Conference misery::feline_v1

    Oh yes, I should also mention that we have forcefed all of them some
    nutrical the night before last.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Holly
    

    Gee, Holly, I'm so sorry to hear about your kids' being ill.  I'm sure
    the vet will come up with the solution.  Sounds like a virus maybe
    going around.  I'd better knock on wood and hope my 6 don't catch it.
    Might be one of those airborne bugs.
    
    Hope they're better soon.
    
    Pat, D.P., Thai, Holly, Jamie, Midnight, Buffy (& Cookie)
    

    Remember to bring a stool sample with you to the vet.  That's sometimes
    the only or best way to diagnose a problem.
    
    Good luck,
    Karen.

    I'm bring a stool sample to them tonight.  Pita's.  She seems to be the
    sickest right now.
    
    Holly
    

    Do you think Sweetie might have brought something home from a show?  Is
    there anything going around on the show scene?  A few months ago
    brought on very bad URI's that a lot of cats were getting.
    

    I thought about that, but Sweetie isn't sick!  That's why I threw that
    theory out.
    
    Update for today.  Both Tabitha and Silver are eating again.  They are
    playing again as well.  That makes me feel a bit better.  I put the two
    of them back together this morning.  They were QUITE happy with that
    idea!!
    
    Pita is still isolated, though.  She's still not eating and still has
    the diahrea.  I'm bringing her to the vets tonight.  Will let you know
    what she says.
    
    Has anyone had anything similar to this happen to their kitties??  It
    actually sounds like some kind of a bug that they've caught!  Kinda
    like the flu.
    
    Holly
    

    The closest I can come to this is when one of my cats got into some
    kind of poison years ago.  We came home and he was just lying on the
    floor panting and had had diarrea (sp?) all over the place..some was
    "mucusie".  We had just moved into a new house so the vet thought he
    either got into something the previous owners had left behind (although
    we had cleaned prior to moving in) or he could have eaten a poisonous
    bug or spider.  We got him right to the vet and he had to stay there
    for several days.  He did recover just fine though and lived for a long
    time after that.
    
    Of course, if one of your cats got into something it doesn't explain
    the other two, unless they ALL got into it and two didn't get as much
    so were able to fight it themselves.  When my cat was poisoned the
    other cat was fine.
    
    You're wise to get your cat right to the vet...the stool sample will
    help too.
    
    Good luck!

    I don't think that Sweetie necessarily has to be sick himself in order
    to transmit something to the others.  I believe immunity levels and
    ability to fight off illness is more of a factor as to who succombs and
    who doesn't.
    
    In any event, I thought of something else.  A friend's kitten became
    very ill recently with the same symptoms and it was determined that he
    had been munching on the spider plants in the house.  Spider plants
    absorb toxins from the air and it was assumed that that is what made
    him so ill (the vet couldn't find anything else wrong).  Maybe plants
    are the culprit?
    
    It could also simply be a virus or bacterial infection of sorts, as 
    you stated.
    

    3 out of my 4 little ones had the same symptoms last week.  But after
    I researched further...we found Roundworms.   After deworming them
    it took about two days before they really got their appetite back...
    and a couple more days to get rid of the Diaherea.
    
    They are all fine now and running around like they should be.
    Keep us posted.....
    
    Sandy
    

    RE: spider plants.

    Sorry Roberta.  Strike two.  Absolutely NO plants in my house.  I've
    got what they call a "brown thumb".  I could kill a cactus!! (-:

    RE: the roundworms

    Sandy, are your cats outdoor cats??  I thought of worms too and so did
    the vet, but I can't think of how they would have gotten them.  All of
    my cats are "indoor only".  Only Sweetie goes to the shows.

    I'm REALLY baffled by this!!  Hopefully the vet will be able to tell me
    something tonight.

    I'll let you know.

    Holly

    Holly,
    
    Did you get the current CFA yearbook?  I was reading it last night and
    there is a great recipe in there for a very nutritious, concentrated
    liquid "food" that you can make.  I am in a class right now and don't
    have time to write all the directions right now, but mail me if you
    don't have the yearbook and I will mail you back with the directions
    later on.
    
    Have you tried Biosol on the cats with diarrhea?  How 'bout giving them
    sub-q fluids?  If the diarrhea is really bad, they will need fluids to
    keep them from dehydrating.
    
    Jo

    There is a small chance that you can bring in things like round worms,
    & stuff. It's not really common, but all it takes is to step in dog (or
    cat) poo once & have a little on your shoe. Isn't this how it could
    be brought in?
    
    Bon

    Well, here's an update.  Both Tabitha and Silver seem to be fine. 
    They're actually eating REGULAR cat food again and are playing like
    they normally do.
    
    Pita, on the other hand, is VERY sick!!  I brought her to the vets last
    night and they kept her.  She was very dehydrated.  They gave her some
    liquids through a shot and have taken blood samples and various other
    tests.  They checked the stool sample that I brought them and they
    found nothing.  They've kept her there for observation.
    
    I called this morning and they still don't have any ideas of what's
    wrong.  She's just SO listless!  When I got home last night she could
    barely move.  
    
    I won't have any more news until tonight when I stop by to see her.
    
    Holly
    

    Prayers fo Pita!  Please keep us posted.  
    
    Sandy

have any plants in the house been chewed?  If so, let your vet know immediately.
Also scan your cabinets and shelves for any bottles that may have been turned
over, etc.  Cats are known to eat very unhealthy things sometimes and you may
have an environmental issue, rather than a virus or other infestation.

    Cut some lean beef into one inch cubes and place it in a glass jar
    with a metal lid (remove cardboard insert).  Place the jar with the
    meat in a larger pot, and fill the pot with water up to the top of the
    jar.  Heat the pot to a simmer, and let it remain simmering on the
    stove.  Meat juices will collect in the jar, pour them into another
    container and save them.  This is the stuff that you want.  Eventually,
    the meat will be totally dessicated, throw it away.  Skim off any fat
    that has collected on the meat juices.  The meat juice can be frozen
    and then thawed and used when needed. It is highly concentrated, and
    nutritious for ailing cats.  A small amount can be fed with an eye
    dropper or syringe, or if the cat is drinking it can be offered from a
    bowl.
    
    Jo

    RE: the plants and other things.
    
    As I said earlier, there are no plants in my house at all.  Also, Pita
    Tabitha and Silver are restricted to the cattery and my room.  So she
    couldn't have gotten into any kind of poisin either. )-:  Thanks for
    the suggestion, though.  Any ideas really help!!
    
    Jo, that is a GREAT recipe!!  Unfortunately, the vet kept poor Pita so
    I couldn't try to see if she would eat it last night.  I WILL make some
    though and keep it in the freezer!!  that's a GREAT idea!! 
    
    Thank you all for all of your support!!  I'm SO worried about my pita
    baby.  She's SO small and SO fragile. )-:  Please keep all of your
    prayers and positive energy coming.
    
    Holly
    

    Holly, Dont worry ! She will get better!!! Prayers from all!
    
    8^) Smiles
    
    SueJ & Alex

    Holly, we are sending kitty prayers and hugs your way..
    Kate, Happy, Preschie

    Holly,
    
    Isn't Pita aka "Lady Sings the Blues"?  She holds a special place in my
    heart. :^)  I remember when you got her!  Anyway, keep the faith.  Make
    up some of the "recipe" and go visit her at the vet with it.  My
    experience with really sick cats at my vet is that they generally will
    eat what I offer them at the vet's, but not what the vet people offer
    them.  They just prefer to be home.
    
    Glad they got some fluids into her.  
    
    Jo

    This sounds more and more like what happened to my cat (explained in a
    previous note).  Again, certain spiders CAN cause this type of reaction
    and with houses being opened for Spring alot of insects can be getting
    into the house, hatching, etc.
    
    When I took my cat to the vet, he was in such bad shape the vet didn't
    think he would survive BUT he did with great success and lived for many
    years after with no ill affects so keep that in mind!
    
    
    Linda

    Linda!!  That could possibly be!!  We have had some spiders in the
    house this spring.  I'll make sure that I tell the vet this when I talk
    to her!  thanks!!
    
    
    RE: Jo
    
    Yes, Pita is "Lady sings the blues".  She certainly is a special kitty. 
    My first Master Grand Champion in CFF and CFF's first Master Grand
    Champion Korat.  She's a beutiful baby.  I'm not sure if you know of
    Jackie Taylor?!  She's a judge in CFA.  Anyway, she is Pita's breeder
    and has her litter sister "Jaltari's Rave Review" who was sixth best
    kitten a few years ago.  I believe she got a national win as a whole
    cat as well.  She's a BEAUTIFUL baby!!
    
    I'll be talking to the vet in two hours.  They asked me not to call
    back until after I get home from work.  I'll be calling just as I get
    out at 5:00!!  I'm SO worried about her!!
    
    thanks for all of your support.
    
    Holly
    

    Just got off of the phone with the Vet.  They took x-rays of her and
    found nothing.  They took blood and sent it out for tests.  They will
    get the results back tomorrow morning.  They can't figure out what's
    wrong with her at all.
    
    They think there might be SOME kind of infection in her system, but
    they're not sure.  We'll know more tomorrow when the results of the
    bloodwork comes back.  They have been giving her fluids and she seems
    to be a bit better.  They've tried all kinds of things for her to eat,
    but she hasn't eaten anything yet.  They say that she's quite nervous
    right now (understandably!!).
    
    My sister just called me.  She was at the vets and just got back.  She
    says that she does look better than she did earlier and she DID purr
    while she was holding her.  I guess that's a good sign.  
    
    Unfortunately, I won't be able to get any information in here until
    Monday morning.  I'll make sure I'm in here first thing!
    
    thank you everyone for the prayers.  keep them coming, please!
    
    Holly
    

    My cat nephew Toulumne was very sick with some unidentified
    thing a month or two ago.  He got better in about a week, but
    their vet still has no idea of what it was.  
    

    lots of good thoughts for your Pita.
    
    Giudi

    I saw that Jackie Taylor was Pita's breeder in another note (I think it
    was the one where Marilyn (?) Coleman was looking for a stud).  I
    haven't met Jackie in person yet, but my club is thinking of inviting
    her out for our show one of these days.  I have heard of Rave Review.
    
    Good luck with Pita.  Are they keeping her over the weekend??  If not,
    then maybe you can ask them to show you how to give fluids at home.
    The most serious problem with severe diarrhea is the resulting
    dehydration.
    
    Jo

    Sorry it's taking so long to get the problem identified. Can't wait
    to hear the test results. My last diahrea cat resonded quickly to
    W/D, and maybe with the beef broth for fluids? The way the cats
    each came down with the symtoms seems lots like my kids at school
    passing a bug to each other. Hope things are better before Monday.

    Get well soon, Pita!
    
    We're all routin' for ya, buddy!!
    
    I sure hope everything is OK, I hate to hear about poor sick babies!
    :*(
    
    Bonnie

    Well, the bloodwork came back on Saturday.  They couldn't find anything
    unusual in the bloodwork either.  Just severe dehydration.  They gave
    her two treatments of fluids on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  They
    also gave me some antibiotics.  They think that it's just some kind of
    virus that they got.  Pita just couldn't shake it.  She ate a LITTLE
    bit of dry food today and drank some water.  She seems to be on the
    road to recovery.
    
    Now the old ladies haven't eaten in the last few days.  And I found
    diarrea in their litterbox yesterday.  )-:  I can't get rid of this
    virus!!! )-:
    
    thanks for all of the prayers!!
    
    Holly
    

    Hang in there Holly.  Sending good vibes and prayers from the 
    Putiput Cattery.
      Nancy

    also sending good thoughts to pita & the rest of the gang.
    
    diane, stella & stanley
    

    How is everyone doing?