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Cats/Kitten Worries

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Expert: - 6/10/2011


Question
Bagheera
Bagheera
Hi, our kitten Bagheera is about 6months old now. And when she was about 4-5months old she became very sick, we brought her into the vet and he diagnosed her with chlamydia and a cold. She received a shot and some ointment for her eyes. She has been looking much better, her eyes cleared right up. She moves around more than when she was sick. But now, she doesn't seem to want to run around. Play like she used to before being sick, and sleeps for the entire day is she can. Only getting up to eat and use her litter box, than she's back laying down and sleeping. And also she doesn't seem to be gaining any weight since being sick. She eats her kitten food everyday, drinks water. But you can feel all her little bones. I'm just wondering if we should be worried about her.

Answer
Hi Shelby,

Yes, this is reason to worry. You should get Bagheera back to the vet to have her looked at once again. A kitten should be active, growing and gaining weight. If she isn’t, it suggests her body is stressed, probably by an illness.

If she hasn’t been tested for the feline leukemia and feline AIDS viruses, I would recommend that you have these done. These are two diseases that can cause stunted growth and poor weight gain. But any illness that goes untreated can cause this, and it’s possible your kitten just needs a different antibiotic. Sometimes a viral illness can cause these symptoms, and an immune booster like Immuno-DMG or l-lysine (I like the brand, Viralys) might be helpful.

There is a condition called FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) that might be to blame. Unfortunately, it’s fatal, but the good thing is that it’s uncommon. There is no reliable test for this condition, but if your kitten’s exam seems to suggest she may have FIP, blood tests can be run to see if they further indicate FIP. High globulin and low albumin in the blood can indicate this disease, and well as a high titer for corona viruses. Also, some kittens have fluid in the belly with this disease. Fluid can be drawn out with a needle and analyzed. This is highly indicative of FIP.

Good luck!

Jessica

Jessica

Expertise

The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

Experience

I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience

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