we have a cat colony that has just lost 3 cats in 3 weeks. They

Ask Your Cat Question. Cat Experts Answer You ASAP.

(Not a Cat Question?)

we have a cat colony that has just lost 3 cats in 3 weeks. They get sick, lethargic, stop eating, their breath gets labored and they die within a day or two of showing symoptoms. I have done my research but it seems that there is not much that can done. My question is how likely can we pass the illness onto to other cats?

A second question: We have an indoor cat with alot of snot in his chest. We dont know if he has caught this illness now on top of his already existing snot problem. What are good ways to boost his immun response?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $9

Hi,
A few questions for you to narrow things down...Is the colony a feral colony, or outdoor kitties?
Does the indoor guy have any nose or eye discharge, or does he sound congested like a person with a cold? Has he had his shots, and is he FeLV/FIV negative?
Thanks!
Dr. Chenoa

If you found my answers helpful, please remember to hit the Accept button. Feel free to contact me if you need more clarification.

Reply to Dr. Chenoa's Post: Wyatt, the inside kitten, has feline herpes and was too sick to get shots yet. Nothing has worked. He has discharge from his eyes and often sneezes up snot (yellowish/green and only occasionally with blood in it ---if he sneezed hard. He has only been sick for a day or so and was playing hard 2 days ago.

His mother is one that died. SHe was an outside cat that lived in a box we made her in front. 3 cats have died outside and 1 cat that I caught and had separated inside 4-5 weeks without a sympton. She got sick today and looks like she will die as her brother did 3 days ago outsside. He and the mother of Wyatt had a rdddish/brown/black goop at the nose (not a lot)and now Clementine is showing this sign. Wyatt's mother had a second litter, with only 1 survivor, and though she has been inside since her mother died (over a week ago) she also (penelope) is sick as of today. Threw up twice and isnt eating.

I feel like somehow I have exposed the inside cats to this illness. Ive changed clothes, washed.....I am about to shave my beard if that would reduce risk of transfering this illness.

Oh, your poor crew!
Wyatt has a bacterial infection secondary to the herpes. Sneezing with blood in it is due to the severe sinus inflammation as well. He needs Terramycin eye ointment, and systemic antibiotics. I would consider him at risk for chronic rhinitis/sinusitis problems, where his immune system is always attacking the nasal linings. I manage this with immunosuppressant drugs and antibiotics when the green and yellow stuff starts, as needed on a case by case basis when he's older.
The red/brown/black goop is tears. Whether they're producing more due to eye irritation or not cleaning themselves, you never know.
It sounds like you're practicing good isolation protocols with clothes changes, etc. I don't think the beard is doing it :)
In general, I always worry about FeLV and FIV, as those viruses destroy the immune system over time, making the kitties more susceptible to the "routine" upper resp diseases.
FIP, and the new virulent calici virus are what I would worry about with the acute illness/death kitties. Possibly panleukopenia (the kitty parvo virus) as well, as one kitty is vomiting.
Depending on the underlying cause, it is hard to say how to reduce transmission. Panleuk in particular is hard to kill, and you may have missed vomiting or diarrhea in outdoor kitties. FIP is an abnormal immune system reaction to the corona virus, which is included in the cat "distemper" vaccine, with panleuk, calici, and usually chylamidia.
Bleach, bleach, bleach, and don't reuse blankets or towels that were in with affected kitties for a while. With Wyatt, if they haven't tried clindamycin, azithromycin, etc, try those next. Clavamox is the first line treatment usually for oral meds. If you have dog crates available, isolate sick kitties in those. As for the colony...they're passing it out there, and I'm sorry I don't really have any great advice there. Those that have been exposed and fought it off will do fine.
If at all possible, it sounds harsh, but have the latest kitty that passes necropsied, so you know exactly what you're dealing with. Preventative measure can be better taken in that case, and disinfectants can vary between what viruses you're dealing with.
I wish you all the best of luck, and please reply if you think of other symptoms.
Dr. Chenoa

If you found my answers helpful, please remember to hit the Accept button. Feel free to contact me if you need more clarification.

Reply to Dr. Chenoa's Post: Last questions: We have Wyatt and his sister Scout, we have two other kittens from a litter (same father) Samantha and Tabitha, and then a second litter by same parents named Lola and Scarlet, and the last kitten Penelope (same mother as Wyatt and Scout), and a kitten named Harper (whose brother just died outside and her sister seems to be dying in an outdoor trailer now- Clementine). Should we, despite any illnesses like herpes, get all the shots we can even though our vet wants them to be healthier first? Also: what are the chances that a parent has passed on someing to these babies? Also: do you know a place we can buy some of the medicines you named in bulk supply? (we have 7 adult indoor cats, plus 10 kittens not to mention 9 adult dogs)

Hi,
I vaccinate cats without severe active herpes all the time! I have 2 feral kitties myself who are blind from herpes as babies, and I still vaccinate them so they don't get panleuk, calici, or chlamydia! I NEVER vaccinate an actively ill animal(fever, green discharge, lethargic, etc) -it does more harm. Either you distract the immune system from the infection and they get sicker, or you might as well have injected water as their immune system deals with the infection. Vax the rest of the crew that's unaffected.
As far as bulk meds go, your vet would have to give you a script. Online you might find cheaper in large quantities of clavamox or clindamycin, but your vet needs to give specific doses based on weight. Azythromycin is one of my last resorts, is very expensive comparatively, and is a human drug (Zithromax or Z-packs) that I send owners to the human pharmacy for. I was just thinking ahead for Wyatt down the road, if the Clavamox stops working.

If you found my answers helpful, please remember to hit the Accept button. Feel free to contact me if you need more clarification.

Think you can answer this question?
Login or Become an Expert

DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the JustAnswer service comes from those individuals, not from JustAnswer, and that JustAnswer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on JustAnswer are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. JustAnswer is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

JustAnswer > Cat Breed Info and Feline Health Care

cat health

Related Answers