the straw that broke the camel?...heck no

sometimes I feel like I couldn't possibly handle ONE MORE THING...and yet somehow I do. Some (my family included) would tell you what else should I expect when I take on so many. But truthfully..if I don't who does...but one does need to draw a line someplace.

my daughter got a puppy a few weeks ago from a neighbor who no longer wanted it. A very cute little white Chihuahua. Did we need another dog..heck No...but we love him and he's a great dog.
The other day he and my dachshund Gingersnap were chasing each other from couch to couch...really seemed innocent enough...Chibi (the Chi) jumped off the couch and broke his leg. Not onto tile, or slate, but onto carpet...who would have ever guessed?....
much less a puppy....I really thought my head would pop off...but fortunately after the momentary panic passed, I treated him for shock (remember how in a previous post I mentioned how you should NEVER be without Ringer lactated sub cut fluids?? ) and pain...etc..
so now he has been treated and his leg is in a cast that I swear weights more then he does.
I know that while I will forever be scraping the bottom of my pocketbook for pennies to take to the coinstar, my life is fuller, better, happier because all these unwanted pets have come into my life.
IF some weeks I cut back my own food budget for cat litter, that is okay...I would never make a different choice.
My mother would say I was nuts for having tnr stray cats out of my own expense...and planning to get the neighbors cat done soon since she's had two litters this summer..but the truth is...it's only money...I could drive a nicer car...mine is 17 yrs old and has 255000 miles, but I love it...I could use a vacation, but the last time I took one, I hated it, couldn't sleep and worried about the animals the whole time I was gone. What I have traded in lifestyle, I have gotten back a million times in life.
Yes, my heart broke with each FIP death...and will never be the same after losing Zilla. And some people might use unsavory terms such as "collector"...yes, I collect what others throw away. They are well taken care of and well loved.
and I swear...this is the last one....really...truthfully....
well right after I get the three little kittens....who's momma needs to get spayed...

the move, an update and a promise to continue

well, it's been a while since my last post. Moving to a new area, a new home, and a new life has been great, but exhausting.

all the cats are doing well. I know that is the most important update. Mo and Lily who I was worried would pass from the FIP have actually improved greatly in the new house, though they still are separated in my son's bedroom. In a few months, I will have a titre run and make a decision about perhaps letting them out.

I had a group in the Netherlands interested in the FIP cats, because of how many I have lost, but in the end they bailed because my vet didn't have enough information for them on the cats that died and they didn't want to pay the fees to have samples/or the frozen cats overnighted to them. I was VERY disappointed and I think they missed a great opertunity to gain valuable insite. But I have not given up hope yet.
I still believe my cats hold some answers. It will just take more time.
In the meantime it has become obvious to me that both the house and the town we were living in is not innocent in it's contribution to the declining health. My own son had cancer, and last month, the 10th person we know of died from leukemia in the town. The obvious improvment in the cat's health and the great improvement of my own health since the move, leads me to believe that there were contributing factors to the great numbers of FIP. More food for thought for sure.
On that note, I can happily report that my fibromyaligia has been in complete remission since the move and I have never felt better, so those lack of symptoms can't go unexamined.

From the begining

I am going to be writing up the entire FIP history for a research group, so as I do, I will share it here for everyone.
Sorry to be away so long, but the move and adjustment has really been a LOT OF WORK.

Good news is that despite my utter terror, all the cats seem fine so far, Mo and Lily, thought isolated in my son's room haven't declined anymore and everyone loves the new house, the carpet (which isn't staying) and all the extra room.

The wildlife at the new house is amazing and I am feeling better then I have in a long time. I have realized that first with Brian's cancer, then with the FIP cats, I really wore myself to threads. The good news is that this place is so nice, so peaceful that even though there will always be such a huge hole in my heart from the loss of Zilla, I feel much better.

The picture is the Luna Moth that came to my back step this morning to dry his wings. Once he dried out, he flew to a nearby tree leaf where he is sitting now, drying his wings again because we just had an other freaking downpour...what IS with all this rain. It's been raining all the time since mid april now.....

The Move from Hell

Okay...first off the adds on the page are to help generate cat funds. if they become too annoying or don't generate anything then I'll remove them.
But I need some lab equipment...

The move....how to describe it...well first off I'll say that you can't make stuff up like this...it took 3 hours to load the cats into carriers and my suburban. In the end, we couldn't fit 7 cats. They went in another car.
It's an hour and half drive from the old house to the new house....and about 19 miles from the new house (according to my gps) I burst a radiator hose. At 5:00am...in the rain...first exit off route 80?...by the prison of course....
thank goodness I had a case of water in the car....I filled up the radiator with the whole case and limped to the house exit...then stopped at a convenience store and got another 2 gallons of water. By then the car was overheating again as it had leaked out all that water again. We were 5 miles from the new house....we got to the new house at about 6am...the cats had been in carriers a long time. Someone pooped and stank up my car badly....peeeeuuuwww.
unloaded everyone with food and water and litterboxes and collapsed to sleep for a few hours.

moving day

well, I really never quite believed we' d make it and it isn't over yet, but that is oging to be a whole blog in it'self.

I'll be off about a week unless I find an internet cafe, and I might not have time....say a prayer everyone moves well.

see you all soon.

testing for FIP

One of the most frustrating things I personally have encountered is the testing or shall we say there for lack of accurate FIP testing.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing is the best and brightest there is to offer at this time, and yet it is still not completely reliable in it's results. Not because of how the test is done, but more as in how the virus plays with science.
This page from Cornell University diagnostic testing services explains the test's limitations very well.
http://www.diaglab.vet.cornell.edu/test/factsheets/FSFelCoronaviursRT-PCR.pdf
The impracticality of isolation and testing in a multicat household in this manner is frustrating at best.
I do isolate the cats I know to be sick, but those who don't look sick, just might be typhoid mary's?, It's hard to accept that I do the best I can, and not feel like it's like I'm Sisyphus.

For Ickis (pictured) and Zilla and Dora and all the other loving lives lost to this disease, I will never give up looking for answers.

Happy Easter

This is Huggle....He is one of Minga's kittens.

PETA revisited

On another blog I read and comment on the PETA issue raised it's ugly head....so I have a few more links for today's reading enjoyment

http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/headline/2339


this one really frosts my cookies as a parent

http://www.peta.org/sea_kittens/

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

I respect each person's views when it comes to meat eating and diet..I do not however accept sad sheep behavior and blindly following something because it is popular...educate yourself for heaven's sake before saying you support something.

I believe in using the whole animal if the animal is to sacrifice it's life for man. My dogs get cow bones, I eat all parts of meat and I wear leather. I would never eat shark fin soup. I would eat oysters and wear pearls.
I respect those who prefer tofu to lamb, and products that don't come from animals. I would never try and get a vegetarian to eat meat, Unless it was necessary for their health. I don't support taking an animal like a cat which is an obligate carnivore and placing human standards and values on their needs however. That is cruel. IF you want an animal that doesn't need meat. get a rabbit.

PETA

I dislike PETA...and everything it stands for, and yet I encounter pet people who continue to stand for PETA, and some how I suspect they do not really understand what PETA is all about.
Today's blog is simply a link to another blog...read it, it pretty much says it all.

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=907

heating subcute fluids

I talked about giving Moose heated fluids for his sub acute body temperature when he was sick. I'm going to expand on this a little, because it has many good applications.
When a cat is very ill, it is not uncommon for them to be unable to maintain body temperature. It is unfortunately sometimes a sign that the cat is dying, but some cats can be saved by helping to maintain that body temp. Injury, illness and hypothermia call be reasons why the body temp can drop. Many vets have machines that warm the fluids, but obviously most people who might give fluids at home do not.
You can warm the fluids several ways. You can place the iv bag on a heating pad, making sure the fluid is warm, but not hot. Test this like you would a baby bottle on the inside of your arm. it should just feel a little warm (yep, some real science there..eh?)
you can also take a large syringe such as a 140cc, fill it, remove the needle and place it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Put a new needle on and give the fluids. This is my favorite technique...it's quick and simple.
Subcute fluids are invaluable. They should be your first line of emergency treatment next to obvious bleeding or need for immobilization. Fluids can help stave off what is a huge killer in any emergency situation and that is SHOCK....shock can occur from many things, injury being the most common, but fluids can buy your cat time to get to vet. It's not foolproof, nothing is, but it certainly can help.
I feel like this is the #1 thing you should have in a pet first aid kit. Ringer's lactate IV fluids are available by prescription from your vet, or can be ordered with a prescription online as well as venosets and needles.
IF you don't know how to give fluids, ask your vet to show you. It isn't hard and with a little practice and some stratigcally located plant hooks and a hanger, you can even manage by yourself.

The picture is Pudge. Pudge died when she was 14 after a bout with liver cancer. She was born on my living room floor 18 years ago, along with her two sisters and her brother. We kept her one sister Patches who passed about 6 months ago from old age, as well as her mother. My sister took her other sister Sprite and Sprite is still hanging around, doing the old cat thing. Their brother I adopted out to a coworker, who let him outside and he died when he was 2 of feline leukemia. That news made me very mad and very sad at the same time, since this woman had promised she woiuld keep him inside. Sometimes people just don't realize the bad diseases there are out there that there are no cures for.

Hyphema

Hyphema is blood in the eye. This occurs in the anterior chamber, or the space between the cornea and iris.
There are many causes of hyphema including trauma, poisoning such as snake or spider bite and occassionally diseases like FIP.

When Googamoose was 4 weeks old, he became very ill, with subacute body temperature, lack of appetite and severe hyphema in his eyes. For 4 days I kept him next to my bed on a headpad and bottle force fed him. I did not expect him to live.
I gave him heated subcute fluids, and because I felt he was going to die anyhow, I also gave him zythromycin. This was a risk because of his size, his age, and the fact that while I find that it works very well in cats, it's an off label use.

On day 5, I felt like "Moose" was actually going to pull through. And he did. Today he is a happy, healthy sweet cat, who will be 2 in July.
Did he actually survive FIP?....I suspect that most would say no, that something else was killing him and he got over it, but I suspect that he did actually wage war with the virus and won. But because I didn't have any lab work done and because the lab work is so nonspecific in FIP diagnosis anyhow, we are going to have to take that one on faith. The good news is he did survive.
In the picture you can see the hyphema still present a few weeks after he recovered. It took about 3 months to completely resolve, and I didn't think at the time to take pictures of it when it first occured, but his entire eyes were filled with blood. In the picture, it was about 1/2 reabsorbed, and it occured to me that this FIP experience should be documented.
In the second picture taken about 6 months ago, you can see his eyes cleared completely.

The endless search

I am endlessly searching and reading trying to learn more about FIP and virology in general. My microbiology classes in college were in 1982, and since then the diseases and the technology have speeded ahead. And while I might be tempted to go back and take a few classes, I have two kids to put through college the first time, first.
So I read a lot of medical journals and various articles.
I came across this
http://www.verilux.com/
in a hand held version at costco and bought it. I won't use antibacterial products in my home because of the potential danger to the immune system, the fact that some items in them are poisonous to cats (triclosan) and it is better to be exposed and build up immunity to many bacteria and viruses. However as we well know..some viruses are not so friendly.
Hence the light wand. Now, I don't have the lab equiptment at home to verify the results, but there does seem to be acceptable research into this to verify it.
I only have the hand wand, but I am very tempted to purchase the floor one. I think it could possibly help reduce the viral load spread around the house. For now, we are "wanding" the litterboxes....not exactly what I had in mind for a "magic wand" but hey, good enough for me...

What I wouldn't give to have one more day with Zilla.

Drug phamphet inserts

When you get a prescription filled at the pharmacy, you will receive an insert that includes drug information, information about side effects, drug interactions, etc...
I have never received such information from my vet, and while it might not have been important years ago, today when many use herbal additives to their pet's food and home treatments, I think it does have some significance.

This is an excellent resource web site for veterinary medication information. It is basically the drug insert that you get at the pharmacy. You can look up each product alphabetically and print or just read the information.

I believe firmly that a good pet owner is one that is as well informed as one can get.

http://mwi.naccvp.com/?u=country&p=msds

The picture is of Puff (she's not an FIP cat) Puff was found 3 January's ago. My husband went out to his car at work and there she was freezing and starving. Her ears were all shredded around the tips because of frost bite and her paws all raw. She was all skin and bones. She let him pick her up and put her right in his car. He wrapped her in his coat, and brought her home after work was done. After quite some time, we were very pleased to see that her ears not only healed very well, but all the fur grew back and don't even see the damage. Because she was so emaciated, she eats every meal like it was her last, and even after all the time of regular meals, she still eats that way and is now a little plump. She has the softest coat, and it is short and very thick, not at all like most cat's coats. More like a chinchilla coat. She's very sweet, but if she lays next to you in the bed (which che does all the time) you'd swear you were sleeping next to a cinderblock. And she does not move. I frequently suffer from a condition I like to call "cat back" do to Puff's refusal to move in the bed.

Useful pet items

Now, I have never ordered form this web site, but in searching for a picture of the piller, I found it...
the pet piller however is indispensable. It allows one person to pill a more uncooperative cat and still have fingers without puncture wounds.
I love it and use it with about 1/2 of my cats.
The key to getting good with it is to practice dispensing the pill....the most common difficulty is premature pill expulsion, so just get used to how it works and it should work well for you.
Aim straight down the tongue to the back of the throat, and push the plunger.

http://www.petrx.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=719

Veterinary bill resources

Oh, I know we have ALL had them. That vet bill that is more than your monthly income. And we all have ways to deal with them.
But just in case, here is a list of organizations that supposedly might help. Now, I say it that way, because when I contacted a few of them, there was no assistance available for either to cost of spaying and neutering almost 30 rescues, nor all of the FIP related expenses that we've encountered over the last 20 months. Hence the need for ebay....
But that's cool...I don't mind and wouldn't have taken them in if I didn't expect to pay for all their needs.
But I'd like to think that some of these might work if you really needed them too.

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=financialassistanceforpetsveterinarybills

okay... I know that picture is the funniest looking cat you have ever seen....Her name is Gingersnap and she's one of my dachshunds. She is the best dog I have ever had and I love her to death. She is SO bad....she chews, she'll poke you really hard if your ignoring her...she nips...she howls if you leave her home or if she's locked out of the bedroom, or if your ignoring her...basically she IS bad dog 911...but she is so cute and so much fun.She loves to chew her collar off...collars are not designed for doxie necks and they can get them off easily. She loves to clean the cats. She licks all their ends...front and back. Yes, it's true, pet ownership is NOT for the weak....

Another cat supply web site

I don't know how I over looked this one....Valley Vet. They have the best prices on things like lactated Ringers, nutrical, methagel, as well as other items.
You also save more when you buy a case of 12 of those type items. And most items ship free.

http://www.valleyvet.com


The pictures today are of Lobster (not an FIP cat) He's is an amusing story. I drove a school bus for 18 years. Towards the end of my driving days, one November morning it was cold and raining. Some of the drivers came across the radio and asked if anyone saw what was in the tree at the elementary school. I thought they were talking about a condom. The high school kids had been hanging condoms in the trees all over town for a week (what do you want me to tell you...it's HS....)But as I pulled into the elementary school to let off my kids, I saw across the parking lot a tiny orange kitten up a tree in the rain. Needless to say, I dropped the kids off the bus, pulled around, got out in the pouring rain and plucked that baby out of the tree like an apple. He was sopping wet, shivering and blue from cold. I just put him right in my shirt against my skin, and drove back to the bus garage. (my runs were luckily over for the day). He stayed in my shirt all the way to the vet, when we got to the vet he was finally warmed up. My vet likes orange cats, and he was swooped off to get warmed up further and fiv/felv tested. Then he came home with me. In the second picture, he was helping me grind up and bottle fresh dried catnip which I grow. In the first picture, he was just home, a tiny little thing.
Funny enough, I drove bus #18, and I found him on 11/18/2004. Now's he's a very large orange cat. But he's very sweet and frequents my side.
He's the cat however that when I was cleaning his ears one day growled at me (he's a big baby) and my Zilla rushed across the bed, all 3 lbs of her to attack him (he weights 17 lbs) and defended me, beause he growled at me. It was precious and one of my favorite memories of Zilla.

Another fine cat toy

This was ( I say was because it just got chewed up and worn out and I have to replace it because it is missed terribly, but I just haven't had spare funds with the moving)

my cats all time favorite toy (next to boxes of course)

The cat spa
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20071123/the-cat-spa-spoil-that-pet/

They really wore it out, but it lasted a long time and everyone liked it. It was great because you could just wash it with a little bleach in the tub and it was all clean like new.
They like to rub on the little comb areas and they'd chew it all over.
Silly cats.

In the picture is Shrimpy (not an FIP cat) He was left in a box in a parking lot. Scared and abandoned. Whoever owned him had all 4 feet declawed, then dumped him. Probably was dumped because he has IBD and requires medication regularly for severe diarrhea. He will poop outside (but nearby it) the litterbox when he is having a flare up, and I guess some one just didn't want to deal with finding out what was wrong and medicating him. He loves to sleep on the kitchen table. I must remove him 100 times a day. He took a long time to warm up to us, but he's not scared anymore, just quiet and unassuming. IF it wasn't for his need to be a table center piece, you might not even know he was there.

favorite pet supply web sites

These are all web sites I have ordered from and received good products.

California vet supply...good prices...quick shipping...Free shipping on orders over $125.00 and reasonable shipping on orders below that.
my orders have always arrived in a timely manner in good condition. I have never had to return an item, and they carry a good supply of supplements.
They also carry a good deal of fish supplies that are common prescription items for other pets.

http://www.calvetsupply.com/

Joe's pet meds...great prices on flea/tick items. These items are imported though and shipping can be slow, but I usually receive my items in 7-10 days. I have never had a problem with the items, they work fine, and I have never had to return an item. Shipping charges we good last time I ordered, but it's been a while, so I don't know currently how they are.

http://www.joespetmeds.com/

Allivet....great prices on prescriptions. They will fax your vet for the Rx...that's very convient in my book. Free shipping on orders over $99.00, BUT they ship SLOW...if I order a RX today, I won't have it for 7-10 days..so they are good for supplies you need to keep on hand, or you use all the time, but no good if you need a prescription for a sick pet. But rarely can I find better prices on most items I order from them.

http://www.allivet.com/

The picture is of Pixie (she's not an FIP cat) we adopted her from a local shelter event, she'd been traumatized by her previous family and had all sorts of colored magic marker stripes all over her. She'd swat and bite, but doesn't anymore. We've had her about 6 years now. She's a fruit loop, obviously a result of her start in life, but she adores my daughter and as you can see from the picture, beanie babies.

Feline Interferon

When I first heard the diagnosis of FIP, my instinct to find out as much information as possible kicked into high gear.
Not at all dissimilar to what I did when my son was first diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma in 2000.

I also searched out support groups online, because I know that sometimes resources come from unexpected sources.
I found several such groups, but one in particular seemed to be imparting knowledge that from the outset appeared helpful. This was where I had first heard of feline interferon.

At first I procured some from a member of the group, then importing it as I felt it could be the answer to the problem.
It was not. thousands of dollars later and hours of research, I discovered the results of some studies on feline interferon and FIP.
Here is the abstract of one such published paper.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18196725?ordinalpos=10&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

The group still recommends the interferon usage as well as one of the "leading experts" in FIP.
I disagree for two important reasons.
1. it fosters hope
2. it is spending money on something that doesn't work on this disease.

However, there is some evidence that feline interferon is effective in cats with FELV, and that's good news.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15320583?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Now, if virbac would just produce it in this country and make getting it easier to help cats who need it, because many many cats are still immediately euthanized upon diagnosis of FELV.

conspiracy theory

today, just for the heck of it, I'm going to play conspiracy theory....
theoretically of course....

and we're going to use FIP in my conspiracy theory....

what if I said that all the cats/kittens that were from the "rescue" came from the same state run animal shelter...

what if I said that all but 2 kittens that have died of the FIP in my house, all came from that same facility....
http://www.nycacc.org/

what if I said that one of the adult cats that died (Solstice) came from that facility but a year earlier...

what if I said that FIP is a corona virus and corona viruses are RNA viruses....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus

what if I said that RNA viruses are frequently used to mutate our food, diseases and anything else we genetically alter....
http://cmbi.bjmu.edu.cn/cmbidata/therapy/about/about04.htm

what if I told you that a government run isolated island facility was in close geographic proximity to the animal shelter...
http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=19400000

what if I told you that this facility worked on animal diseases....

It's far out there....I admit...but it certainly makes some interesting food for thought.

Dora's symptoms

As I promised, the purpose is to share information about FIP so we can all be better educated.

Dora was exactly the same size as her three brothers when she came to me. But she didn't grow much. Her top weight was about 4 lbs.

When I did most of the spaying and neutering, we skipped Dora to give her more time. She never went into heat, and never grew anymore.
We have seen this pattern with FIP kittens several times now. I would have to say that is a clear indication of FIP.

One of Minga's kittens is small and she hasn't grown much. I worry about that in her, as I also worry about Minga's rough looking coat and inability to gain weight. Minga however has gone into heat and despite the unknown factor, I am going to have her spayed.

One the biggest problems I see with making well informed decisions about the FIP is the lack of a difinative test for it. That really is frustrating and it makes me wonder about the science behind the disease.

Dora died last night. I think I have officially reached numb stage.
I haven't much to say about it, so I am just going to share some pictures of her today.

Dora's rally

Dora has rallied once again, much to my surprise. This is one of the difficult things about dry FIP. She's had two mild seizures that were very quick in ending, and each took her about a day to recover from. This is common in what I Have seen of dry FIP. Ickis's seizures were not mild and had he not died after the last one, I would have euthanized him, but the recover from them can be confusing.
What to do.... I certainly never want any cat to suffer, and yet here is Dora laying with my daughter watching a movie today. She ate well, drank some water and walked all over the house. SO when is the right time to let them go?
Well I'll be honest. There is nothing I dislike more than euthanizing an animal and I have had my share of it. I waited too long with Ickis, but his was the first case of dry FIP and I wasn't sure. I am now. I know now that if the seizure is a serious one then that is the time. Springy had a mild seizure, was okay for a few days, then had another mild one and died.
mild seizure....not always obvious, yet eyes unfocused, possible loss of urine control momentarily and general confusion afterward. We've also seen one side weakness after a seizure as well.
strong seizure...shaking, stiff paws, biting movements, incoherant, loss of urine and possibly bowls, unable to walk, or interact afterwards.
These are the types of symptoms I have seen with dry FIP seizures.
Dora is having another good day. She is interacting fine, enjoyed her food and is enjoying love, so to me, it's not quite her time yet. It will be soon, and if I see obvious suffering such as more serious seizures, not eating, not moving, pain, then I will have her euthanized. But cats have an amazing will to live and I try to walk the line of respecting that while minimizing suffering. It's not always a clear cut decision.

The picture is of Zilla and Dora enjoying an M&M box from Costco....

Dora's last stand

Dora's a fighter. It is difficult to watch a cat fight SO hard to live, and know there is nothing out there to help her win her fight.
How incredibly frustrating it is for me to watch this process over and over again.
All I can do is hold her and love her and scream in frustration. And hope her passing is gentle and pain free.

Vaccines

After months of initial research I decided 18 months ago to forgo vaccinating my cats any longer. It was not a decision that my vet supported, but since we didn't discuss it in depth, I can't honestly tell you his reasons why.
But here's some good information on vaccines so you can decide for yourself....

First all vaccines contain Thimerosal a substance used as a preservative.
http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

it is thought to be linked to autism in children and has been removed from most childhood vaccines now. It has not be removed from any others as of yet.
Here's another interesting article....

http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/scienceVaccineDamage.html

There are a thousand more about bad vaccine reactions and cancers caused by vaccines, but the worst is the destruction of the immune system, hence the reason I forgo vaccines in my cats.
It won't make you the most popular client in the vet's office, but I am reasonably certain your pet will live longer better lives with at least a more informed vaccine protocol....

product review.....

This is my favorite automatic pet feeder. I have a large one and a medium one and they are fabulous for a multipet household. You can set the timer with up to 8 different times for the food to be dispensed. They work great

http://www.autopetfeeder.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=16&cat=Autopetfeeder

well worth the pricey tag they come with.
UNFORTUNATELY....
customer service is lousy and the matching pet water dispenser is a nightmare. The bottles are poorly molded and break easily leading to massive flooding all over the floor of the water. I've had 4 bottle replacements and my waterer is STILL out of service. However, I do see that the web site lists the bottles out of stock, so let's hope they have finally gotten the message and are working on the bottle manufacturing.

The feeder makes little noise, and is not annoying at all unless it is empty.

Pet products interested?

I have bought a fair amount of items for my pets over the years...some good...some a total waste of money. I also get a lot of health supplies and prescriptions online now....

anyone interested in my sharing thoughts on these items and web sites?

maybe something a little less depressing then FIP.....occassionally.


Here's a picture of BooBoo in her favorite box toy.

Another death on the horizon

Some day I'd like to post on here that none of my cats have died. Say in 6 months. I'd be happy for 6 months.
3 years ago, I'd say that I'd be devastated if I lost 1 cat every 6 months. But I'm older, sadder and wiser now. I have the evil FIP to thank for that.

Dora will be the next to go. It will be horrible. She has all the typical signs I have come to assess to dry FIP. chronic fever, wasting of body weight and then muscle. failure to grow. rough coat, inflamed gums, she had a mild seizure yesterday. I considered euthanasia then, but she bounced back and it's hard to take the light out of their eyes while they still have fight left in them, but I don't kid myself. She's incontinant tonight. All the dry FIP cases were at the end. It seems to be a symptom as well.

Dora came to me at 12 days of age with her momma and her 3 brothers. Dora was first to do everything which is why my daughter named her Dora the explorer. She is the tiniest sweetest little cat you could ever meet. With the greatest personality.

My cats deserve better than this. All cats deserve better than this terrible disease.

I will figure out something to make this better. I don't know how yet, and I don't know when it will be, but I will figure out a way to curb this disease and treat it better than the few options barely offered now.

Ways to honor the dead

In order to fill the empty hole in my heart I went on a search for something to make me feel better, while keeping Zilla close to me.

I have some thoughts on making memory jewelry, but with my jewelry supplies already packed for the move, it was necessary to explore other's work and ideas out there.
I found some interesting memorial type things that are different. I like different...I am not a person that wants something because 10 other people have it.
Here's some links to the more creative memorial objects I found....

http://www.specialtypetproducts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MDT&Product_Code=PRJ

http://www.foreverpets.com/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=775&osCsid=93d0cdd11ee98a52a851d38bd7908cfc

http://www.4pawsforever.org/catalog.php?item=213&catid=44&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D44

http://www.tspetmemorials.com/tearbottles.html

http://www.ashestoashes.com/Paw_print_cremation_jewelry.htm

http://www.pet-gems.com/default.asp

http://memoryglass.com/

On the Costco web site I also found a link to upload and have your own picture put on canvas for hanging. I like that idea as well.
There are as many options as there is time to web surf...
I got a sterling bracelet with Zilla's name engraved on it.

My kids are unhappy that I miss one cat more than others. They feel that somehow because I loved Zilla so much, it makes me have loved the others less. Even though they are essentially adults, the explanation that I can love one pet more than another, while still loving all of them, is not a concept they seem to understand.
I also worry that they are becoming too accepting of the cat's deaths. Granted, we've lost too many not to start to get numb, but I hope I'm not creating something here I will be sorry for later on. Of course the kids have always been around hospice type animals since we've always opened our home to those that others didn't want, many with medical problems.
They are very loving and helpful to all the pets.

Zilla died in my arms Christmas eve. I had sat in the bed most of day watching Tv and just holding her.
It's been two months and my heart still aches and her place is still empty in my bed.

I have so many unanswered questions. So many if onlys...and they continue to plague me. I spend endless hours trying to find answers to questions that could possibly effect the other cats still with me. The only thing I am sure of, is that the answers I seek are just not out there.

The research being currently pursued is in my opinion pointless. Even if the genetic markers are isolated and identified, there will not be a practical treatment resulting from this research. Genetic treatments are being used with some cancers now quite successfully, but let's be realistic here...Not only is it unlikely this will product a treatment, but even if it did, who could possibly afford it?
I can't even imagine the cost of a specific cat genetic treatment.
I really can't respect research just for the sake of research. There are real people, and real cats out there that need real treatments. This disease is for all intents and purposes 100% fatal....
it makes someone like me just want to scream in utter frustration, while my cats die around me.
DO I care too much? have somehow the cats become too important?...I just don't think that is the case. I think it is when people don't care enough there is a problem, but I am tired of all questions and no answers.

In the spring when we have moved, I will bury Zilla in a new garden I will create for her. Somehow I wish I was getting more comfort from that thought then I am.
I hope I am not losing perspective...or is that my mind??

Zilla

Here's a picture of Zilla and Twittens on my bed.

(that's Puff's back you see in the background)

I recently read a very scientific article that leads me to believe that allowing the cats to all stay together may have caused further exposure to some of the cats. I am not sure. The article is very difficult to understand even with my science background.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19122397?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

IF this is true, then the question is, did I make a bad choice? should I have them all segregated into rooms? Would that stress caused more FIP as well? Whom would I have put where to ease their stress? IT presents more questions then it answers.

I can't answer those questions, though the guilt I feel is substantial.

I know this though...there is good and evil in this world, and this disease is evil, however if there was actually a devil, then he really missed an opportunity, as I would have given anything to keep Zilla.
I have never missed a pet like I miss her.
I have never felt like throwing myself on the floor and pounding and screaming at the unfairness, and yet, this is how I feel about losing Zilla.
I love all my cats, and I try and love them all the same, but some are just special. Zilla was very special, and not just because she was a bottle baby, I've hand raised quite a few kittens in the last 25 years. And she certainly was not the most affectionate, she was spunky and demanding.
Had to have things her way...I even cleaned out the bottom glass shelf in my display case in the bedroom, because she liked to sit in there and eat all by herself. Eat the chicken and turkey babyfood and homecooked poultry that were the few things she'd eat. Though she did nibble on a little dry as well.

FIP article

http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/avhc/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=562412&pageID=1&sk=&date=

This is a good article. It explains things in a way I think most lay people can understand, while still giving some of the science.

I'll continue to post links to articles I think are worth reading from time to time.

the blood results in a view

I was browsing the blogs tonight in between doing Ebay, and I found this blog and lab work explanation. It is done very well and addresses the balance of the lab results I haven't posted.
(yep, totally the easy way out, but I am trying to get moved...)

I will address the differences and important results in regards to FIP in conclusion however.

http://vettechs.blogspot.com/2005/04/blood-test-results.html

because FIP can be difficult to diagnose with tests alone, and some vets rarely see it, it is sometimes mistaken for something else, and something else is sometimes mistaken for FIP.

Clear diagnostic testing will someday hopefully be available, but to some extent I doubt it. The why is because IF the experts are correct and the mutation of the non lethal to lethal virus occurs within each cat, then there will never be an accurate "standard" because each mutated virus will simply be a little different. This is also why I am not encouraged that there will ever be a practical cure. But neither am I convinced that the experts are completely correct either.

Signs and symptoms of FIP:
1.swollen belly that feels like a balloon of water.
fluid withdrawn from the belly can be from clear to pale yellow to urine colored. It is thready and sticky to the touch.
2. loss of weight, starting between shoulder blades with the weight feeling like it is just dropping off the cat, until the cat has lost so much weight, they also lose all their muscle
3. rear leg weakness
4. wobbly walking
5. seizures
6. severe lethargy
7. jaundice
8.albumin/globulin ration of <0.4 FIP cats can frequently keep eating until the very end.
I have observed cats die within 3 days of starting to look sick, and I have cats now that have looked sick for 6+ months.
Nothing I have tried worked, but in the last 18 months, I have observed things that have helped. Extended my time with the cats. However, and I will be honest here, in extending my time with the cats, I am causing myself additional stress and pain. SO for those who choose to euthanize right at the begining, this is one of the few times I completely understand.

through the looking glass

Sometimes it really takes an odd event to make you question a decision.
I went to visit my sister for a few days. Now, I never leave the animals. Ever...so truthfully I expected the dogs to be bad and the cats to be pissy...(yes pissy...as in pissed off, pissed on, and pissed in your shoes...) It's a cat's favorite form of punishment and those of us who are honest about living with cats, have experienced such delights as cat pissy fits.
However, much to my surprise, then extreme concern, the cats seemed perfectly fine, as if my kids had paid so much attention to them, they didn't even notice I was gone. And I allowed myself to be deluded into thinking such a thing. Until about 5am this morning when I was awakened by a loud crash. That crash was the fishtank I raise mice in. SO here I am rushing around to gather up the mice....I never even stopped to think what I was doing. They are after all raised for the cats to eat...all the cats had done was get "take out" on their own....never the less, I rescued up the mice that were not already being consumed and fixed up the tank, swept up the spilled bedding and eventually went back to bed.
This evening I managed to rescue one more little mouse that was hiding out under the fridge. I still can't even really answer why....I do feed the cats, and my snake these mice...and I do feed them live sometimes, yet I found the whole "help" yourself thing a little distasteful.

I first started adding mice into the cat's diet at least 6 months ago when I was trying food to combat the FIP. I still believe strongly in the power of food (ie: proper nutrional intake for cats is all meat, since they are obligate carnivores and require no other food).
However I have to face the fact that I do feel somewhat attached to the mice.

This exerpt from wikipedia explains it very well.....

Obligate carnivores

This tiger's sharp teeth and strong jaws are the classical physical traits expected from carnivorous mammalian predators

An obligate or true carnivore is an animal that must eat meat in order to survive.^[1] Hypercarnivores present specialized dentition for a meat-only diet. They may consume other products presented to them, especially animal products like eggs and bone marrow or sweet sugary substances like honey and syrup, but, as these items are not essential, they do not consume these on a regular basis. True carnivores lack the physiology required for the efficient digestion of vegetable matter, and, in fact, some carnivorous mammals eat vegetation specifically as an emetic. The domestic cat is a prime example of an obligate carnivore, as are all of the other felids.

It does make me question the raising your own food dilema once again, but that can't be bad. I am personally not a vegetarian and do eat meat, and do not always question it's source, even though I am well aware that the way our own food animals are handled is not humane most of the time.

I do hand the mice in the most humane way possible, they are housed and fed extremely well. And I will try in the future to source my own meat more carefully when possible.

In the meantime so we don't have any more driveby looting on the mouse tank, the tank is now bunged to the stand.

And I will check my shoes in the am.....just can't trust those frisky sneaky felines.

Way off topic rant

today's rant is way off topic....

Do you ever notice how you just have something exactly like you have it, then bam...something changes and it's just not the same. Most of the time, it can be within our control to change it back, but sometimes it just isn't.
I was reminded again today how we need to appreciate things that we enjoy, or that we are comfortable with, because you just never know when you are going to have to adapt to something new.
Sometimes it's a new receptionist at your Dr.'s office, or a different clerk at the pharmacy. It's not always something that makes you sit up and say...."wow" hate these changes...time for a new dentist, or eye doctor, but then, sometimes it is a culmination of little things...things that add up over time. Makes you consider a change you had never even given thought to.

SO, I say...go out and appreciate something that pleases you, something that makes your life easier, because life is in motion and nothing no matter how hard we'd like it to stays the same.
Sometimes change is NOT good. Sometimes it makes us wish for things they way they were. Reverse progress, it's not a good thing.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=paved+paradise+and+put+up+a+parking+lot&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=zlmRSZbOC9KgtwfR4JzTCw&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#

Alkaline Phosphatase is an enzyme found in the blood and produced by the liver and bones. It indicates liver disease (or damage) as well as bile duct problems and calcium problems, but mainly as liver function indicator.
Zilla's results were normal indicating she had no problems with her liver.
In FIP, I have observed that some cats do have liver involvement, usually in the form of hepatic lipidosis from the sudden weight loss sometimes seen in the disease. It is also usually accompanied by the symptom of jaundice which in a cat can be easily seen on the inside of their ears, gums inside their mouths and can sometimes be seen also on the inner side of thier lower eyelids. You will also frequently notice darkened urine with jaundice in FIP cats.

Bilirubin...it is the byproduction of the breakdown of red blood cells.This is a normal process. It is yellow in color and is the yellow color you see in jaundice and bruising.
The yellow color can indicate the inability of the liver to remove the bilirubin in hepatitis, liver disease and other disease processes such as hemolytic anemia.

Albumin and Globulin. These two are proteins found in the blood. Albumin is a smaller protein and is water soluble and Globulin is a larger protein and is usually not water soluble.

albumin is produced in the liver and is helps carry other substances( vitamins, minerals, lipids etc..) through the blood system.

globulin is produced by both the liver and the immune system. It's function is more complex.

Both are helpful in determining liver function, immune system function, as well as hydration, nutrition, they have complex and important roles in determining both current health and a predictor of possible future health.

In FIP, there are some that think they are the most current effective and easily accessible way of diagnosis.
the rule is albumin/globulin ratio >0.8 FIP not likely
albumin/globulin ratio <0.4FIP likely
between 0.4-0.8 look for other disease process.
You can read more about albumin and globulin here:
http://www.dr-addie.com/WhatIsFIP.htm#Diagnosis%20of%20FIP
I agree with some, not all of the information on this web site, but I do agree with the alb./glb information basically as it is presented.

Albumins and Globulins are complex in the bodies functioning and I am personally not sure that their roles in cat health are completely known or fully understood, because of their obvious link to nutrition. I do not think that the nutritional needs of cats are properly met by any commercial diets and certainly are not addressed properly in veterinary colleges which receive a great deal of funding from the producers of these commercial diets.

I stopped up at the vet's office today to pick up a disk of Zilla's xray pictures. It was hard. I'm not sure why. I guess just seeing her name on the paperwork and knowing that I won't ever have an invoice or a lab report or a post card reminding me of her needing a check up.
I've been thinking about getting a tattoo with her name and picture. I have never gotten a tattoo, so it's an interesting thought to have. I guess the rebound sadness will just be part of my healing process. I can usually pass onto remembering all the good things without so much sadness fairly well, but I'm having a time of it with Zilla. She rarely left my side and wherever I was, so was she. I look to places where she'd always lay or sit and they are empty. What I wouldn't give to have her back by my side.

Total Protein... This is a measurement of the total protein in the blood. This test is important, but complex because it can indicate many different conditions.

The blood proteins are basically made up of two parts. These are albumin and globulin.
this test can indicate infection, swelling, pulmonary edema, ascities (abdominal fluid), kidney disease, liver disease, general nutritional health.

This test is also run in conjunction with the actual albumin and globulin values as well as the ratio of albumin to globulin.

This is an important set of tests in helping determine FIP.

There is a "test" for FIP and I'll discuss that later on in the blog. It is called an FIP Titre, but I personally think it is basically useless and a waste of money. (quick explaination for now, it that it only measures exposure to a corona virus not necessarily the fatal version that causes FIP and about 80% of all cats test positive. It has two results in standard lab testing >400 and >1600.)

So, looking at Zilla's test results, you will see that her Total Protein is High. Not what we'd like to see on lab work. Particularly if looking for FIP. But as I stated earlier, TP is indicative of many things, so again, it is the over all picture we have to take a look at.

I'll explain Albumin and Globulins further...but let's talk about what we did to treat Zilla at this point.

We started her on a course of Antibiotics and prednislone based upon both the lab results and her chest xrays (to be posted shortly). I should also add at this point, she was running a substancial fever 105-106%.
This set of labs was the point where the head and the heart split paths. It happens, I think in particular when you "know" the truth, but you don't want to face it, because the end result is terrible. I knew, and I know my vet knew, I don't remember exactly what he said, but I clearly remember thinking at the time, wow, he's trying to ease me into this.

So a quick note about my vet. One of the few good people. Loves animals, is caring and compassionate and a genuine nice person. I trust him with my pets, and that says a lot. Now, as he would no doubt sigh and tell you, it does not mean I won't totally research every little thing to death and back and argue with him and bug the crap out of him...and still want him to perform miracles for me. But those are my shortcomings, not his.
http://www.rbvhhillsborough.net/

Having said that however and I can not emphasis this enough YOU MUST ADVOCATE FOR YOUR PET and in order to do so, you must learn everything you can about what is wrong with them. you NEVER know when something small will make a huge difference. Education should never stop. It doesn't mean you need to go to back to school, there are terrific books out there to read.
I'll post a list of my favorites as time permits.

Creatinine is a chemical waste product in the blood that is filtered out by the kidneys. Again the creatinine blood test is an indicator of kidney function. That includes severe kidney infection as well as acute and chronic disease. High creatinine can also occur in injury and diabetes. This can also indicate serious dehydration.

Low creatinine is usually not significant, but can indicate muscle mass loss.


Zilla's creatinine was in the normal range, so there were no diagnostic clues in that test. It does indicate however that most likely her kidneys were filtering waste products properly at that time.

Here is Zilla cuddling with Fum and Tweddle Dum.

Urea Nitrogen. (BUN) This is a test that measures the nitrogen in the blood. It indicates how well your kidneys are functioning. a high level can indicate poor kidney function as well as /or it can also indicate dehydration, and heart disease. A low level can indicate liver disease/failure. This test in combination with other blood tests are important in both diagnosis and treatments of disease.

medications, starvation, severe injury such as burns can also influence the BUN levels and should be evaluated as part of accessing an accurate diagnosis.

Zilla's Urea nitrogen results were just slightly higher than high normal. Those results by themselves are not necessarily significant since they are just slightly outside the normal range, however in conjunction with her other results, you can piece together a bigger picture. This is one reason why when a chemistry is run on an animal or a person, it is a combination of many different blood tests.

Glucose....this is the measurement of the cat's blood sugar level. Several things can influence this number. Diet, medications and the time the blood sat before the testing was done.

For Zilla, these were not factors and her glucose level was fine.

For cats with diabetes, the blood is better if tested immediately using a glucometer (a human one is fine) or done as part of a chem panel in the vet's office within a short period of time. Other wise you will not get an accurate glucose reading. For a pet or person receiving insulin, this is critical.

It became apparent via symptoms and conditions that Zilla's health was not what it should be. She had very inflamed and irritated painful gums that remained after teething, as well as both a chronic and acute cough that came and went.

we had a variety of lab tests and xrays done. Each I will post here and discuss what the results mean.
Things didn't line up quite like I wanted them too, but we'll go through them line by line.

Antech Diagnostics 1111 Marcus Avenue Lake Success NY 11042 Phone: 800-872-1001

Hillsborough Veterinary Services Client # 170240
210 US Hwy. 206 S Chart # H500815
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Tel: 908-359-3161
Fax: 908-359-6586

Accession No. Doctor Owner Pet Name Received
NYAA26503256 SCHWIRCK MCCOLGAN FUZZILLA 06/11/2008

Species Breed Sex Pet Age Reported
Feline F 11M 06/12/2008 12:36 AM

Test Requested Results Reference Range Units

Superchem

Glucose 74 70-138 mg/dL
Urea Nitrogen 27 (HIGH) 6-25 mg/dL
Creatinine 0.7 0.5-1.6 mg/dL
Total Protein 8.4 (HIGH) 5.0-7.4 g/dL
Albumin 1.9 (LOW) 2.7-4.4 g/L
Total Bilirubin 0.1 0.1-0.3 mg/dL
Alkaline Phosphatase 10 5-131 U/L
ALT (SGPT) 25 12-118 U/L
AST (SGOT) 25 15-66 U/L
Cholesterol 109 92-324 mg/dL
Calcium 8.3 (LOW) 8.9-11.4 mg/dL
Phosphorus 6.0 2.5-6.0 mg/dL
Sodium 148 139-154 mEq/L
Potassium 4.5 3.6-5.5 mEq/L
Chloride 118 102-120 mEq/L
Albumin/Globulin Ratio 0.3 (LOW) 0.8-2.0 RATIO
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 39 (HIGH) 4-27 RATIO
Globulin 6.5 (HIGH) 1.6-3.6 g/dL
Lipase 36 (LOW) 77-695 U/L
Amylase 1127 (HIGH) 290-1125 U/L
Triglycerides 48 29-291 mg/dL
CPK 322 59-895 U/L
GGTP <5 1-12 U/L
Magnesium 1.6 1.5-2.5 mEq/L
Corrected Calcium 9.9

Zilla took to food quickly, though some of the others had to be encouraged to eat. Everyone here lent a hand in the feeding, as you can see my daughter was quite dedicated to the feeding and I certainly could not have done all that we did with so many kittens without her help.
Zilla did love her bottle though. You could barely get it filled with formula and into her mouth fast enough, so it was good when we moved onto solid food.

FuzZilla. My daughter reminded me tonight that I should explain the name. When Zilla was just about two weeks old, she was quite messy from her bottle and we were cleaning her up with a warm wash cloth. You know, all 6 oz. of her and she was like holding on to a bumble ball (http://www.amazon.com/Cardinal-Laboratories-Bumble-Various-Colors/dp/B0002H3SCI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1231292181&sr=8-1) while cleaning at the same time. One of us remarked she was a little Godzilla, and I said no, she's too cute and fuzzy. So she became FuzZilla which we shortened to Zilla as time went on.
(many of my cats have at least 2 names). As time went on, it was apparent we named her correctly because she could be a handful of all teeth and nails if you were doing something she didn't want done, which was about everything except brushing her and feeding her and loving her.

I love to take pictures of all my pets, but I admit, I love to take pictures close up of their toes. I don't know why, maybe because they liked them rubbed, or because they are so soft. But I like cat toes. (I'll pass on human ones, though I do like baby feet ...very cute).

Zilla had very cute soft toes. She however was not as fond of you rubbing them as many of my cats are. Sometimes she would make the funniest little "urr" noise. Just letting you know that a nip was eminent should your undesirable behavior continue.

Zilla was VERY fiesty. She was Princess Zilla. I cleared off the bottom cabinet shelf in my bedroom by the bed so she could partake of her daily multiple meals in the cabinet by herself, away from the other "serfs" that would want to eat from the "zilla bowl". She'd sit by the glass cabinet door, and give you "the look" and chicken was to be served immediately.
I of course being a good cat slave, aquested to her demands. I knew in the back of my mind that because of all her health problems, my time with Zilla would never be what I wanted it to be, so we never missed a moment to spoil, love and enjoy this little furry spitfire.

When Zilla was about 6 months old, she developed a cough. Coughs in cats are always a reason for concern, as cats do not tend to cough idopathically. We took her to the vet and for the next couple of weeks tried antibiotics.
Her cough got better.
for the next few months her cough came and went and her adult teeth came in. I also noticed uveitis ( http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00526.htm ) in her eye.
By this time, I had already lost several cats to "disease" and upon necropsy of the second and third deaths, knew we were dealing with FIP. But I really did not comprehend the scope of the difficulties to come, but it was at this time my research into FIP really began.
Zilla's uveitis was intermitten and not severe, but clearly there none the less. IF you look at her eye in this photo, you notice that aside from it being slightly closed, it has a small discharge, but more importantly it looks slightly cloudy. Zilla's uveitis was very faint. It can be much more severe and is very typical of cats with FIP.

Zilla was the only kitten that came from the shelter with LadyMay and the only one the sparse records show she had. She was big for a kitten her age and she seemed to grow at a good pace for a few months.
She slept on my bed with a soft furry tiger that my daughter gave her and she loved. For her whole short life, she loved furry things. Particularly furry soft blankets. When Scott and I would go shopping, if we passed something soft, we'd call it a zillablanket. We brought home a variety of different blankets for our bed, mainly with the cats and Zilla in mind.
I think we'll probably refer to soft blankets as zillablankets for a long time.
Zilla was on whole foods now, and we discovered she would only eat chicken or turkey. She'd nibble on dry kitten kibbles, but mainly ate babyfood chicken, turkey and fresh roasted chicken and turkey. She had all her baby teeth in, but we also noticed her gums were always red and inflammed.
This picture is one of my very favorites. She loved sleeping with her tiger and dragged him around. We made "box" city for the kittens to play in and on now that they were all up and running.
Her tiger will always have a place on my bed, where she should still be if not for this terrible disease.

Zilla spent most of her time with me, but she liked Chartreuse (momma dweddle). Momma Dweddle had arrived with 4 of her own kittens, but was very dedicated and took mothering very seriously, so she'd carry Zilla off and put her in her own little nesting box we set up for her with her other kittens.
Zilla enjoyed the loving that Momma D gave her. Momma D was very protective. She'd chase off the other cats and any of the dachshunds that came to see the kittens. She is the best momma cat I have ever seen. But she didn't have enough milk for her kittens and Zilla, so they all got bottle suppliments. Her milk was sparse and she also got sick with a URI and fever. Typical type of URI that you see in shelter cats. We thought......

Zilla learned to take her bottle very quickly. She also ate very well. She could hardly wait for you to fill the bottle. Her teeth grew in and she learned to chew the tip off the bottle nipple. We went through quite a few bottle nipples once she got teeth.

I don't think I have ever seen a bossier kitten. She wanted what she wanted, when she wanted it.
She slept on the bed next to me in a blanket filled box so I could feed her every two hours.
She grew quickly. We had no idea at this time about the disease that was lurking waiting to strike.
We did know however that Zilla's mother had received both rabies and FVRCP vaccines when she was about 1/2 through her pregnancy. We didn't know what effect on Zilla's health this would have.
What we did know was how much fun Zilla was to have around. She was quite spirited. She chewed off so many bottle nipples that we started her on some babyfood chicken and soft kitten food soon after those little needle teeth were fully in.