Hello, Just Joined this forum so I can ask for some advice regarding my 2 Sealpoint Siamese kittens that I bought exactly 1 week ago.
I got them from a local breeder and they came with pedigree papers, vaccination & basic insurance etc. I assumed that buying from a registered breeder and paying the top price that my new kittens would be in general good health, but it seems they are not,.. both kittens showed signs of watery eyes & wet noses and one had dairhoea. I took them to the vet straightaway who told me they both have a respiratory virus and possible chlamydia? so I was given eye drops and anti-biotics to give them and a large bill!
Anyway from my research on the internet it seems respiratory viruses are very serious for the kittens ( 13 weeks old now ) and have no cure? Can anyone advise me on my rights with this breeder? who clearly must have known about the virus when she sold me the cats. Though she denied this when I phoned her... I love my little kittens already and do not want to take them back - even if i could. So as the vet has been very vague about my kittens prospects can someone please tell me what I can do to give them the best chance of surviving and living a happy life. Thanks.

Have to say, I'm suprised nobody has responded sooner. There must be plenty of people on here who have had similar experiences.

Do you mean they had signs when you first picked them up? If so why did you take them? If this is the case then I would report them to whichever federation they are registered with, it may not help you but hopefully may help prevent others being put in the same position.

If they only developed signs shortly after arriving at your house then it is entirely possible that the breeder didn't know. Often these things lie dormant and the stress of being taken away from their litter mates and moving home weakens the immune system allowing the virus to take hold. Without knowing the specific virus that is responsible for your cats symptoms (did the vet take a swab?) it's hard to advise but don't be too dispondent most kittens suffering from Upper Respiratory Infections will go on to make a full recovery within a couple of weeks. Here is a link which contains some information on some of the more likely suspects (i'm not sure bout the chicken soup tip though):

Respiratory Disease in Cats - Rhinotracheitis Herpes

As stated in the article the most important thing is likely to be TLC, make sure the kittens stay warm, continue to eat and stay well hydrated. If they stop eating or show any signs of dehydration seek help immediately, these things can usually be easily rectified but if left untreated will cause serious complications very quickly.

Oh and don't forget to keep us all updated on their progress.