We Have An Epidemic :(

[lizbud]

Does this disease have a name? Is it common in some areas of the country
and not others? I am sorry the Vet hasn't been able to be much help with
this. This must be very scary. I hope you find some answers soon.

[K & L]

Thank you everyone! I guess we should feel fortunate we've gone at least 12 years on a very multi-cat household with little problems. How this got started is beyond me. It's all very depressing. Leila is at the vets today and Beavis goes tomorrow. They give them shots of antibiotics, pain meds, and anti-inflammatory meds. They help for a bit but then anywhere between 3 to 4 weeks they all need it again. The weird part is all their tests are coming back fine. We will keep it up as long as we can and then I don't know what we will have to do.

[Catty1]

The economy is recovering very slowly - but please ask for help if it will keep some kitties alive. I can give a bit, just a bit. But many bits add up!

Again - try disinfecting the air in your place; could be some spring pollutant that has come in.

Also - your story of working with the park cats has been in the paper. Contact the paper/writer and ask for a follow-up. I am sure help would flood in (or trickle hugely) from that. Don't be shy about it - you and your husband have worked tirelessly and thanklessly at what you do, and you deserve some help!

If nothing else, with money you could board several at the vets and treat the others at home.

HUGS!

[Medusa]

This sort of reminds me of my RB Puddy who had CRF and later developed burning mouth syndrome. She got to where she would only lick ice cubes and eat fudgsicles. She had some but not all of the symptoms listed in the article that you posted. Problem is that there really wasn't much to be done for it except to keep her supplied w/bowls of ice cubes in water and hold fudgsicles for her to eat. What clued me in was that her tongue began to hang out. Do your cats do that?

[freckledimple]

Since it sounds like it has a regular cycle, you might take a look at your routine and see if there is a part of your routine that cycles the same way.
You could take general precautions to prevent and control contagion, as well. Of course, keep the ill sepparate from the well. I would set up a quarentine room, and clean and disinfect the whole house. Wash your hands after every time you handle one of your kitties, and use latex/vinyl gloves when handling them and their waste. Remove your shoes when you come in from outside and spray them with Lysol, inside and out. You may even keep a set of "sick clothes" that you change into to handle your sick babies. Basically, do like they do in the hospital with MRSA.

I know you said they did blood tests, but have they checked for parasites? I would imagine there are some, that during their lifecycle, would cause systematic issues and irritations.

Good luck and we'll keep you in our prayers

[carole]

Oh Lisa how terrible for you and what a worry.

some of what you describe sounds a bit like what my Ellie has -chronic gingivitis .

I guess it is not that , or the vet would have mentioned it.
It is treated much the same,with antibiotics, pain relief, except long term steriods and there is no cure for it,it can be caused through some of the things you wrote about this illness your cats have, and of course eating is painful and they loose weight, it is often the bacteria in their mouth that they are allergic to, that is what my vet explained to me, and there can be under lying conditions that also cause it like you listed.

I can only hope and pray that you can get the kitties well again, I have only one to deal with and that is hard enough emotionally and financially to deal with so i really have so much empathy for you.

Keeping fingers and all paws crossed for a more positive outcome. HUGS.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I was also thinking that steroids would probably help with this condition. I know that the shots can be expensive but the pills aren't. I just bought 300 pills for Storm and he only gets 1/2 of a pill every morning so this should last him a long time. The cost was only $28. I buy chicken pill pockets and cut them into 1/4's and roll them up into little balls. I then use these to cover up the pill and he thinks he's getting a treat so it's very easy to pill him. When it's time for your cats to get another steroid shot, you might want to try the pills instead to see how it goes since it's much cheaper in the long run. Good luck.

My vet specializes in cats and I'm going to e-mail her about your situation. Maybe she's seen a cat with this before and she can give me some more information about treatment etc. I'll let you know.

[K & L]

Since it sounds like it has a regular cycle, you might take a look at your routine and see if there is a part of your routine that cycles the same way.
You could take general precautions to prevent and control contagion, as well. Of course, keep the ill sepparate from the well. I would set up a quarentine room, and clean and disinfect the whole house. Wash your hands after every time you handle one of your kitties, and use latex/vinyl gloves when handling them and their waste. Remove your shoes when you come in from outside and spray them with Lysol, inside and out. You may even keep a set of "sick clothes" that you change into to handle your sick babies. Basically, do like they do in the hospital with MRSA.

I know you said they did blood tests, but have they checked for parasites? I would imagine there are some, that during their lifecycle, would cause systematic issues and irritations.

Good luck and we'll keep you in our prayers

All excellent suggestions but with thirty cats we don't have the means to seclude! We even put L-Lysine in their wet food. Yes, the only one that had any parasites was the newby Jewelz who has been treated for this. Thank you!!

[catmandu]

I just hope that that disease doesnt come up North.

I noticed that while the Earl of Ebony eats , his jaw doesnt move quite right and food falls out.
We are sending Prayers for those Poor Strays that someone will help them through their ordeal.
And of course Dear Beavis ^^ Sable ^^ and Gable ^^

[K & L]

This sort of reminds me of my RB Puddy who had CRF and later developed burning mouth syndrome. She got to where she would only lick ice cubes and eat fudgsicles. She had some but not all of the symptoms listed in the article that you posted. Problem is that there really wasn't much to be done for it except to keep her supplied w/bowls of ice cubes in water and hold fudgsicles for her to eat. What clued me in was that her tongue began to hang out. Do your cats do that?

YES!!! A couple the tongue is out constantly. I give them half & half milk for the coolness for their throat and hope it will help keep their weight up.

[smokey the elder]

This is going to sound odd, but have you had your water tested recently? Maybe there is some contaminant in your water supply which is causing the inflammation. One (expensive, but cheaper than going to the vet!) is buying several gallons of bottled water, and use that to water the cats for a few weeks.

[columbine]

This is going to sound odd, but have you had your water tested recently? Maybe there is some contaminant in your water supply which is causing the inflammation. One (expensive, but cheaper than going to the vet!) is buying several gallons of bottled water, and use that to water the cats for a few weeks.

This sounds like a good idea.

Also, if steroids help, you can mail-order them from Wedgewood Pharmacy - some are available in Gourmeds treats, Tiny Tabs, or even transdermal (ear gel in a pen). I give Smudge the latter, and it's really not expensive at all, even with postage.

The only other thing I can think of is kitten food to keep their weight up. Good luck, and please keep us posted!

Love, Columbine

[Pawsitive Thinking]

This is going to sound odd, but have you had your water tested recently? Maybe there is some contaminant in your water supply which is causing the inflammation. One (expensive, but cheaper than going to the vet!) is buying several gallons of bottled water, and use that to water the cats for a few weeks.

Was thinking along the same lines. If their tests are all negative and they are indoor cats has something changed in their environment that could have brought it on? May not be contagious just something that they are all reacting to? Poor kitties (and Mom) - really hope the cause is found soon

[K & L]

The economy is recovering very slowly - but please ask for help if it will keep some kitties alive. I can give a bit, just a bit. But many bits add up!

Again - try disinfecting the air in your place; could be some spring pollutant that has come in.

Also - your story of working with the park cats has been in the paper. Contact the paper/writer and ask for a follow-up. I am sure help would flood in (or trickle hugely) from that. Don't be shy about it - you and your husband have worked tirelessly and thanklessly at what you do, and you deserve some help!

If nothing else, with money you could board several at the vets and treat the others at home.

HUGS!

Thank you and I will keep all this in mind as a last ditch effort.

[K & L]

Does this disease have a name? Is it common in some areas of the country
and not others? I am sorry the Vet hasn't been able to be much help with
this. This must be very scary. I hope you find some answers soon.

It's basically called Pharyngitis. I'm not sure if it's more common in one region vs. the other. Thank you!!