Andromeda, Apollo,Hamlet, Nova &Calliope

Avatar for rhawk4
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2001
Andromeda, Apollo,Hamlet, Nova &Calliope
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Sun, 01-02-2005 - 11:22pm
This year and the end of last is starting to seem like a cosmic joke. AS you all know well now, Andromeda became very sick and was throwing up (then bile) all over as well as diarrhea. She had a fever of close to 104 and did not want to move all day, for 5 days. Apollo was also the same, though he was a couple of days ahead of her. Apollo began to get better and slowly eat and play again, then Andromeda began to repeat the recovery. Now Hamlet is throwing up all over and won’t eat and only wants to lay around and sleep (though he has no fever). Last night I noted that Nova was not eating at all and I was hoping it was due to his being lonely in the shop. Well this morning I found he puked all over and has diarrhea as well. As of this morning Calliope refuses to eat now and is laying around only. This leaves Leo and Orion left as the only ones who have not come down with this mystery illness, and I just know they will. Our new bedroom wall and carpet is now covered in bile and puke stains. Since December 23rd we have spent over $2000 in vet bills between Andromeda, Apollo, Nova and Hamlet and it is not over by half since we have 3 more sick cats just starting the routine and 2 not affected YET.

I guess the good news is that we now know the illness is not fatal, just gets the cats really really sick for 5 days, like a stomach virus. Knowing it does not help though. Caring for so many cats who are ill is not easy. We even woke last night to Hamlet puking on the bed.

I know many people believe this all started at the vets… I do not know if I believe that. Why? Well, I know others who use the vet and had their cats there the day Andromeda and Apollo initially were, and nothing is wrong with their cats. Plus a friend in Illinois JUST went through the exact same illness with one of his 3 cats (starting 1 day before it did here). I mean the EXACT same, and their vet believes it to be some mystery flu. I have a friend in New Jersey and guess what? His one cat went through this exact same illness 8 days prior to us! Go figure. I wonder if there is a cat flu pandemic starting?!

Since we know it is not fatal, just mind-blowingly upsetting and messy, I guess I won’t need to update you as our remaining cats come down with it one by one. I am sure they will all be fine in a few weeks, and we will be in straight jackets staring at our bile and puke stained and covered walls and floors. *sigh*


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David and the CoolCyberCats


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2010
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 10:28am
Oh David. What a mess. I and my crew will be sending purrs for recovery for everyone.
Katz

 

 Katz

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 11:32am
My sons girlfriend brought in a puppy xmas eve, honey bunny didn't see it at first, got startled, ran around the loveseat, crashed into some trophies I had in the floor. I thought she had broken her leg at first. The vet said she probally pulled a muscle or bruised it. I took her in to be checked and they xrayed her. Has traumatic subluxation of hip, meaning her ball isn't fitting into the socket quite right now (I think) kind of like hip dysp. and she can hardly walk. The vet said give her 8 weeks or so to let tissue build up there or something to that affect, they gave her a cortisone shot and said she would need them monthly. I've read they aren't safe. The vet also said some vets would do surgery on her FHO, which I believe takes away the pain, she will limp with or without the surgery and the arthritis has already set in. Catwoman on the cats board suggested a second opinion and said since the cat won't walk but a few feet at a time she was in pain and she thought they should have wrapped her leg or suggested surgery. Today honey bunny is moving around a bit more but...I don't know what to do. My other vet could do the surgery, he would be quicker to do surgery than the present vet that saw honey bunny. I wish someone on the boards had info on this, I do trust catwoman. Donna
Avatar for cl_lcni
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Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 12:24pm

I know what you mean about having yet another cat.


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Avatar for rhawk4
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Registered: 09-30-2001
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 4:39pm
I am sorry. With something serious like I would say a 2nd opinion is important. Perhaps if you can locate a specialist in your area? Back in '99, Hamlet tried to jump form the dining room table to the kitchen counter. As he started to land he saw something and soft of backed off, meaning his rear paws fell off the counter edge and he fall back tail first. His tail was out perfectly straight and he fell about 2 feet and his tail got caught between 2 TV dinner stands and his main body fell to one side. There was a soft of crack sound and he let out a howl like I never heard or ever want to hear again. His tail was completely limp and he was hardly able to walk, he lost some use of his bowel too. I rushed him to the vet and he had damaged some vertebrae at the base of his tail. The were not sure if he would ever regain use of his tail again or walk right or not be in pain. They said that the nerve damage may have harmed his ability to go to the bathroom as well. He was put on steriods and we hoped for the best. About 3 or 4 weeks later he was using his tail again (holding it high), pooping fine

David and the CoolCyberCats


Forever in my heart


Enter YOUR Cool Cat! A winner each month! 

Cats nap, only humans put them to sleep: Sterilize, don't euthanize.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 5:46pm
Thanks for the words of encouragement. Hamlet was very lucky indeed. I know that made you sick when he got hurt so badly. And I thought inside cats were safer!! Some of the vets here, not the ones I am currently using, would have suggested he be pts. Honey bunny has been going all over the house today. She isn't well, of course, but is moving. I am talking to my other vet about her to compare opinions. I will possibly give her a couple of days and see how she progresses. I want to see about natural supplements. I probally already wrote that on another reply. I hope your cats start feeling better. These virus's are horrible. Thank goodness we neither one lost a cat. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2003
Wed, 01-12-2005 - 10:00pm
I haven't been around the boards much and was looking for your updates. I hope that the other two kitties didn't come down with that sickness. Doesn't sound like much fun! And I hope everyone else is on the mend. I had two sick ones as well. Sammy started puking , but he's better now. Think he went and ate soot again. And Chloe had a URI after we got her from the vets, but she's fine now.









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