About seven weeks ago, my parents adopted two kittens from a local family. They have been absolutely lovely- regular vet trips, tests were all clear, all vaccinations and boosters, scheduled for spaying and neutering soon at the right ages (they are about 4 months old right now). Just lovely little guys. A real treat for my parents, as it's been at least like 20 some years since they had kittens (their old torti just passed this year- she was 24!!!!).
Anyway, my mother traveled with them out of state about 10 days ago, to our family owned farm. They kittens did great- they adjusted to the new house just fine, and enjoyed the new space to explore (always indoor only, bwt). We have had cats there many times in the past, no issues whatsoever.
However, about 2 weeks ago, they suddenly started getting lethargic, and they slowed down/stopped eating. This went on for a few days, and mom kept a close eye on them, thinking they were maybe just tired from the trip and new environment. But then the little Girl kitten started having serious repeated vomiting (black) and diarrhea (with green mucousy stuff). The Boy kitten didn't do any of that, but obviously felt horrible too.
Mom took them into an emergency vet (the farm is in the middle of nowhere, so it was an hour+ drive and it wasn't even a great vet). She waited 5 hours to be seen. They both had fevers. Well, after a mild exam they basically said "I dunno" and sent her home with some nasty liquid antibiotics.
So my Dad drove to the farm, picked them up, and then brought them back home to our area (another 7 hour drive). They saw our vet, who is amazing.They did thorough bloodwork, x-rays, and a lab fecal smear.
Everything came back fine. No parvo or anything else detectable, no blockage, no parasites. The Boy cat, who didn't have many symptoms other than lethargy, did show intestinal inflammation, but the Girl cat looked totally fine (even though she was the crazy sick one)??
So we don't know what's up. The vet just said it was maybe just a random virus. She did give us antibiotic pills to give them vs the liquid. (this was yesterday, btw.)
So here we are now, about 2 weeks after the initial start of symptoms. The cats are still basically only eating a few teaspoons here and there, and their weight loss in the last 2 weeks is mind boggling! They aren't as sluggish as they were, but obviously are still not back to normal by any means, and we are all still very concerned. They don't seem to want to eat actual bites, just kind of lick at whatever liquidy stuff is in the bowl. We usually do a pate with some water to make it a little more mushy/liquidy, but even then, they don't each much. (they were huge eaters before).
I went out and bought like 10 different types of cat food to see if any of them taste good to them. I offered them 4 or 5 different types, and they kinda licked at each, but didn't really seem to love any of them. I'm getting ready to head over to my parents house again and see if they'll eat some of the other stuff. I just really want to make sure they get some fluids and calories in them! (I'm doing half the care for them until my mom can make it back into town. She has autoimmune issues and they flared up with the stress of her kittens getting sick.)
So.......... any suggestions on what food I could give them that's high in calories and still yummy to lick up? I couldn't find anything decent at our local Petsmart.
(Side note- they had their vaccination boosters on June 29, about a week before they got sick. Also had Revolution flea meds put on them. I personally wonder if it was some type of delayed reaction....)
Here they are about two weeks ago, right as all this started to happen.
They are SO cute together.
Anyway, my mother traveled with them out of state about 10 days ago, to our family owned farm. They kittens did great- they adjusted to the new house just fine, and enjoyed the new space to explore (always indoor only, bwt). We have had cats there many times in the past, no issues whatsoever.
However, about 2 weeks ago, they suddenly started getting lethargic, and they slowed down/stopped eating. This went on for a few days, and mom kept a close eye on them, thinking they were maybe just tired from the trip and new environment. But then the little Girl kitten started having serious repeated vomiting (black) and diarrhea (with green mucousy stuff). The Boy kitten didn't do any of that, but obviously felt horrible too.
Mom took them into an emergency vet (the farm is in the middle of nowhere, so it was an hour+ drive and it wasn't even a great vet). She waited 5 hours to be seen. They both had fevers. Well, after a mild exam they basically said "I dunno" and sent her home with some nasty liquid antibiotics.
So my Dad drove to the farm, picked them up, and then brought them back home to our area (another 7 hour drive). They saw our vet, who is amazing.They did thorough bloodwork, x-rays, and a lab fecal smear.
Everything came back fine. No parvo or anything else detectable, no blockage, no parasites. The Boy cat, who didn't have many symptoms other than lethargy, did show intestinal inflammation, but the Girl cat looked totally fine (even though she was the crazy sick one)??
So we don't know what's up. The vet just said it was maybe just a random virus. She did give us antibiotic pills to give them vs the liquid. (this was yesterday, btw.)
So here we are now, about 2 weeks after the initial start of symptoms. The cats are still basically only eating a few teaspoons here and there, and their weight loss in the last 2 weeks is mind boggling! They aren't as sluggish as they were, but obviously are still not back to normal by any means, and we are all still very concerned. They don't seem to want to eat actual bites, just kind of lick at whatever liquidy stuff is in the bowl. We usually do a pate with some water to make it a little more mushy/liquidy, but even then, they don't each much. (they were huge eaters before).
I went out and bought like 10 different types of cat food to see if any of them taste good to them. I offered them 4 or 5 different types, and they kinda licked at each, but didn't really seem to love any of them. I'm getting ready to head over to my parents house again and see if they'll eat some of the other stuff. I just really want to make sure they get some fluids and calories in them! (I'm doing half the care for them until my mom can make it back into town. She has autoimmune issues and they flared up with the stress of her kittens getting sick.)
So.......... any suggestions on what food I could give them that's high in calories and still yummy to lick up? I couldn't find anything decent at our local Petsmart.
(Side note- they had their vaccination boosters on June 29, about a week before they got sick. Also had Revolution flea meds put on them. I personally wonder if it was some type of delayed reaction....)
Here they are about two weeks ago, right as all this started to happen.
They are SO cute together.
