Possible Parasites?

I just checked her respiratory rate - it is 81 per minute when the average should be 20-30. She doesn't want to eat tonight though she is sniffing at food as if she is hungry. I got some water and egg yolk down her with a syringe. I will get her to the vet at 8.30 in the morning.

Oh Jenny, I hopeing that all is going to be ok, my heart goes out to you. It just makes me cry to know someone pet is suffering and that you are also. You are in my thought and prayers

Got her to the vet, who has now given her a cocktail of antibiotics, glucose and something to make her cough. She ate a little tuna this morning and I got two syringe fulls of goat milk down her, plus some water. She is not interested in normal cat food so I will liquidise some and put that in the syringe. This is reliving the nightmare I had with Dushka two years ago, who almost died from pneumonia. But the same vet treated her, and I trust him. I did not like the way he looked at Persil and shook his head - I didn't dare ask anything. He will see her again tomorrow.

Can anyone tell me how much water a 16 week old kitten should have per day, roughly? She is about average size for her age. Then I can make sure she gets it, whether by drinking or by syringe.

I'm sorry that I can't help with the water question, but I have been checking in to see how Percil is doing and praying to see more positive progress

I came home at lunchtime and she has eaten a little. I have given her 10 ml of water in a syringe and will give her more in a little while, as she does not seem to want to drink and she is dehydrated. Her breathing is down to 76 per minute from 81 yesterday, not much but at least its the right direction. I have to teach so I will leave her to go back to college - I have isolated her in my room so I can better monitor what she eats and drinks. But Ellie does not understand why she can't see her playmate and keeps scratching at the door.

May we also assume your vet ruled out any cardiac issues?

I have no words to express how I feel. If love, prayers and good vibes will help this kitty, then all the love, prayers and good vibes in the world are coming your way.

I'll keep looking in to see how she's doing.

Thanks everyone. I have just got home and she is no worse, and has eaten a little during the afternoon, though not much. I have given her some more milk and water. I found out that she should have around 150 ml of water per day, so that is 15 full syringes . So far today I have given her 6, and she has maybe had another 2 in the liquid/food she has taken herself, so there is a long way to go.

Her breathing is still at the same rate, but she seems comfortable on a pillow under the radiator. We will see what the vet says tomorrow. Snow is falling fast so I hope the roads will be driveable in the morning.

My thoughts are with you and little Persil (what a perfect name)!
, little Persil!

At 7 PM Persil had 4 syringes full of liquidised IAMS kitten food (miracle of miracles, my vet had one bag - the first I have seen here!) and four hours later she has had 4 syringes of egg yolk and goat milk. She seems to have lost her dehydration and her flanks are not so caved in as they were. I will just feed her every 4 hours till she recovers her appetite. But poor little girl, she has started to hide from me - I hate being seen as the nasty lady who pokes her in the mouth with a syringe, though she is accepting the food. We haven't lost more than a few drops. If I can just keep her body strength up to fight this, then I hope the vet can work his magic with the right meds. Her breathing is still over 70 per minute, so there is a way to go.

Your precious Percil is in my thoughts and prayers. What a sweet little baby! God bless her!

Back from the vet, and he is cautiously optimistic, though still must see her daily. Her breathing rate is 60 this morning, and her whole body is not heaving when she breathes any more. She didn't want to lie down last night, but I woke up in the night and she was lying stretched out next to me, so that is a good sign. And she ate a few mouthfuls on her own, as well as enjoying three syringe fulls of 'kitty soup'. The vet gave her some subcutaneous glucose and saline, and another antibiotic coktail, but says she is not as dehydrated as she was. She is more aware too, and while not wanting to play with the cat dancer she sat and watched Ellie with interest. She is now sitting on my desk looking out the window at the snow. So maybe she has turned the corner. I will not get complacent though - I wish the weather were better as I hate taking her in the carrier, even with a towel over it. I can't park near the vet and I have a ten minute walk with her from the nearest car park. Thank you all for your support- it really helps.

Oh I hope she has turned the cornor for you she's such a sweet baby. And just as you are alway's supportive, that's what we want for you, and my and prayers are with you and your baby

That's good news - I'll continue to keep my fingers crossed. One of my classes consists almost entirely of cat lovers, and I told them about Persil (they loved the name, too), so they've promised to pray for her.
One thing I was wondering - Do you have central heating, or do you heat with wood-burning stoves or the like? It's been so cold that everybody is heating as much as possible, and some people/pets have respiratory problems due to the smoke and lack of humidity.

Originally Posted by jennyranson

she was lying stretched out next to me, so that is a good sign. I wish the weather were better as I hate taking her in the carrier, even with a towel over it. I can't park near the vet and I have a ten minute walk with her from the nearest car park. Thank you all for your support- it really helps.

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Thank God!

Originally Posted by jennyranson

I wish the weather were better as I hate taking her in the carrier, even with a towel over it. I can't park near the vet and I have a ten minute walk with her from the nearest car park. Thank you all for your support- it really helps.

Click to expand...

Just an idea - If you don't have one of those bean bags that you heat up in the microwave, try heating a bag of dry rice, beans or peas to the temperature you want. You may need to transfer it into a heavy duty ziplock first so it doesn't come through the plastic. Then, just cover with a towel and put in the carrier with her. It might help for a little while.

Thanks for the suggestion. She ate a small bit of boiled chicken tonight on her own and seemed to enjoy some IAMS 'soup and some egg-in-milk by syringe. She is still not playing though, and likes to sit on her cushion under the radiator. And yes, I do have central heating, added to which my house in on a hill in a side valley away from city pollution. Not that there is any industry in Sarajevo anyway though there is car pollution.

I can't think where this has come from, nor can the vet, though he says she may have been incubating it since I got her, two months ago. I was afrais at one point that it might be after-effects from the motor oil she was covered in when I found her, but I do not think that would take so long to show.

For your amusement, here she is, having a first bath to remove the oil:

Jenny - i'm glad Persil seems to have turned a corner.

Good to hear Persil is getting better! Still sending over good get well vibes!

Today's update is that the vet thinks she only needs a couple more daily visits, and he is pleased with her progress. Her appetite is coming back and she ate some chicken and then grabbed the end of my fast-food burek ( a kind of mincemeat roll in pastry)! Not good for her in normal circumstances but I am glad to see her eat anything. Her breathing is slowing down a bit but her lungs still hurt - she can't get really comfortable lying down. But all in all I am happy that she seems to be over the worst.

That is wonderful news Jenny and I hope it gets even more wonderful.