3 kittens in the MIDDLE of the road!!! :(

[TrixiePA]

Good Job. I had almost same thing happen in Nov last year. We were going to only keep one, but now we have 3 indoor cats. Pro - they really take care of each other and even lick each other cause momma cat wasn't there to teach them the kitty basics. Con - cause no kitty basics made decision to keep them inside. They don't have that killer instinct. Also Con - 3 teenager cats running/chasing each other full speed at 3am. Had to contain them in the family room until they got over that phase.

Def make sure they are pottying. They will do litter super easy if you put them in it. Also get clay b/c the scoopable is so fine it will get into their tummys and cause probs. Plus binds up in their toes and is a pain to get out.

For the eyes, if they are still icky, buy some Lysine in the vitamin section of pharm/grocery and grind it to powder and sprinkle over food, wet food pref. It will boost their immune systems and suppress any kitty herpes virus which is very prevelant in cats and IS NOT transable to humans.

Good Luck.

 

[babyspice35]

Thanks for all of your help!!! Will look into the Lysine, thank you very much. Oh boy, they are eating and pottying very much! It seems as though their eyes are clearing up, but they're sneezing/ coughing a lot.

Could that go away on its own or is it time to take them to a vet?

My initial plan was just to keep them then give to the humane society when they're bigger...

Any Ideas if I DID take them to the vet, how much it would cost for respritory infection meds?? BTW, we only have 2 now.

 

[Emzyyy]

GoodJob

You make me feel better about people. The other day I saw a whole family of Turkeys get run down with a big fat *** truck.

 

[Goat_Walker]

Quote:
WHAT?!

 

[juliechick]

Great job rescuing the kitties! I can't believe this but, I have been looking for a kitten all summer and can't find one within 100 miles of me! I think my husband is praying them away.

 

[TrixiePA]

Quote:
Okay here's what our vet did when I found the 3 3-4 week old kittens last Nov. They tested positive for cocci (imagine every species has it's own version), they had ear mites and round worms. She prescribed (and I don't know if there are NONprescription generics to these) Tresaderm ($19.50) for ears, Albon tablets ($10.75)for the cocci and Nemex ($6.60) for the worms. In addition it was $50 for the exam (that was the discount rate = yes our vet is exp), $16.25 for the parasite fecal exam, and the $3.00 waste disposal fee (yea right). Our first visit total was $106.10

Did FIV/FL tests and started vaccines at aprox 8 weeks total for that visit was $194.

At 12 weeks old they started with allergy/cold symptoms and she prescribed Clavamox drops ($38.00) and Tri Optic ($9.80) for the eyes. I didn't have to do another visit b/c we had just been there but the meds came to $47.80.

All symptoms cleared up but the eyes got red and crusty about a week after they cleared up and I did another round (=bought another tube of TriOptix) and cleared up but came back. That's when I tried the Lysine on their food. Their eyes cleared up within 24 hours and have not come back. Without a blood test the vet and I speculate that they have feline herpes (not transmittable to humans) and the Lysine is amazing building immunity and it's keeping the herpes virus in check.

TriOptix is 3 antibiotics in one, that's why the prescription is needed, but TSC sells Terrymycin, which is one of the A/B in the triOptix. Good place to start if it's bacterial.

The Albon tabs and Clavamox liquid are both antibiotics I THINK. You might google them and see if some livestock over the counter antibiotic would substitute.

They sell kitten wormers over the counter too. You might have to do two rounds. We did with the prescription wormers. They were just too infested.

At some point you know they need to be tested for feline Leukemia. It's highly contagious b/t cats and is very much like aids in humans. The cats don't HAVE to be put down but should have no contact with other cats to avoid spreading. So the cat would be an inside only cat for life. At some point the cat will need meds to live comfortably. But lifespan with meds can be as long as uninfected cats.

More than anyone ever wanted to know I'm sure but I like to think I'm thorough. By the time the vaccines and I had them spay/neuter at a local no kill shelter for a discount price I had spent hundreds of dollars on my 3 little rescue free kittens. Ugh. But they are family now.

Trixie

 

[ksalvagno]

Unfortunately, if they are coughing and sneezing, they really need to go to the vet and get some antibiotics. I have no idea what it would cost in your area. Maybe if you have a regular vet, the vet will take pity on you and give you a discount.