i took in a stray kitty, and he seems sick. i think it might be worms, but i can't afford to take him to the vet. he had fleas when i found him, so my boyfriend thought it would be a hilarious/productive idea to shave his fur off, so that and washing him with flea shampoo every other day did solve the flea problem. he was fine for a day or two, and now he's having orange diarrhea... tubgirl style. it looks like mucous with hardly any food particles in it. he was really good about using the litter box, and now he hides behind the bed to spray shit all over the wall. his tummy is bloated, not just baby-cat chubby, but he looks like one of the poor starving children of the third world. he used to be super cuddly, but if you pick him up now, he screams. he still eats a lot, and every time i go to the fridge, he jumps inside and tries to knock over the milk, and then grabs a stick of butter and tries to drag it away. i don't know if he just really likes milk, or if his body is telling him he needs it to get better. i'm thinking it's some sort of worm problem... any expert advice is appreciated! i have another cat, so if this might be contagious, i need to know so i can quarantine mr. wormy. thanks!

9/9/2009 6:17:16 PM

If you cannot take an animal to the vet, take it to the shelter.

9/9/2009 6:18:36 PM

If you cannot take an animal to the vet, take it to the shelter.

9/9/2009 6:22:43 PM

i don't want to give him up, though... if they'll just look at him and let me know what's wrong, that's fine. i'm not usually poor!

9/9/2009 6:23:39 PM

I'm telling you right now, with the conditions you're describing, it sounds like he has dysentery or something else highly contagious. Probably wasn't a good idea to let a strange cat mingle with your current cat without getting it checked out first. I would bring the cat into the vet ASAP and be prepared to pay for lots of tests and shit. If you truly can't afford it, you need to hand over the cat to people who can.

9/9/2009 6:31:16 PM

It sounds like more might be going on, but if you suspect worms is one aspect of that, you can probably get dewormer from a vet without taking the pet in for like 10 to 20 bucks. I know at the clinic where I worked, if someone called up & said I think my pet has worms, or I saw worms, we'd usually offer the option for them to buy dewormer, because it will either A) help or B) not be that much wasted money if it didn't do anything. This was true even for people who were clients with us, we just made them fill out a new client sheet when they came to buy the meds so we could start an official record, even if we'd never seen the pet.

Also a standard fecal test at the clinic where I worked is $19.95, and again a pet wasn't required to come into the clinic to get that test done, just bring a fresh sample that wasn't too hard or dried up (although if a sample was too wet, loose, & too diarrheay - I just made up a word, then it might need to be a direct sample manually taken with a fecal loop at the clinic).

But my whole point is that while I think taking the pet into the vet is the best option, there are other options you can try first like deworming & fecal tests that wont require the time, effort, or nearly as much money as taking the pet into the clinic.

9/9/2009 6:37:20 PM

How old is it? What kind of flea shampoo did you use? Flea shampoos can be toxic to young kittens. Even if the cat wasn't sick, you shouldn't let it near your current cat before taking it to the vet and getting all of its vaccinations. But yeah, if you can't take it to the vet, take it to the shelter. But it needs to go soon, some emergency vets will even let you surrender animals.

9/9/2009 8:38:05 PM

Jesus christ some people are retarded. Never introduce a stray into an environment with a healthy animal. Strays will have worms 9 times out of 10. You can bet cash money on it. Your symptoms are perfectly consistent with roundworms, which are communicable to humans. Not something to fuck around with.

Your kitten has a serious and potentially lethal intestinal worm problem, and now your other cat is pretty much guaranteed to have them too. Fortunately for cash-strapped you, it's only about $30 a pill to fix this. Often one dose does the trick. Sometimes 1.5 or 2 in severe cases, and yours sounds like just such a case.

The cat is suffering, so go to the vet and tell them you need a dewormer. Tomorrow. If you absolutely can't afford the $50-60 for a couple dewormer pills, take the cat to the SPCA, tell them what's going on, and at least get the dewormer for your existing cat. They're highly communicable.

9/10/2009 1:08:21 AM

I really hope he doesn't have feline distemper or FIP. Hopefully your other cat is UTD on his vaccinations.

Don't ever, ever, ever introduce a stray animal to your pet. That is just guaranteeing a problem. If you can get ahold of some revolution for this cat, apply it to him. Not only will it knock out the remaining flea issue (you probably didn't kill them all), but it also acts as a dewormer when applied. It won't take care of giardia if that is the culprit, though.

Actually, since you shaved the cat, revolution probably won't work.

[Edited on September 10, 2009 at 1:23 AM. Reason : edit. ]

9/10/2009 1:17:27 AM

damn that was really stupid of you. if you can't afford it, don't take it in. plain and simple.

yay worms, coccidia, & giardia...and possible flea killer overdose.

this is a gigantic fail on your part and it really sucks that your animals have to bear the consequences.

take the cat to the vet or find one of those roaming clinics. you'll need to take your other cat in too.


i really really really hope this a troll, for the sake of this poor kitten you're torturing/neglecting and your previously healthy cat.

9/10/2009 8:34:47 AM

god i hate cats

9/10/2009 8:53:20 AM

Quote :

"this is a gigantic fail on your part"

9/10/2009 10:26:25 AM

Poor people trying to take care of animals when they are just barely scraping by themselves. Always a great idea.

9/10/2009 10:43:06 AM

Quote :

"i really really really hope this a troll, for the sake of this poor kitten you're torturing/neglecting"

Yes, because the cat would be so much better off having the exact same problems while being infested with fleas and without easy access to food.

9/10/2009 10:49:54 AM

The first bad idea was shaving the cat for selfish purposes (hilarity) and fleas - even hairless cats can have fleas since fleas live off blood. Fleas must be controlled in the cat's environment to keep them at bay. Also, do not use a flea collar, EVER!

Second, DO NOT GIVE YOUR CAT COWS MILK OR COWS MILK PRODUCTS! Cats are naturally lactose intolerant, and you will tear his stomach up even more than it already is if you give him milk.

It does sound like a massive worm infestation, and this can cause an intestinal infection or death if you don't properly take care of it. Do not use Hartz products. Be careful using anything OTC, its not always effective and may just reduce the number of worms that will just come right back. This poor kitty sounds like he desperately needs to see a professional. I saw some coupons at PetsMart at the checkout last week for a FREE vet visit and exam to first time customers at the on site Banfield vet. Call them and see if they have any coupons left. You would have to pay for any tests or prescriptions, but you could always try to do a payment plan, even though those usually arent too high.

I hope you are wearing gloves when cleaning the poop since you can easily get the worms, and so can your other cat.

Bottom line is this: this cat sounds like he is in bad shape and he could die if you do not get him the proper care. I hope he gets better.

[Edited on September 10, 2009 at 1:11 PM. Reason : ]

9/10/2009 1:09:39 PM

Quote :

"Yes, because the cat would be so much better off having the exact same problems while being infested with fleas and without easy access to food."

no but being responsible and taking him to a rescue group where he can be properly, or at least adequately, cared for is much better.

9/10/2009 1:29:19 PM

Quote :

"Banfield"

9/10/2009 2:03:48 PM

Borrow money from someone/use credit card and take cat to vet.

9/10/2009 2:04:27 PM

^^ Better than nothing, especially in this case, and they're pretty affordable from what I hear. I take my critters to Crossroads, nonetheless.

[Edited on September 10, 2009 at 2:07 PM. Reason : ^]

9/10/2009 2:07:27 PM

Quote :

"Poor people trying to take care of animals when they are just barely scraping by themselves. Always a great idea."

9/10/2009 2:13:22 PM

Banfield has wellness hours Tuesday & Thursday afternoons, 2-4 or such. Vet visit is free; tests and medicines are extra, but at least you can get the poor guy checked out for free.

9/10/2009 2:13:27 PM

^^ Dickheads where I live now do this shit all the time. Pick up a cat from the side of the road and then go, "ohhhhhhhhhhh noooooooooooo! I have this poor kitty cat infested with fleas and worms and I don't have the money/time/want to be responsible for it. Someone take care of it foooooooooooooor me!!" I have ended up with two cats this way because I'm a sucker Now I just tell the people they're an ass and they should have left the cat where they found it if they weren't prepared to pay for vet bills and long term care.

So I guess at least seapunky wants to keep the cat, but that this rate I don't think there will be much cat left if it hasn't been brought to the vet.

9/10/2009 6:19:49 PM

Your boyfriend thought it would be funny to shave a cat? Sounds like a real winner.

9/11/2009 3:22:11 PM

honestly - this has been said before, and i'm not trying to be a bitch, but there are a couple of sweet stray cats that roam around my condo complex and i'd love to adopt them, but there's no way in fucking hell i would bring them inside around my cat before taking them to a vet - even though they don't act sick.

this cat sounds super sick not to mention the other diseases that could be spread to your cat - herpes, FIV. geez. not smart.

the vet i used to work at would take care of strays that were brought in like "pro bono" or whatever (but you'd have to surrender the animal). and then they'd try to adopt it out through the vet. a lot of vets will do this (that actually care about animals) so you could maybe call around and see. but if you can't afford to take it to the vet, there isn't a reason to keep it. what if it gets sick again?

9/11/2009 5:26:30 PM

I like how seapunky hasn't updated the thread at all.

9/13/2009 9:55:03 AM

Depending on the age of the cat, bathing with flea shampoo every other day is NOT going to lead to a toxicity. Unless it has something like permethrin or pyrethrin in it, which is unlikely. If this kitten is under the age of 7 weeks, she did the right thing. Also taking a flea comb to him regularly will help keep numbers down until you can safely apply a topical. And VACUUM! Although unnecessary, removing the hair won't hinder the efficacy of any topical (like revolution) you put on, since it works by absorbing and redistributing through the skin.

Check the back of any OTC flea product you decide to use and avoid ALL that use permethrin and pyrethrin for cats. It will kill them. Look for something that has fiprinil (frontline), imidacloprid (advantage...NOT advantix), metaflumazone (Promeris), dinoteruan (Vectra for cats) or selamectin (Revolution) in it. Even citrus derived products have OK kill effect, although they don't last very long (24hours), they are VERY safe.

A big belly could be a lot of different things, although in young kitties worms would be at the top. But FIP is also at the top, since this is a stray. FIP is not necessarily contagious to other cats, but it will lead to death in this kitty.

To treat for roundworms and hookworms (which may be the cause of the reddish-orange feces) use strongid. You can purchase this at petsmart or a farm store. Just make sure you give the proper dose for kittens and that it is at the proper dilution.

Since fleas=tapeworms, pick up praziquantal at petsmart, it's expensive, but tapes are something both you and your other cat can pick up.

AND KEEP IT OUT OF YOUR FRIDGE....

9/16/2009 9:10:18 AM

a) bets on whether this cat is dead or alive??

and b) i actually have a question about my cat - been itching her ears and shaking her head a lot lately - ear mites?? i don't know how she would get them - she is indoor and not around any other cats/animals but that is kinda what it seems like, yea? is there over the counter stuff i can buy for it like at petsmart?

thanks guyssss!

9/20/2009 5:44:20 PM

Yeah that sounds like ear mites. Sometimes they just manage to hitchhike inside, especially if you were around other animals at some point.

When my cat had ear mites I used Revolution since I could borrow it from my friend and it took care of it anyway. You can buy over-the-counter stuff at Petsmart or I've heard using a combo of almond oil and vitamin E will get rid of them.

9/20/2009 5:53:22 PM

mineral oil also helps

9/20/2009 5:55:37 PM

Is there any discharge from the ears? If so, what color is it? Has it had ear mites before? Have you been using Revolution or Advantage Multi?

9/20/2009 8:43:18 PM

no discharge. just a little head shake every now and then and some ear scratching.

she had them when she was a kitten but she's 3 now - hasn't had them since. i don't know what i used the first time she had them - whatever the vet gave me.

i read online though if it is an ear infection/yeast infection, the ear mite stuff can irritate it worse. so do i have to go to the vet - we were just thereeeee? i mean it seems like ear mites but who really knows. like i said she doesn't go outside and isn't around other cats, but i don't know how else she'd catch them - maybe they can sneak inside.

9/21/2009 12:23:00 AM

i'd have to say that this was a troll

but if on the off chance that it was true, the cat is surely dead

9/21/2009 2:22:28 AM

Quote :

"Borrow money from someone/use credit card and take cat to vet."

Worst idea in the whole thread (maybe the biggest troll). You'd have to totally lack emotional maturity and common sense to go into debt for a stray

9/21/2009 3:07:22 AM

wow, i just saw this thread.

9/21/2009 7:56:30 AM

If it were an ear infection and you use Revolution that shouldn't make it worse.

But to find out if it's an ear infection you'd have to bring it to a vet. Or get a friend who is at the vet school to look for you

Does your cat have dark brown crud in and around its ears? That's a classic sign of mites.

9/21/2009 10:27:24 AM

Cats don't typically have a problem with ear infections caused by yeast. It's usually either dirty ears, bacterial overgrowth or an ear mite problem. Ear mites cause pretty intense pruritus...if you rub the base of your cat's ear and it's rear leg starts thumpin'...it's PROBABLY ear mites. I wouldn't mess around with homeopathic treatments for this. If you could look inside your cat's ear right now and see those things crawling around, it'd make you vomit.

Topical Revolution or Advantage multi is helpful.
Also 3-4 drops of ivermectin in each ear also works. Ivermectin is the active ingredient in Acarexx which is usually what vets choose to treat this with. It's a one time deal.

But before you treat...get that gunk out first. Clean them with a pet-friendly ear cleanser before putting meds in there...your cat will feel better and the meds will work more efficiently.

[Edited on September 22, 2009 at 3:01 AM. Reason : good luck!]

9/22/2009 3:00:20 AM

helllooooo

so i have my new baby kitty (i'm doing foster to adopt because she has an upper respiratory infection so she couldn't get spayed yet)

anyway, so they gave me science diet kitten food (dry) and some cans of kitten food (wet). they (wake co. animal shelter) claim she is 11 weeks old. i say not a chance. she can practically fit in my hand, she can TOTALLY fit in my boyfriend's hand.

on top of that, she is SUPER skinny. its obviously, partially at least, a result of her upper respiratory infection. my first cat had one when i adopted her, too and i remember having a hard time getting her to eat.

so far i've tried: mixing wet and dry food, putting warm water on the dry food, microwaving the wet food, and putting warm water in the wet food. she hasn't eaten AT ALL (that i've seen, or my bf - we've been around her almost constantly since i brought her home yesterday).

i know it could also be that she is adjusting to a new place but i just don't know what to do or if theres anything else i can try? she doesn't seem interested in anything. she HAS been drinking a lot of water though. but she's only peed like twice. i don't know, i'm a little concerned.

10/1/2009 9:10:59 PM

You can try to get some Karo syrup in her just to get some sugar in her. Go to Wal-Mart or somewhere and get some kitten formula and see if you can get her to lick that or bottle feed it to her. If that doesn't work then you need to get her to the vet soon. A kitten can't go too long without eating.

10/1/2009 10:43:51 PM

^ thank you!!!!

i googled what you said and ended up making sugar water and rubbing it on her gums. then i brought her to her food and she's eating. i also poured a little of the warm sugar water on her wet food and she seemed a little more interested in that. but right now she's eating some dry so that is good - progress at least.

10/1/2009 11:18:04 PM

Cats won't eat if they can't smell their food. What antibiotic is the kitten on?

10/1/2009 11:28:07 PM

i knoooow! that is why i microwaved and added warm water.

she's on clavamox

10/2/2009 10:36:51 AM