Wednesday, April 8, 2009

...a threat to my kitties



Creamer [aka LaCreatia]...
has been dealing with "digestive issues"...
ever since she returned from the bathroom exodus to "spa vet"...
so when the nasty diarrhea returned a couple of weeks ago...
back she went...this time for "tests"...

she tested negative for everything...
except the "corona virus" which can lead to FIP*...
[Feline Infectious Peritonitis]
a highly contagious, hard to diagnose, debilitating disease...
that is always fatal in cats...

the problem is...

many healthy cats can test positive for the corona virus...
it just means that they were exposed at some point...
only about 7 % of corona positive cats develop FIP...
which is not easy to diagnose, as all the symptoms...
are also present in many other conditions as well...

so you just have to wait for the animal to rapidly decline...

however, this leads to another problem...

many healthy animals have the corona virus work through them...
and become re-infected, also infecting others they live with...
so "colonies", multi-cat households & breeders have this problem...
the FIP generally only develops in the very young...[none of those here...]
the "geriatric group"[uh-oh...]
& those whose immune system is weak...[uh-oh, again...]

the good news...?

the virus does NOT live long outside the host...[hours, at the most...]
and is killed by most cleaners [ie chlorine bleach solution...]
so scrubbing litter pans & a good vacuuming of all cat areas...
[that would be everywhere around here...]
and a through washing of all bedding...
will pick-up & kill any lingering virus...

more good news...?

Creamer [who's been at the vet's for over a week now...]
is eating well, pooping normally & seems healthy...

the vet is checking on the cost of the medical "treatment"...
for the virus...but if she's doing this well...
maybe she doesn't need it...
all the literature I've read online seems to say...
that the entire area is shadowy...
& each case must be dealt with individually...



my buddy Mattie, had been having digestive issues too...
so the vet wanted to test him...now, we're waiting for results...
but as of this afternoon, both Mattie & Creamer were doing well...
eating & pooping normally, there at the vet's...

so now "we", here at home, wait...

nobody furry misses Creamer since she's mean as a snake to all...
and grouchy to boot...
but I miss her...pestering me for food & pets...

however, they all miss Mattie... everyone's buddy...

Thomas was pacing & calling [they curl up together...]
Lucyfur was also looking as were Charlie & Mackie...
even Sneaky Pie seemed a bit put off by his absence...
and Molly keeps looking for him [she lets him nibble her dry food...]

so we're all hoping to see them both healthy...
& back here real soon...

I don't know if you have any thoughts on the subject...
but I think it's time for a prolonged period of kitty good health...
in this "neck of the woods", anyway...

4 comments:

Mousie and Christy's Mommy said...

Catsinger...I agree...a very long period of good kitty health is in order at your "neck of the woods!" I will be praying in that direction for all of you. God is concerned and cares!

catsinger said...

...thanks M&CM...I know He does...
and the power of the believing prayer is just amazing...
every time Mackie bounces playfully into my lap or Fluff bats her now well eyes at me...I see it...

it's hard to believe, cause the vet said she'd be totally blind in the bad eye...but the opaqueness isn't total and her iris dilates ! she also seems to see depth perception she didn't when it was abscessed...
God is good !

The Calico Quilter said...

You all have had more than your share of bad times recently. I pray that everyone gets well and stays that way for a good while. I'm sorry to hear about Creamer and Mattie. What a scary proposition - harboring something that could make more of your crew sick. Take care and best wishes.

catsinger said...

...hi Calico...well, the other shoe has dropped...Matt is positive too...
but since only about 7% of corona+ cats develop FIP, there is only "iffy" results from the vaccine & most if not all of mine are probably positive...we've decided to let it ride and hope that nobody gets sick...
both Creamer & Matt are doing very well & I'm on my way to get them...
testing is $80 p/cat...too much...
giving away any who test +, not an option...so until someone gets FIP,
we'll just carry on...all but SPie are 10 or older... so we're just going to leave it all to God...
and hope for the best...