Conference misery::feline

    Dawn, 
    It could be an allergy to food, or dust or perfume, etc.  I'm glad you're 
    taking him to the vet's.  Ask the vet about allergies.  Some cats seem more
    susceptible to diseases than others.  Good luck, I hope whatever it is,
    will be easily treated and cured.
    
    Steffi 

    Dawn...
    
    I'm also glad you are bringing him to the vets...and here's warm
    kitty wishes that everything is okay.  
    
    I do have one kitty (Dirty Dewey born in a junkyard) who had a real
    rough start on life and I personally believe he has a very weak
    immune system because he is the first cat in my house that seems
    to catch everything.    
    
    One key is if your kitty is on antibiotics...make sure you follow the
    advice of the vet and if it says give pills for 14 days...make sure
    you do give it to them for the entire time...even if you think he
    is feeling better. 
    
    Keep us posted.....
    
    Sandy

Hi,

I will keep everyone posted as to that status of Harley's vet visit.  The last
time that I took him she gave him a stronger dose of antibotics and had him take
them for 10 days (twice a day).  I did exactly as she said because I wanted to
make sure the infection didn't come back.  I'll just be glad if she tells me
that he's fine and has a cold.  I never thought that I could become so attached
and love a kitten so much, but I do.  I wouldn't trade him for anything!

Take care

Dawn

Harley's Mom Here!

Well, Harley's trip to the vets went well.  Dr. Appleyard told me that Harley
has an upper respiratory infection and that his eye looks infected worse than
the last time.  She gave me antibotics for the infection that I have to give him
for 3 weeks and then I'm going to do a follow up visit because she wants to run
some blood tests on him to rule out anything serious and she told me that some
kitty's have a weak immune system and catch everything that comes their way.
I did ask her about allergies and she told me that it could very well be
allergies, but we need to run the tests anyways to make sure.  I was in tears
last night when I brought him home because he looked so helpless and he was
trying to cry to me, but nothing would come out of that tiny little body and I
just held him and assured him that everything would be ok and that Mom would do
everything to make sure he would get better and I just sat there with him in my
arms and cried.  That little guy means the world to me.  I slept in the other
room last night with Harley and put him under the covers with me and he was fast
asleep.  

Thanks for letting me get this of my chest.  I do feel much better.

Take care

Harley's Mom (Dawn)

    
    My three little kittens all came down with colds soon after I brought
    them home and passed it on to Big Old Merlin who lost his miaow as a
    result.  They all got pills and the ones with the leakiest eyes got
    eye ointment and they all got better and are living happily ever after
    now.  So, they seem so miserable and look so awful with their runny
    noses and eyes, but they *do* get better.
    
    My vet warned me that some of these URIs are forms of the herpes virus
    and that you can't ever completely get rid of them, but the kitten's
    immune system eventually builds up enough strength to suppress them
    though they may recur over time.
    
    len (for Merlin and Rocky and Robin and Blueberry).
      

    Hi Len,
    
    Thank you for the words of encouragement.  I really think that I needed
    that.  Harley did look much better this morning, but his eye was still
    running.  I know that it will take a day or so for the medicine to take
    effect, but it's sooo hard waiting.  I guess that you could call me an
    anxious "parent".  I will be leaving shortly (Half day today) and I
    can't wait to get home to check on him.  I really think that they know
    who to go to when they are sick and who takes care of them.  When
    Harley gets sick like this he doesn't want to be away from me and I
    have to hold him all the time.  Last night he didn't leave my side.
    I never thought that I could become soooo attached to an animal but I
    am and it's wonderful!
    
    Thank You again and I'll keep my chin up!
    
    
    Dawn
    

    Just a thought.....is there a chance that Harley drinks from the toilet
    bowl?  Christopher did this when we were out and had constant runny
    eyes and runny insides.  We caught him at it by chance, since when we
    have kept the cover down and he can't get in.  He hasn't had a problem
    since.  I don't know why he did it there was a clean bowl of water in
    the kitchen.  It was just a guy cat kind of thing I guess.  

    Hi,
    
    Come to think of it, I did catch him once at the toilet bowl. 
    Harleyy's favorite thing is to watch the water twirl around in the bowl
    when you flush the toilet.  That's a good point.  I will have to keep
    my toilet lid down from now on
    
    
    Thank You for the suggestion
    
    
    Dawn