Hey guys, i'm new here and I have an issue that is really concerning me. My new kitten (Sebastian) always seems to be ill!

When we first got him, he seemed very dopey and not at all alert. We took him to the vet, who thought it was something serious and did a blood test. I think something to do with his liver, or brain? He found that it wasn't, and after about a week, with patience, kitty was right as rain. Our vet thought it was a bad reaction to his worming tablet.

About a week later, he developed an eye infection, so we took him back to the vet. He gave us some eye drops, which didn't clear it up and our kitten then started sneezing a lot. We took him back to the vet again, who gave us antibiotics. This cleared everything up, and our kitten was back to being right as rain.

However, about 2 weeks later, he is ill again. His eyes are swollen and full of gunk, and he sneezes every now and again. If he goes to sleep and wakes up, his eyes are usually stuck together. I have been gently cleaning them with boiled (and cooled down) salt water. We are so poor, and have spent so much money on having to go back and forth to the vet so often - we are actually going without, in order to look after him. Obviously we can afford food and basic things for him, but right now, times are pretty bad for us and we didn't expect to have to take him to the vet this many times!

Obviously, we are going to have to take him back because he is so ill. He has an appointment on Saturday, we're having to borrow money for this. We just don't understand why he is ill so often! He is a house kitty as we live in an apartment on a busy road, so doesn't get the chance to pick up diseases from other cats or animals. Does anybody have any idea what could be wrong with him to be getting ill so often?

We look after him so well, play with him, and he eats good kittie food. He seems to have lost his appetite a little, which is strange for him.

Can anybody offer any advice? Thanks!

my first bit of advice would be to get insurance!! they pay out there for ur not out of pocket as for the rest im not quite sure maybe a low imune system or something...im sure someone wil b along to help u soon!!

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We definitely need to think about getting insurance! Can you recommend any good ones? x

well iv not got insurance so reall im not one to speak but then again my dog she around 7/8month and so far so good (i must b lucky) and my cats been fine too but i will b getting inssurance ASAP and im thinking of going with more than xx

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When I saw the title of this thread I thought it was cat flu and your post confirms it for me. Until you can go to the vet to get proper treatment I would bathe his eye with the water (cold!!) from a teabag.

And yes deffo get insurance. However this illness will not be covered by it as it will be seen as a pre-existing condition.

The cream we got from the vets for my mum's cats cost around £15 by the way but this obviously varies from vet to vet

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Cat Flu

Sounds like cat flu to me too.

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Lauren

Don't Shop Adopt! - Stop Puppy Farming

Battery Farmed Dogs Campaign (Puppy Farming)

Thanks for the info! Is cat flu something that will be with him for life? He is my first kitten, i'm quite new at this. I've done a lot of 'googling', but by doing this, I have ended up scaring myself - most things say that cat flu in a kitten can kill them! Is this true, and do you think he will be okay to wait until Saturday for the vet? I'm so worried about him x

No, it shouldn't do my mum's kittens had severe cat flu for a good few months. The vet said it was because they had a low immune system. As they got older their immune system got stronger and they stopped having cat flu.

Ask your vet about FIV as my mum's cats had to be tested because their cat flu was so severe and recurring

Cat flu CAN kill. Years ago I had a kitten who lost all its energy, didn't want to eat, drink or anything. You should be worried when it gets to that point. If your kitten is still eating/drinking well and playing it's not as severe but you should still try and get him to the vet as soon as. Would it be possible for you to take him tomorrow?

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He is eating, I have actually noticed that he's eating his normal food fine. I tried introducing kitten food in gravy because I thought it looked nicer (haha!) but that's when I thought he wasn't really eating. He must not like it!
He was playing loads yesterday, but he seems really groggy and ill today, and all he wants to go is stay curled up on my lap.
I'm working all day tomorrow until the early hours, and noone else can take him. The earliest possible appointment I can get is first thing Saturday, plus I can't borrow the money until then either. I really hope that it isn't too serious and that he's okay.. x

Okay do you know if your vets offer a payment plan? Sometimes you can spread the cost or even not pay anything that day. It never hurts to ask. Tomorrow ring your vet and describe his condition. They may advise you to bring him in - if that is the case you will have to take the time off work. It sounds harsh and I don't mean to be but right now your cat needs you more than your job does (say you have a cold or something) x

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