I think my kitten is sick

I think she might have FIP

I took her (Smokey) out of her box this morning (she sleeps in a cat kennel in the family room, she'll start climbing the walls and knocking stuff over if she's out) and she looked fine at first. Then I noticed that on her right eye, the bottom eyelid was covering half her eye (there was some extra residue in ther corner too, kind of whiteish not the normal eye booger). When I was holding her to get a better look, she started mewing and then hissed at me. She NEVER does that, she always purrs in the morning when I go get her food. I let her go and she ran off. I found her again in the bottom shelf of the linen closet resting. I'm really worried about her, she was in perfect health yesterday.

I had gone to visit my sister's house and she had a kitten that died from FIP like 3 months ago. When I came home I washed my hands and changed clothes before I held her. I heard that the virus could live for several weeks on the environment, but 3 months? I remember that my sister's kitten who had FIP had eye problems too, and I read that symptoms can be sudden. My sister has a new kitten she adopted that she just got shots for yesterday, and she is perfect, I don't see how her kitten could be fine even though she lives in same house and I somehow transferred FIP to my cat by picking her up.

My kitten is only about 4 months old, I found her in my backyard when she was barely two weeks old (her eyes were open but could barely stand). We had heard her crying for a few days, I thought it was a bird at first before I checked it out. I had to bottle feed her and do that manually poop thing. I haven't gotten her shots yet, she has been in the house ever since and has had no contact with other cats so I didn't think it was necessary. I was planning on taking her to the vet sometime this week or next.

I'm hoping its just some type of eye infection or something treatable. She has a litter box in the box she sleeps in, maybe thats what caused it. I really hope so, I'm only 17 and can't afford any expensive treatments and my parents don't want to spend a lot of money on her.

Sounds like she has a fever. I would get her to the vet quickly if you can. Talk to your parents and explain to them that taking her in now, will possibly prevent a larger vet in the next few days. Catching whatever is wrong with her early is the best way to proceed.

Don't assume the worst, but at her age don't gamble that she can hold out a week. I never breathe a sigh of relief until my rescues get to their 6 month birthday-

I do not think the symptoms you are describing are FIP. As you know, FIP is generally fatal, and there is very little that can be done for it. It does sound like your baby is definitely sick, though. She does need to see a vet right away, and most likely it will be something easily treated.

Good luck, it sounds like you have a very special touch to keep such a tiny baby alive.

I took her to the vet today, he said her right eye looks a little swollen and dialated. She has a 103f fever, so he gave her a shot and he gave me some anti-biotics to give to her. He says the eye could be dialated from the fever or by a virus (I really hope not), but he says to stop by again next week.

Smokey's been hiding out in the bathroom with the lights off all day, I just went to go pick her up and she's still irritable because she started growling. Although her eye wasn't was as dialated (looked almost the same as the left eye), so maybe there isn't some sort of permanent damage.

Oh yeah, I found out that my sister had been tossing the cat up in the air, and missed her. She landed on her feet, but she could have possibly gotten a concussion or something of that nature, which might explain the eye but not the fever.

I'm going to give her the medicine and hope she gets better , then we'll see what the vet says next week.

Originally Posted by zguy95135

Oh yeah, I found out that my sister had been tossing the cat up in the air, and missed her. She landed on her feet, but she could have possibly gotten a concussion or something of that nature, which might explain the eye but not the fever.

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Oh my god that is terrible. You need to sit down and have a talk with your sister. Especially tell her to leave the cat alone while she is sick. How old is your sister?

She's 12.

Smokey seems much better today, she has been running around and jumping on the furniture like usual. Her eye isn't dialated anymore so I think she feels a little better, but she still has a fever (3rd eyelid shows) but she is mostly herself again. She's been eating and drinking more now too. I think she is going to be ok, I just have to keep giving her the anti-biotics. She feels well enough to run away when I have to give her the medicine, she really hates the bubblegum flavor

I'm glad you were able to get Smokey to the vet, and that she is improving. Let your parents know about your sister and the cat. They definitely need to have a little chat with her. No matter how gentle and accomodating the kitty is, she must be protected from abuse and harm. And 12 is certainly old enough to know how to treat a cat.

I think Smokey will be fine. FIP is hard to transmit so it's unlikely (though not impossible) that it's what she has.

I agree that your parents need to have a talk with your sister right away about her tossing the cat. It is very dangerous for your sister to do this and she is more than old enough to know better.