I'd HIGHLY suspect herpes-virus. Herpes can cause all of the same symptoms as an URI can, plus it's MORE apt to cause eyes to seal shut and to cause cornea damage. It IS treatable though, I have a regimen suggested a year or so ago from this list: One treatment for Feline Herpes recommended to me via email: One treatment is Interferon and L-Lysine(which is an immune system booster to help his own body fight it off). Interferon is available from a vet, but L-Lysine is over the counter (you can find it at a health food store). A treatment for the active infection would be Acyclovir (Zovirax) which is an oral anti-viral and an antibiotic (either Doxycycline, Azithromycin or Rifampin). Those used in conjunction with Vit A supplementation and Viroptic eye drops (or Idoxuride/Betadine eye drops or Chloramphenical eye drops since Viroptic is expensive) really work great to clear up the active infection. Once cleared, the patient should remain on the Vit A, Interferon and L-Lysine to prevent future recurrences. They should also be kept stress-free. Of course, you should always get the permission form the vet before doing any of this. Similar diseases (that cause similar symptoms) are Bartonella, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma (all of which can occur along with Herpes). L-Lysine 500mg twice a day Interferon 10 units orally once a day for 7 days, stop for 7 days, then give 10 units orally once daily for 7 days (and so one) Doxycycline 5 mg per pound twice daily for 6 weeks Azithromycin 5 mg per pound once daily for 21 days Rifampin 5 mg per pound once a day for 21 days For Vit A supplement you can use Felivite 2 with Taurine (it contains Vit A as well as a few others to help with immune boosting) Eye Drops are usually dosed three times a day (use caution to use NOTHING containing a steroid as steroids will actually aggravate the eye and make it worse) All of these dosages came from The Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association Jan/Feb 2004, pg 6-12
This treatment has proven VERY successful at treating my Greek sponsor cat, he's vastly improved now! Here are a few other links to possible viruses that could be at the root of your cats' illnesses: http://www.fabcats.org/catflu1.html http://vet.osu.edu/assets/courses/vm718/sam2/herpes.html http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1327&S=1&SourceID=42 http://maxshouse.com/Resp_Di_.Comp.htm http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/rhinotracheitis.html http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/calici.html http://www.gla.ac.uk/faculties/vet/clinical/diagnostics/companion/ocatflu.htm http://sacs.vetmed.ufl.edu/Ophtho/Feline/Feline.htm As for the intestinal problems, well, IBD is only one of many conditions that can lead to poopie-butt. Has your vet tested for tritrichomonsis? it's becoming more and more common in cats lately... http://www.fabcats.org/tritrichomonas.html http://ucat.us/Trichomonosis.doc This is a page that explains what can lead to an IBD diagnosis: http://www.bestfriends.org/members/health/felinflbwl.htm Phaewryn Please adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost Spay&Neuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners: http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.html Special Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Find us on PETFINDER! http://petfinder.com/shelters/VT44.html
