Yes, kittens and cats can and do get URI's (Upper Respiratory Infections). Sometimes vets will take a wait and see approach, and sometimes they give antibiotics. Our cat was given Clavamox (she developed an URI the night we'd brought her home), and they adminster it at the shelter for that, too. It seems to be pretty well tolerated, at least as far as taste goes (smells like bananas). Amoxicillin (sp?) is another one they don't run from, unlike Flagyl (given for GI things), which they all seem to hate!

If it is a URI, don't be surprised if his eyes end up showing some signs of being runny or discharge; that seems pretty common. Again, the vet might treat it (with an ointment like Terramycin) or just wait and watch.

I would recommend having the new kitten checked out by the
vet (bloodwork, fecal, ears, eyes, flea check...), as well as starting her shots. I'd take Dustin, too, to check out the sneezing and vomiting. Best to have both of them as healthy as possible.

If she smells or feels dirty, it might be a good idea to give her a bath, using warm water and some mild shampoo (don't use too much, it's not easy rinsing suds off a squirming kitten, and for the rinsing, I've found that a large plastic cup or deli container filled with clean water to pour down the kitten's back works best).

Some kittens and cats react to other kittens and cats in a hissy or growly way when meeting them for the first time. It's their way of letting the other one know to keep back. Unless either one is a real bully, that should dissipate in time. It might take awhile, or it might happen quickly, that is entirely up to them.

I am very happy for you and Dustin. There is nothing in the world quite like seeing two (or more!) kitties curled up together (my heart melts whenever I see it here!). Enjoy your new baby and post pics for us soon!

Have your new kitten tested for leukemia before allowing her and Dustin to come face to face. Also, remove that flea collar immediately and bathe your kitten thoroughly with mild shampoo to remove the chemicals. Flea collars are highly toxic and can cause serious health problems (including potential death) in some cats. If your girl has fleas, your vet will supply you with a safe and effective treatment for her age. Just wait a week after bathing before applying any spot-on flea produce, or the product won't distribute properly through her skin.

It wouldn't hurt to give Dustin L-lysine. It helps boost the immune system and can help with herpesvirus infections. You can buy it at any drug store. Just crush a 500 mg tablet and mix it into his canned food once a day. It's tasteless, so he shouldn't object.

Congratulations on your new addition!

Laurie

Thanks for the posts! I tried to take a picture earlier but she's such a little squirmer! She is so eager in her affections, I'm really hoping her and Dustin will become good friends. She was with two cats and two dogs so I think she will have no problem getting used to another cat, she just needs to settle in and feel at home and assert herself with Dustin.

I will take both cats to a new vet I'd like to try. The diplomacy at the previous vet has not sat right with me and this vet came recommended as being thorough as well as a bit more affordable. I know pets are expensive but I don't like vets, or doctors, who do unnecessary procedures to make money. I'd also like a second opinion on the spaying they did on Dustin. Call me crazy but I think his testicles are growing and I assumed after spaying he'd have none.

I hope the new vet works out for you. I never realized how much I disliked one or two things about our old vet until he moved away and we started using the vet we do now.

I think I'd read here that some vets do not remove the entire "insides" when they neuter the males, but I don't recall on which thread I'd seen that. Maybe Meghan or our other resident vets will have more info on that.

hope everything goes well for the kittens- good job.

{{gwi:2031109}}

This is the best picture I can get of Skat. She's using the litter box and is not upset being moved from a garage to a bathroom. I think she went long periods between feedings because she seems to always be eating. Dustin was outside scratching at the door and she started alternating between climbing into my lap for affection and going to the food dish to eat. I'm hoping she calms down when she realizes that she will never go hungry in her new home. It does make me concerned she might be packing too much away thinking that another cat or dog will come and eat it so while I want her to always have a bowl of food and never worry about food, I think I should start to measure out her food and fill her dish at daily intervals.

Dustin is doing well. He's curious but he doesn't seem out of sorts with a new cat in the house. Of course she has her room and he usually didn't get to be in the bathroom unless I was using it. I think as long as he keeps his nose to himself, or at least out of her behind, they'll become good friends.

What little cutie!!

The fact that Dustin is scratching at the door is a good sign, I think. Much better than if he were hissing and growling outside the door! I hope they will become the best of friends (with each other, and with you, of course!).

The constant eating could also be from worms (many or most outdoor cats have 'em) or her age, too. Kittens do tend to eat often though. You can ask your vet about it when you bring her to be checked out.

Her tummy is a bit round so I was wondering about worms. I plan to bring in a stool specimen for both kitties. I need to learn more about options for fleas and worms.

Now she seems to drink a lot too, or it could be she's been without for long periods and sucks it back when she gets it. She was lapping it up so fast she snorted some of it, lol, poor thing.

If she isn't spayed she could be pregnant. Cats can get pregnant as soon as 5 months or even 4 but this is rare 6+ months is more likely.

Skat does look like she might be old enough to be pregnant. The round belly could be kittens, worms, or the result of her current overeating. Make sure you mention the possibility of pregnancy BEFORE the vet gives her any vaccinations or other treatments. You're also going to have to decide how you want to handle things if she is pregnant. If you want to allow her to have kittens, are you certain that you can find good, responsible homes for all of them? If not, aborting the litter might be the more humane option and safer for her if she's still very young.

The only brands of flea treatment that you might be able to find in stores that are safe and effective for cats are Frontline and Advantage. Aside from those two brands, other retail store brands are highly toxic and have been implicated in the serious illnesses and/or deaths of numerous cats and dogs. Stick with Frontline, Advantage, or some other flea treatment available only from your vet. Same goes for dewormers. Stick with those available through your vet.

BTW, "spay" is the desexing procedure performed on females. "Neuter" is the desexing procedure used on males. If Dustin still appears to have one or both testicles, it's possible that he had an undescended testicle at the time of his neuter that has since descended. Make sure you have the vet check that out and remove any testicular tissue that may still remain.

Laurie

What a cutie! I sure hope they plan to have the mama cat neutered, if not, maybe you can talk them into it?

I never thought of pregnancy. Man I hope that's not it! Are there any other signs I should look for? She drools a lot. Not that I want it to be worms. I have no experience with births so I'd be totally clueless.

They think she was born around the first week of June. That would make her closer to 5 months. If she was pregnant would her tummy show this early? I don't know how early she could get pregnant and how long the duration of pregnancy is or when she'd start showing. There was a male there so its possible. Man! I hope I don't have worms, a whole can of them, lol.

She's probably not pregnant, or if she is pregnant, it's probably early so could be aborted without putting her at any risk. If she's less than a month pregnant, the vet won't be able to tell, anyway.

I recommend you get her spayed as soon as the vet will schedule her.

Laurie

I think she's just used to fighting for a share of food. She'll have all her attention on me until she hears Dustin outside the bathroom door and she'll run to the food dish next to it and eat.

I thought kittens should be 6 months before spaying her (and thanks for clarifying that for me, I seem to always get them mixed up, lol). Dustin has been fixed and she won't be an outdoor cat and since I'm bringing them both in for the new vet I'll be paying for 2 cat's so if I can wait a couple months to pay that off then I could get her fixed. I do want to have her fixed but it may have to wait if she has worms and needs medication I might have some expenses to ensure both cats are healthy first since with Dustin there is no chance of pregnancy (unless the first vet screwed up which I will find out with the next vet's general exam). Plus I want her settled into my home and comfortable with Dustin before I fix her. I want her to have free reign in my apartment to rest and recuperate where she feels most comfortable without adjusting to another cat when she is feeling vulnerable.

I doubt she is pregnant. Anyway, you will LOVE having two cats cause it's so much fun to watch them play, and it's so sweet to watch them cuddle. Usually, the younger the new kitten is, the easier it is for him/her to get along with the resident cat. I introduced a 5-month old kitten to my cat (after having the vet check her out and give her a clean bill of health), and it took only 24 hours for them to be friends. I didn't really hover too much over them; I just let them sort it out between themselves. The first 24 hours wasn't that fun, but it wasn't too bad either.

Also, don't feel bad if once they're introduced they become friends and ignore you! The ignoring part is just short-term. It happened with mine for about the first month they were in a "honeymoon period" and didn't come to me for any affection! Once the novelty of each other wore off, they were back to their loving selves with me.

LaurieF's recommendation for the L-Lysine is a good one. It works amazingly on cats with upper respiratory infections caused by the herpes virus (which a large majority are). I would give it to both cats.

I think you're correct to wait a little while to spay the new kitten, until she's settled in. But don't wait too long. I had mine spayed at about 6 months. As was pointed out in another thread (I think by Meghan), every time a female cat goes into heat increases her risk of breast cancer later in life by a very large percentage.

I am so glad you have another cat in your life. And I am sure Dustin is too.

If you can you probably would want her to get spayed before she goes into heat.
When our Cleo found us I took her to the vet right away. He couldn't find the scar from spaying, but was not 100% sure that she wasn't spayed. We had her 3 weeks when she went into heat. The vet had no opening for 2 weeks to get her in. The worst 2 weeks in terms of almost constant cat screaming. And even though our male is neutered he tried to have his way with her constantly. Left a lasting impression on our 10 year old son. :)

Where she was Skat was only getting fed once a day so that probably accounts for her inhaling her food. Dustin ate out of her bowl tonight and I gave her a handful so she knew she wouldn't go without. I've got an appointment Wednesday morning for both of them. I'm giving them just a few minutes to see each other, they touch noses and then I give them treats. While not friends there is not hostility so I think they are going to be great friends! Dustin gets moods where he runs from one side of the apartment to the other and is frisky so I know he'll enjoy a friend to play and chase. Skat though doesn't seem interested in the toys I've left her. She reminds me a lot of when I brought Dustin home for the first time and he didn't seem to know what to do with toys. I can't wait for her to be able to move around her new home and enjoy the comforts she didn't have in that smelly, dirty garage. I also can't wait for them both to sleep with me! I hope they get to cuddling each other. I'll be sure to have my camera ready for any good shots!