awww... my new kitty is all snuffly....

[Dookus]

Poor little Molly... she's got a bad cold. She's all stuffed up and sneezy.

this has happened with EVERY pet I've gotten from the pound. I don't think there's much point in going to the vet, though - it's probably a viral infection. But I feel bad for her - she seems uncomfortable. Eating and drinking OK, though.

[Lars39]

1. dookus...

(I'll whisper this: Has she had her distemper shot?)

I love orange tabbies. My first was a tomcat that could terrify dogs. :)

Lars

[Dookus]

3. I just got her from the pound last week....

and she's had all her shots.

It's just a cold - I hope.

[PopSixSquish]

5. LOL - There is an Orange Tabby in My Apartment Complex...

named Bobby who just loved to be petted by humans, but has sent a couple of dogs to the vet when they have messed with him.

And years ago when I lived in CA, there was an orange tabby who hung out in our backyard. My cocker had chased all the other neighborhood cats aways except this one. One morning, this tabby decided to show Mikey what's what and smacked him across the face, but hard.

The cat and Mikey "shared" the backyard after that.

[Nay]

2. Poor baby!

Give her some liquid vitamins and hand feed the poor little thing. And plenty of pats and love.

[Kahuna]

4. Oh my doodness. Wook at dat widdle baby..

Isn't she fweet. Just give her wots of wub. Get well soon Molly. ;(

[Snow]

6. Take her to the vet!

yes, it's probably viral, but even so, these kitty colds can kill kittens. Your vet can give you some antibiotics to prevent a bacterial infection jumping in, and some antihistamines or decongestants to help the kitty be more comfortable. Our pound kitten had the same thing, a day or so after we brought him home, and he was pretty daggoned scrawny at that point, so just letting it run it's course might've worked, and might not've.

[roguevalley]

7. If she doesn't get noticeably better in a day or so, take her in

Animals from shelters often get respiratory. Dogs get
kennel cough and it has to be treated. Is your baby
coughing? If she is, get her in. Huggies on your little
angel.

Tabs rock

[Dookus]

8. no, not coughing...

sneezing a bit, though, and has a lot of nasal congestion.

My vet's open on saturday's... I'll take her tomorrow if she's not improving. But as I said, she's eating and drinking normally.

[grasswire]

10. Kitty needs meds

My neighbor got kitty from the shelter two weeks ago. Kitty had "shelter sniffles" and veterinarian prescribed antibiotic and advised that she be kept away from any other animals for two weeks.

From the Humane Society

Feline Upper Respiratory Infection
You just brought home your newly adopted cat and she begins to sneeze and sniffle frequently, her breathing sounds congested, and she is sleeping an inordinate amount—even for a cat. Your new feline friend may have a common problem—an upper respiratory infection. Here's how it happens: In a typical shelter, many animals are taken in every day, and few of whom have ever received proper health care. Some of these animals are already carrying infectious diseases. Feline upper respiratory infection (feline URI) and canine "kennel cough" are the animal equivalents of a human cold or flu. These diseases often affect sheltered dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. Many cats are sick, but not showing symptoms, before they even enter a shelter. Even if your cat was vaccinated against feline URI as soon as she entered the shelter, that vaccine may take up to two weeks to provide protection.

The good news is that feline URI is usually a mild disease (especially in adult cats) that is treated much as the human cold is: lots of rest, good food, and lots of love. Without treatment, however, there is a risk of severe illness or even fatal pneumonia. Cats who have been subjected to overcrowding, poor nutrition, extreme heat or cold, fear, or infection with another disease before being admitted to a shelter are more susceptible to these illnesses and may develop more severe symptoms.

In cats and kittens, the signs of feline URI include sneezing; fever; runny nose; red or watery eyes; nasal congestion (often seen as drooling or open-mouthed breathing); ulcers on the tongue, lips, nose, or the roof of the mouth; lack of appetite or thirst; and lack of energy.

Seek veterinary care as soon as possible (immediately for young kittens or for adult cats who have stopped eating). The shelter from which you adopted your cat may be able to provide you with veterinary care, depending on whether it has its own veterinary hospital; call to determine what your options are.

Here are some tips to help your cat feel better fast:

Follow the veterinarian's instructions closely. Use all medications exactly as prescribed, even if your cat's condition seems to have improved.

Encourage your cat to rest as much as possible by providing a quiet, warm place. This is not a good time to introduce her to friends and other pets in the household!

Provide appetizing food and encourage her to eat; try warming a high quality canned food.

Gently wipe any discharge from her eyes and nose with a warm, damp towel. To help ease the discomfort of nasal congestion, consider using a cool-mist vaporizer or placing her in the bathroom and running water in the shower for a few minutes each day. You may want to offer her food immediately afterward, since a congested cat can't smell her food and will often refuse to eat.



Most importantly, provide lots of love and be patient; she'll be ready to join in your normal family activities soon!

[Dookus]

11. thanks....

just made an appointment for tomorrow. I feel bad for the little girl...

[joeybee12]

9. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Myra]

12. Totally agreed that she should go to the vet!

Glad you're taking her tomorrow.
Even though she's eating and drinking,
which is very good, those colds are especially
hard on little baby cats.

My two adult cats just had that damn respiratory
virus last week (indoor cats too), and they
were eating and drinking so I waited a day.
I thought since it was a virus there wouldn't
be much they could do. I was so wrong. I took
them in when one of them felt too warm to me.
And sure enough she had a 104.x degree temp (101.2
or so is normal for a cat), and the other had a
103.x degree temp.

The Dr did pretty much what snow said:
gave them shots of antibiotic (to prevent
opportunistic secondary infections) and
a shot of antihistimine and some fluids
(even though they weren't dehydrated, it made
them more comfortable more quickly, and helped
fight the fever), and some eyedrops.

They felt *dramatically* better immediately.

They've been gettting daily meds at home,
and there's no doubt that it made them feel
much better much faster, and kept them from getting
sicker with a bacterial infection.

Next time I wouldn't even wait a day to take them in.
I was amazed how much difference it made.

Good luck with little Molly!
Keep us posted.

Tabby's rule, other's drool.

:evilgrin:

[greekspeak]

13. Aww! Kitty-Mew needs some Kitty Ny-Quil!

Poor little sweetie! :-(

[DuctapeFatwa]

14. This kitten is clearly suffering from Acute Deliberate Cuteness Syndrome

While the cold will be gone in a few days, I am sad to inform you that ADCS is a permanent, untreatable condition. Your vet will be able to confirm this.

If your community has ordinances or covenance regarding acceptable kitten cuteness levels, you should probably begin looking for a new apartment or house in an area where standards are more lax in this regard.

[Myra]

15. ADCS!

Hee hee!
For sure.

[Dookus]

29. Yup...

the vet confirmed your diagnosis. As did all his assistants. They made it sound like she'll be a life-time sufferer of ADCS. I'll just have to find ways to cope.

[DuctapeFatwa]

35. Suggested palliative treatment

Establish and maintain a program of intensive petting.

Every 4-6 hours, lift the kitten carefully to just above your nose and intone in a high, squeaky voice,

"Why do you have to be so cute? You think I don't know you are being cute on purpose?"

Continue petting. Kitten will probably purr.

Whenever you pass by the kitten, announce in a clear voice, "If you do not cease this cuteness, I am going to pet you."

This should not be an empty threat. The kitten must learn that you mean it and will follow through.

None of this will have the slightest effect on the ACDS behavioral disorder, but it will provide a needed outlet for you, as the kitten's pet human.

[donotpassgo]

16. ooooh the baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how sweet. I wish my cat was still that small.

[scarlet_owl]

17. Here's an owl hug for your adorable little kitty!

:hug: I hope Molly is feeling better soon!

[Dookus]

18. aw.. thanks..

I'm sure she'll be OK.

I'm also takin' my 6-month old in for a rabies shot and an ID chip. Whee.

[corarose]

19. My Little Al is the same color

She is sooooooooooo cute!

[Catshrink]

20. Adorable...

Looks like my little Ricky.

I've got three cats from the animal shelter and each one had an upper respiratory problem. Definitely take the little darling to the vet ASAP. I waited on my Ryno angel girl and it was nearly too late. She did survive -- it's been 13 years. But she gets colds very easily and has allergies to perfumed products.

BTW... most orange tabbies are male. Are you sure Molly is a girl?

Here's Little Ricky:



And here's Ryno:

[Dookus]

21. yup, quite sure she's a girl...

they just spayed her last week... still has the scar.

[Catshrink]

22. Guess so...

That pretty much proves it. Damn she's cute. Reminds of Ricky when he was a kitten. Is there anything cuter than a kitten?

[AnnabelLee]

23. Poor little Molly!

I thought she had that sort of rumply-droopy-upper-respiratory look to her in the first picture of her that you posted. I hope she gets better soon! She's so adorable.:-)

Edited for the usual mistakes

[corarose]

24. When your DOLL gets older she will have a personality

Like no other cat because she is a red head. I am on my second red tabby persian and they have personalities like no other cats.
They will slap another cat in the head with their paws(hands) that is larger then them and they won't give it a second thought.
They pick fights over nothing and they are bold cat's.

I love them and I wouldn't give my Red Head up for a million dollars then again I wouldn't give any of my kids/cats up for no amount of money.

She is a cute kitty and she is going to have a personality like no other cat. What did you name her?

[Dookus]

25. update...

took Molly to the vet today. She's got oral antibiotics and some eye-goo that I have to squeeze into her eyes. The vet says she'll be fine.

thanks all for your concern!

[Lars39]

26. Oh, good! She is such a sweetie!

:)

[Catshrink]

27. Sounds right

That's what my vet did for Ryno girl -- and Clancy and Snickers.

Good luck! Hope she's playful and entertaining. Damn is she cute!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. I am glad all is well. Hope she feels better soon. n/t

[scarlet_owl]

30. Yay! Give little Molly a kiss upon her head for me!

[OneTwentyoNine]

31. Had a kitty just like yours twenty years ago...

Yellow tabby,named Simba. Lived about 9 years and had it put to sleep. Cried that day.....

David

[Skittles]

32. is this the same one

who is sleeping all the time? Get a vet to check her out, Dook.

[Philostopher]

33. Another suggestion,

Dookus, especially if the weather is dry where you live ... run a tub of hot water and sit in the bathroom with her for a while, maybe fifteen minutes or so. It'll help loosen up the crud in her nose, she'll breathe easier for a while, at least. My big red tabby male always gets the sneezes if he has to spend more than an hour at the vet (he has gingivitis, so we have him in to have his teeth cleaned periodically). He hates to be shut up on the room, so I don't keep him there more than 15 or 20 minutes, but it does seem to help him breathe easier when I do it.

(edit: typo)

[Dookus]

34. Hey nownow...

Yes, I did that last night. Sat with her in the bathroom with the hot shower going. it did help.

Yes, Skittles, it's the same lazy cat. She went to the vet today, though for her cold and has medicine now. The doc says she'll be fine.