wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi everyone. I'm new to this, so please go easy on the complants. I
have a little kitten and he's only like 3 mo old. He's having a hard
time breathing, he's beginning to drool, doesn't want to eat, and his
left eye is covered in puss. My boyfriend and I tried to force him to
drink tiny amounts of milk at a time, and tried to get him to eat.
We've had this problem for about 4 days. Right now he is sleeping....
but I really want to get him to the vet; the only problem is I don't
have enough money for the bills right now and no transportation. I
would get him some medication but like I said before, I don't really
have any way to right now. My boyfriend held some Noxzema (acne med) up
to his nose so he could clear his nasal congestion, so at least now he
can close his mouth. Can anyone give me some advice of how I can treat
my cat with this problem (possibly w/out a vet)?

This sounds like VERY SERIOUS upper respiratory infection. Kittens this age
die from it. Two prominent forms of the virus that cause it may be present
at the same time. The eye infection and inability - not unwillingness - to
eat are direct results of the virus. He needs hydration NOW. I brought one
of my cats back from the brink of death due to URI and it's a pretty intense
treatment.

The virus will cause ulcers in the mouth and throat that make taking any
food or liquid very difficult. Get some liquid baby Ora-Jel and swab the
inside of the mouth and as far back into the throat as you can get it to go.
You will have to get a small animal nursing bottle - pets stores or vet
will have them. Should cost less than a dollar. Cut off the tip of the
nipple so that a hole about 1/8 of an inch is present. You will need to mix
wet cat food with water until it is a runny paste form. Try force feeding
about one or two tablespoons at a time immediately after applying the
Ora-Jel. This needs to be repeated every few hours. If you have access to
amoxicillin liquid, 1 teaspoon every 4 hours needs to be given. Vets have
antibiotics more specifically aimed at this treatment but they aren't common
to find in most households. If you know anyone that has any lysine -
available at health food stores, give this every 4 hours at 1/10 of the
human dose for a few days. This will help boost the immune system.

The biggest things to deal with right now are hydration and nutrition. The
infection symptoms really DO REQUIRE antibiotics. Your kitten is suffering
the human equivalent of pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus infection all at
the same time. Don't waste anymore time. If you REALLY want to save this
kitten, it's time to make a deal with a vet - NOW.

I know that the regs here are going to give me hell for this advice, but if
the OP does not take the kitten to a vet NOW, it WILL die. Even with vet
treatment, the prognosis wouldn't be terribly good. My boy Spot recovered
from it after 2 weeks of force feeding before he could eat on his own again.