Help!! Cat Flu

Hello there

I was at my Dad's farm earlier today where I found a stray little kitten, he wasn't scared at all when he seen me in fact he came straight up. When I saw him up close his eye was sealed shut with a discharge, his nose was running and he was wheezing. I took him straight to the vets who diagnosed him with cat flu, they gave him antibiotics, drops and cream for his eyes.

He is only 3/4 weeks old and I think he was stranded from his Mum so I've decided to take him home and treat him. Has anyone elses cat had the flu? I think he has quite a severe case of the flu, will he be okay and is there anything else I can do to help him get better!! I've got kitten milk but he is very reluctant to take it, I've tried a dropper but he wheezes when I feed him.

Someone Please Help!

Thanks
Debbie

Kittens without their moms at such a young age can be very difficult to raise. It can be done though...so hang-in there. One of my adults had the flu and was also given antibiotics. Within 24-hours of medication, he was almost back to himself.

My kittens, who were bottled raised from birth, also had sticky eyes, runny noses with lots of sneezing. It became an URI but again with antiobiotics, they did a complete turn around within days.

My advice, is to administer those antiobiots from your vet., keep-up with the cream for his eyes and keep him warm (not hot).

At that age, he probably is not weaned and you may have to bottle-feed or use a dropper. When you try feeding him and he wheezes it is probably because it is hard for him to breathe...he is congested. Keep on trying...maybe try bottle feeding. He is very young.

There is hope for your little one...post back & let us know how he is doing.

Originally Posted by dm21

Hello there

I was at my Dad's farm earlier today where I found a stray little kitten, he wasn't scared at all when he seen me in fact he came straight up. When I saw him up close his eye was sealed shut with a discharge, his nose was running and he was wheezing. I took him straight to the vets who diagnosed him with cat flu, they gave him antibiotics, drops and cream for his eyes.

He is only 3/4 weeks old and I think he was stranded from his Mum so I've decided to take him home and treat him. Has anyone elses cat had the flu? I think he has quite a severe case of the flu, will he be okay and is there anything else I can do to help him get better!! I've got kitten milk but he is very reluctant to take it, I've tried a dropper but he wheezes when I feed him.

Someone Please Help!

Thanks
Debbie

Click to expand...

Debbie...bless you for rescuing this little one. Here is a site dedicated to taking care of orphaned kittens:

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/sick_kittens.html

www.kitten-rescue.com will help you with this process:


Here are some tips-

Buy a product called Little Noses at the grocery store, pour a little out in a small clean container, dip a q-tip into the mixture and carefully apply it to the nostrils of this wee one. You don't want to drop it in because of the age of this poor kitty. You can also buy a baby humidifier and set it up in the same room as the kitten not to close and use that to help with congestion.

Keep the kitten warm and out of drafts. When you feed him, just go drops at a time. Any amount of liquid in his mouth at this point is a victory. Don't go fast with him or he will aspirate.

Your worst enemies right now are dehydration and pneumonia. Any discharge from the nose or eyes needs to be wiped away gently with a warm, damp cloth. You also should be aware of secondary infections starting, especially if the kitten's mom was ill or the kitten didn't get that essential first milk. Instead of using a dropper, ask your vet for a feeding syringe, and when you feed, do this in a bathroom with the shower on hot filling the room with steam. Wrap the kitten up in warm towels (covering the head) when transporting back to his room-


Good luck!

Thank you all for your useful information, I will use it all straight away.

He's had a very stressful day and is fast asleep now - bless him! I'm going to do everything I can to make him better!!

I will keep you posted on this progress.

Many thanks again.
Debbie

Someone please help, I woke up this morning and my poor little kitty was hardly breathing, he has gone all limp and can't move!

I've got him in the bathroom with the water running to steam him, I've given him water but he doesn't look great. I've called the vet but they can't make it for ages yet (calfing season)!

I don't want him to die!

What else can I do?!?!!?

Oh, poor thing...I'm sorry no one was here when you posted again. Do you have any news? I would try to take your kitten to a different vet. If they're busy because of calving season, perhaps you could find someone who specializes in cats, or at least focuses on small rather than large domestic animals? I realize that might be difficult, depending on where you live.

Anyway, I really, really hope that the situation looks better for your kitten. I'm sorry I don't have any better advice. Please update us if you get a chance.

Hello there

Tom made it through the night but we took him to the vets today and they are keeping him in until he gets a bit stronger and is feeding a bit better.... I miss the poor little guy but he's with people who know what they are doing so it's the best thing for him.

They said they weren't sure what the outcome will be but they said with lots of nursing and TLC he might be okay. I really hope so!!

I will keep you posted on his progress over the next couple of days.

Debbie : )

Hello

Just to let you all know the bad news that Tom had to be put down yesterday, the flu had spread to his lungs and he was finding it hard to breathe. It was a heart breaking decision but it was for the best, I didn't want him to suffer.

It has been so hard letting go, although I only had him for a few days I really loved him.

Thank you all so much for your advice and support.

Debbie

Debbie, I am sorry you lost him. I believe you did the right thing in letting him go, and I am sure the vet was the one who guided you to that decision. When they are that young and are fighting fluids in the lungs, it really is a losing battle-

I have lit a bridge candle for him.

I am so sorry - I know how attached you got to him. But thank goodness at least he had you to make the right decision for him, and he was not left to suffer.

Condolences on the loss of little Tom. It is heartbreaking to lose one so tiny and sweet. Thank you for caring for him so kindly!

so sorry to hear about Tom, but at least someone cared about him enough to make sure he was no longer suffering.

Poor little Tom....I am so very sorry

Originally Posted by jennyranson

I am so sorry - I know how attached you got to him. But thank goodness at least he had you to make the right decision for him, and he was not left to suffer.

Click to expand...

Jenny is right. Thank heavens you found him & tried! You found him & tried to save him, you made his suffering less and did the best you could.

I think you did a great thing by taking him in and caring for him the way you did. I cried a little when I read you woke up to find him holding on to life so loosely. I'll light a candle for the little guy tonight.

rest in peace little tom

"Little Tom" left this world knowing the most important thing -- that he had been loved. One day another kitten will win your heart, and stay on to give you his lifetime of love.