A few days ago, my kitty radar went off and I knew that Magoo was NDW (not doing well) a term my vet uses for some of the more complex kitty cases. Magoo’s coat was getting a bit oily and he was acting off. I secluded him from the other kittens, took his vitals they weren’t alarming and just started to watch him a bit more closely.

Last night, despite the fact that he was eating, drinking and using the litter pan, his temperature soared to 105.9. I quickly started doing rubbing alcohol rubs on his feet and ears, gave him some fluids and pushed water orally. Thankfully, his fever has come down to 103.9 His third eyelid is pronounced in both eyes, his gums pale and most alarmingly, his rectum has turned from pink to white! I have never seen anything like this before and it will be a few hours before the clinic will be open.

I called a friend of mine this morning. She is a well-known and respected vet in New York and we talked at great length. There are two things that could be going on here- but really, only one because if he was bleeding out he would be weak (he’s not) he’s quieter, but he is not weak. He would be vomiting blood or passing blood- he’s not he’s passing pure mucous. His brothers have all died- his sisters (adopted out) are thriving. Even if it was small bleed, there would be other signs and there just aren’t any. So she is leaning toward genetic defect. She told me that when there is a problem in the litter that is genetic, it hits the Y chromosones first mutating or whatever it does. But it rarely ever hits the females. So here are Magoo’s symptoms:

high fever-quiet mood-white gums and white anus (pads are pink on paws) I gave him fluids last night and he screamed like I stuck him in the bone- but I didn’t. I am so careful when I give fluids and other than turning some kittens into temporary sprinklers, I don’t hurt them. I wasn’t able to give him all the fluids so I gave the rest to him by mouth slowly and he took it all. His third eyelids are pronounced.

He is eating, drinking when I assist him, he is peeing and he is pooping mucous. I am waiting for the clinic to open and will let you know what develops here.