My mum's cat is very sick! Help please!

[Shadowfein]

Hi all

My mum's cat - an 8 month old neutered bengal is very ill. He hasn't been right for about a month now and her normal vet told her it was an allergy and she has been having to try and eliminate the allergens from his diet. He was coughing and had a perpetual runny tummy.

Yesterday, he got really bad. Blood in his stool - a temperature of 40 degrees celcius and very very lethargic. My mum couldn't get hold of her normal vet so she took him to a different one. This one thought that it was some sort of bacterial infections and put him onto antibiotics. She had to take him back this morning for a check up. He hadn't responded at all, and the vet has kept him in for observation. He keeps on asking if all his innoculations are up to date (which they are) and has mentioned cat flu.

Traci, Davet or Jason - or anyone else - have you got any ideas? Is there anything in particular that Bengals are prone to? Any advise will be gratefully received. Thank you!

[Traci]

I would check for overgrowth of bacteria in the GI tract (get a full fecal analysis done to check for parasites, salmonella, giardia, coccidia as well)

What diet is your mom feeding him? If raw or home-cooked, the meat used could be contaminated (salmonella, e-coli, bacterial)...Otherwise try a very bland diet (i.e., Hills perscription I/D) if diarrhea/vomiting/blood is present.

Any bloodwork done? I'd start there, full blood profiling, and an FELV/FIV snap test. A bacterial infection could indeed cause a fever, but so can any viral, best to check immunological function (look closely at RBC and WBC counts, and for any signs of anemia). Don't want to alarm you, but has there been any recent outbreaks of distemper in your area? Did kitten recieve ALL of his kitten boosters, and what were they?

[Shadowfein]

Hi Traci!

Thanks so much for the prompt response. She was feeding them on homemade cooked chicken, mince and fish (she says that it was microwaved though - so she doesn't think that could be contaminated), but after the vet suggested allergy, he was put onto IAMS. So he has been on a bland diet - for a month or so.

The vet is trying him on different anti-biotics to try and bring the temp down, I have advised my mum to request full blood work and tests that you recommended asap.

The vet apparently mentioned bilary and checked the cat's gums and eyes but said that he wasn't anaemic. There hasn't been any mention of a distemper outbreak that my mum is aware of.

When she got him, he was about 6 months old, had had his 3-in-1 shots but no rabies. Rabies was done on about 17th June. (It is law in SA). He hasn't been given FELV or FIV as per my previous posts to you as those have not been available in SA.

I am going to mail your advice through to my mum and get her to take it to the vet tomorrow. Thanks so much.

Is there anything that Bengals are prone to? Could it be FIP?

Thanks again!

[Shadowfein]

Distemper is Panleukopenia - is that right?

[Traci]

Yes, distemper is another term for feline panleukopenia (a CBC might show low WBC count if panleukopenia is a suspect).

To my knowledge, the bengal breed is no more predisposed to any health condition than that of a non-specific breed.

FIP is a possibility, especially if the fever is unrelenting, and if there are accompanying signs and symptoms (usually vomiting, refusal to eat, crouched position as in feeling painful and lethargic--sometimes distended abdomen). But in order to rule out FIP, vet must perform general blood profiling to detect any individual organ failure, possible fluid in abdominal cavity, or if he suspects FIP, to send blood serum to an outside lab for an antibody titer (immuno assay). If he doesn't suspect anemia at this point, and the CBC didn't show high elevations of leukocytes, neutrophils or decreased RBC production, then he might be able to rule out FIP.

Did you mean to say "biliary"? If so, your vet can test liver function specifically and add bile acids testing to rule out liver disease or biliary obstruction or portosystemic liver shunting, but I'm not sure the signs you mentioned point to liver disfunction. However, if the bilirubin or globulins are high on a chemical analysis, this could indicate a liver problem (can also be a guide in ruling out FIP)

Another rule out might be pansteatitis (yellow fat disease), caused by a fish-only diet.

Again, ask vet about fecal testing for bacterials and parasitic infections, ask about an immunological profile ASAP (needs to be sent to outside lab) if he suspects infectious disease, etc. I am also assuming kitten is currently on IV fluid support, yes? If not, that is a crucial point in treatment at this point until labwork shows anything significant. (if diarrhea and/or vomiting has been present and has been persistent, fluids also can help reduce fever)

[Shadowfein]

A message from my mum.

Please thank all those wonderful people out there for all their love, prayers, help and good wishes. Xanadu is back home and although he still taking antibiotics, his temperature is normal again and he is much better. It is very cold outside so he is tucked up in your brother's bed with a heater to warm the room and his Bengal brother Kublai Khan to keep him company. The other cats think that this is very unfair but they need to get some fresh air and exercise by chasing field mice and any foolish lizards that have not tucked themselves in today.

I am deeply touched by the love and caring shown around the world and it proved a great comfort to know that I was not the only one praying. If anyone out there needs my prayers for their kitties, please pass their requests on to me and I will do so willingly. I am deeply grateful.

With all my love

[MA]

This is so nice to read! It does show the positive aspect of the Internet and the good it does. I know having recently been involved with rescuing a kitten who was being beaten by sticks in a park in New York, that the Internet holds great power for the good. That someone in Oregon could intercede and get this little girl to relinquish her hold on this kitten, and network in such a way to get the kitten to emergency services- well it boggles my mind.

Now the little one has a wonderful forever home and is being loved and cherished and will soon (I hope) be able to forget the darkness of the abuse she suffered in the hands of psychotic children.

I am so glad that your Bengal is doing so well- let's hope Xanadu continues to recover and brings your mum years of laughter and love.