Conference misery::feline_v1

I'm very interested in your new found friend...let me know what the
    vet says.
    
    
    

    I took the kitten to my Vet, Dr Eric Clough, Merrimack Veterinary
    Hospital, Merrimack, NH for a checkup.  (I had called the kitten
    "Mittens" yesterday but I'm sure whoever adopts him can think of
    a better name; just called him that because of his big double paws).
    He is older than he looks (due to improper care and feeding from
    who had him first).  He's 7 mos. as he has all his permanent teeth.
    I also discovered when I got home that he has six toes on all four
    feet.  Dr. Clough found that one of his front paws had one deformed
    toe that he felt should be removed in the near future as it could
    cause the cat problems as it developed.
    
    Except for a bad ear infection of both ears from ear mites, he had
    a clean bill of health.  Dr. Clough treated him for the mites and
    they will soon be gone and the ears will get better.  Dr. Clough's
    assistant trimmed all the nails on the kittens toes and cleaned
    out the ears good.  Dr. Clough then gave the kitten his vaccination
    for distemper, etc.  This is the full shot not a series shot.  He
    did say that it would be a good idea for the kitten to have a rabies
    and luekemia shot when adopted.  
    
    The kitten weighed in at only 5lbs., 4ozs, and he is by far a very,
    very affectionate kitten.  He can't seem to get enough attention
    and love.  He was purring the whole time there and rode very quietly
    in the "pet taxi" I put him in.  He is litterbox trained.  He does
    not particularly like dry food but loves "Friskies Buffet".  He
    probably isn't too fussy on canned foods; just glad to eat something
    I think.
    
    If anyone has any questions about this little kitten that Dr. Clough
    can help with, he said please feel free to call him at (603)424-9922.
    Another thing I'd like to say is that Dr. Clough did not charge
    me anything for these services yesterday.  He seemed only concerned,
    as I am, in finding the little guy a good home.
    
    Oh, by the way, I also think he has Siamese in him as he likes to
    talk a lot and he is not going to be a very big cat due to his poor
    start in nutrition.  He has a small head with big ears; reminds
    me of a "Gremlin" if you saw the movie.  As I said though, he's
    full of love and will definitely make a super companion cat.  
    
    Call me at DTN 381-2238 or send me mail on SQM::MURPHY if you're
    still interested.  Would love to find a good home for him ASAP so
    it won't be too hard on him getting displaced again.  I would love
    to keep him but just can't keep another cat in the apt.  The litterbox
    would really get out of hand as my cats have to be indoors due to
    traffic on street.
    
    Pat
    

    They say "one is born every minute" and I'm no exception, especially
    when it comes to animals.  The little guy won me, as well as my
    other two cats and dog, over this weekend and he's now a permanent
    member of the family.  I've given him the name "DP Gremlin" (DP
    for double paw) instead of Mittens; I think it gives him more
    character.
    
    Pat
    

    Pat,
    
    I'm happy to hear you decided to keep DP.  I just wanted to give
    you one warning....watch your other two cats for the ear mites.
    Those little suckers seem to travel faster than you can believe!!
    It may be a good idea to do some preventive treatment on the other
    two until your sure you have them under control on DP.
    
    purrs
    cin
    

    Thanks, Cin.  My other two cats are due for their yearly checkup
    and shots so I'll have that double checked.  I did, however, ask
    the Vet at the time he examined DP about the mites infecting my
    other two cats and also if I had to take home a bottle of drops
    to put in his ears for a few days.  He told me that the extra
    medication wasn't necessary; whatever he put in the ears that day
    would do the job.  He hasn't been scratching his ears since the
    treatment so I guess it worked okay.  
    
    My next project is my flea control program.  Now those can be a
    problem if left unchecked.  I've always been lucky in keeping the flea
    problem under complete control with weekly spraying/powdering of the
    cats & dog, and spraying of the apt. once a month.  I get the spray and
    powder from my Vet.  I've found it works the best.  Weekly grooming
    of all the pets helps in flea control too. 
    
    DP is starting to feel much better now that he's had a few meals
    under his belt.  Last night was the first time I've seen him actually
    play like a kitten; first with his tail and feet, then a tennis ball, 
    and a catnip mouse.  He's all feet and at an awkward stage; he's
    still thin and his legs are long.  He looks like he's on snowshoes.
    Buffy (my 9 year old neutered cat) just seems fascinated in watching
    DP's every move.  Holly (my 3 year old female spayed cat) also is
    fascinated with DP but last night she finally had it with his bombing
    around the place.  She took it so long and then when he made one
    of his romps toward her, Holly just hissed at him once and DP stopped,
    got on the couch and fell asleep.  I had no idea how much influence
    Holly had until then.  Hope it continues as I think I'll need all
    the help I can get with that little scamp.
    
    Pat
    

    If you get a chance to ask your vet what he used in the ears, I'ld
    really appreciate it.  I've never known any ear mite treatment to
    work on one application.  I would love to keep some in the house
    to use on cats coming into the house for breeding, etc.  I had a
    problem with ear mites once that I got from a queen in for breeding.
    The owner had cleaned her ears well, so the problem wasn't visable
    until 2 weeks later when all my cats had them.  Yuck!!!  What a
    mess to clean up.  
    
    just curious
    cin
    

    
    Okay, I'll ask him what he used.  It might only be something you
    can get from a vet or have them administer though.
    
    I remember one of my Brother's cats (he has 3) had ear mites and
    had to be treated at his vet's.  His other 2 cats never had mites
    though.  Isn't that strange?
    
    I'll check with the vet next time I see him on this.
    

    re. 541.6
    
    Cin, sorry for not getting back to you sooner on this but if you've
    had a chance to read note 540.13 you'd understand.
    
    You were right; one application of an ear mite medicine did not
    do the trick for D.P.  I had to take him back to get neutered so
    they had a good chance to swab out the ears thoroughly and apply
    more medication.  I took two medications home with me to continue
    applying to him for two weeks, twice a day.  One is Xenodine and
    the other is Tresaderm.  As a preventative (only my older cat seemed
    to have contracted a few mites) I am also applying (once a week)
    Xenodine in the other two cats' ears as well as my dog's ears. 
    So far, everything is under control and D.P.'s ears are (this is
    2nd week of treatment) all better.  I plan to continue the medication
    through the weekend on him though and give my other friends another
    application.