Seeking Advice/Help...

[OzziNPhobe]

Hello all, I"m new to the forum here. I have two spynx kitties. Ozzi M, Sealpoint, and Phoebe F, black/grey. They are both about a year and a half old. I love them dearly. I am a single dad with two little girls ages 10 and 7. One cat for each of my girls. Anyway, both of my cats are sick with some sort of bacterial infection. Phoebe has had it for about 6 months and Ozzi for about 4 months. They both eat, play, and potty regularly, but they are both having little coughing spells and constantly sneezing... not just a little sneeze mist, but pretty agressive "snot rockets" all over the place (windows, walls, furniture, bedding, etc...). They have been to multiple vets, and been on multiple medicines/antibiotics... still no big improvements. From the begginning, one vet said we need to do some "scans" on the cats and that "might" help figure it out, but the problem is as a single dad, I can't afford the $1,800/ per cat scans, so I've been trying to avoid that cost by trying any and everything else. Well, now the meds are starting to add up as well. There is a $500/ per cat panel that also "might" help figure the issue out, but again... decent chunk of change that I cant really rock right now. So, all in all here, wondering if anyone has experienced this issue, or if they have any ideas or light on the situation. I couldnt ever get rid of them... (I'd be sad, and my girls would be devastated) but its getting to a point where I'm getting sick of snot literally everywhere. So let me know if you have any ideas on this? I thought about a GoFund me or something for them, but I do not have any social media accounts to get that word out there... so i'm at a loss here. THanks for any help or insight!

 

[Natalie Murphy]

Bless you. I too am having the same problem and busy trying all medication through the vet at the moment. We just finished a 3 week antibiotic course and no sooner is it finished then it starts again. I will be really interested if anyone else has any ideas or help,on this secondary respiratory infection. I am busy eliminating food and soon the cat litter too. To a carbon tofu. So I too will keep you up dated. Lets hold thumbs that we can get some aid

 

[tori orr]

I know this seems like an old song, but I've found diet to be so essential. Trial and error over many years and with many vets. Similar to my own doctor who can't seem to help me with the pain in my chest. They say nothing is wrong but I know better, so I focus on the foods and supplements for heart health and I keep my diet as simple as possible. If you are feeding kibble of any kind I would stop immediately. I would focus on a simple real (wet) food diet. Yes, it's expensive but sounds like so are the doctor visits and medication. If you can really tell meds aren't helping then I would stop them too. Pilling a cat is stressful, stress prohibits healing, healing requires a cozy place to rest and good food to eat. (It seemed like the sneezes were just noisy? but their noses not runny? Still could be a food allergy if it has been going on that long?)

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Sorry to hear your babies are not feeling well. Did your vet run a PCR test? That should help narrow it down and your vet should probably only have to test one as the other most likely has the same issue. Also what antibiotic are they on? Some just do not work as well with this breed. Doxycycline is one that many have had positive results with as it covers a wider spectrum.

 

[OzziNPhobe]

I know this seems like an old song, but I've found diet to be so essential. Trial and error over many years and with many vets. Similar to my own doctor who can't seem to help me with the pain in my chest. They say nothing is wrong but I know better, so I focus on the foods and supplements for heart health and I keep my diet as simple as possible. If you are feeding kibble of any kind I would stop immediately. I would focus on a simple real (wet) food diet. Yes, it's expensive but sounds like so are the doctor visits and medication. If you can really tell meds aren't helping then I would stop them too. Pilling a cat is stressful, stress prohibits healing, healing requires a cozy place to rest and good food to eat. (It seemed like the sneezes were just noisy? but their noses not runny? Still could be a food allergy if it has been going on that long?)

Yeah I originally had them on the Petco Whole hearted, and not sure if it was the peas in it or what, but Ozzi broke out with a horrible scab rash all over his body. I switched laundry detergents, and litter from Pretty Litter, to the Arm and Hammer clump and seal.(pretty litter gets pretty gross and smelly after not too much time.) I have had them on the Hills Science Diet, Indoor dryfood for quite a few months now. What do you mean by "real wet food"?

 

[OzziNPhobe]

Sorry to hear your babies are not feeling well. Did your vet run a PCR test? That should help narrow it down and your vet should probably only have to test one as the other most likely has the same issue. Also what antibiotic are they on? Some just do not work as well with this breed. Doxycycline is one that many have had positive results with as it covers a wider spectrum.

THank you, they are on Doxycyline, another anti hystemine, and a steroid right now. 3 meds for each, twice a day.. fun stuff. Ha What is a PCR test?

 

[OzziNPhobe]

Sorry to hear your babies are not feeling well. Did your vet run a PCR test? That should help narrow it down and your vet should probably only have to test one as the other most likely has the same issue. Also what antibiotic are they on? Some just do not work as well with this breed. Doxycycline is one that many have had positive results with as it covers a wider spectrum.

The genetic test... yes, they did run one. They did rule that out. Thank you

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Hoping Doxy does the trick!

 

[OzziNPhobe]

Yeah, who knows they’ve been on all three meds for over a month so far. I’m going to stop all meds for now.

 

[Yoda mom]

@OzziNPhobe , welcoming you your girls and adorable Ozzie and Phoebe to the lair family. we are here for you. doxycycline worked for my boy but had to use it for a little while. I could not afford all the testing and got a few refills of the doxy. I checked good rx and my vet looked for the best prices for me. was wondering why you are stopping all meds? it can take some time for resolution. I feel for you. you are a great dad

sharing mine were also sensitive to fabric softeners and detergents, gain was a culprit for one members kitty. some are sensitive plug in air fresheners, fabric fresheners. scented litters. not sure if you use any? trying to brainstorm .

I switched to Dr elseys unscented litter (I use petco online instore 20% pickup savings and pals rewards) or chewy has a special .
I feel for you and your girls precious babies. I know it can be soo frustrating to find the source and the medication that works best. we are here for you.
My bengal cat had a uri and clavamox worked for her as well as my first sphynx. I get at chewy online and my vet approves. please keep us updated often . hugs n positive vibes

 

[Natalie Murphy]

Hello all, I"m new to the forum here. I have two spynx kitties. Ozzi M, Sealpoint, and Phoebe F, black/grey. They are both about a year and a half old. I love them dearly. I am a single dad with two little girls ages 10 and 7. One cat for each of my girls. Anyway, both of my cats are sick with some sort of bacterial infection. Phoebe has had it for about 6 months and Ozzi for about 4 months. They both eat, play, and potty regularly, but they are both having little coughing spells and constantly sneezing... not just a little sneeze mist, but pretty agressive "snot rockets" all over the place (windows, walls, furniture, bedding, etc...). They have been to multiple vets, and been on multiple medicines/antibiotics... still no big improvements. From the begginning, one vet said we need to do some "scans" on the cats and that "might" help figure it out, but the problem is as a single dad, I can't afford the $1,800/ per cat scans, so I've been trying to avoid that cost by trying any and everything else. Well, now the meds are starting to add up as well. There is a $500/ per cat panel that also "might" help figure the issue out, but again... decent chunk of change that I cant really rock right now. So, all in all here, wondering if anyone has experienced this issue, or if they have any ideas or light on the situation. I couldnt ever get rid of them... (I'd be sad, and my girls would be devastated) but its getting to a point where I'm getting sick of snot literally everywhere. So let me know if you have any ideas on this? I thought about a GoFund me or something for them, but I do not have any social media accounts to get that word out there... so i'm at a loss here. THanks for any help or insight!

Hello I have been following your thread with the untmost interest as my little boy of 1 and a half has been having the same issue as your girls for over 10 months now almost a year and he has just finished a 3 week course of antibiotics. But it still persisted So I started the process of food elimination as the vet said there was nothing he could do.
My aim was first try a food elimination one at a time for two weeks. Then a new litter type.
I feed three different types of food When I got him I googles best food for Sphynx cats and Stella And Chewy came up so I bought it. The dried freeze morsels. He loves it. I also bought the top range of kibbles by another company and another dried freeze meat.
I have stopped Stella and Chewy for over a week and a half and only now do I see the effects. I have not had to wipe his nose for the last two evenings. Or run around with a wipe every time he sneezes Which is great as He was really bad at times I even had snot big enough for the world to see on my work clothing once. My walls were constantly stained. I still need to repaint them .
Try get your girls to help you not feed them anything especially any new treats . It took over a week and a half to see the results. Eliminate one thing at a time over a two week period..
I started with his favorite food and the thing I always gave him the most of and thank goodness it was that.
Now I am stuck with a whole lot of extra litter and other kibbles I do not need to try out.
Good luck I hope your problem is the same and cheaper to solve than a vet bill