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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / August 2005respiratory problems with kitten? home cures?
I have an 11-12 week old kitten that I adopted from a lady down the road. The kitten has been very healthy but for what seemed like a hairball problem she developed a couple of weeks ago. Then after I started treating her for what I believed was a hairball, she started sneezing and acting like she had a cold. I love this cat dearly, but cannot afford a vet bill right now. If I could, I'd take her in a minute. Am I seeing this problem wrong? Is there anything I can do for her at home to help her feel better?? Man, I've never had a kitten that young have a hairball problem. If it is just a URI, it should be very inexpensive to treat. Also, run steamy water in the bathroom a couple of times a day and be in there with her for a few minutes OR if you have a vaporizer run it. Keep her cozy. Kittens can crash fast so if she starts getting worse you REALLY need to see a vet. Is she eating and drinking? > I have an 11-12 week old kitten that I adopted from a lady down the road. > The kitten has been very healthy but for what seemed like a hairball problem [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I could, I'd take her in a minute. Am I seeing this problem wrong? Is there > anything I can do for her at home to help her feel better?? > Man, I've never had a kitten that young have a hairball problem. If it is > just a URI, it should be very inexpensive to treat. Also, run steamy water [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > fast so if she starts getting worse you REALLY need to see a vet. Is she > eating and drinking? Ditto what Karen said. A kitten that young probably wouldn't have a hairball. Does she have colored discharge when sneezing? Does she sound wheezy? How is she otherwise, i.e. is she still playing, eating, using the litterbox?  Signature-Kelly She sounds a bit wheezy, but not horribly. She kinda breathes through her mouth like we do when we are stopped up. She is using the litter box, but her stools seem a bit softer than usual. When I come in to see her, I scoop her up and hold her to my chest, and she likes to play with my hair and my necklace. (Pretty normal for her!) She has some colored discharge when she sneezes, but not a lot. >> Man, I've never had a kitten that young have a hairball problem. If it is >> just a URI, it should be very inexpensive to treat. Also, run steamy water [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >wheezy? How is she otherwise, i.e. is she still playing, eating, using the >litterbox? Yes, she is drinking, but not eating much because she is congested. She tries to eat when I come in there, but she doesn't eat much. She is pretty normal when I come in and sit with her, but she seems more lethargic than normal. When she sneezes, she has some colored mucous, but not much. She sounds like a human with a bad cold. She kinda breathes with her mouth open like we do when we are congested. I've had her in the bathroom with all her things, plus I've been running a hot bath in the tub a couple of times a day to loosen up the phlegm. I'm not really sure what to do. I've got a heating pad under her blanket, with the temperature set on low. Any other suggestions? It would break my heart if something happened to her. She seems to perk up when I come in to see her. Nancy >Man, I've never had a kitten that young have a hairball problem. If it is >just a URI, it should be very inexpensive to treat. Also, run steamy water [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> I could, I'd take her in a minute. Am I seeing this problem wrong? Is there >> anything I can do for her at home to help her feel better?? > Yes, she is drinking, but not eating much because she is congested. She > tries to eat when I come in there, but she doesn't eat much. She is [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > seems to perk up when I come in to see her. > Nancy It sounds like you really need to get her to a vet. The colored discharge, nasal congestion, and wheezing is a sign of an upper respiratory infection. She needs medication in order to clear it up. I'm sorry that's not the answer you are looking for, but please get her seen immediately. -Kelly YES. Work out a plan with the vet that you can make payments. Gail >> Yes, she is drinking, but not eating much because she is congested. She >> tries to eat when I come in there, but she doesn't eat much. She is [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > -Kelly > Yes, she is drinking, but not eating much because she is > congested. She tries to eat when I come in there, but she [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > suggestions? It would break my heart if something happened to > her. She seems to perk up when I come in to see her. This really is common for kittens. What color is the nasal discharge? It's common for some blood to be in it if they are sneezing a lot - little blood vessels get broken easily. The steam treatment you're doing will help a lot. I agree that you really should get her to the vet. Chances are that if she's already been tested for things like feline leukemia and feline aids, they won't really have any tests to run, so you could get away with just an office visit fee, plus any medications the vet feels necessary. If she has a fever (usually what you're seeing is viral and supportive care is usually what is required) they might put her on antibiotics for a secondary infection. The vet may also recommend/prescribe an antihistamine to dry her up. Make sure she eats and drinks - I had to supplement my sickly kitten with all-meat baby food when she wouldn't eat. I spoon-fed it to her. It has a strong smell and it must taste pretty good even when they're not hungry. Keeping her warm and unstressed is good, as you're doing. Finally, sometimes the upper respiratory illness you're seeing is caused by a very common feline herpes virus - how are her eyes? For feline herpes it's common to use an enzyme, l-lysine mixed in her food, or in baby food if you end up supplementing that way. The typical dose is 250mg 2x per day and it can't hurt her. L-lysine will help stop replication of the herpes virus. I know how you feel - I thought I was going to lose my little girl when she got so skinny and was just miserable. She must have been to the vet at least 5 times in her first 3 months with me. She and her littermate are about 11 months now, and very healthy! SignatureCheryl "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields > I have an 11-12 week old kitten that I adopted from a lady down > the road. Oh, and Nancy, I had one more thought - was she already spayed when you got her? If not, you're going to need to talk to the vet when you bring her in about having it done. She can't be spayed while she's sickly, but as soon as she's doing better she can be. :) Since cost is an issue, you can check with your local SPCA (or closest one) as they usually have low cost programs. I don't know where you are, but there are these programs to be had in the US. There's also http://www.spayusa.org with links that are helpful. If you need to go this route, send in a request NOW for a coupon because they take a while to send you one. If you have a local SPCA that offers low cost spay/neuter, they will also offer low cost vaccinations. I'd urge you to look into this! :) SignatureCheryl "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields I want to thank everyone for helping me so far! Your suggestions and comments have made me feel so much better and have given me some good advice. Brilla(my kitten)seems to be a bit better today, and a little bit more playful. She's awfully stuffy-nosed, but she has an appetite - just can't eat much. She is trying to drink, too. Sounds weird, but I've been giving her some juice from a can of tuna - she loves it! I have an eye-dropper than I can feed her with, and she drinks it all and wants more. I have a vet appointment for Monday morning, should she not improve anymore. Maybe I can work something out with them as far as payment. I laughed last night when I decided to take a bath and she promptly perched herself on the side of the tub! She wanted me to hold her so badly, but she knew that something was different with all this! She sat there the whole time and kept wanting to figure out some way to get over to me. I could just see her getting soaked and getting worse, so I kept her from falling in! It encourages me to see her still playful, but I know how very quickly she could worsen, so I'm keeping close tabs on her. I'll keep you posted. Thanks, again, everyone! >> I have an 11-12 week old kitten that I adopted from a lady down >> the road. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >SPCA that offers low cost spay/neuter, they will also offer low >cost vaccinations. I'd urge you to look into this! :) Please keep us posted. I am so glad you have a vet appointment on Monday. Kittens can die so very easily. Yours sounds like a darling!! Gail >I want to thank everyone for helping me so far! Your suggestions and > comments have made me feel so much better and have given me some good [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >>SPCA that offers low cost spay/neuter, they will also offer low >>cost vaccinations. I'd urge you to look into this! :) Hi everyone! Just to let you know . . . I took my kitten into the vet last Monday, and "she" is a "he" ( ha ha!) and he had an URI, but the doctor said that he was doing better but still a bit congested and wheezy, so he put him on an antibiotic. He is doing great, and is dying to get out of the bathroom and out to play with our other cat! The vet only charged me $38 for the office call and the meds. Is that great or what??? I'm so pleased! We have to take Brilla back when he is off the antibiotics and have him neutered, but that's only another $35, so I'm very excited that this is do- able! Thank you for all your kindness and help. I'm so glad to have found such a nice group of people. >Please keep us posted. I am so glad you have a vet appointment on Monday. >Kittens can die so very easily. Yours sounds like a darling!! [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >>>SPCA that offers low cost spay/neuter, they will also offer low >>>cost vaccinations. I'd urge you to look into this! :) > Hi everyone! Just to let you know . . . I took my kitten into the vet last > Monday, and "she" is a "he" ( ha ha!) and he had an URI, but the doctor said [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > able! Thank you for all your kindness and help. I'm so glad to have found > such a nice group of people. That's great! > Hi everyone! Just to let you know . . . I took my kitten into > the vet last Monday, and "she" is a "he" ( ha ha!) and he had an [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > your kindness and help. I'm so glad to have found such a nice > group of people. That's great Nancy! Thanks for the update! :) SignatureCheryl "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields > Hi everyone! Just to let you know . . . I took my kitten into the vet last > Monday, and "she" is a "he" ( ha ha!) and he had an URI, but the doctor said [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > able! Thank you for all your kindness and help. I'm so glad to have found > such a nice group of people. Wow, that's an excellent price for neutering. Sounds like your vet is good and helpful. Glad your kitty is feeling better. Will you change his name to Brillo now? Candace > I want to thank everyone for helping me so far! Your suggestions and > comments have made me feel so much better and have given me some good advice. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > appointment for Monday morning, should she not improve anymore. Maybe I can > work something out with them as far as payment. If it is just a URI it shouldn't be too expensive. watch the tuna though - it can give her the runs. Try her on some fish-flavored canned kitten food like IAMS. > I laughed last night when I > decided to take a bath and she promptly perched herself on the side of the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > her still playful, but I know how very quickly she could worsen, so I'm > keeping close tabs on her. I'll keep you posted. Thanks, again, everyone! Please let us know how she does. It's so sad when they are so sick and so bitty. -L. |
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