Hello Everyone, I have two kittens, both are about 9 weeks old. We recently had a terrible breakout of feline distemper, and lost four of our cats to it. All were under a year old, and were amazing animals, but even our love, and antibiotics couldn't keep them alive. The first one died in December, her name was "Cow" as she was black and white, at one point, me and a friend went to get myself a kitten, she fell in love with them so I took the male, and she took the female. Well, her situation fell apart and she moved, leaving my cats sister in a dirty house. We went and got her. She was an outdoor cat, about 9 months old, and was very friendly. She continued going outside. I got a job and worked late nights, I have 3 younger brothers, so I was shocked to learn the little female suddenly couldn't walk one night around 12. I never knew anything was wrong, as I thought that someone would have noticed (I live with 3 brothers, and my father) She was breathing through her mouth, and her ears had a lot of what looked to be dried blood in it, i thought it was an ear infection. I was very upset the next night when she no longer had any control over her body, and died that night. I wasnt able to contact a veterinarian, and when I did the next day he said it was probably an ear infection and made the appointment for the next day. So we went on, and I searched everywhere to find out what killed her, I never knew it was distemper until way later. I may be only 17, but I'm a responsible pet owner. Soon after (a few days before Christmas) her brother was suddenly throwing up, and his third eyelid started showing. His name was Marvin, he was my 11 year old brother's cat (I gave Marvin to him because he broke his arm during the summer and was at home a lot, it became clear that he owned him after a day or two, that cat was there until the day his cast came off) It upset me a lot, considering how my cats are indoor cats (which I never got them shots, I just let them be, I figured they wouldn't be in any harm if they didn't go out, they were all very healthy) Marvin had the same symptoms, he lasted 3 days, it wasn't until the second day I ruled out it was distemper, he fought it so hard, and tried to fight it. When Marvin was 4 months old, there was a little kitten at the door, there came the baby, Henry, none of the other cats would accept him for quite awhile, and Marvin took him in, they were like father and son (usually walking into the room side by side, showing how much they were alike ) When day 3 came, we knew Marvin wouldn't make it the night, my brother took a break from crying and laying beside him, and a few minutes after that he passed, it was like he didn't want to see my brother cry for him anymore. We wrapped him up as you would a baby, and left him on the bed to deliver the news to the family. When we went to put him somwhere cold, we picked up the towel and found Henry curled up beside him, like it was just another nap time. We put Marvin in the back porch to keep him chilled, we later found Henry by the back door. It was extremely heartbreaking to see that kitten lose his adopted dad, and to see my brother cry for the cat that he knew would no longer be there when he needed him. Than there was Mims, she was just a cat I was babysitting (but she was originally from a litter of kittens from my own home) I also had her sister, she started the symptoms, and went missing soon after, we think she went and found somewhere to die, and we still haven't found her. After that, we had gotten our cats their shots, and I had one from a rescue group (she had her shots) Her name was Sage, a little female, about 8 months old. Siamese cross kitten, with beautiful eyes. She was very very timid, because she came from an abusive home. I got her from the group when I lost my beloved Sheeba in November (she got out, and got hit by a car, the humane society found her, and I didn't know until the day after they had her euthanized. She was somewhat my comfort kitten, but I got frustrated with her because she was so timid, the first person she went to was my dad, she didn't start coming to me until January. Unfortunately, she got out an open window for a few days, and we caught her. She must have gotten near one of the male cats outside, because she came back in pregnant. She was due on February 28th, the disease got through her, and she died on the 18th. It was the worst thing to see, because I spent a lot of time with her, making sure she was comfortable, and sleeping with her. Listening to her purr and such. I was up with her all night, and she died at 6 am the next morning.
All of my other cats have their shots, and I was out of town last week, my brother is in the process of moving in with my mother, hes 11 and wanted his own kittens. We came to an agreement that we would make him wait two months, I even worked out something with someone for two of their kittens, since they were recently born. I was out of town, since last Thursday, my Dad was not sure of the situation, he just knew that we said he could EVENTUALLY get two kittens. Someone else called about my ad, and they went and picked up these two little darlings. They are both females, about 8 weeks old. I was extremely worried about them, and really angered that they didn't listen to me. I am tight on money right now, from my other cats second set of shots, but I did make an appointment for this Monday coming up. One of the kittens, Suzy, vomited yesterday, without my knowledge, and today, she is no longer eating, or drinking, and is extremely skinny, I don't know what to do, because I don't have the money right now, its going to break my heart to see this happen, and so far its like its getting worse to watch them die. The vet said shes still young, and that it would be a lot of "money wasted" if we tried to save her. Its 2 am right now, and there is nowhere to go to find "feline distempaid" right now. She is very lazy, she slept all day, I don't want to force her to eat, because with the other cats, they just threw up anyways. I am worried, I am upset, I can't let this happen again, but I can't prevent the unpreventable. Please give me some advice, its been the hardest past few months, and I know if your reading this, you think that I should NOT have cats, but I used to be a foster parent for a volunteer group and I think I am very experienced. It was just up until the breakout, that I stopped being a foster home. I'm so worn out from everything, it just gets harder and harder, this kitten is sitting in my shirt right now, sleeping, and I feel like I'm just waiting for her to die. She was throwing up since yesterday, I do not want to force her to eat or drink, but if that will help her I'll try, it just seems like even the nicest people have the worst of times, if anyone can help me, with ANYTHING, it would be strongly appreciated, her sister is still fine, but I don't know how long this is going to last, I will keep you posted, sorry if this is long, but I just need advice! (
All of my other cats have their shots, and I was out of town last week, my brother is in the process of moving in with my mother, hes 11 and wanted his own kittens. We came to an agreement that we would make him wait two months, I even worked out something with someone for two of their kittens, since they were recently born. I was out of town, since last Thursday, my Dad was not sure of the situation, he just knew that we said he could EVENTUALLY get two kittens. Someone else called about my ad, and they went and picked up these two little darlings. They are both females, about 8 weeks old. I was extremely worried about them, and really angered that they didn't listen to me. I am tight on money right now, from my other cats second set of shots, but I did make an appointment for this Monday coming up. One of the kittens, Suzy, vomited yesterday, without my knowledge, and today, she is no longer eating, or drinking, and is extremely skinny, I don't know what to do, because I don't have the money right now, its going to break my heart to see this happen, and so far its like its getting worse to watch them die. The vet said shes still young, and that it would be a lot of "money wasted" if we tried to save her. Its 2 am right now, and there is nowhere to go to find "feline distempaid" right now. She is very lazy, she slept all day, I don't want to force her to eat, because with the other cats, they just threw up anyways. I am worried, I am upset, I can't let this happen again, but I can't prevent the unpreventable. Please give me some advice, its been the hardest past few months, and I know if your reading this, you think that I should NOT have cats, but I used to be a foster parent for a volunteer group and I think I am very experienced. It was just up until the breakout, that I stopped being a foster home. I'm so worn out from everything, it just gets harder and harder, this kitten is sitting in my shirt right now, sleeping, and I feel like I'm just waiting for her to die. She was throwing up since yesterday, I do not want to force her to eat or drink, but if that will help her I'll try, it just seems like even the nicest people have the worst of times, if anyone can help me, with ANYTHING, it would be strongly appreciated, her sister is still fine, but I don't know how long this is going to last, I will keep you posted, sorry if this is long, but I just need advice! (