Cell Phone 623-203-1274
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A tough respiratory virus has hit the valley this season, possibly due to all the wind blowing around. If the kitten starts to sneeze and gets a crusty nose they probably have it. They are kind of like us, it takes a week or so to get over it. The important thing to do is to keep the nose cleaned with cotton balls dipped in warm water. If a kittens nose gets plugged, they will stop eating and drinking and will dehydrate. Watch the kitten carefully, They may need a vet visit for an antibiotic if the mucous turns green, or if they dehydrate. You can recognize dehydration by pulling up on the skin between the shoulder blades. If it doesn't spring rapidly down into place, they are dehydrating and you must force fluids and get to a vet. If you are encouraging a kitten to take liquids, you should place them on their stomach with their head up a little and push a small amount of fluid in the side of the mouth across the tongue. (I use a small syringe for this.) It will just drain out if they are not ready for it, and they will quickly learn to swallow it. Also watch for any sign of diarrhea. A young kitten is like a baby and will dehydrate rapidly. You must get them to the vet. Never give a kitten cows milk. Goats milk is ok if you can get it, or KMR (kitten formula). Sometimes a newly weaned kitten will need a kitten milk for a while if they get sick. I find I can transition them back on to food with canned fancy feast chicken. I have found that if an older cat develops diarrhea, the best thing to feed them is cooked chicken breast. I chop it up. This will usually stop the diarrhea even if it doesn't cure the problem. Sometimes the problem is just stress.
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Telephone 623-582-1015 Cell 623-203-1274 Dona Mae Cattery
Mailing address 35040 N. 14th St., Phoenix Az., 85086
Dona Mae Dougherty, James J Dougherty, Jamie Joe Dougherty