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- Jun 30, 2018
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Hi all! I am new to the forum, but hoping I can get some insight into a health issue that has been affecting all three of my cats for over a month. My husband and I have three cats, all neutered males. Walden is 15, Boogie is 3. We've had these two since they were kittens. Our newest boy, Ghost, was adopted about a month ago through the local humane society. The only information I have on his paperwork is that he is thought to be about 4-years-old and possibly from a hoarding/overcrowding situation. FelV/FIV tests were negative.
Ghost was adopted on a Saturday. I did notice some sneezing the day he came home, but he was playful, energetic, and did not visibly look "sick." The humane society said the sneezing was likely some residual symptoms from an upper respiratory infection he was already treated for. The following Tuesday, only three days later, we noticed that one side of his face looked super swollen, and the third eyelid was prolapsed. Based on how quick this happened, I thought it had to be an abscess, either dental related or from a puncture wound. I immediately scheduled a vet appointment to have him seen the next day. But by the next morning, the swelling was completely gone. Ghost then started showing more pronounced symptoms of an eye infection. It first started in one eye with apparent squinting, then over the next few days, it turned to yellowish/greenish crustiness in both eyes. The vet stained the eye and did not see any issues with the cornea. He explained that viral herpes is common for shelter cats, and the flare up was likely attributed to the stress of changing homes. He gave us Tobramycin drops for the eyes and said we could try adding L-Lysine to his food and putting him in the bathroom twice daily with a hot shower running. Over the course of the next week, Ghost would seem to get better one day, then worse the next. Lethargic, listless, depressed, sometimes not leaving his cat bed for 8-10 hours at a time. He was still eating, drinking, and using the box, but I started noticing piles of vomit (I attributed to Ghost) at least once or twice a day.
By that time, I noticed the facial swelling and watery eye discharge in my other cat, Boogie. Ugh!! I brought both cats into the vet. I was instructed to follow the same regimen of L-Lysine, eye drops, and steamy showers now for both cats. I am now sterilizing food bowls after every use. Ghost was given an injection of antibiotic Covenia to address any secondary infection that could be lingering and causing additional lethargy. We noticed a big improvement within that 24 hours (his eyes looked normal for the first time since his adoption). But after that, the eye issues resumed. Some days his eyes would just be watery/squinty, some days they would have yellow/green discharge or crustiness. I can't really discern any pattern- some days are better than others seemingly with no rhyme or reason.
It has been almost a month now. Ghost seems about 80% better. His energy level is up, and he's been playing and acting fairly normal. Boogie, however, is now in the stage of being lethargic, depressed, and vomiting. He typically runs downstairs for meals, but there was one day last week when I actually had to bring the food to him because he wouldn't get up out of his bed. I've noticed some improvements in the past two days with Boogie- his energy was better, and his eyes actually looked clear. But today we're back to watery discharge.
The worst part is that the third cat, Walden, has the same facial swelling today!! It looks exactly like the type that Ghost had that started this entire month-long fiasco. I am most concerned about him because he's elderly (15) and already has a compromised immune system. He takes methimazole for hyperthyroid and has an existing low grade heart murmur.
I am feeling upset and defeated that it's been a month, and I now have three cats at various stages of sickness. A lot of this sounds like feline ocular herpes, but the extreme lethargy and vomiting doesn't quite fit? Could this possibly be feline Chlamydia or a combination of both FHR and C. Felis? Are there tests to diagnose, and if so, is it worth doing the testing? Would I have to test all three cats, or just the one who is showing the most acute symptoms? Also, what would be the best treatment protocol at this point? Antiviral (Famciclovir, Cidofovir) and/or a broad-spectrum antibiotic (Doxycycline)? Oral, drops, or injections? Should I continue the L-Lysine for immune support, or maybe switch to something like Polyprenyl? Is there anything additional I should do for my older guy, considering his immune system is weaker?
I do have a call into my vet, and these are all questions I intend to ask my vet. In the meantime, I am wondering what others' experiences have been, and if there is anything I might be missing. Thanks in advance! Sorry this was so long!
Ghost was adopted on a Saturday. I did notice some sneezing the day he came home, but he was playful, energetic, and did not visibly look "sick." The humane society said the sneezing was likely some residual symptoms from an upper respiratory infection he was already treated for. The following Tuesday, only three days later, we noticed that one side of his face looked super swollen, and the third eyelid was prolapsed. Based on how quick this happened, I thought it had to be an abscess, either dental related or from a puncture wound. I immediately scheduled a vet appointment to have him seen the next day. But by the next morning, the swelling was completely gone. Ghost then started showing more pronounced symptoms of an eye infection. It first started in one eye with apparent squinting, then over the next few days, it turned to yellowish/greenish crustiness in both eyes. The vet stained the eye and did not see any issues with the cornea. He explained that viral herpes is common for shelter cats, and the flare up was likely attributed to the stress of changing homes. He gave us Tobramycin drops for the eyes and said we could try adding L-Lysine to his food and putting him in the bathroom twice daily with a hot shower running. Over the course of the next week, Ghost would seem to get better one day, then worse the next. Lethargic, listless, depressed, sometimes not leaving his cat bed for 8-10 hours at a time. He was still eating, drinking, and using the box, but I started noticing piles of vomit (I attributed to Ghost) at least once or twice a day.
By that time, I noticed the facial swelling and watery eye discharge in my other cat, Boogie. Ugh!! I brought both cats into the vet. I was instructed to follow the same regimen of L-Lysine, eye drops, and steamy showers now for both cats. I am now sterilizing food bowls after every use. Ghost was given an injection of antibiotic Covenia to address any secondary infection that could be lingering and causing additional lethargy. We noticed a big improvement within that 24 hours (his eyes looked normal for the first time since his adoption). But after that, the eye issues resumed. Some days his eyes would just be watery/squinty, some days they would have yellow/green discharge or crustiness. I can't really discern any pattern- some days are better than others seemingly with no rhyme or reason.
It has been almost a month now. Ghost seems about 80% better. His energy level is up, and he's been playing and acting fairly normal. Boogie, however, is now in the stage of being lethargic, depressed, and vomiting. He typically runs downstairs for meals, but there was one day last week when I actually had to bring the food to him because he wouldn't get up out of his bed. I've noticed some improvements in the past two days with Boogie- his energy was better, and his eyes actually looked clear. But today we're back to watery discharge.
The worst part is that the third cat, Walden, has the same facial swelling today!! It looks exactly like the type that Ghost had that started this entire month-long fiasco. I am most concerned about him because he's elderly (15) and already has a compromised immune system. He takes methimazole for hyperthyroid and has an existing low grade heart murmur.
I am feeling upset and defeated that it's been a month, and I now have three cats at various stages of sickness. A lot of this sounds like feline ocular herpes, but the extreme lethargy and vomiting doesn't quite fit? Could this possibly be feline Chlamydia or a combination of both FHR and C. Felis? Are there tests to diagnose, and if so, is it worth doing the testing? Would I have to test all three cats, or just the one who is showing the most acute symptoms? Also, what would be the best treatment protocol at this point? Antiviral (Famciclovir, Cidofovir) and/or a broad-spectrum antibiotic (Doxycycline)? Oral, drops, or injections? Should I continue the L-Lysine for immune support, or maybe switch to something like Polyprenyl? Is there anything additional I should do for my older guy, considering his immune system is weaker?
I do have a call into my vet, and these are all questions I intend to ask my vet. In the meantime, I am wondering what others' experiences have been, and if there is anything I might be missing. Thanks in advance! Sorry this was so long!
I'm glad you joined the forum but sorry you have been experiencing health problems with all three of your cats. Just out of curiosity, did you keep Ghost separated from Walden and Bogie after adopting him? I'm sure Walden is having a more difficult time bouncing back due to both his senior age and compromised immune system. This would worry me as well and I'm glad to hear you have a call into your vet. 
Please keep us updated on their progress.
I should have, but didn't think much of it. My new boy came with vet records that showed a clean bill of health and UTD on all vaccines. I've dealt with cats having upper respiratory stuff, but never this severe.
Your questions are good ones and you gave a great synopsis of the situation. I don't have any answers but it would be interesting to get a 2nd opinion from one of the teaching hospitals and/or a feline specialist. If you do, please let us know - the knowledge will be invaluable for kitties worldwide. 
