D2 just adopted a kitten from a rescue organization. She took it to the vet because she noticed her eyes were very watery. Kitten has an upper respiratory infection and the vet suspected parasites as well (distended abdomen). She was given medicine for the parasites.
Today D2 says there is something sticking out of the cat’s anus (I’m out of town). She tried to wipe it off, but it wouldn’t come off. I’m thinking it might be a (hopefully) dead tapeworm segment?
Anything D2 should do or can do on a Saturday without access to vet office?
This is way more yucky than it is dangerous to either cat or people. It comes with the territory of kitten adoption. Wipe the kitty’s butt with a wet wipe as you would an infant if it becomes a mess.
All I can say is I’m grateful to be at the lake and able to say “I guess you’ll just have to keep an eye on her.” I did tell her to leave it alone, wash her hands after every handling of the kitty, and just make a mental note of her stool appearance.
Kudos to your D for adopting the poor thing and saving her.
I am surprised that the shelter adopted out a kitty with obvious health issues. The local shelters I used to volunteer for would never do that. All of their cats get dewormed and immunized and otherwise taken care of.
Seriously, my D1 in Manhatten had to go through the ringer to adopt a kitten from a shelter. She also had to pay a lot of money to have the cat dewormed, tested, given shots. Whatever they had to do. Her cat also had an upper respiratory infection and she could not adopt it for a week! It seemed to be a big ordeal.
Those of us who live in small towns and rural areas just go pick a kitten up at someone’s house! Haha
It was weird. She did have to jump through hoops to get that kitten. She had to provide proof that she had paid her pet deposit to her apartment and that it was accepted, she had to prove she was adopting a second kitten at the same time, and she had to sign agreements to not have her declawed. The cat was spayed already, but yeah, not healthy. The other kitten, obtained through a foster program, is really healthy.
The sick kitten was obtained throuh an organization that goes through Pet Smart, so I think she got ill at the store.
That’s one photo I’ll pass on, lol. I’m going home today, so will check her out. D2 says she has some diarrhea, which I know is expected with either parasites or the treatment, so not too worked up about it. She has another appt. with the vet on Tuesday.
Years ago, when applying tinsel to Christmas trees was all the rage, our cat used the litterbox and walked into the room with a piece of tinsel hanging out of her butt. My poor Mom had to take it out. We still crack up about it 40 years later.
Your cat was lucky that the tinsel mostly passed. My sister’s practice used to do several GI surgeries on cats with ripped intestines during the winter holiday season. It can happen if the owners try to pull out tinsel which is still winded through the guts.
Well, healthy kitty is still looking good. Part blue point Siamese and gray tabby, she is about as cute and sweet as they come.
Sick kitty is a tortie/tabby mix, also cute as can be. Her eyes are completely clear today. She has entirely too much energy for a cat with an illness, lol. She sneezes occasionally. She has used her litter box and it was a rather smelly affair, unlike the other cat’s box. I noticed she cried out a bit when she used the box, but seemed perfectly fine afterwards.
If the “worms” are short, like 1/4 inch, they could be flea larvae. Thankfully none of my cats have had fleas in many years, but we did go through a few years of that, and I remember seeing the gross things at the base of her tail and on her bedding.
Rescue cats can often come to their new homes with multiple health issues, sometimes unknown to you. I would keep the new sick kitty quarantined from the other one for a couple of weeks if possible. We adopted a tabby from a private rescue group, and unknown to us, she was a carrier for a calicivirus, although she did not show signs of that sickness. Our other kitten, a purebred, caught this virus, and he became very very ill. Very large vet bill over that, but he pulled through.
Yes, at present they are being kept separately from each other. I wish she had adopted both of them from the same healthy litter, but it is what it is.
Just got back from the vet. Healthy kitten is still healthy, as we never introduced them yet.
Sick kitten is vastly improved. Turns out she tested negative for parasites; but was dewormed anyway. Ear mites treated again. Only the occasional sneeze, and eyes are really clear. Very playful and energetic. Vet says to keep kittens separated for another 5-7 days.