I am adopting a cat. The cat has a "son" that the owner would also like me to adopt. She feels he would be lonely without his son. My problem is that the son has a watery eye. The owner says that he had an eye virus as a kitten and that the watery eye is left over from it. She says it isn't oozy and it comes and goes.
All my internal alarms are going off that this is a sign of an unhealthy cat. The owner says the vet says he is healthy. Hmmmm. Do I trust this?
Any opinions?
Linda
watery eye
Re: watery eye
The first question I have are the cats vaccinated and have they been tested for FELV and FIV and examined by a vet.
WHen adopting you have a right to know this, I recently adopted from a shelter and my kitten had all her vaccines, was spayed, tested for worms and for diseasess. Otherwise, I would not have brought her in to my home, as I have another cat.
As far as the eye, does he exhibit signs of a cold, as in sneezing etc. If this is reoccurring I would be concerned. A vet exam is the best bet.
http://www.pettribune.com/2001/070101/2020.html (Link about conjunctivitis for you)
I wish you luck adopting and hope it works out for you.
Mona, Honeybun and Little Chloe
WHen adopting you have a right to know this, I recently adopted from a shelter and my kitten had all her vaccines, was spayed, tested for worms and for diseasess. Otherwise, I would not have brought her in to my home, as I have another cat.
As far as the eye, does he exhibit signs of a cold, as in sneezing etc. If this is reoccurring I would be concerned. A vet exam is the best bet.
http://www.pettribune.com/2001/070101/2020.html (Link about conjunctivitis for you)
I wish you luck adopting and hope it works out for you.
Mona, Honeybun and Little Chloe
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Guest
Re: watery eye
This is a very reputable breeder. The cats have had all of their vaccinations. The cat (9 months old) no longer has any other symptoms, but he did have "a cold" as a kitten when it started.
My internal alarms are saying he has a compromised immune system. The breeder's vet says that stress sets it off, and the kitten MAY out grow it.
One part of me would dearly love adding this gorgeous young cat to my household. The fact that he and his father (the one we are actually buying) would be friends and comforting to each other would be nice as well. However, I just lost a cat to a thyroid tumor last year and had a long illness and tons of vet bills. I am NOT anxious to start over with pet illness.
Linda
My internal alarms are saying he has a compromised immune system. The breeder's vet says that stress sets it off, and the kitten MAY out grow it.
One part of me would dearly love adding this gorgeous young cat to my household. The fact that he and his father (the one we are actually buying) would be friends and comforting to each other would be nice as well. However, I just lost a cat to a thyroid tumor last year and had a long illness and tons of vet bills. I am NOT anxious to start over with pet illness.
Linda
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kate & kobi
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 2:50 pm
- Location: California
Re: watery eye
As far as I know, a weepy eye isn't necessarily a sign of a major illness, but maybe Traci will clarify this.
Either way, you might want to take the cat to a vet you trust, rather than relying on the breeder's good word - kind of like taking a used car to *your* mechanic before buying it. That would probably ease your worries and you'd be able to make a more informed decision.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
Either way, you might want to take the cat to a vet you trust, rather than relying on the breeder's good word - kind of like taking a used car to *your* mechanic before buying it. That would probably ease your worries and you'd be able to make a more informed decision.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
Re: watery eye
My parents cat has the same problem. It just waters every now and then, nothing goopy or colored. The cat has been to numerous vets and finally a feline opthamologist who finally determined that it was a torn tear duct. It may not necessarily mean he's sick. If you take him, take him to a feline opthamologist and have them take a look at it. It may turn out to be nothing. But I would definatly recommend an FIV/FeLV test before going much further...
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prettykitten
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2003 3:10 pm
- Location: uk
Re: watery eye
Hi there, I have a 16 year old cat who has suffered with this all her life. She had cat flu as a kitten and it seemed to leave her prone to MINOR and EASILY treated infections in her eyes. It would happen every one to two years although she hasn't had it for about 4 years now. Apart from that she has always been a very healthy cat. I do advise the aids.leukemia and fip test but if they're clear. adopt with confidence and ENJOY, higs Ann x
ann e partridge
Re: watery eye
Linda, I agree with the others, it would be best to have this kitty examined by YOUR vet, don't rely on a breeder's statements, let alone health records if by chance she can't produce them. How old is kitty? A kitten or adult?
FELV/FIV testing are a must with any new addition to your household, if you have other pets. Vaccinations should also be current and you should get a record of them or at the very least, the breeder's vet's clinic name and number so they can tell you if they are on record and file.
As for the previous virus, impossible to say unless the breeder can produce a prior veterinary health exam record for you and you can verify that for yourself. It could have been nearly anything, but without a health record, it's anyone's guess. What you need to be concerned with is prior vaccination history, what those vaccinations included, if the virus was rhinotrachetitis or a minor upper respiratory infection, chlamydia, calicivirus, etc. Rhinotrachetitis, for example, is herpes virus, so this IS a virus that can persist over the life of the cat, and is exacerbated with occurances of stress (and is somewhat immunological, but is treatable, some cats never suffer a reoccurance, others do under stress or due to association with a secondary health condition)
Trying not to alarm you, but first get a health record from the breeder. If she can't produce one for you, take kitty to your own vet for a full exam and explain the weepy eye to him, he may be able to tell upon exam if it would or would not be a potential problem.
FELV/FIV testing are a must with any new addition to your household, if you have other pets. Vaccinations should also be current and you should get a record of them or at the very least, the breeder's vet's clinic name and number so they can tell you if they are on record and file.
As for the previous virus, impossible to say unless the breeder can produce a prior veterinary health exam record for you and you can verify that for yourself. It could have been nearly anything, but without a health record, it's anyone's guess. What you need to be concerned with is prior vaccination history, what those vaccinations included, if the virus was rhinotrachetitis or a minor upper respiratory infection, chlamydia, calicivirus, etc. Rhinotrachetitis, for example, is herpes virus, so this IS a virus that can persist over the life of the cat, and is exacerbated with occurances of stress (and is somewhat immunological, but is treatable, some cats never suffer a reoccurance, others do under stress or due to association with a secondary health condition)
Trying not to alarm you, but first get a health record from the breeder. If she can't produce one for you, take kitty to your own vet for a full exam and explain the weepy eye to him, he may be able to tell upon exam if it would or would not be a potential problem.
..........Traci
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Guest
Re: watery eye
I appreciate all of the advice. Actually, the breeder is in another state. We are meeting at a cat show in California for me to pick it up. That makes it hard to have it tested by another vet before I pick it up.
I especially like the advice about asking to see the vet records on it, instead of just accepting it. She says he had all of his shot, and the doc says it is just recurrences brought on by stress.
Thanks for all of the info. My last tonk died over a year ago after a long bout with thyroid cancer. The vet worked hard to keep his blood levels balanced with lots of pills (the cat hated taking those pills). He was purring and following us around until the day he died -- even though he was skeletal and had to be in pain. I could not put him to sleep because of how happy he seemed with his life. His brave happy personality makes me not believe a Tonk is well just because he is perky or happy.
Linda
I especially like the advice about asking to see the vet records on it, instead of just accepting it. She says he had all of his shot, and the doc says it is just recurrences brought on by stress.
Thanks for all of the info. My last tonk died over a year ago after a long bout with thyroid cancer. The vet worked hard to keep his blood levels balanced with lots of pills (the cat hated taking those pills). He was purring and following us around until the day he died -- even though he was skeletal and had to be in pain. I could not put him to sleep because of how happy he seemed with his life. His brave happy personality makes me not believe a Tonk is well just because he is perky or happy.
Linda