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Question

We have a new cat obtained from a rescue home. She was in the home for 6 months and during that time was spayed, innoculated, de-flead and wormed. She had lots of litters in her short life, is very small, and was, I'm told, terribly thin when found. She is affectionate and is eating, but has a wheezing through her nose, slight diaorhhea, some watery discharge from her nose and one eye, and has very little energy. We have had here five days and she sleeps all the time, barely leaving her box or my chair. What do you reckon might be the trouble?

Submitted: 45 days and 19 hours ago.
Category: Cat
Value: $11
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: 4

Already Tried:
Warm quiet place to rest, soft food, lots of water.

Posted by Terri Riba 45 days and 19 hours ago.

Answer

Dear friend,

 

May God bless you for taking her in!!

 

Her immune system is very weak from all she has been through..........poor baby.

 

 

She most likely has an URI:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/feline_upper_respiratory.html

All cats carry upper respiratory virus on their own fur. Cats that live together become immune to the carried strain but as soon as the bacterium is exposed to another cat it will infect them. If this baby was exposed to other cats she likely contracted it from them or stress.

Feed her very odorous food so she can smell it and will keep eating. If she gets dehydrated, give her a few droppers of unflavored pedialyte througout the day to hydrate her and balance her electrolytes.

 

 

Cats are attracted to smelly foods - the stronger the better. If she wants tuna, give it to her You can also try fancy feast, clam juice or baby food.

 

human baby food in meat flavours (check that there are no onions or garlic in the ingredients) and mix that with warm water and offer that, or syringe it in little bits into your cat's mouth. Beech Nut makes a line of baby food that has nothing but meat (beef, chicken, turkey or veal) in it. Here's a link: http://www.beechnut.com/Our%20Baby%20Food/Results.asp If you cannot find this, you could find another meat baby food - just read the label carefully to be sure there are no onions, onion powder, garlic, or garlic powder in it.

.Ad one tablespoon of infant rice cereal to firm her stool.

She can have an OTC called clortrimeton - a quarter tablet every 12 hours if she is congested.

http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/chlorpheniramine-maleate-chlor-trimeton/page1.aspx

You can also take her in a steamy bathroom where you have run a hot shower to break it up.For the eyes get Terramycin ointment. some pet supplies have it but call first or order from http://www.revivalanimal.com/

Apply a damp teabag today for 30 seconds 3 times.

If she develops any colored mucus that means the infection has turned bacterial and will respond to an antibiotic.Some vets script one even if it is viral to prevent secondary infections like pneumonia.

Please let me know how she is feeling. If you get worried I will always be here to help further.

I hope she feels better very soon.

Very sincerely,

Terri

 



Edited by Terri Riba on 10/8/2009 at 12:23 PM

45 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

Hi, Thanks for helpful answer and suggestions. Do you recommend antibiotics, or should I just keep nursing her and see how she gets on? If so, how long should she take to recover?

Accepted Answer

At this point I would not stress her further with a vet visit. As long as she is eating g ive her a few days to get over her URI. BUT if she stops eating or developes any further breathing issues she should be seen

 

Best of luck with her,

 

Terri

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Expert: Terri Riba
Pos. Feedback: 99.9 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 10/8/2009

Feline Healthcare Expert

Expert in feline health and behavior. 20 years experience with cats.

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