Conference misery::feline_v1

    Yes, Nancy, this is definitely something we Feliners want to know
    about.
    
    I have 1 kitty that goes outside so will definitely keep and eye on my
    four.  I will also definitely keep reading the replies to this note so
    that I can tell my vet any outcomes or remedies if my babies come down
    with it.
    
    Thanks Nancy for the info.
    
    Sandi & THUNDER, LIGHTNING, DEJAVU, PATCHES AND STORM
    

    Nancy, would it be okay to ask you to post the location (town, general
    area, etc.) this virus has hit so far, or is this a random thing?  Not
    a lot was told in the base note, and for us indoor/outdoor cat owners
    it might be wise to take precautions.
    

    
    
    another request........please find out more info.

    I believe that this virus is in the New England area.  There is one
    possible case in Southern New Hampshire.  I'm not sure where the
    woman who wrote the original mail lives.  I believe Mass.
      
    Sorry, I don't have any more info.  I'll post it as I do.

    Last nite I stopped into my vets (Dr. Brian Holub) to pick up some
    paperwork, and mentioned  this to him.  Basically, he didn't know of a
    "new" virus but said that upper resperitory viruses can be a real pain
    and that this was probably one of them.  Perhaps the change of seasons
    has inoked a run on the little buggers!
    Karen, Ruby, Stinky, Wing + ARthur
    

    Mocha just finshed a bout with an upper resperitory infection.
    The vet told me it's bad on kitties this time of the year with
    the weather so changeable. They don't do any better than people.
    In our group here, the people are on their second and third and
    fourth rounds of cold, flu, phemonia (sp).
    
    Vet put Mocha on 10 days of amoxicillian but he's fine now. Just
    real loggy for a few days.
    
    Barbara and her 3M's

I had to take Midnight to vet's Saturday a.m.(10/13).  He was terribly 
congested (running eyes and nose), stopped eating as of Friday and was
running a fever (temp was 103.6).  His third eyelid was half way in one 
eye also.

Because Midnight had been an abandon case (1 year ago this month) and
due to his age, vet wanted to do the test for feline aids.  This blood
test they do themselves and it took approx. 15 minutes to get results.
The test (thank God) proved negative.  It was determined that he had
an airborne virus causing upper respiratory infection.  Vet gave him
a shot and me some tablets to give him one/day, for few days.  

Shot helped him to feel a bit better by Saturday afternoon, enough for
him to want to eat.  Vet also had me pick up some plain yogurt to give
him a tablespoon a day (this I have to put in his mouth as he doesn't
like it enough to eat in dish).  Midnight had also developed some loose
stool by mid-week.  This, I think, is under control.  However, by 
yesterday afternoon (10/14) Midnight was back to feeling lousy.  His temp.
is okay but he's been having problem with loose vomiting.  Only thing he
ate this morning (and held it down when I left for work) was some baby
food (turkey).

Vet said my others could come down with this virus, depending on their
immune systems.  My only weaker cat is D.P. but (I'm knocking on
wood now) so far none of them show signs of virus.  I've made Midnight
comfortable in my bathroom with a litterbox, sleeping box & towel, water,
and his breakfast.  This way at least the others can't be bothering him
nor eating from his dish.  

Midnight had early signs of this virus afternoon of 10/6 (sneezing, runny 
eyes) and Monday morning I was in touch with the vet about it.  I always 
react to this as an indication of something wrong.  Vet put Midnight on 
pill form of Amoxillan twice a day up thru Friday (which I picked up Monday 
night), however, as of Friday night he had gone downhill and had that high 
temp Saturday morning.

Vet also said it could be the medicine making Midnight vomit.  Medicine
he's on now may not even work for him; it's one of those things where they
have to wait and see and maybe change medication if that doesn't work.  Tried
two medicines so far and first one didn't work.  This second medication 
he's on now is called "Sesatab"; the shot he was given on 10/13 to bring 
his temperature down was "Novan".  

As of last night, 10/15, Midnight seemed improved.  There were no signs of 
vomit in the bathroom where he's been isolated, no loose stool in 
litterbox, and he looked like he felt better.  He ate his dinner and this 
morning his breakfast with no mishaps.  His dinner last night consisted of 
some canned Science Diet Lite with some chicken baby food.  His "dessert" 
was a tablespoon of plain yogurt.  This morning he had some dry Science 
Diet Lite with some chicken baby food on the side.  He ate every bit of it 
and kept it down.  Took his pill and settled in his bed for a nap.

So far my other 5 felines are healthy and active (as well as curious as to 
why Midnight gets the "private room" to himself).  :-)

I live in Londonderry, NH and the woman mentioned in the base note with the 
other ill, older cat lives in Nashua, NH.

Pat


                        <<< Note 4074.6 by CSS::IVES >>>
                         -< Pass the tissues please.. >-

    Mocha just finshed a bout with an upper resperitory infection.
    The vet told me it's bad on kitties this time of the year with
    the weather so changeable. They don't do any better than people.
    In our group here, the people are on their second and third and
    fourth rounds of cold, flu, phemonia (sp).
    
    Vet put Mocha on 10 days of amoxicillian but he's fine now. Just
    real loggy for a few days.
    
    Barbara and her 3M's

    
     I'm new to this conference and posted a kitty introduction for Bijou
    my new 8wk old blue aby. This reply isn't about Bijou but that of Bogey
    my 14 month old female shorthair. This may be related to the so called
    "virus" mentioned in the base note but I sure hope not.
    
     Poor Bogey was subjected to over the last 9 days a few changes in her
    life. Bijou coming in, a gradual change of diet, new litter, etc. The
    first 3 days we had Bijou, Bogey was trying to adjust but was not
    herself. My wife Deb and I had attributed this behavior (no affection)
    to her resentment of the new kitty. The next day she started loosing
    her appetite. This was quite unlike her. She lived to chow !!!!!
    
     Over the next few days, 10/11 to 10/13, she ate virtually nothing.
    Would not even eat her wet food !!! Her activity level was that of
    lethargy and she would gag or dry heave. She is the most part a pretty
    quite cat and we tried to look for some sign from her like, "please
    help me guys", but none were given.
    
     On Sunday morning she came up on the waterbed and was relaxing when I
    starting patting her head and back. As she would arch herself to accept
    the affection she would start gagging. We then wondered if maybe she
    had an obstruction of some sort and we decided that instead of trying
    to let this run it's course it would be better for her and us to bring
    her to our vet. She normally crys in the carrier on the ride to the vet
    but this time she just layed there silent. Not the Bogey we knew.
    
     The vet took her tempature which was normal. She also tried to get a
    blood sample but this was not to be. Bogey would have to be sedated to
    get a sample if needed. She seems to think that Bogey could have a viral
    infection but that would not be conclusive without further tests if needed
    in a couple of days. Bijou might even have carried something from the
    cattery in Greenfield, Ma. where we got him. We were given some atibiotics
    to give her twice a day and this exercise is the equivilent of 1hr of high
    impact arobics. Now we know why they couldn't do a blood sample.
    Someone get me Gunther Gable Williams !! 8^)
    
     Anyway, she's been two days on the medication and although she is
    still gagging somewhat, she seems to have a little more energy. Late
    last night she started to eat some of her kibble and this morning she
    was a little affectionate until the medication and dreaded towel came
    out. This may not have anything to do with the basenote virus but then
    I thought I would post this anyway. 
    
    George    

    Pat, the medication is called Cefatabs and a lot of vets feel it is
    more effective than amoxicillan.  When my cats get a URI the vet always
    prescribes Cefatabs.  I have had really good luck with it.
    
    --Roberta
    

    
    Some food for thought.....
    
    through some rather out of the ordinary circumstances I have recently
    acquired a rescue from the local shelter.  This cat was VERY SICK and
    the first stop was the vet before we came home.  Temp was 104+, runny
    eyes and nose.  Diagnosis....upper respiratory infection.  We were sent
    home with a ton of anti biotics and told it was very contagios to my
    other cats at home....even to the point of it just being on your
    clothes.  Well the drugs got tossed in the drawer and out came Dr.
    Pitcairn's book on natural care.  It took a few days longer but we
    achieved the same results (healthy cat) using homeopathic remedies and
    tissue salts.  At the same time I kept my big cats out or in the
    basement (where they eat anyway) and added 1/4 teaspoon Vit. C to their
    canned food. This all took about 10 days.  All cats are healthy and I
    feel good about not using the drugs.  I understand that this type of
    medicine is not for all but adding some vit. c to  indoor/outdoor cats
    food may help them to fight any virus they may come in contact with.  I 
    don't think it would do any harm.
    
    ( as an aside to E.T.....had I known another cat was going to enter my
    life so soon I would have come to visit your family.  I can only say
    that I guess this cat really needed me.)
    
    MaryAnne

         Loki went in for dental surgery on the 2nd; by the 5th he had a
    URI.  He passed it to Bigfoot on the 10th and Midnight on the 12th.
    
         It's so much fun having 3 cats with 3 different medications ;-) !!
    Loki's medicine was done yesterday; Bigfoot's will be done on Wednesday
    and Midnight's on Friday.  I just hope that Loki doesn't catch it from
    Bigfoot or Midnight and start the cycle over again!!!
    
    					- Andrea

    Andrea,
    I feel so bad for you that all I can do is laugh!  Your house sounds
    like mine when my sister and I were kids.  One would have the flu and
    get better and pass it on to the other, the other would pass it back
    and so on and so on and so on.......  You get the picture.  I have one
    kitten and one cat who are sharing ringworm.  Back and forth and back
    and forth for three months now!  We are just about ready to drop them
    at the vets for 6 weeks till it's cured but I can't live without my
    little Flirtaysha.
    
    Who knows Andrea,  maybe next week they'll surprize you and be fine.
    Keep up the good work Mommy.  They appreciate it!  8)
    
    Lisa

         Yeah, Lisa, and my husband thinks he wants some *human* children. 
    No way - not if the *kitty* children are any indication ;-) ;-) ;-) !!
    
    					- Andrea

    .8  A while back I had the same situation with my Tamba.  It seemed
    like anytime he was relaxed and we patted him he would gag.  well
    come to find out...the vet said he really wasn't gagging...he was
    actually coughing.  One shot and a few pills resolved the problem
    and hopefully you will have the same luck!!
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley)

.9 Thanks, Roberta.  I guess receptionist didn't know correct spelling 
when she gave it to me over the phone this a.m.

  <<< Note 4074.9 by JUPITR::KAGNO "I'm51%Pussycat,49%Bitch-Don'tPush it!" >>>

    Pat, the medication is called Cefatabs and a lot of vets feel it is
    more effective than amoxicillan.  When my cats get a URI the vet always
    prescribes Cefatabs.  I have had really good luck with it.
    
    --Roberta
    

    re: 10
    
    Sounds like you did the RIGHT thing, Maryanne!  AttaGirl!
    
    E.T.

    
    
    	Hmmm...Audrey has had the sneezies since we brought her home.
    	Vet says it's most likely a viral infection and gave us some
    	amoxicillin.  We're supposed to be getting something else for
    	her too although I'm not sure what it will be.  She isn't 
    	lethargic or anything so I'm thankful for that....I couldn't
    	deal with another ill kitty....
    
    	JJ
    

    We have just been through a pretty horrendous two weeks because of
    a viral infection.  First Rosie, who responded pretty quickly to a 
    course of antibiotics, then poor Charlie.  This was particularly
    distressing because 4 weeks previously Charlie had been run over and
    ruptured his diaphram.  (He is actually a very lucky pussycat to have
    survived.)  Charlie really suffered with the virus, we could see just
    how painful it was everytime he sneezed or coughed.  Next was Ben.  Ben
    was so miserable, his eyes streaming, nose absolutely blocked.  I used
    to dab OLBAS oil around their bodies and the mentholated vapours really did
    seem to help his breathing.
    
    Thank goodness all are now OK and that the kittens (both burmese),
    Floyd and Arthur escaped.  I now look back and can even see the humorous side.
    All of our cats (5) have complete run of the house, which includes my
    bed and every time Charlie sneezed he dug his claws into whatever part
    of my anatomy was closest - Painful to say the least.  Giving
    tablets to one cat can be a trial at best of times, try giving it to
    three twice day.  We won't mention the fact that the kittens litter
    box was liberally used by all!  
    
    However, thank goodness it is over and obviously the antibiotics have a
    great part in this recovery but TLC (Tender Loving Care) must be the
    order of the day.
    
    Regards
    
    Sandra, Charlie, Ben, Rosie, Floyd and Arthur.
    
    PS.  Ben has yet to re-discover that to be picked up means cuddles and
    not having rather large, nasty tasting alien objects being pushed to
    the back of his throat.  He is much to clever to be fooled by the tasty
    morsel of cheese.  He would carefully eat the cheese leaving the
    offender on the floor!