Sick Kitty..Need Help!!!?

Question

I have a 10 month year old kitten, whose not eating or using the bathroom regularly. I took her to the hospital yesterday and they said she was dehydrated and had a fever of 104. The doctor said it was possible she may have a viral infection and she needed to stay over night and have some test run. They wanted $1200.00 to keep her. We don't have that kind of money. They gave her a fluid shot and today she was drinking some water and ate a small portion of soft fancy feast. However, that was 11am she hasn't eaten anything since, and I haven't seen her use the bathroom. She slept all day, she has no energy, and just wants to be rubbed. She acting like females on their period. And her nose goes from slightly wet to completely dry. Is there anything I can do, I cannot afford a 400-1200 for her to have those tests done.

Answer 1

I was in this situation with a small kitten who was given to me by a local pet store. The others in the litter were already sold and he was alone so he was given to me for free.

I noticed when we got home he was not active and was only happy in my arms. He couldn't eat and barely got to the bowl to drink. We got some Pedialite (not sure on spelling) and gave that to him using a baby dropper. That seemed to give him some more energy but not for long. Has your kitten had his/her parvo shots and all other vaccinations? I know this is the last thing you want to hear but he or she may have feline lukemia or parvo. I believe mine had Feline Lukemia. He died about 3 days after I got him. The vet said that unless you catch the disease the first couple of days, the animals basically will not make it. Even with treatmetn the chances are small, and it is expensive. Like you, I did not have several hundred dollars for treatment, but it was too late anyway.

If I were you, I would try the Pedialite with a dropper, and some wet food. If that doesnt help you may want to return to another vet and see if there's anything short of a $1200 treatment they can help you with. I hardly ever recommend this but sometimes euthenasia is the best thing for the poor sick animals rather than letting them suffer. Also, a local vet school might treat yoru kitten for a cheaper (even free) price.

Answer 2

I hate to sound cold in such a delicate situation, but if you really love the kitty, and if you have the money to help it, do it. If you cant really afford it try asking the doctor if they will take the payment in monthly installments. Say $50.00 a month. Just get the basic tests done to figure out what the kitten is suffering from. Then do some research on line to see what is the recommended coarse of treatment. What concerns me is some test results can take a long time. With a fever of 104 renal failure is an issue that it may be a complication if not taken care of soon. Get a indoor outdoor thermometer , the kind that has the small temp probe on a long wire about $6 at Wal-Mart. Tape the probe under inside the thigh close to the groin area and try to keep the kitty's temp down around 101 with ice rapped in a towel in the bottom of a box or pet carry cage. Adjust thickness of towel to regulate chilling. Don't let her get too cold. Fever is natures way of helping to fight the infection.
Try a verity of high quality soft cat foods to see what she will take. Hydrate with distilled water not milk, until she gets well. Don't try to de-worm her or use any remedies that are harsh chemical based. Remove and cease any flea treatments or collars. Check her every 30min and keep her clean. let her in a clean litter box every hour and a half to see what she can do. Try to keep her environment spotless clean. let her have fresh air and clean toys. hold her gently and often if she is comfortable with that. Letting your vet try a wide spectrum antibiotic with a vitamin booster. It may yield good results if you can't afford the expensive tests. Good luck, hands on prayer is helpful too.
Too much water can kill, you will know if she is dehydrated by lifting her cheek and looking at her gums, and eyes. if she has saliva and moist eyes she's ok. short dry speels are not harmful.
keeping her out of breezy areas or excesivily dry areas will help. A vaporizer could be helpful as cats loose a lot of moisture from their lungs.

Answer 3

You need to get her to eat. Try giving her some baby food. Get some jars of Gerber's meat baby food, get 1 chicken and 1 beef or lamb. Try the chicken first since that will be milder on her system. Giver her a teaspoon full at first to see if she will eat it and more then if she does. Try the other 2 flavors the same way if she won't eat the chicken. Next call around to your local low cost vet. clinics and explain your problem. They will offer you suggestions if they are unable to help you. If kitty is still not drinking enough water, you will have to get her more IV fluids. These are easy to do at home and inexpensive. Your vet can show you or your Mom how to do it and send the materials home with you. Keeping her hydrated is the most important thing and it's much cheaper to do it at home than taking her to the vet every day or so. Best of luck to you and your kitty. Please don't let her suffer though. If it looks like she is getting worse and you are unable to help her, remember the kindest thing you can do for her is to end her suffering and put her to sleep.

Answer 4

That was a little high for a vet to charge...there are vets that will let you make payments,at least mine does.I had a puppy that had a terrible disease called parvo and I took it to the vet and it ended up dying anyway..the vet didn't charge me the 400 dollars it cost to try to save my puppy,which I thought was a very wonderfully nice thing to do,I didn't get charged because my pet had died and I think that's what being a vet is about....the animals,not the money!!!There are some different things you can buy at pet stores to help your poor sick kitty to get better,things for dehydration,diarrhea,nausia/vomiting and a lot of other ailments.The large pet supermarkets like pet co.,pet supplies plus and petsmart is the best places to go,they have all kinds of at home remedys to help you nurse your kitty back to health.I had a kitten that was sick just how you described yours and mine stayed sick for about 2 weeks.I went and bought some of the stuff at the pet store that I just told you about and my cat got better,hopefully this will help.I hate to see a poor animal that's sick,it just breaks my heart to see an animal suffer.You might get a can of kitten formula and a needleless syringe to feed the kitten and the formula has the things in it to make the kitten stronger and helps stop diarrhea and gets the kitty's appitite back.I would pick up some medicine for diarrhea too.To make sure you get everything you need,tell the employees at the pet store what all your kitty's ailments are so they can show you all the different things you might need to buy,they know the best brands to buy to help your kitten get better.GOOD LUCK!!I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU!!!

Answer 5

Your kitten needs alot of water...you need to have an IV and put it in her front or hind leg and drip the water slowly until it's all most empty...Don't let it go competely dry...This well put air bubbles in her system and kill her...If you can't not get an IV bag make one...Maybe a large storeage bag and put a small pin hole in it...you can't get a needle that would work,Go at a farming store...They sale cat and dog shots in there...Don't tell them what you are going to do with it...See you have to sign for the shot....And if you don't have a plasic tub...make one out of a gas line for a car or truck...You can get this at any place that sells car parts...And try using a clothes pin to shut the IV down when needed...Oh,you will have to tape around the needle,so your kitten won't pull it out... And you will need to put tape around the IV where you put the hole...I would use duck tape it sticks better and will hold up...If you can't get the kittens fluids back put...I'm sorry to say,Your pet will probably die...Do your best and keep a close eye on your kitten...WISHING YOU ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD,MY FRIEND...

Clowmy

Answer 6

There are cheaper vets out there if you look, If you cannot afford anything then keep the kitten comfortable and hope for the best.

Answer 7

Take her to the SPCA or local shelter they will treat her if you can't afford it, it's cruel to let the kitten suffer because you don't have the money. She will more than likely die a horrible death without veterinary intervention.

Answer 8

Bring him to the vet does it need any shots to keep him healthy? That could be why your cat is sick. But if you know that he doesn't need any shots then still bring him to the vet and check him out what happend to him or her ask the docter.