I lost another grandkitten

[Tina B and crew]

Chunk's sister Abbey went over the bridge last night - unexpectedly. She was 6 and healthy until she got what appeared to be a URI this week. She was doing OK Wednesday, not really wanting to eat much, but not acting lethargic or anything. My daughter called the vet though and got an appointment for the next day. When she came home Thursday afternoon to take her to the vet Abbey was just lying in one spot and wasn't interested in giving up or anything. They took her in right away but she crashed not long after arriving at the vet. They were not able to revive her. My daughter is devastated. Abbey was her heart kitty. My grandson is pretty upset too, as this is the 3rd cat they have lost in the last 6 months (the stray Charlie and their cat Sammie).

We are heartbroken.

[Traci]

OMG, Tina, I am so very very sorry, so much heartache!!!

Safe and gentle journey sweet little Abbey, you are so loved and missed

(((((((((HUGS))))))))))

(PS - did the vet give any clues? Heart disease maybe? If potential URI, daughter should get all the cats checked to be safe - calicivirus for example, is a nasty virus)

[Tina B and crew]

No clues that I know of, but my daughter hasn't felt much like talking about it. I've been told Chunk has a mild heart murmur so I wondered about that. Calicivirus came to mind as well. The vet did mention it but not sure if it was tested. All the cats have had the FVRCP vaccine. One of their other cats is now sick too and I know the vet has done a labwork. He stayed overnight and had IV fluids and started antibiotics. He's home now, doing OK, still not eating and/or drinking much. The other cats all seem to be fine. But I'm concerned and she is too. The vet they saw didn't seem think it was calicivirus because there were not oral symptoms, but I'm not so sure. They don't care for this vet either, but she was the only one available at the time. I'm going to also urge her to talk to her normal vet and push for answers.

They did adopt a kitten a couple weeks ago. He was thoroughly checked by their own vet (the one they normally see), tested and had all his vaccines before he came home. But that fact that he came from the shelter made me wonder about calicivirus. He was the first one to exhibt URI symptoms but they were mild and short lived. I think it would behoove her to call the shelter and ask if they've had an outbreak of calicivirus. I know a shelter in the northern part of the state had an outbreak back in September.

[Traci]

Don't trust the shelter to reveal the truth.

Oral signs may not be the first thing evident - other signs could be fever, drooling, coughing (sometimes mistaken for trying to cough/vomit up a hairball - when in fact, if calicivirus, it's a cough), anorexia, watery and/or glazed eyes, snifling/sneezing etc.

Calicivirus can get nasty due to oral lesions being very painful (tongue, throat, roof of mouth - sometimes causing drooling, coughing), and if not detected and treated right away, can result in pneumonia. It is VERY painful to eat, drink, cough, etc - think of it as a very severe sore throat or strep in humans). Fevers can be reduced by giving veterinary prescribed antiinflammatories (or even fluids). Antibiotics are a must to ward off secondary bacterial infections. Oral pain meds like buprenorphine is helpful for painful mouths etc.

The incubation period for this is usually 7 days, not much longer than that - so if the kitten had FRV, 7-12 days later, so could another cat, it's extremely contagious.

Daughter needs to know calicivirus is spread via droplets (from sneezing, oral secretions, eye/nose discharge), and will not be rid of the environment until it naturally dies away in several months - so she has to know it's nearly impossible to seperate cats and not expect all of them to contract it. Seperation does little because it's already in the environment, floors, walls, furniture, dishes, everywhere.

Doesn't matter the ages of the cats, this virus can affect them in nearly any way, it is nasty and extremely uncomfortable/painful. Very young or elderly cats are more susceptible but any age cat can be affected by some very serious symptoms.

If primary vet (please encourage her to get cats seen immediately), in any way suspects calicivirus, get them started right away on convenia, pain meds, and if feverish - onsior (an antiinflammatory). Other meds may or may not be needed.

Btw, any calicivirus cat will remain a carrier, especially for feline herpes.

I'm not saying this is calicivirus, but it seriously needs to be ruled out, especially given that little Abbey was only 6 and apparently in excellent health, then what seemed a URI - it's imperative this is ruled out for the other cats (since ALL cats can have varying degrees of symptoms and severity!!) - it could also be the entire mix (rhinotracheitis/calicivirus/herpesvirus with or without clamydia)

Any other ruleout might be tainted food or something gotten into, but this sure looks like calicivirus.

Tell daughter not to wait!!

PS - please read your PM