Expert: Ali - 8/19/2009

Question
We have two beautiful kittens that were two of a five litter healthy mom and babies too! Then, one went downhill respiratory problem of some kind tried to get it to the vet and she died in my arms, we really tried and as I'm sure you understand it broke our hearts. Now, we have two more that has gone downhill, called the vet yesterday and they suggested that I come by and pick up a med that starts with an L (I'm sorry everyone is asleep and the med is in the kitchen)I will get the name I promise tomorrow. Anyway, he told us that the male (Rascal# both 5 weeks old, is 1.7 lbs. and the female #Precious) is 1.3 lbs. he said it is a virus, nothing that he can give antibiotics for just a virus. Now my problem is he gave us a prescription can food that is no problem they both like it but my female is refusing to eat and I can't seem to get her little mouth open to get the food in like they showed us. I mean this little girl clamps it shut, I'm terrified of hurting her and she looks so worn out when we try but we have to do it or she will not make it. The vet seemed to feel it was a 50/50 chance for her. I am willing to try anything can you please suggest any way for me to feed her. We are desperate truly. We hate to see her like this. They love a basket that they both enjoy sleeping in and these two have been best buddies pretty much since birth one cries if the other isn't there. They did come from an outside cat, she is wild but is pretty much used to us, can't really pick her up but she will come up to us that type of thing. I don't know what to do if you can give any ideas we would so appreciate it, and thank you in advance from our hearts. Sincerely, Paula....

Answer
Paula,

At 5 weeks of age it's very dangerous for kittens to have upper respiratory infections and to be perfectly honest their chances of survival are much lower than if they were even 2-4 weeks older since their immune systems aren't mature enough to be working at 100% capacity yet. In this situation with Precious refusing to eat her chances of survival plummet if she doesn't get the calories she needs to give her the strength to fight the viral infection causing her upper respiratory symptoms. Ideally it's important to wipe away any crusty or wet discharge from their nasal passages frequently. You can do this with gauze dipped in a bowl of warm water. It's not going to be popular, it's something that has to be done for a few reasons:

- reducing the likelihood that these babies will develop secondary bacterial infections which could prove fatal

- increasing the comfort level of both kittens and making it easier for them to breathe and smell their food which will increase their appetite and allow them to have the strength to fight their viral/bacterial infection.

It's not a bad idea to consider seeking the advice of a holistic veterinarian, preferably one who uses homeopathy in addition to allopathic medicine to treat pets. My own vet is a holistic vet, she uses homeopathy in her practice and I've seen some amazing behavioral changes when the right remedy is administered at the right time, I've also seen one major medical miracle that I attribute to the use of homeopathic remedies and allopathic medicine. There may be homeopathic remedies to decrease the kitten's congestion, increase her appetite and lessen her fear while she's sick. One remedy you can use for both kittens since they were born to a fearful mom outside is Bach's Rescue Remedy which is a blend of flower essences designed to calm and reassure. This remedy is 100% harmless, it's been my secret weapon for years and I've seen some incredible transformations. You can usually find this remedy in health food stores, naturopathic pharmacies, some mainstream pharmacies may stock Bach flower remedies in their nutritional supplement section and as far as I know you can also purchase these remedies online.

You may want to consider offering this kitten a kitten milk replacer mixed with meat/broth baby food or homemade strained meat baby food in a saucer or by syringe. Since Precious is only 5 weeks old in all likelihood she wasn't completely weaned, the kitten milk replacer mixed with meat/broth baby food will give her some extra calories, protein and fat - at this point it doesn't matter WHAT she is eating, it matters THAT she's eating. If you use an oral syringe (the kind you can buy in the baby section of any pharmacy meant for giving babies and young children oral medications) all you'll need to do is sit her comfortably on your lap and gently sneak the tip of the syringe past the kitten's lips in the corner of her mouth and slowly depress the plunger giving her time to swallow each time. If Precious still refuses to eat that way you may want to resort to towel wrapping her quite firmly, this technique will remind you of swaddling a human baby but you'll need to wrap a kitten a bit more tightly than a baby. Once you've towel wrapped the kitten you can hold onto her between your legs allowing your legs to hold her still and use both hands, one to open her mouth slightly by pressing gently on either side of her mouth right in the corners - don't worry you won't hurt her this way, the jaws will open by reflex the same way they do when the vet examines the inside of the kitten's mouth.

You could also try Precious and her brother on canned Wellness or Spot's Stew varieties that have strong smells to them. A cat of any age will routinely stop eating if they're congested since they depend on their sense of smell to eat, sometimes offering smelly foods like sardines, tuna, salmon or strongly flavored/scented high quality cat foods will increase their willingness to eat. It's important to get Precious and her brother eating enough of what they need to keep their strength up for what's to be the fight of their short lives as soon as humanly possible, even if it means you have to syringe the food in, wipe it on their paws or even on the insides of their lips.

- check out this website, http://www.animalstars.com/pet_health.html they've provided plenty of information about natural remedies to help increase the chances these babies have of being okay. They recommend some products, provide information about potential bacterial infections that may be causing or contributing to the severity of these kittens' upper respiratory symptoms, lack of appetite, etc. I've included a Cole's Notes version of some of the information available on this site and I truly hope it will help. It's important to make sure that the herbal remedies you use aren't contraindicated with the specific meds your kittens are already on.

- it's best to avoid having a cat stop eating/drinking because they can become dehydrated very quickly and cats that have stopped eating can be difficult to get eating again.
- most upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses, this means that antibiotics aren't going to be effective.
- antibiotics are often prescribed for cats with upper respiratory infections because viral infections can become complicated by secondary bacterial infections and antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections.
- chlamydia is to blame for some upper respiratory infections in cats, antibiotics in the tetracycline family are effective against chlamydia, but this family of antibiotics can stain a kitten's teeth permanently.
- some less common bacterial causes of upper respiratory infections in cats are: bartonella henselae, chlamydia, chronic rhinitis or sinusitis.
- bartonella henselae (bacteria that causes cat scratch fever in people) can be treated with an antibiotic called Azithromax (the drawback is that this can be pricey, but cats and kittens don't need very much of it to effectively treat these bacterial infections)
- Most upper respiratory infections are caused by herpes and calicivirus, these viral infections aren not transmissible to people.
- in most cases upper respiratory infections are going to last 7-10 days no matter what is done to treat them.
- the infections caused by the herpes virus recur from time to time just like other types of herpes viruses
- herpes infections tend to last a long time in kittens and they can recur whenever the cat's system is stressed by things like spay/neuter surgery, boarding, changes within the household, etc.
- it's possible for herpes related upper respiratory infections to recur for the life of the cat, typically recurring less frequently and decreasing in severity as the cat gets older.
- herpes related upper respiratory infections are contagious to other cats for a couple of weeks after exposure to stress or other factor that causes a recurrance.
- calicivirus is contagious for several months after infection.
- bartonella henselae infections produce severe cold symptoms including sneezing, coughing, thick mucousy discharge sneezed and coughed out and this infection doesn't improve without treatment.
- your vet can perform a blood test for this infection, but it takes 5-7 days to get the results.
- Chlamydia is a common cause of respiratory infections. Symptoms may include nasal congestion, discharge from nose and eyes, sneezing, clear discharge from the cat's eyes and nose. Azithromax is a newer, safe antibiotic that's an effective treatment for chlamydia.
- It's not a bad idea to speak with your vet about using Azithromycin (aka Zithromax or Z Pak) just in case your kitty has an infection caused by chlamydia or bartonella henselae.
- The use of some herbal remdies, vitamin/mineral supplements, and other medications may not be advisable while your cat is receiving prescription drugs like antibiotics so please check with your vet before administering any of these products to ensure the safety of your kittens.
- If you have other cats in your household it's best to quarantine the sick kittens to avoid spreading the respiratory infection to other cats in your home.
- Sick cats can become dehydrated quickly, it's important to make sure that they don't get dehydrated because that can make them feel worse. You can give your kitten unflavored pedialyte, be sure to ask your vet for dosing instructions based on the condition and size of these babies. You may have to dilute the pedialyte with water.
- An easy way to see if your kittens are dehydrated is to gently pinch the skin at the scruff of their neck and let it go. If the kittens are well hydrated the skin should snap back immediately, if they're dehydrated then it will sit up in a tent/roll like shape and return to normal very slowly.
- Your vet may also recommend subcutaneous fluids be injected at home, s/he will let you know how much, how frequently and how to do it.
- super special treats can sometimes stimulate a sick cat's appetite. You can use a high quality canned cat food like Wellness or Spot's Stew (they're made from human grade ingredients and it's a novel experience to open them because the contents of the can smell like what the label says is inside!). Canned fish, cooked liver, cooked/raw chicken, turkey or other poultry and kitty cookies are all worth trying.
- My secret weapon with sick kitties is strained meat with broth baby food either in the jars or from the frozen section in your health food store or local pharmacy, I use a brand called Mother Hen. This site recommends Beechnut meat or fish and veggies combos, not something I've tried, but it's worth a try.
- Ideally in my opinion you'll want to try offering the baby food on a plate to see if these babies will eat it on their own, if not you can resort to syringe feeding it, be sure that you put the baby food through the food processor if it's got chunks in it because syringe feeding chunks makes for nasty surprises as far as people and cats are concerned - a blocked syringe can explode into a kitty's face which they'll find offensive or if you're pointing the business end of the syringe your way to see what's wrong a face full of baby food can be quite offensive.
- This site recommends an antihistamine called cyproheptadine which supposedly stimulates a cat's appetite. Discuss it with your vet to see what s/he says.
- Nutrimalt Paste is another product recommended on this site. Essentially it's a skin/coat supplement paste that you can find in most pet supply stores and vet clinics. Discuss dosing recommendations with your veterinarian because these kittens are very young and quite tiny.
- Felovite II is a vitamin/mineral supplement for cats in paste form, this site says it's tuna flavored
- Vedco Nutrived Chewable Vitamins are kitten vitamins, apparently they come in roast beef or liver flavor. These vitamins contain very little Vitamin C which cats and kittens use lots of when they're sick or stressed. This website recommends adding Ester C and gradually build up to 500 mg per day over the space of a week or two. I'm relatively sure that the doses would be significantly smaller for kittens as young and tiny as yours. These folks recommend crushing the tablets or opening the capsules, measuring out the appropriate dose, adding water and probios to mask the flavor and administer by mouth at meal times to prevent stomach upset.
- This website recommends using the Nutrimalt as recommended and a vitamin paste as frequently as appropriate OR a syringe of Mega C plus vitamins (comes in powdered form or drops for infants and it's meant to be mixed with canned cat food) and probios in a syringe.
- I'd strongly suggest running these supplements by your own vet or a holistic veterinarian (trained in conventional medicine as well as one or more alternative therapies which may include homeopathy, massage, acupuncture or herbal medicine, to name a few available options) since I'm not familiar with these particular brands.
- This website recommends specific nasal sprays, antihistamines or decongestants to help stimulate finicky feline appetites. Again this is information I'd recommend discussing with your vet since I'm not a veterinarian and this isn't information that I've come across in my years of helping sick strays and foster kitties.

I am a big fan of the holistic approach, this website addresses ways to make sick cats and kittens more comfortable. I'll admit that some of their ideas aren't things I've thought of or tried, but the way that I look at it is that these approaches can't hurt and they just might help so there's no harm in trying them.

- An upper respiratory infection makes a cat miserable, think about your last bad cold - not much fun and I'm sure that cats feel the same, so it's important to make extra sure that they've got fresh food, clean, fresh water and a clean litter box nearby so that all of their needs can be fulfilled close to where they're resting and trying to recuperate.

- Be sure to dish out plenty of love and attention, but bear in mind these babies need their rest so you don't want to bother them too much. If your kittens feel happiest and most comfortable snoozing quietly in your arms then try to offer the quiet, unobtrusive cuddles whenever you can, but consider the fact that most cats like to hide the fact they're not feeling well, preferring instead to lie quietly by themselves.

- Be sure that these little ones aren't too hot or too cold. You may want to consider offering a heating pad set on low and wrapped in several layers of towels or blankets so that it's pleasantly warm but not too hot (you don't want to cause heat stroke inadvertantly). If you live in an area where it's very hot at this time of year it's not a bad idea to consider turning the air conditioning down a bit so that these babies don't get too chilled.

- These folks recommend what they call Music, Video and Twinkle light therapy. I've included the excerpt from the site as follows: "Playing Classical,New Age or Celtic, etc. music softly in your quarantine room will give your sick cat or kitten something to listen to. Even a book being read on CD or Ipod. We have a Kitty DVD" (this video series is called the Cat Sitter videos, our cats love them but do be careful to make sure that they can't accidentally break anything or hurt themselves while they jump up to get the squirrel or birdy when they're so inclined) "that plays squirrels and birds and their sounds that entertains cats for hours. Give your sick cat a low impact source of entertainment. Below Horus watches his favorite DVD - VIDEO CATNIP on a Mac laptop. Some kitties are not as civilized about watching as he is, you may need to use a television monitor that can tolerate little paws batting the screen! We put twinkle lights all around the room so that a sick kitty can listen
to music, and watch the soft lights twinkle."

- Here's another unique approach to kitty therapy for sick cats and this is one that I've tried for years with cats when they're seriously ill or even terminally ill. Sunshine & will to get well therapy:
* do be careful some medications have warnings about exposure to sunlight, if this is the case walks in the shade are best. The following summary of this therapeutic approach is directly taken from the website. "We take our sick kids outside in the sunshine to absorb vitamin D and trigger the mental process, the will to get well by stimulating their senses watching nature, be it a bird in the tree or a fly buzzing or a lizard running down a path. It becomes a highlight in their day. Make sure you keep them out of drafts and winds. Wrap them up in a jacket or towel and keep the cat or kitten warm and safe until you reach your garden spot. Always put a harness on the cat just in case you experience an unexpected panic etc. Better safe than sorry! Just 10 - 15 minutes will make a world of difference to a sick cat's mood. Our lethargic sickly cats perk up and love the heat and warmth. They go back into their rooms purring, drinking water, eating their food afterward, happy and ready for a nap after their big adventure. It's mental magic and so beneficial to the healing process."

- Providing your kittens with opportunities to hang out and watch the world outside as they sit in a sunny window can help increase their interest in life and their will to survive.

- Sometimes sick kitties are feverish. Normal body temperature for a cat is between 100.5 - 102.5 Farenheit. If your kittens have temperatures above 102.5 you may want to speak with your vet about ways to help ensure that the kittens' fever doesn't get dangerously high. NEVER give medications like tylenol, advil or other over the counter drugs you might have in your medicine cabinent to cats, they're toxic even in small amounts they can kill a cat or kitten. If your kittens have a body temperature that starts falling below 100.5 that's a bad sign - veterinary care is urgently needed and your kittens may not survive if this is the case. To take a kitten's temperature you'll need to buy a thermometer meant for rectal use. My favorites are the digital thermometers designed for use in human infants because the newer models actually have shorter probes to minimize the chance of accidental injury. Once you've got your kittens a thermometer clearly label it since you wouldn't want to accidentally mix up the thermometers used for oral use in humans with the thermometer for rectal use in cats. I recommend using vaseline or KY jelly to lubricate the end of the thermometer to reduce discomfort caused by inserting the thermometer into the kitten's rectum. You only want to gently guide the thermometer into the kitten's rectum using only enough force to push through the resistance your kitten's body offers. It's only necessary to push the thermometer a 1/2 - 1 inch into the cat's rectum, then you'll need to hold these babies still to prevent accidental damage to their intestinal tract. Once you've inserted the thermometer you'll need to wait for the reading - the digital thermometers tend to take between 15-30 seconds for their reading. Be sure to clean the thermometer using alcohol swabs after each use, if you're taking more than one kitty's temperature the thermometer needs to be cleaned with an alcohol swab, allowed to dry and lubricated before you move on to kitty #2.

- You can provide your kittens with plenty of cuddly places to sleep, they'll appreciate fleecy blankets, fake sheep skin, and other soft materials.

- there are microwaveable discs available in pet supply stores, their warmth lasts awhile and all you'll need to do is wrap the disc in a thick towel and place it in the bed with these babies.

- You can try clearing congestion the old fashioned way - by cuddling your kittens under a blanket while you have an open jar of Vicks nearby. DO NOT apply Vicks to your cat's body, they might eat it.

- A humidifier is a great tool to help alleviate congestion. You can bring the kittens into a small room such as the bathroom and turn the humidifier on. This treatment can be given for 15 minutes 2-3 times daily. Offering a treat can help make the kittens comfortable during this time.

- saline nasal sprays aren't medicated, you can give a drop or so in each nostril to help clean away nasal discharge so that the kittens can breathe more easily which can mean that they'll be more interested in food because they can smell it.

- This website recommends colloidal silver which they say is a natural, over the counter antibiotic that can be found in health food stores. According to this site you can put this product in the nose, eyes, drinking water, etc. They recommend 2-3 drops in each nostril. They use this product orally to prevent a cat getting sick when symptoms of illness start. It's important not to contaminate the bottle by allowing it to touch nostrils, eyes, mouths of sick cats. These folks recommend transfering a small amount to a sterile small eyedropper bottle and work from that instead, refilling as needed.

- Product recommended to boost the immune system is called Transfer Factor. They recommend two capsules daily for cats and dogs. Here's the info on this product that's on the website: "Transfer factor is an all natural substance that works by "teaching" your own immune system to identify infectious agents that attack your body every day. 4Life combines it with other immune optimizing compounds including colostrum, noni and mushrooms and markets it in a variety of formulations. We use the TRANSFER FACTOR PLUS ADVANCED which offers the greatest immune boosting ability - 437%. Amazing product. Two capsules a day is the dosing we've used for cats and dogs. Used to heal cancers in dogs, cats, horses, failing elderly pets, upper respiratory infections and colds, recovering from serious injury such as paralysis and so much more." This website has a link to purchase Transfer Factor Plus if you're interested in trying this product out on these kittens.

- Here's some more information directly cut and pasted from this site: "NUTRAMEDIX SAMENTO CATS CLAW
This is a bark native to the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest It is an incredible herbal botanical remedy - immune system stimulator and a body detoxifyer. Samento’s Cat’s Claw is a powerful immune system support product. It is beneficial for people and pets for the treatment of a wide range of immune system conditions such a cancer, arthritis, allergies, intestinal disorders, candida, herpes and more. Samento is a rare, very pure form of Cat’s Claw that has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-oxidant properties. Much clinical research has been done on this product and the benefits it can provide. For example, a European study found that Samento activates the immune system by increasing lymphocytic (white blood cell) activity. Samento is also a powerful anti-inflammatory which makes it very useful for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. It also helps to increase T-lymphocyte and microphage production and can be used as a broad spectrum infection fighter.
We use 3 drops for kittens, 4-5 for teenage and adult cats in a syringe with a small amount of water twice a day. Water activates the drops, so wait 1 minute before administering it."

Hopefully this information will help these kittens. I do recommend that you speak with your veterinarian about any of the remedies recommended by the website I recommended above just to make sure that you don't accidentally cause problems for these guys, they've got a lot going against them at this point and I'd hate to see anything else make their fight more difficult. I also wanted to share a piece of writing with you that's been helpful when I've had to cope with losing special friends along the way. I hope that reading about the Rainbow Bridge will help to ease the pain of losing Precious and Rascal's sibling.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

My heart goes out to you, I know that this next while is going to be difficult regardless of the outcome. If there's anything I can do to help you (I'll even offer an ear if necessary) please don't hesitate to contact me again. I'm really rooting for these babies, I'll keep them in my thoughts and prayers.