My cat is about to have her babies and I need help

[Sarthur2]

How is everyone doing today? Did you take Zoe for another treatment? How is the sneezing in general? I'm hoping you've had a better day today!

 

[theda]

Hello,

I just came back from the vet with very good news: Yesterday, the nebulizer already contained antibiotics as well. We did a second session with the same mix and Zoé was very cooperative, having the kittens nursing during treatment she accepted 40 seconds in a row and got 30 seconds rest between treatment.

After that, she had another nebulizer of... well, something helping with the immune system? We discussed which way to give her the antibiotics at home, drops or tablets and the vet came up with a one shot solution that is lasting 14 days, so no fighting Zoé to give her meds. I also got a saline solution to give all of them everyday.

We are covered in antibiotics

The vet thinks it is an upper airways infection and that we should be good with this treatment. In case the babies are not breathing better tomorrow, she even agreed to send me one of the docs to do another nebulizer at home, so not more dragging poor Zoé around town.

She already bounced back, is happy and stole some salmon from my plate.

Kittens are happily nursing and fighting, between some sneezes that will hopefully go away soon.

I am way more comfortable and feel that the vet is actually having a real strategy.

Thanks @sarthur2   , the day is WAY better and the visit was way easier to manage today. I really hope that this sweet kittens will get better now.

 

[theda]

The daily pic of the little balls of fur:

kittens8.jpg

• theda
• Feb 11, 2016

 

[Sarthur2]

Finally, some antibiotics! I'm relieved to hear that today went much better. I'm hoping the kittens will benefit from the antibiotics in mom's milk, as they are still infected and did not receive any otherwise, right?

I have no doubt that Zoe will be better soon! And you sound so much more relaxed! I'm glad the vet is willing to send someone out for a house call if needed. They definitely need to stay home now. Sounds like a much better day! Keep us posted. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

 

[theda]

The kittens got nebulized antibiotics twice

I hope that will helps as well!

 

[Sarthur2]

Okay, they did get some! Wonderful! I hope they continue to improve!

They are also precious!

 

[theda]

Awwww, thanks !

 

[Sarthur2]

theda

Hi, just checking in to see how mom and kittens are doing since they were treated. I'm guessing kittens' eyes are open and they are bigger now. Is the sneezing all better? [emoji]128522[/emoji]

 

[theda]

Hi @sarthur2 !

Thanks for checking on us! It was a very long and hard week, the kittens did not get better and we had to switch antibiotics a few time. Monday, we were not sure that the boys were going to make it, they had episodes of not being able to breath. But we finally found the right mix of injected antibiotics, nebulizer treatments and some drops for the immune system and they turned a corner.

They still all sneeze sometimes, but rarely and nothing compared to what it was before.

Now they opened their eyes and are taking they first steps outside the box,, closely supervised by their Mum.

Kittens19.jpg

• theda
• Feb 20, 2016

 

[zed xyzed]

so much cuteness 

 

[theda]

Yes, they are pretty adorable ))

Left are the brothers, Vic in the front and Cotton in the back and right are the girls, Pepita in the front and Bobbie in the back.

I was reading right now that kittens don't start walking or interacting till the third week, but this little stinkers play and fight with each other and are walking, well more wobbling around the box for days already.

Vic was the first one to leave the box yesterday evening, he is still the most adventurous one.

 

[gonger]

You have been so amazing caring for these babies and mum who is still really young herself .

 

[Sarthur2]

I am so glad the boys turned the corner, and especially pleased that you've stayed on top of their health and gotten them the help they needed. Did you have to take them back in, or did you get house calls? And how is mom cat doing?

They are just adorable! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

 

[theda]

Oh @sarthur2 , it was quiet a mess...  I had to go back there twice last week and till Sunday, I was giving them antibiotics in liquid form but they did not get better at all. I was exhausted, had to get up in the middle of the night to give them a dose, each visit was traumatic for everybody. Monday, I had enough so I took them all to the vet and said I was not leaving until we had a plan that worked and did not involve me going there daily or not sleeping for a week. I literally started crying from exhaustion, poor vet didn't know what to do lol. They called a specialist in another town and sent him the videos I had of the boys not being able to breath. The specialist said it looks like Calici and that we had to switch to injections of another kind of antibiotics. They agreed to house visits once a day for the injections and nebulizer treatments, I took care of the medicine in drop form. But he also said that he did not think Vic and Cotton would make it, they looked too weak.... The vet who came to my house everyday was a young one and he said he disagrees, that they would make it. He was right  So it was a team effort and it worked!

Zoe has been a great mum through all of this, but Wednesday, she decided she was done with people constantly handling her babies so she took one under the bed and left the others. Took a few hours to convince her to move back to the box, but it worked. I now make sure that she gets a lo of cuddle time everyday and she is way less nervous. I also don't let anybody in the room where the kittens are for a few days. People can admire them when they will be a bit older.

Now, they just have to grow

Thanks @Gonger , it has been quiet the experience and I am just so happy that they are all better now.

 

[Sarthur2]

You have been through quite a week! It is thanks to your efforts that the kittens have survived. I am so glad that you insisted that a proper plan be put into action and that a specialist was called. Thank goodness the vet began making the house calls. It is traumatic enough for the kittens to be ill and receive treatments without having to be dragged to an office each time. And poor mama kitty! I do not blame her for being upset. You are wise to give the family as much privacy as possible for now.

I knew the kittens were not well, and feel badly that it had to reach such a low point before things got better. Kittens can be real fighters, but it is scary when the infection gets into their lungs. Calicivirus can be nasty! Which antibiotic finally worked?

I hope you are now finally getting some much needed rest. You deserve a gold medal for your efforts! Bless you! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

 

[theda]

Aww, thank you @sarthur2 ! I don't remember which antibiotic actually worked because we switched 3 or 4 times... I agree that they should have been treated better from the beginning but now, I am just happy they made it.

The kittens are a joy and are full of energy now, they play and bite each other and Pepita tried some water from Zoe's bowl today on her morning walk outside the box. I still give them the drops for their immune system every day and the weird German homeopathic spray, can't hurt I guess. I did find the fancy feist wet food you recommended, not the kitten one but the adult tiny cans. Zoe loves it, she finally started eating wet food as well instead of only kitten chow.  We are up to almost 2 little cans a day from not even a quarter of one.

She still hates me changing the bedding in the box and tries to take a kitten away at first, but I distract her with some cream cheese on my finger and she forgets about it very quickly.

She is nursing them about every 2 hours.

 

[Sarthur2]

I'm happy to hear they are doing so well! Cream cheese is an excellent distraction while changing bedding. It's awesome that Zoe is now keen on the Fancy Feast wet food. The little ones will enjoy it mixed into a mush with KMR when they begin to wean! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

 

[theda]

A little picture update of the kittens, hey are still doing well and growing a lot!

They get faster everyday and it is almost impossible to get a picture now.

This is Bobbie, she looks a bit like an alien right now, but she will grow into it hehe.

Bobbie.jpg

• theda
• Feb 23, 2016

Cotton absolutely looks like an ewok at the moment and Vic is posing, I think he knows he is pretty.

CottonandVic.jpg

• theda
• Feb 23, 2016

And well, Pepita is just a doll and hilarious torturing he brothers and making an innocent face when Mama comes to find out why they are crying.

pepita.jpg

• theda
• Feb 23, 2016

 

[Sarthur2]

Oh, they are just so precious! Each in their own way! [emoji]128522[/emoji][emoji]128149[/emoji][emoji]128149[/emoji]

 

[handsome kitty]

So cute!