Eveyone was healthy until I brought them inside.
I had to take one to the vet because he got a few scratches - he came home from the vet's office only to be so stressed that he got a cold.
This cat was the stray, Gray, FIV, and I was/am keeping him inside - he just got out on me.
I've been working on gradually bringing them all in.
Meanwhile ---
His son, Jr. (and his mommy, and sister) - were/was still basically living outside, coming in to lounge and/or eat - but mostly outside - while I was working to gradually bring them all in - but, not before another tom decided to beat him up. I suspect it was the same tom that Gray ran off ?
So, I was able to get his son into a carrier and take him to the vet. A very timely thing - he had a 107 temp with the two wounds we found.
Jr. is doing okay as of now, and is inside - also permanently.
The queen came in - as was her practice - for the night - and as a fluke, the daughter wanted to come in for the night. So I let her in, too - and considered them all now inside cats.
Problem - not enough space to separate them from the contagious Gray with his cold. I kept them separated successfully for a few days, then they somehow broke into the foyer where Gray was. I got them separated again.
The other problem: I can only handle Gray - the others are still very frightened of me, and I have only been able to barely stroke Jr.'s back and tail - the two girls are another story - and, the queen, Gigi, well, let's just say she'd be too wild for me to handle and she'll have to be too sick/weak to fight me before I could get her into a carrier.
So, now - just like clock work, Gigi and her daughter, Pippy, are showing signs of having the cold virus. Gigi has been sleeping, some eating and drinking water - no other symptoms other than the occasional sneeze, and more sleeping/hiding than usual. Tonight I especially was watching Pippy because I haven't actually seen her eat. I have heard the occasional sneeze and she's been more quiet than usual. Then I saw her drooling tonight. The drool is clear, no eye watering, oh, and there is some mouth breathing.
An issue: Neither of these former 3 ferals have had any vaccines except the rabies - and that was when I first trapped them and had them altered about 2 years ago.
I'd have them to the vet in a minute if I could catch them without additional stress - to all of us
-, and if I thought the vet could give them meds to help. From what I've been reading (this is one website: http://www.vetinfo.com/cat-cold-symptoms.html ), the cold is a virus, and antibiotic wouldn't help them.
What else should I look for so that I know it's worth my life and limb in order to capture these girls and get them to the vet?
I will be calling my vet tomorrow. I find this situation almost impossible because I can't separate the healthy from the unhealthy. If they were outside they probably would not have even gotten this thing! ugh!!
I especially don't want Gray to get the cold again - although he is still sneezing occasionally - but then, the Convenia that he got 14 days ago would be no longer the protection for the URI that could result - I'm going to ask if he can be re-infected ... okay - I'm going in circles.
I'm kind of exhausted with all the new transitions, and vet trips, and trying to keep these precious cats from being sick or sicker.
Because of vet costs - usually about a $300 visit each time - I figure I need to become more educated in knowing when I should panic, and when I should recognize that a healthy cat will get over a cold in due time, without meds, if it doesn't escalate into something more serious. I don't want to go to the vet's for nothing and spend money I don't have, only having to return because of the cold turning into an infection and needing antibiotics.
I hope I've made some sense - it's almost 1 a.m., and I didn't get to bed last night before 4 a.m. - with no nap today - because of the household full of cats - which are either playing, fighting, howling, or crying.
Thanks for reading this - now to put litter in the room where the girls are (here in the office with me), food and water, and try and protect the doors from all the clawing from Gray who doesn't want to be confined in a room without me ... etc..
Between this sentence and the last, I've now confined Gray into the laundry room, Jr. into the Family room, and the girls in this room. We'll see how long that lasts.
.
Hopefully everyone will be well by the time my husband gets home next Tuesday/Wednesday because this place is impossible (almost) to walk around in without going through a closed door, locked door, or some sort of barrier.
Good night, eerr Morning.
I had to take one to the vet because he got a few scratches - he came home from the vet's office only to be so stressed that he got a cold.
This cat was the stray, Gray, FIV, and I was/am keeping him inside - he just got out on me.
I've been working on gradually bringing them all in.
Meanwhile ---
His son, Jr. (and his mommy, and sister) - were/was still basically living outside, coming in to lounge and/or eat - but mostly outside - while I was working to gradually bring them all in - but, not before another tom decided to beat him up. I suspect it was the same tom that Gray ran off ?
So, I was able to get his son into a carrier and take him to the vet. A very timely thing - he had a 107 temp with the two wounds we found.
Jr. is doing okay as of now, and is inside - also permanently.
The queen came in - as was her practice - for the night - and as a fluke, the daughter wanted to come in for the night. So I let her in, too - and considered them all now inside cats.
Problem - not enough space to separate them from the contagious Gray with his cold. I kept them separated successfully for a few days, then they somehow broke into the foyer where Gray was. I got them separated again.
The other problem: I can only handle Gray - the others are still very frightened of me, and I have only been able to barely stroke Jr.'s back and tail - the two girls are another story - and, the queen, Gigi, well, let's just say she'd be too wild for me to handle and she'll have to be too sick/weak to fight me before I could get her into a carrier.
So, now - just like clock work, Gigi and her daughter, Pippy, are showing signs of having the cold virus. Gigi has been sleeping, some eating and drinking water - no other symptoms other than the occasional sneeze, and more sleeping/hiding than usual. Tonight I especially was watching Pippy because I haven't actually seen her eat. I have heard the occasional sneeze and she's been more quiet than usual. Then I saw her drooling tonight. The drool is clear, no eye watering, oh, and there is some mouth breathing.
An issue: Neither of these former 3 ferals have had any vaccines except the rabies - and that was when I first trapped them and had them altered about 2 years ago.
I'd have them to the vet in a minute if I could catch them without additional stress - to all of us
What else should I look for so that I know it's worth my life and limb in order to capture these girls and get them to the vet?
I will be calling my vet tomorrow. I find this situation almost impossible because I can't separate the healthy from the unhealthy. If they were outside they probably would not have even gotten this thing! ugh!!
I especially don't want Gray to get the cold again - although he is still sneezing occasionally - but then, the Convenia that he got 14 days ago would be no longer the protection for the URI that could result - I'm going to ask if he can be re-infected ... okay - I'm going in circles.
I'm kind of exhausted with all the new transitions, and vet trips, and trying to keep these precious cats from being sick or sicker.
Because of vet costs - usually about a $300 visit each time - I figure I need to become more educated in knowing when I should panic, and when I should recognize that a healthy cat will get over a cold in due time, without meds, if it doesn't escalate into something more serious. I don't want to go to the vet's for nothing and spend money I don't have, only having to return because of the cold turning into an infection and needing antibiotics.
I hope I've made some sense - it's almost 1 a.m., and I didn't get to bed last night before 4 a.m. - with no nap today - because of the household full of cats - which are either playing, fighting, howling, or crying.
Thanks for reading this - now to put litter in the room where the girls are (here in the office with me), food and water, and try and protect the doors from all the clawing from Gray who doesn't want to be confined in a room without me ... etc..
Between this sentence and the last, I've now confined Gray into the laundry room, Jr. into the Family room, and the girls in this room. We'll see how long that lasts.
Hopefully everyone will be well by the time my husband gets home next Tuesday/Wednesday because this place is impossible (almost) to walk around in without going through a closed door, locked door, or some sort of barrier.
Good night, eerr Morning.