At 3:15 a.m. Murdoch temporarily stopped breathing. We brought him back with warming fluids, coffee shots and prayer. Between the two of us- we cuddled with him all night as he struggled to breathe. He could not or would not eat anything except after the warming fluids were administered, he did manage 2 ml of formula. But then he collapsed again. His breathing was labor intensive and I sat with him in the bathroom periodically with the shower running full heat. Not even the vaporizer gave him any relief.

At 8:00 this morning, we were at the vet’s office where it was determined his lungs were full of liquid and his days were numbered unless we could come up with the funds to transfer him to OSU Vet School where they would put him in an oxygen tank and administer fluids, antibiotics and pain killers for the duration of the viruses run. We are unfortunately not set up to have the funds available to go to these measures and because he was clearly suffering- we put him to sleep. On a flood of tears, this little black kitten who should have never been born was taken out of his torment. At least now, he can breathe, he can see and he can have the best that heaven has to offer him.

The other littermates are showing signs of being infected. My hope is the clavamox and other measures will stop this virus from also taking either their life, or their eyes.