much older.
They're all at a perfect weight, bright eyed, active. Absolutely no other signs of anything being wrong, even while they are panting. Am I just overreacting?
Mom has already been spayed. She was being hormonal and switching between friendly and nasty, so we didn't waste any time. Kittens were weaned save for a suckle now and then, and when they fixed her they found she was already in heat again. They checked her out thoroughly and she made it through surgery extremely well. One of the best and fastest recoveries of an adult cat we've ever had, actually.
However, both mom and the kittens open-mouth pant a LOT. Mom was panting frequently, and I hoped it was just a stress reaction from being inside. The kittens I just noticed today - the little boy when he was laying down after playing and the girl when she was being a bit active.
Granted, it has been hot, but none of our other cats have ever panted like this in the summers. The only times I've seen it happen was with extreme activity, a couple always do during the car ride to the vets, and my baby who had asthma and COPD would pant often. I know it can happen, but the three of them all doing it so often and for what seems like no real reason is making alarms go off.
The shelter who is going to be finding them homes has had their vet check them out and they say nothing is wrong that they can find. Their stools came back clear as well, but I know that the rarer stuff like lungworm is hard to catch.
I guess I'm just trying to figure out if this really is something that can be watch and wait, or if I need to be pushing more for an answer. It could just be that since they're all related they all have a similar reaction to things. I'm concerned about it possibly being heartworm or lungworm, especially since mom is affected.. The three of them desperately need socialized with other cats if they're going to make it in the shelter (or if they stay
) , but I'm still a little worried about exposing our cats to something nasty so have been holding off for now, but we need to figure out something soon before they get too much older.They're all at a perfect weight, bright eyed, active. Absolutely no other signs of anything being wrong, even while they are panting. Am I just overreacting?
