Conference misery::feline

    Elaine,
    
    I am sorry to hear of Buddie's passing.  Sudden death is very painful,
    because there is no time to emotionally prepare yourself for the loss.
    
    It is difficult to say what actually caused Buddie's death.  It most
    likely could have orginated from a combination of factors.  First,
    changing environments is a stressful procedure for a cat, and
    especially taxing to the immune system.  And for a seven week old
    kitten, the immune system is still developing and that much more
    suseptible to illness.  Perhaps Buddie was harboring an infection from
    the shelter which surfaced during the stress of the flea bath (to no
    fault of yours; I would have bathed a new kitten loaded with fleas
    too.), and his immune system just couldn't fight it off.  Seven weeks
    old is very young; most kittens are still on mom's collostrum and
    developing antibodies to fight disease.
    
    Did Buddie have his kitten vaccines prior to leaving the shelter?  I
    don't recall reading this in your base note.
    
    I know how difficult it is to lose a kitten you have had for only a
    short time.  Several years ago, I purchased my very first purebred cat
    at three months old.  He was the love of my life.  When he was only 10
    months, he died of a fatal heart disease.  I was devastated.  I
    couldn't understand why I never saw it coming; why I missed all the
    warning signs that in reality were so subtle very few people, even the
    most devout pet owners, would have noticed.  The best advice I can
    offer you is not to dwell on the why or how, but concentrate on the
    fact that you rescued Buddie and gave him what I'll bet were the very
    best days of his too short life.  He passed on knowing what the
    comforts of home were all about.
    
    I hope this will be of some comfort to you.
    
    -Roberta
      

    Marilyn, I agree.  But, in defense of shelters (and some are definitely
    managed better than others), it is very difficult to keep infections
    and diseases from spreading.  Once one gets it, it runs amuk and
    survival of the fittest comes into play, much like in the wild.
    
    My feeling is that no shelter or breeder should adopt a kitten out
    prior to 10-12 weeks of age.  The longer they are kept on mom's
    collostrum, the greater their chances of fighting off infection.
    
    Like anything else in life, there are reputable and not so reputable
    shelters.  A cat from any shelter can become ill in it's new home; what
    matters is how the shelter administrators reconcile with the new
    owners.  An example:  When I adopted Nikki from the Framingham Animal
    Humane Society in 1988, he developed a very bad viral infection several
    days later.  I brought him to the vet who happened to be the attending
    vet for the cats at the shelter.  She told me there was a virus running
    through the shelter and many cats were being treated and/or
    hospitalized.  Nikki was very bad off and had to be hospitalized for 4
    days.  I called the shelter and with profuse apologies and no
    hesitations, they absorbed the entire cost for his stay.  Not all
    shelters operate along these lines.
    
    Sterling is a kill shelter.  FAHS is no-kill.  The Pat Brody Shelter is
    no-kill.  No kill shelters are known for the quality of care given the
    cats and quality always exceeds quantity.
    

    
    Elaine, 
    
    I was truly sorry to hear about Buddy.  I lost both my kitty and 
    my puppy suddenly a couple of weeks ago and it's so much harder
    to accept when it happens suddenly - and I know how quickly 
    you can become attached to them as I picked up my 
    Mumsie-with-three-paws :-) from the PBS only a week ago and 
    I already love her dearly.  Our thoughts are with you. 
    
    

    I also want to add my sincere sympathy to Buddie.   The first thing
    humans do when they lose a pet is to somehow blame themselves.  I've
    been there when I lost my 2 year old kitty to heart problems....I 
    beat myself trying to understand why I didn't see any symptoms!
    Don't do this to yourself....
    
    I'm sure Buddie cherish is short time with you and enjoyed the
    love and affection.    I would definitely call the shelter back
    and let them know of Buddie's death......you also might want to
    ask if Buddie ever got his first/second set of shots too??  And
    also question the health of the Mom cat and other kittens in
    the litter.
    
    Hugs to you and your family.
    
               

    
    If this is the wrong place to post this, feel free to move or 
    delete, but I can think of two sudden causes of death in kitties
    at this time of year that people tend to forget.  
    
    One is antifreeze - cats and dogs both consider it 'sweet' and 
    actually like the taste.  It's extremely toxic and usually 
    fatal.  If you're changing/adding antifreeze, make sure you 
    wash the area down completely - even if you don't think you 
    spilled any.  It's hard not to be a nosy neighbor, but if 
    you see your neighbors with the anti-freeze bottles out and
    it looks like they're not doing the same it might be worth
    a gentle reminder and/or keeping the kitties inside for 
    a few days. 
    
    The other is house plants - I bring my Christmas Cactus in 
    every year about this time and for some reason, my cats
    are attracted to them.  They are toxic and in some cases 
    fatal as well.  I'll bet there are other plants which are 
    brought in for the winter which could also be harmful. 
    
    

    I am so sorry for the loss of your kitten, but I almost lost my 6 year
    old male Siamese a couple of years ago.  Zodiac flea sprays are very
    toxic because the cat licks his fur, and can't help digesting the
    killing spray in their system.  Took my cat to the Vet after the cat
    starting foaming at the mouth, and vomiting.  The vet after examining
    him and putting him on intravenise, said he was poisened by the spray
    and never to use it again.  The instructions call for you to spot
    spray in different areas, I only sprayed very little on him, but my
    cat almost died after a week and a $400.00 bill from the vet.  "Wrote
    to the Zodiac people, along with the vet's comments and bill."  Never
    received anything back from them.  I just wanted them to put a warning
    label on this product, because I think it is deadly, especially for
    kittens.
    
    

    I believe *most* flea products do contain a warning about using them
    on kittens under a certain age (4 months comes to mind).  
    
    Even with my cats being between 1 and 7 years old, I still am very 
    careful about putting flea products on them.  I make a point to dilute 
    the product a little more than recommended if I use it.  Not as effective 
    on the fleas but better for my cats.  Actually, I've pretty much stopped
    using those products opting for regular bathing, grooming and borax in 
    the carpets to help solve the problem.  From what I'm told, only 1% of
    the flea problem is actually on the cat.
    
    Essentially, flea products are a poison.  Granted, they're supposed to 
    just poison the fleas, but the cat is at risk too.  Especially if they 
    are sensitive to whatever ingredients are being used.  And, how can you
    know that they're sensitive until you find out the hard way.
    
    This note is not intended in any way to imply that the basenoter
    kitty's death was related to use of flea products.  It's just a
    followup to 632.8.
    
    Jan
    
    Jan

    Elaine,
    
     I'm so very sorry to hear about your sudden loss! How awful for you!
    You are in my thoughts and prayers.
    
     Please don't blame yourself for what might have happened. Also, don't
    blame the shelter. They do the best they can, and sometimes hidden
    things get by both the shelter and the vet, especially if the kitty
    has been lively up to that point. I'm sure you didn't do anything to
    cause this.
    
     Take care of yourself, and know that Buddie knew he was truly loved by
    you, and that you did all the right things.
    
     Buddy has been added to the Silver Lining Memorial.
    
     Love,
    
     Yonee
               

    
    One thing I just want to point out.......since most of the kittens
    and cats are dropped off at the shelter, there is no way of knowing
    what care was rec'd, if any.  The kitten could have been starved,
    beaten, fed nasty things, eaten something it shouldn't, been fed
    the wrong thing by a person trying to be a good samaritian, not get
    the colostrum from it's mother, etc. etc.  The list goes on and on....
    
    The worst part is losing a kitten/cat, so soon after adopting it.
    
    L-

    I'm so sorry for you. My Poppy came down with a terrible virus two
    days after we adopted her from a shelter and, for a time, the vet
    didn't think she'd pull through. I remember how horribly numb I felt at 
    the time -- and helpless. 
    
    As many have pointed out, it could have been just about anything that
    made him sick. Just be glad you did what you could for the little guy. 
    
    Kate
    

    Also, another point - the fleas themselves may have been the problem. 
    A friend of mine lost a litter of kittens born while she was on a
    business trip, as her cat-sitter didn't check them for fleas.  A young
    kitten is very suseptible to anemia due to blood-loss from the fleas.
    
    I'm very sorry for your loss, please don't blame yourself - you gave
    Buddy love and care, and the knowledge that he was loved.
    
    Linda

	Hi Roberta,

	To answer your question, no Buddie did not have any shots
	prior to leaving the shelter.  I was told that before I 
	took him.  I was planning on getting his shots done at 
	the vets Saturday, but since he was so sick, the vet was
	putting it off.

	Thank you for your concern,

			Elaine

    I didn't realize Christmas Cactus' are toxic.  I have 2 at home, and
    I'll be bringing a new, 12-week old kitty home at Thanksgiving time. 
    Should I get rid of these plants?

    There are also several viruses out there that can attack different
    areas of the body.  You would need to be more specific about what the 
    "ulcers" looked like.  Was the fascia stringy and sticky or clear.  I
    have a very good book at home that has a lot of technical info and many
    interesting (I find anyway) pictures.  I have seen some that may be 
    similar.  Was there any white patches on the intestines?  
    
    From what you have described, there was nothing you could have done 
    to create or prevent the problem.  I am very sorry for your loss.  
    pawpats,
    Karen