Cat question

jon f mn · Oct 26, 2018

When I first looked at our farm there was a litter of kittens living in the shed. As time went in they all died. Then last week I was walking through the barn and saw an adult cat nearly dead laying there. It was alive but could not move other than to look at me. I've seen a few other cat bodies around the place too. Just wondering what could be causing this and if there is anything I can do the still it. Would like some outside cats for rodent control. Thanks.

IA Roy · Oct 26, 2018

Distemper? Years ago my parents farm was pretty hard on kittens. Now they have plenty. Advertise on Craigslist if you want some! Maybe next time I take a road trip I should bring you some. No I wouldn't do that to someone I liked.

kcm.MN · Oct 26, 2018

Impossible to say for sure, but I would suspect there is mouse poison thereabouts. Cats have been known to have a territory in excess of 10 miles, so could be coming from many places other than your property.

Some people use poisons other than those "meant" just for mice. One neighbor one time gave us some poison granules meant for gophers, groundhogs and the like. He said he also uses it for mice by mixing oats and....I think molasses. Reading the label on the side, we still have never used any of the stuff; probably never will. This stuff is pretty much guaranteed to ruin the day of any animal that ingests it.

Jegs · Oct 26, 2018

Hi Jon, sorry to hear about the kittens, my wife is a Vet Tech and here's what she has to say. Possibly feline leukemia or feline distemper. Both are diseases that will spread amongst your cat colony, and both are diseases that you can vaccinate against. Try bringing in some new blood lines. There are lots of rescue groups, and many humane societies that offer "barn cat" adoptions, so the cats are nnalert against these diseases. It can be hard to justify spending a lot of money on barn cats, but the vaccines can really help. Good luck!

Geo-TH,In · Oct 26, 2018

We had a stray cat stop by and died in a few days. It gave our cat Feline Leukemia Virus. Our cat died too.
10 common cat diseases

paul · Oct 26, 2018

You aren?t that far from me, distemper is the common one that goes through in waves around here, maybe eve4y 3 years.

I giv3 kittens one shot, and they seem to live the barn life for a decade or more. Supposed to be a shot a year, but I find one protects them a long time.

Strays come in and die from it, the one# I got the one shot to live.

Paul

Bruce from Can. · Oct 26, 2018

Are any of these sick cats having snotty noses? We had a type of rhinitis that cats can get. Very contagious, some will survive, but will have damaged motor control. Walk with a stagger, and generally be dependent on you for food, as they are worthless for hunting. Nearly have to sneak up on a food dish.

db4600 · Oct 26, 2018

We have been on our place 15 years and are down to one sick cat. We inherited 3 with the place and everyone since has been sickly. The one that is left is a transplant and we try to help her out with antibiotic, but it seems to be a futile effort. Eventually we will have to go catless for a few years for the virus to complete die off and than try to restart.

Case Nutty 1660 · Oct 26, 2018

Have you or the PO put out mouse bait? cold be that in the older cat,, male cats will kill any male kittens they find,, seen that a lot this year,, I would be Glad to set you up with a fresh batch
cnt

retired farmer · Oct 26, 2018

Could have rabies. I would very carefully take one to the vet and have them examine it.

LAA · Oct 26, 2018

All but one our cats died over the last 3 months, probably a dozen at least, I think the Squirrels got some disease this year and maybe it transferred. A couple of different people have said all the Squirrels in the area have warts and are sluggish, I have not seen many period.

Dave H (MI) · Oct 26, 2018

Jon, you should do what I do in these circumstances. MSU has a lab and for a modest fee will necropsy the dead cat. Sometimes they find nothing. Sometimes they are very helpful. If it was mouse bait, they will know. They will check for diseases also. I am sure you have a university or lab who will do it. Tell them your concerns. Then you can vaccinate or whatever. If it is always around a certain shed, I would be concerned.

kcm.MN · Oct 26, 2018

Great idea Dave!

jeffcat · Oct 26, 2018

I really hate to read a post like this. Not your faut just breaks my heart. Too much stuff around that can kill animals and some you don't even think of. Rat poison that was cosumed by a rodent and then eaten buy another animal. Those poisons acumulate. I am on blood thinners and sure know about this one. Antifreeze is another. One that is REALLY sudden and incredible leathel is liquid car polish. Just a drop is a water puddle is leathel. Also useing the incorrect flea spray or treatment. You can NOT- NO HOW NO WAY use dog treatment on cats! Disease can take out animals. One of the worst is infantile feline leukemia. It is almost always deadly. Have seen a perfectly healthy animal dead in a week. Sometimes they survive and they will then become a carrier. As long as they don't come in contact with other cats things are fine. This thread really hurts my heart to reply to but figured everyone needs to know. Not yelling at you it just hurts and is just so sad. Hope I gave you some directions to look.

Cat question

jon f mn

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IA Roy

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kcm.MN

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Jegs

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Geo-TH,In

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paul

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Bruce from Can.

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db4600

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Case Nutty 1660

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retired farmer

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LAA

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Dave H (MI)

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kcm.MN

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jeffcat

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