Kittens with gunky eyes??

[Rockmaiden]

Hi everyone.

Just wondering if anyone can offer me a bit of advice.

I currently have 6 beautiful 5 week old kittens in my care and a few hours ago noticed that one of them had it's right eye stuck closed!

On further inspection I saw it was stuck with a clear snot like discharge.

There are 3 more kittens that have watery eyes although not to this extent.

I managed to re-open the kittens eye by cleaning with a cotten bud and cool, boiled water and will get them booked into the vets first thing in the morning but I am really worried as I have never come across this before.

Has anyone seen or heard of this who can offer some advice?

I am hoping it's not infectious although as 4 kittens are affected it proberly is.

[smudgley]

It's not uncommon for kittens to get eye discharge, but it often happens younger than 5 weeks. Keep the eyes clean as you have with cool bolied water & a trip to the vets will be the best thing. Usually a bit of magic fucithalmic & all is well again :-D

How long have the kittens been with you?

Any sneezing?

Are they well in themselves?

Bright & alert?

[alexgirl73]

ah, the fun of applying that a few times a day. enjoy :D

[Rockmaiden]

They have been with me since they were a week old, they were found abandoned by the RSPCA branch I work for along with their mother who I have just adoted.

They are very lively and seem completely un-affected by the eyes.

Hopefully the vet will soon clear it up.

[Rockmaiden]

Well the vet suspects conjunctivitus so I have been given some eye gel to apply twice a day.

Cost a fortune seeing as I have to treat all the adult cats as well and had to have 5 tubes, if it works it's money well spent!

I can't see it being fun appying it but here goes!

[dandysmom]

Oh Lord, good luck with that!

[smudgley]

Well the vet suspects conjunctivitus so I have been given some eye gel to apply twice a day.

Cost a fortune seeing as I have to treat all the adult cats as well and had to have 5 tubes, if it works it's money well spent!

I can't see it being fun appying it but here goes!


Do the rescues mix with your own cats?

[Leesy]

Sounds like you have got your handsful there, hope it clears up soon for you.

[Rockmaiden]

Smudgley- Yes the rescue cat's do mix with my own cats. The only rescue I am fostering at the moment is Meg and of course the kittens as I recently adopted Lola the mum.

[smudgley]

Smudgley- Yes the rescue cat's do mix with my own cats. The only rescue I am fostering at the moment is Meg and of course the kittens as I recently adopted Lola the mum.

That's interesting, In CP the one rule which is a very strict one is no mixing of any cats. I know 2 people who have been stopped from fostering as they were mixing. (not from our branch)

[Rockmaiden]

That's interesting, In CP the one rule which is a very strict one is no mixing of any cats. I know 2 people who have been stopped from fostering as they were mixing. (not from our branch)

How strange, I have never heard of that before.

Before any cat in our care is placed into foster care it is tested for FIV/FELV as well as given a full health check, blood test and mouth swap to ensure the cat has no infections that may spread. Once this has been done there is no reason for the cats not to mix, in fact it is encouraged as it allows the cat to be more socialised and have a better chance of re-homing.

The only way that we would not allow a rescue cat to socialise with exisitng cats is kittens under 6 months who come in without their mother as FIV/FELV testing cannot be done this young. We would always place these kittens with a fosterer that has no existing cats. In the case of the kittens I have now the mother was tested and came back negative so the kittens will be fine.

I find it very strange that someone would be stopped from fostering for allowing the cats to mix, surely this is in the cats best interest? How are you supposed to seperate the cats in the first place?

One of the main reasons that we place cats in a foster home rather then a cattery is so that the cat can be socialised with other cats, dogs, children etc. so that when re-homed the cat will be used to daily life in a family and not have any issues with it.