@unk-p, thank you so much for that reading and the hours you spent with your friend! The Star is a beautiful sign. It's symbolic, but also so very much the situation here at the forum ❤️
Your card of the Earth Tom, made me sniffle. I have talked about this forum before about my cat, Holly, whom I had for 19 years, and basically was my cat soulmate. She passed in 2016 and I never saw her again, although @vestralux mentioned she was my guide now. Two days before Christmas she appeared in my dreams for the first time in four years and I felt a great urging towards Starlight. This dream is what pushed me over the edge to go and get her; not knowing what I was getting into. So that was 100% on the bal, Unk;-)
@jeanne-mayell, you are such a kind, kind lady. Thank you so much. I will try to go at it without GoFund me first, since my independent spirit is that obnoxious, but if money becomes the reason between life and death I will GoFund instead of choosing euthanasia.
I think you are right about her mouth. Since I had the special soft food from the vet she's been shaking less. She gets enough food in her now due to the fact of not being served 'hard' nibbles anymore. She walks unsteady and shakes, but she plays a little more, so the mouth definitely plays a large part in this. I am thinking that if they cannot find the reason for her shaking in the blood-work etc. I might ask to put her on anti-tremor medicine. Apparently that's a thing. We can't fix a neurological defect anyway, but if she's happy, we'll take it. I'll keep her inside in that case since she's too unsteady on her feet to face the dangers of nature (I live near a forest), but indoor cats can still live a wonderful life.
@ana, thank you! Do you give her wet food only? I'm leaning towards that indeed, her mouth is malformed so something has to be done, but she's so young and small I am not sure she will survive anesthesia at the moment...
Again, thank you all, my friends. I cannot express the level of comfort you have given me. I feel much more clearer in my path and more certain that I can give this special needs kitty what she needs. ❤️
@unk-p, thank you so much for that reading and the hours you spent with your friend! The Star is a beautiful sign. It's symbolic, but also so very much the situation here at the forum ❤️
Your card of the Earth Tom, made me sniffle. I have talked about this forum before about my cat, Holly, whom I had for 19 years, and basically was my cat soulmate. She passed in 2016 and I never saw her again, although @vestralux mentioned she was my guide now. Two days before Christmas she appeared in my dreams for the first time in four years and I felt a great urging towards Starlight. This dream is what pushed me over the edge to go and get her; not knowing what I was getting into. So that was 100% on the bal, Unk;-)
@ana, thank you! Do you give her wet food only? I'm leaning towards that indeed, her mouth is malformed so something has to be done, but she's so young and small I am not sure she will survive anesthesia at the moment...
I think your dream combined with unk's reading tell you all you need to know: You were meant to give a home to this kitten. Whatever comes next, was meant to be.
As to feeding a cat with missing teeth: My cat gets canned food but she is capable of eating kibble. I was surprised when the vet (veterinary dentist!) told me that many completely toothless cats will happily gulp down dry food with no problem. Perhaps you can keep kitty going until she is old enough for anesthesia. I think there are special nutrient-rich supplemental foods that are available-- might be something that would help her thrive.
@ana, thank you for asking! I've been waiting to see when to post due to the upheaval the US is going through. Didn't want to jump in with a kitten with the 6th happening;-)
The situation with Starlight sure is a journey... When we went to the vet last week they were supposed to give her a complete checkup, but didn't manage much due to her feisty behavior. So no blood work, but they did do a check on her urine sample and found she doesn't have diabetes (which I felt wasn't the case anyway).
The vet then said that it was likely she had a neurological defect, I should think about euthanasia, and that was it. Two days later she stopped eating. Stressed out I took her to the vet again on Thursday. They believed it was cat flu. This didn't sit well with me, since, how was she supposed to have gotten this?! Vet again said that it was OK if I wanted to let her go through euthanasia (since she wasn't natural), which I refused again. So, I went home with antibiotics and painkillers. She also got a vitamin shot and ate again at the vet.
It went well until Saturday when she stopped eating once more. I went to a different doctor on Sunday, due it being the weekend, and she didn't agree with the diagnoses at all. Within minutes she'd discovered that the reason Starlight didn't eat was that she only wants fresh food! Now I already have the most expensive recovery food available, but she doesn't want it anymore when the can has been open for more than 12 hours! She also doesn't smell that well, which adds to the no eating if it's not nice and smelly.
The vet then looked at her movements. She agreed that it might be neurological, but actually thinks Starlight might miss a connection in her brain, a lack of dopamine, similar to people with Parkinson's. Apparently we have a cat neurologist in the Netherlands, and the vet advised to go see him *if* Starlight makes it to adulthood.
So, basically, we persevered and didn't put her down. She sleeps a lot due to the tremors, and some of her teeth have to go when she gets older, but for now she seems to pull through. She loves to play and run just like 'normal' kittens. Loves sleeping on our laps and chase after our older cats. She does get lonely now and then, due to my cats not wanting to spend time with her, but I hope that will change. She's a sweet soul. She is just at a disadvantage.
So, basically, we persevered and didn't put her down. She sleeps a lot due to the tremors, and some of her teeth have to go when she gets older, but for now she seems to pull through. She loves to play and run just like 'normal' kittens. Loves sleeping on ur laps and chase after our older cats. She does get lonely now and then, due to my cats not wanting to spend time with her, but I hope that will change. She's a sweet soul. She is just at a disadvantage.
Ah, see you were meant to have Starlight and help her. Most people would have put her down. But you saw that she deserved another chance.
I am glad you listened to your "BS detector" and went to a second vet.
I keep wondering if the neurological problems are rooted in a nutritional deficiency. If you follow the path: malformed jaw and teeth >>> poor eating habits (maybe poor nursing from mom cat too)>> malnutrition.
Keep feeding kitty that good smelly food she can't resist. Warming it will make it smellier, if necessary. And/or you could pour some sardine oil on top of it... yum (for cats). Then see what happens-- as she eats she will get stronger and the neurologist can have a look, or maybe you won't even need a neurologist.
edited to add-- just as I saved this post, my mostly-toothless cat jumped up beside me, purring enthusiastically.
@ana, thank you;-) Yes I am trying. She has stopped eating again though.. it's becoming very hard to keep her alive. I've tried every single bit of quality food as possible. Hope she pulls through...
@moonbeam Smelly food is what cats like-- if you need to buy some sardines and tuna and squish them up and warm them a little-- do it. If they cannot smell, they will not eat.
Also, is kitty still on pain meds and/or anti-inflammatories to make her jaw more comfortable? She should be, IMO.
@ana, I've tried a lot, let me tell you ? After one and a half days she started to eat again this morning. I'd almost given up. I started to spoon feed her and she perked up. Going for another bout of yummy, smelly food in a bit.
She is on pain meds and antibiotics now. We'll see where it goes, but for now I am just so happy that she's eating!
My hope is that she'll get stronger with a few weeks so she can actually grow up. She is small for her age and so very thin now. Will you hope with me that she will pull through?
. Will you hope with me that she will pull through?
Of course!! Please keep us posted!