Re: OT: need advice on dying kitten

[Guest guest]

I find myself caring for a very young and unwell kitten that I think has a

chance of living. I have some raw milk souring on the counter and she is

holding that down. I'm thawing some chicken liver to give her too. Do these

sound like good foods for her? I'm encouraged she's eating.

My question is her eyes -- they are very watery and puffy looking. She can't

open them that wide. The feed store i got her from were putting tetramycin

in them. Any idea what's wrong with her eyes and how to help her? Any chance

the condition is contagious to another cat?

I've seen a lot of animal talk on here so figured this is a good place to

ask. TIA for your help.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

>> My question is her eyes -- they are very watery and puffy looking. She

can't

open them that wide. The feed store i got her from were putting tetramycin

in them. Any idea what's wrong with her eyes and how to help her? Any chance

the condition is contagious to another cat? <<

Elaine, I'm kind of at a loss for words. Why exactly isn't this cat at the

vet?

No one can diagnose her condition over the internet. It could be any number

of things, some treatable, some not. Please take her to the vet. Very young

animals are extremely fragile, and if she has, as I suspect she does, feline

herpes virus, the tetramycin they were putting in her eyes was utterly

useless, and might possibly have been systemically absorbed and could be

causing some of her problems. She needs a competent examination and

diagnosis before anyone can even begin to make suggestions about her care.

Christie

Caber Feidh ish Deerhounds

Holistic Husbandry since 1986

http://www.caberfeidh.com

[Guest guest]

> Elaine, I'm kind of at a loss for words. Why exactly isn't this cat at the

> vet?

> animals are extremely fragile, and if she has, as I suspect she does, feline

> herpes virus,

Thanks Christie. It's Saturday night. I don't have funds for emergency vet

care. Nobody was caring for or about the poor thing so at least she has a

warm, soft place to sleep for now. I plan on taking her in Monday. In the

meantime i'll do some research on feline herpes virus.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

>>> She needs a competent examination and

diagnosis before anyone can even begin to make suggestions about her care.<<<

Preferably an holistic vet if you can. I am also on a very good pets list called

RawPaws: rawpaws/ where there is a lot of good

advice for sick animals.

" On RawPaws you will receive instruction on preparing a species appropriate raw

diet for cats, dogs, ferrets, birds and other companion animals.

Discussion will include holistic rearing, vaccine issues and herbs and how a

natural diet can help pets afflicted with IBD, Diabetes, pancreatitis, thyroid

and other auto-immune diseases.

You will also receive a good number of posts on research regarding human health

issues - because the health of our companion's guardians is very important to

their stress levels.

Discussion and exploration of raw diet, holistic care and other subject matter

will be led by your list mom - Marnie, formerly of Wellpet and RawCats mailing

lists. "

Cheers,

Tas'.

[Guest guest]

>> Nobody was caring for or about the poor thing so at least she has a

warm, soft place to sleep for now. I plan on taking her in Monday. In the

meantime i'll do some research on feline herpes virus. <<

How is she today, Elaine?

Christie

[Guest guest]

Much better! Even her eyes are looking a wee bit better. She is eating raw

liver regularly -- every couple of hours. I don't know what else to feed

her. The milk gives her diarrhea -- i had thought raw milk maybe wouldn't

but it does. How did Pottenger's cats survive at all??? I think she will be

fine. My only concern is that she might have the feline AIDs virus. I'll get

her tested before i get too attached to her. She played a little bit today

and wants to explore so i think she's fine. Was just malnourished. She's not

even as big as an apple.

Elaine

> From: " Christie " <christiekeith@...>

> Reply-

> Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 12:34:17 -0700

> < >

> Subject: Re: OT: need advice on dying kitten

>

>>> Nobody was caring for or about the poor thing so at least she has a

> warm, soft place to sleep for now. I plan on taking her in Monday. In the

> meantime i'll do some research on feline herpes virus. <<

>

> How is she today, Elaine?

>

> Christie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>> She is eating raw

liver regularly -- every couple of hours. I don't know what else to feed

her. The milk gives her diarrhea -- i had thought raw milk maybe wouldn't

but it does. <<

Elaine, do you have a feeling for how old she is? If she is too young to eat

solid foods, what you need is an orphan kitten formula, and I do have a few

good ones.

Make some chamomile tea and give it to her with a dropper, that will help

with her diarrhea. Also, put a bit of probiotic powder in it. Just a bit.

Bone broth from NT will be very good for this kitten, and you can add the

probiotics and cham tea to that as well.

Here is a basic, balanced kitten recipe you can try:

2 pounds turkey, chicken, rabbit, lean beef, or beef heart

2 eggs

2800 mgs calcium (I use calcium lactate powder from NOW for my cats)

2 tblsp butter

1 tsp CLO

200 IU vitamin E

500 mgs taurine (open up a capsule and sprinkle it in)

To this you *need* to add a multi-vitamin. I mix up my own and add 4 TBLSP

to the above recipe, but you can use a packaged feline product such as

Missing Link or Vita-Mineral Mix from Halo - should be something in the

local health food or pet supply store. I'll paste my supplement recipe at

the end.

How much and how often to feed a kitten depends on the age. Many tiny meals

are the general idea. You may need to also give some goat's milk, raw if you

can get it - and add the probiotics and chamomile tea to that. Or you can

mix that into the meat mixture. You want the little tummy to pouch out a bit

more than the chest, but don't stuff her, especially if she's having

diarrhea.

I'm not wild about using ground meat, so if you can, cut up the meat with

scissors or a sharp knife. Sometimes ground meat gives them diarrhea, but

the exact same meat cut up doesn't. I've seen this again and again, and even

though I don't know WHY it happens, it definitely does.

And you know that you have to stimulate the kitten to urinate and defecate?

Just wipe the urogenital area with a warm, damp washcloth after every meal.

Here is my basic supplement (Dr. Pitcairn's Healthy Powder):

2 cups nutritional yeast

1 cup lecithin granules

1/4 cup kelp powder

bone meal* amount below

keep refrigerated

* Bone Meal

Amounts of bone meal vary depending on brand. Here are the amounts for

commonly available brands:

KAL brand: 6 tsp

Solid Gold brand: 6.6 tsp

NOW brand: 18 tsp

Solgar brand: 12.6 tsp

I am not necessarily saying this is the best way to feed the cat forever,

but it's a safe recipe you can give her for now.

Oh, and if her eyes continue to be affected, please look into using lysine -

it's very helpful with feline herpes virus, and other feline eye infections.

And I would have the vet check her out ASAP.

As to " Feline AIDS, " the FIV test is useless prior to the age of 6 months.

That is because many kittens have their mother's FIV antibodies, which will

gradually disappear. Although a negative kitten is really negative, a

positive kitten is also probably negative, because maternal transmission of

FIV is rare, but the kittens will still have their mother's antibodies. So

do not give up on this kitten even if she is FIV+... it almost certainly

does not mean she has FIV!

Christie

Caber Feidh ish Deerhounds

Holistic Husbandry since 1986

http://www.caberfeidh.com

[Guest guest]

Raw liver is good short-term and as part of a mixed raw diet, but it's too rich

to be the only meat source. Any other (raw) meat that she'll eat is good,

especially if you include some bone as well - chicken, beef, lamb, pork, small

whole fish, etc. Also other offal like hearts and kidneys.

Cheers,

Tas'.

Re: OT: need advice on dying kitten

>

>>> Nobody was caring for or about the poor thing so at least she has a

> warm, soft place to sleep for now. I plan on taking her in Monday. In the

> meantime i'll do some research on feline herpes virus. <<

>

> How is she today, Elaine?

>

> Christie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>>>Any other (raw) meat that she'll eat is good, especially if you include some

bone as well<<<

Well, if she's big enough to cope with it :-)

Cheers,

Tas'.

[Guest guest]

I am so grateful for the wonderful feeding advice i have received!!! I can't

wait to try some new food for him. He (it's an orange tabby -- someone said

they're always boys) is so much better today. His eyes are remarkably

improved although the inner eye is still up a little bit in the inside

corners. Ate a lot of liver and a little pastured ground beef. Glad to know

i shouldn't do liver too much. I'm making some bone broth. I think he is 4

or 5 weeks old. Didn't know to stimulate him to poop and pee! He is playing

now on my lap and i have no doubt he will grow to be healthy and strong. I'm

very relieved to know his chances of being truly FIV positive are rare. At

the moment my biggest problem is some fellow cohousers who are opposed to

another cat joining our community, as I let my cats spend time outdoors. Ah,

humans...much more difficult than cats.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

>> Ah,

> humans...much more difficult than cats. <<

LOL, and that's saying something.....

I'm VERY glad to hear the kitten is much better today. Please keep me posted

on how he does.

Christie

[Guest guest]

the kitten seems to be in a major recuperation stage after the strangeness

of his new surroundings wore off. He is still eating tons, peeing and

pooping well, and sleeping non-stop. Just liver and chicken broth so far.

Refused coconut oil and raw yogurt. Also ate some cooked veal bratwurst.

It's very satisfying to see him healing.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

>>>Also ate some cooked veal bratwurst.<<<

Just be careful of the salt content.

Cheers,

Tas'.