Status / Details
Christmas 2019, Special Tails
Additional Info
- Not Giving Up Kitty
About Bungee
Last year in January, Purebreds Plus took in close to 30 Hybrid cats, including Bengals, Chausie’s, Savannah’s, Jungle Bob’s and Highlander’s, from a breeder. The day we came to take the cats the breeder also gave us several kittens and one was a very tiny, three week old Jungle Bob. He was with a surrogate mom, but very weak and in very poor condition. The kitten required tube feeding for about a week but still refused to take a bottle. He had a difficult time with his sucking reflex and for a kitten that is a grave condition, making it difficult to thrive. He required round the clock syringe feeding with a slurry formula of formula and wet food. He was having difficulty gaining weight and it was touch and go for two to three weeks until he finally decided to eat on his own, which was a HUGE milestone.
But as Bungee started to gain weight and get more body condition, he continued to have diarrhea. Kittens who are on solid food very young often have loose stools, but it was becoming a concern after routine worming’s. We decided to test Bungee for the normal fecal parasites, but because of his breeding in a large hybrid cattery, we decided to also test for a very unusual parasite called T Foetus. We were shocked to find out he was positive for that and at that point decided to test several of the cat we had taking in from the breeder only to find out it was found in several of her cats in the cattery.
Bungee was treated twice with a liquid medication called Ronidazole, compounded by a large US pharmacy. It was devastating to find he was still testing positive after two treatments of a very expensive medication. We were told that at this point, Bungee would have to clear it on his own, which could take a few years, and unfortunately he would not be able to live with other cats because they could also contract the parasite. Poor Bungee was caged and let loose in the foster office when it was clear of other kitties.
But the foster mom could not give up on poor Bungee! He has his whole life ahead of him. The foster mom did her due diligence, spending countless hours reading articles on the parasite. She also consulted a veterinarian specializing in internal medicine. One article mentioned administering the medication in a capsule form that was designed as sustained release so the medication would reach the colon where the medication would be the most effective. After one treatment Bungee was clear!!! His young world opened up to a new life filled with furry friends and now, at eight months old, he is a full of life, healthy, eleven pound boy, ready for his new forever home.
Fosters are dedicated to our kitties and sometimes are thrown a curve ball when they have medical conditions that are challenging and demand tireless hours of supportive and vet care to get them healthy and thrive. There is, of course, a cost involved in vet care and diagnostics. When the final results for these kitties pay off, it is the ultimate reward. This kind of success is why we keep investing our hearts to help these special felines…over and over again.