Prairie~Phlox Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 We just got a kitten yesterday, all of them had crusty eyes, I only took one because they looked pathetic and I felt bad. Do I need to take him to a vet right way, they said they were 7 weeks old, but wow, they sure were little. I saw both the father & mother and they looked healthy and were big cats. I just don't think these kittens were taken care of. I washed him with a cloth and he looks better, but his nose was a little crusty too. Thanks, Phlox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I would take him in. Not only to make sure the eyes don't get an infection that leads to blindness, but to get the vet's estimate on age, so he can be fed appropriately. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy in Va Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I would take him in. Sounds like he might have an upper respiratory infection which is easily treated. However, if left untreated, it can lead to blindness or worse. I've seen it happen too many times with the kittens of the strays our neighbor takes in. Very sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 yes, take him in to the vet. Last year we got 4 kittens from a rescue group. They all had health problems, mostly very loose runny stools. One of them was 10 weeks old and only 1 pound. The vet had us treat them all with meds which were very inexpensive, at least one of them needed eye drops and they all had ear mites. Daily giving of the meds cleared up everything and now they are quite BIG and healthy. The 10 week old, 1 pound one ended up being a Maine Coon, she is still maybe a little small for a adult Maine Coon but is very healthy. Oh, yeah, I forgot, they all had worms, the worming meds had them passing in their stools live worms, that was pretty disgusting. But again, the med cleared that up too. I have had numerous kittens and the majority of them have at some time, needed eye drops and ear drops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Yes, this isn't heatlhy. I would take it to a vet. Some of their diseases can be passed onto humans though most are not. None of the kittens I have ever had had this type of problem and when my adult cats get anything like that, I would take them to a vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Wisc Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I live on a farm and I've taken care of dozens of kittens over the years. Crusty eyes are oh-so-very common. I get eye ointment from the vet and gently wash their eyes and apply the ointment 2 to 3 times/day until they get better. Sometimes the crusts get bad enough to "glue" their eyes shut. I just work gently on them, applying a damp cloth to let it soak open far enough to get they eye ointment into the eye. It is a very common part of kittenhood. Before I give my kittens to a new home I de-worm and de-flea them, check them for earmites, and, if they are old enough, give them their first shots. When they are old enough, I take them in for neutering and spaying. It would not be a bad idea to have a vet check the little mite over and for you to be sure he is healthy. I would not take my cats in, but then I have a whole veterinary supply box of meds: dewormers, flea med (and do get this from the vet--don't get the Wal-Mart med 'cause it doesn't do the job well enough), ear mite drops, eye ointment, amoxicillin..... Enjoy. Jean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Thanks everyone. I did take him in. We know a great vet that is very reasonable. He only charged me $20.00 and that included ear mite meds & he did give him Amoxicillian, though he said for being so small, he seemed healthy, he was not sure if he was a boys or girl, thought it was a girl because it was more calico, but I thought it was a boy. Said he thought he was only 5 weeks old or so. To me he's more stripe that calico, but who knows. Guess we'll find out later. He's a little rugged here because of the wet med on his hair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Wisc Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Yes, calicoes are usually girls. What a sweety! Calicoes have always had their own special temperament here on the farm--lively, independent, shy. Enjoy the kitty :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Poor thing needs a trip to the vet. He needs to have eyes checked, be checked for fleads, worms and ear mites. Also nees shots since you are not sure of his parantage or background. We took in a rescue kitten once who died of that very bad cat disease (lukemia maybe? Don't remember) but it was devestating. I am a cat person though. I have four. They are spoiled but very healthy and happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Awww.....that's one cute kitten. Please post a photo in a month so we can see how she has grown. (I'm thinking calico, too.) What's her name? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Well we named him Frodo, but we are probably wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Well we named him Frodo, but we are probably wrong. That's okay. We have a boy named Lil, lol. The woman we got our cats from said he was a girl, and we didn't think anything of it for a couple of weeks. When we realized he was a boy, the kids tried to change his name, but it never took! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 yes, looks like a calico. They are almost always girls, something like in the high 90% will be girls. We have had and currently have 2 calicos. They are great hunters and ours tended to be a one person cat (which that 1 person was my dh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elisabeth in IL Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Such a cutie!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I might take him in a few days..... I would for sure put milk in his eyes several times a day. (Breastmilk if you happen to have a lactating friend!) This has worked for us. (We had the raw breastmilk). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Thanks everyone. I did take him in. We know a great vet that is very reasonable. He only charged me $20.00 and that included ear mite meds & he did give him Amoxicillian, though he said for being so small, he seemed healthy, he was not sure if he was a boys or girl, thought it was a girl because it was more calico, but I thought it was a boy. Said he thought he was only 5 weeks old or so. To me he's more stripe that calico, but who knows. Guess we'll find out later. He's a little rugged here because of the wet med on his hair. Just read this - for $20 - how can you say no?! Cute cat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momzilla333 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 It's not likely, but it is possible. A really interesting book about a calico male is called "Cats are not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics" and has a ton of genetics info wrapped up in a true story about the author's cat named George. It makes an awesome basis for a unit study. And congrats on your new kitty! A little cutie!!!:iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Yeah, I looked again and am pretty sure it's a girl now. We'll see what dh wants to call her, I suggested Padme' and the kids like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soph the vet Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 HI, just saw this! Yes, take her in. 99% of calicos will be female. I personally witnessed one calico that was male. Nobody in the clinic could believe our eyes. Upper respiratory infections in a kitten that young can lead to serious problems as others have pointed out. I have seen kittens lose eyes due to a totally treatable illness had it been treated earlier. They have immature immune systems and need some help with systemic antibiotics. A fecal exam and a feline leukemia test are good ideas as well. Then you can discuss vax with your vet as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in the NH Woods Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) Glad you took her in. We recently had to take a newly adopted shelter kitten in for goopy eyes, and sneezing. The doctor said it was probably caused by a herpes virus. The kitten will always have the virus, but will not always be symptomatic. She did end up needing antibiotic eye ointment, and like Soph said an antibiotic for her whole system. The kitty is doing very well~ her eyes tear or gum up a little now and then, but otherwise she is full of the dickens.:001_smile: Does Soph REALLY have no pets? Really!?:ohmy: Edited March 31, 2009 by Cindy in the NH Woods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Ok, I just checked her over earlier for fleas (cause the house I got her at had a few dogs and other cats) I found 2. Wish I had done this last night. Anyway, I did give her a bath with dish soap and killed the two that I did find. I had vacuumed earlier. What are the chances there were more and they are now in my house? I will just vacuum every day for the next few days. Any other advice? When will she be old enough to have Frontline? or what do you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soph the vet Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Does Soph REALLY have no pets? Really!?:ohmy: Yes, it is totally true, sadly true. I work part-time and I know what it costs to own a pet properly. I had dogs and horses until I got married and had kids. We may get a dog so dc can learn some things about caring for another living being at some point. But my real desire is to have a horse again and that is not happening anytime soon!:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soph the vet Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Ok, I just checked her over earlier for fleas (cause the house I got her at had a few dogs and other cats) I found 2. Wish I had done this last night. Anyway, I did give her a bath with dish soap and killed the two that I did find. I had vacuumed earlier. What are the chances there were more and they are now in my house? I will just vacuum every day for the next few days. Any other advice? When will she be old enough to have Frontline? or what do you recommend? The chances are good that they laid eggs in your house. You'll know in about 3 weeks if that is the case. I would launder everything. Vacumn and get rid of the bags. She isn't old enough for Frontline until 8 weeks (check the package as it depends it is Frontline or Frontline Plus). Keep her and any other pets on Frontline for at least 3 months to purge the home of live fleas, eggs, larvae, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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