Yeonassky, have you tried Zymox? My friend had a problem with infections with her dogs. She tried numerous meds from several vets with no improvement. After just one use of Zymox, there was a positive result and no more infections.

Is Aspen feeling a little better today? Does he continue to eat well enough?

Checking in and hoping he is better today.

Aspen got a B12 shot @ the vets. He's eating! ☺ It should last 2 weeks.

Dh trimmed his bloomers, the change in wet cat food...to get them to eat more...is effecting Aspen. It's not bothering Ivan. Aspen's right eye is now a problem....again. According to his vet records this was cured. He's getting eye drops 4 times a day. I brushed him, with a lint brush, which helped with his greasy coat. His voice sounds bad. I'll make an appointment for the vet, my usual vet, takes 2 weeks to get in....I can always cancel it if he doesn't need it.

The poor little tyke! There's definitely something 'off'. I hope your regular vet gets to the source of it. Make sure he's drinking and not dehydrated. Wet food is better for him than kibble.

How is Aspen? Hope he is better.

jtc....Sitting in my lap as we speak. Not better. I took him to the emergency vet last night. His cold is just awful. It's no longer clear mucous. Tuesday night he slept under my chin, sneezing. While Ivan still has a cold, he cuddles by my side and snores. Cutie pies....BOTH OF THEM! The vet is trying to squeeze Aspen in today. They're eating well because of the medications they've been given. I keep hoping they'll turn around. Ivan is still washing Aspen's head, otherwise he's just a little grease ball.

Poor little Aspen. I hope the meds kick in and he is much better soon.

I think Aspen needs antibiotics. Hoping he gets them on this next visit.

It does sound like he may have a secondary bacterial infection which requires antibiotics. They can give an antibiotic shot to give him a head start and then provide oral meds. It's hard to medicate them when they can't breathe through their nose.

By now you have probably seen the vet. It could be possible that there is something stuck in the nasal passage. You may have to have him sedated for the vet to check. Method used by my vet at the time was to flush the nasal passage with warm saline to remove mucus. The vet was then able to see what turned out to be a blade of some type of grass. When he pulled it out of Walter's nose it was about four inches long and swollen from the moisture it had absorbed. Walter was a schnauzer and allowed it to be done without sedation but a cat especial a kitten would not.

Thinking good thoughts especially for little Aspen ...

All the vets we've seen say "It just needs to run it's course. It's a cold". It's been 2 weeks. Aspen did get antibiotic pills. DH is picking up pill pockets on his way home from work. I hope he likes Greenies. 2-nite he gets his 1st one. Tuesday night....Aspen tried cuddling under my chin...and...sneezed ALL night long.....very wet. Vet says it's "not" in his lungs.

Poor kitty. Hope the antibiotic does the trick. On the plus side, it is a very good thing he is eating and drinking. Often with a cold, they won't eat and that is a big problem. Did the vet suggest a vaporizer or a saline spay?

DH doesn't want to give Aspen antibiotics, it will give him the runs...which is cured at the moment. Aspen's eye is open, we've stopped giving eye drops. DH used warm water and gave Aspen a wet rag bath. He's hanging in there. Ivan wants to play. Aspen watches. They're both eating huge amounts of wet food. They're not emaciated any more, just bony.

Hate to disagree with your vet, but I would give him antibiotics. One of my cats had similar and was given amoxicillin. Also I have seen cats not treated and instead of going away, it becomes chronic. If he isn't much better quickly, I would change vets.

marilyn.....I read your advice to my DH. He's been persuaded to start Aspen on anitbiotics. I did change vets.....back to my old one. Aspen has been racking up the vet bills. I could really use a break.

My rescue cat had ongoing eye, throat, and lung infections. It is NOT just a cold. He had to have zeniquin. That is the only thing that would knock it out. It is one of the herpes viruses common to cats. However, it can cause a bacterial infection that can only be cleared up with an antibiotic. The amoxcillian only worked the first time.

Sherry....Thank you! We have 10 days of antibiotics. If he still has it I'll request "zeniquin".

Nicole, I agree, give him the antibiotic. It has been several weeks and he should be better by now. You may also want to add a Probiotic for good bacteria and help with diarrhea.

Sherry...I read the symptoms of Herpes, yep...that's what they have! Monday I'll call the vet and ask for Zeniquin. I called an emergency vet, they'd never heard of it. They give ganciclovir....?

Dolly....Yes, already giving a probiotic to Aspen. He's getting a little better. Playing more.

Marilyn.....herpes is chronic from what I've read. Also highly contagious. The whole shelter probably has it.....they have 120 cats!

God bless you Nicole. I hope you find a positive treatment for the cats ASAP. You're going to have to turn over three more houses to pay for the Vet bills!

You probably know this, but cat food with "gravy" can cause some cats to have loose stools. Only feed the "pate" type. Similar with dry cat food that has dyes. I feed Purina One dry food. At about $30 for 22 lb, I feed 3 bags or more a week. I still get free cat food from the rehabbers but send it to the cats I am still feeding in Liverpool. Their owner died, 18 months ago and I am still feeding them. They are feral and I can't bring them here. I feel bad about it but it is all I can do right now.

Ivan is pretty much cured. Aspen is still a little under the weather. It's his 2nd day getting antibiotics...and it's working miracles already. We see a HUGE improvement today. I'll call my vet tomorrow to see if prescription meds to treat Herpes can be written for him over the phone. Aspen is still sneezing, but his nose isn't running like a faucet. He's sleeping a lot, but watching hummingbirds in the windowsill. He's still being washed with a warm rag, he won't wash his body yet, but has gained an ounce or two. He looks "present", not foggy.

Their favorite food right now is Sheba chicken pate, mixed with a little water. They can each eat a portion, 4-5 times a day!

Awwww, good news Nicole. Thanks for letting us know he's doing better.

So glad they are doing better!

Nicole, the Zenquin does not treat the herpes virus. It just treats the side effects. He had it when I got him as a kitten, sneezing brown snot. The amoxcillian worked the first time, two doses, but not after that.

He would sometimes sneeze. If it didn't go on too long, he would shake it off. However, if he kept on, and the eyes started running, He had to have an antibiotic and the Zenequin was all that worked. They may have even better ones now. His was upper respiratory. It can also be in their throat. If you get them over this, they may not have any more problems. You just have to keep an eye on it.

He died last year, not from the virus, and had not had a problem with the virus for a couple of years. He was twelve. His problem was he was sensitive to phosphorus and a lot of cat food has way too much. That is not connected to the virus.

ETA: Compare to if you get a cold. You get over it no problem, but if you get bronchitis or pneumonia you need an antibiotic.

Thinking about Aspen not washing himself.............could they have been taken from their mom way too early and he never learned how?

I'm glad to here they are doing better and I hope they stay on the road to full recovery!! They really are so lucky to have someone willing to hang in there with them. Dedication!!

Sherry....I really appreciate your input. I really didn't know what to do. Aspen was so skinny, at deaths door. Am I OK without the zenquin, since the antibiotic is working?

Marilyn....antibiotics are really doing the trick!

murraysmom.....IDK They are brothers. Ivan is clean. Aspen is a little grease ball. He loves being washed with a warm towel, leans his face into it and purrs. Ivan is skinny, but Aspen....is just a BIG head and a spine. He's gaining weight, just a little bit...and it's noticeable after 2 weeks. He also won't bury his poop in the sand box. He digs a BIG hole, does his business, then walks away. He'll wash my hand....sort of an "I love you" when I pet him...but won't wash the nose-snot off his tail. ☺

Right now we're trying to figure out what to do with them at night. They fall asleep in their kitty bed on the main floor. We go to bed downstairs. At 12:30am they go to the kitty sand box downstairs, do a midnight bathroom thing and start yowling loudly, running around playing...doing crooked tail runs. I go out...call to them....they follow me back into the bedroom. Jump up on the bed and cuddle....and sleep with us till the alarm goes off.

My husband thinks they have too much energy to sleep the night through. When do kittens start sleeping 8 hours straight?

I was lucky. Our vet, who has since retired, recognized what it was.

They sleep through the night when they get ready. At least they feel good enough to play!

i've been following this thread but not commenting because i know very little (really, next to nothing) about kitty care. i'm just SO happy to see they are improving!! all of that tlc you're giving them is paying off!

i have great danes so i know all about vet bills. one of my girls had an eye issue last week and i'm about $300 poorer and still medicating! i wish dogs could get jobs! lol

Ninapearl.......$300...Ouch! I hadn't planned on adopting sick kitties. I'm a worrier. So it really bothers me to see them so sweet and affectionate..and feel like I'm letting them down. Aspen is so sweet....and so tiny...and malnurished. There was a Great Dane ahead of us at the vets last week. What a beautiful animal!

I've been following your story, Nicole, and am encouraged to read your little Aspen is improving somewhat. I'm sorry you're had to spend so much money on your new little darlin's. My dd's dog needed his teeth cleaned and one tooth removed, and the bill was $1200!! We do have a higher cost of living here, but that seems excessive to me.

Sjerin, I was shocked that pets' dentistry cost more than people's. That seems to be the norm now.

Ninapearl.......$300...Ouch! I hadn't planned on adopting sick kitties. I'm a worrier. So it really bothers me to see them so sweet and affectionate..and feel like I'm letting them down. Aspen is so sweet....and so tiny...and malnurished. There was a Great Dane ahead of us at the vets last week. What a beautiful animal!

giant dogs aren't for the faint of heart! i'm fortunate that i have the means to be able to afford the vet care. the bigger the dog, they higher the vet bills!

i can relate to your situation. several years ago i adopted a dane that, unbeknownst to me, had a heart condition. after being here about 4 months, he became so ill that vet visits and heart medications were costing me a small fortune. i lost him just 3 months later. it was so discouraging but i had to try.

your kitties are to fortunate they ended up with someone who truly cares!

I told the neighbor I couldn't watch her dog for her because I'd adopted sick kitties. I said the stress and being locked in a room would NOT be good for them. She's a retired emergency room nurse. Sunday her daughter's getting married at HER house. Today I ran into her and she asked me how I was going to sell my house, if I ever wanted to, if it's a diseased house, infected. What? She's that stoopid....?

I tried to explain that it's only for cats. Transferred by them licking one another. It can't be given to dogs or to people by my cats. I doubt if that cleared anything up. Fake news is rampant.

Sjerin, yes animal dentristry is expensive. Both Bud and Smudge's cleanings with some extractions were in the $1400 range. And with Smudge, that was 3 years ago, he's been gone that long. It's definitely something that has to be budgeted for.

I got a call from The Denver Dumb Friends League, where we got the kitties. They recommend L-Lysine powder to cure them. The reviews on the product look VERY promising. We ran out and purchased a jar today. They seem to love it. "Fingers crossed"

That is interesting about the L-Lysine powder. Do you mix it in their food, or how do you give it to them?

Marilyn....it's a bumpy white powder, looks like laundry detergent. A quarter of a teaspoon twice a day in their wet food....and they like it! The combination of "everything" seems to be working.

Aspen and Ivan are playing with a catnip mouse toy on a string. Having a GREAT play time....like the kittens they should be. Sigh. It's sooooooooooo good to be making progress. Ivan has so much energy, he's downstairs YOWLING for me to come play "more".....he doesn't want to stop. ☺☺☺ YAY to being young and healthy!

Nicole my fingers are crossed for you that the l-lysine works!

I'm so sorry that your neighbour gets sucked into the fake news. The only consolation is that the person doesn't actually live with you! Been there done that years ago and never again!

The 1st vet I saw said to me, "After a month, I was going to return THEM to The Denver Dumb Friends League, where I got them...". Uh...no.....they're mine! If they're not better in a month....they will go see a NEW vet and we'll try something else. Just because I didn't want to adopt sick kitties....doesn't mean I can give up on them.

Aspen is sitting in my lap. He ate a huge breakfast and DH is giving his antibiotic pill to him every morning. We're in this together. He's such a sweet little guy. We think he may be growing a little. He's bigger than Ivan now....by a tiny bit.

Oh, that is sooo good to read, Nicole! And what a ridiculous thing for your vet to say.

What heartening news, Nicole!!

i'm so happy to see they are doing so much better!!

DH came home from work early....and played with the kitties. He was shocked! He kept laughing.....saying "What a difference!" Ivan jumped from the window sill to the top of the door, in the water closet! I had a cat ON TOP OF A DOOR! That's how much energy they have! ☺ Aspen followed me ALL over the house, putting away laundry, up to the loft/sewing room.....downstairs.....he was ALL over.....batting at tassles on my hoodie. He loves to sit in a lap.

This is getting GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ivan still thinks the house is too big and scary. He cries loudly if I'm out-of-sight. I call to him....he comes running. He gets worse at night. Still putting them both in a small bedroom/bathroom area overnight. He has an odd voice. His medical chart says something about his voice being "treated". He sounds like a duck. ☺

This is the best news ever!!! I'm so happy they are feeling better and running around like normal little kitties!!! Nice job, momma Nicole!!!

Have been following along and since Aspen has finished his 10 day round of antibiotics has he improved?

tjkeen.....the vet insisted Aspen did not need an antibiotic. I insisted he get it...he looked like he could barely lift his head. Emaciated....OMG.. Just a big head and spine. Greasy. We had to hand wash him with warm water on a sock.

Ivan ate plastic off a new candle. Then ate the roots off an orchid. Each time he'd throw it ALL up, he'd stop eating cat food. Both cats were given appetite stimulants.

The L-Lysine was when we saw a real turn around. Aspens eyes are upturned. Rear legs hitch when he walks. He jumps on the cat tree like....he almost misses/vision issues. Likened the look to Down syndrome.

A so-called "Down syndrome cat" typically manifests some distinctive characteristics, including:

• Broad noses.
• Upturned eyes (which may be set widely apart)
• Small or unusual ears.
• Low muscle tone.
• Difficulty walking.
• Difficulty with elimination (urination or defecation)
• Hearing or vision loss.
• Heart problems.
• Sooooooooooooooooo........Aspen has more issues than Ivan....and I'm no expert on cat colds. Just getting by day by day. Aspen is walking better now he's exercising. Very quick catching string...or hunting a miller moth. ☺ Still....almost fell off the cat tree today...when he miscalculated the jump. He may be near sighted.