Steve

 Steve has caught whatever the cats have been passing around.

He looked awful last night. He was lying with his mouth open and drooling.

I checked for an emergency vet, but the nearest place was 2 hours drive from here, and I didn't think the stress of being in a cage that long would be good for him.

I checked on Steve every couple of hours; he managed to sleep, which I think helps. This morning he was eating and drinking alright.

David took him to the vet; it's some kind of virus that the cats are passing around. Steve has antibiotics. 

Now seven of our nine cats have been sick. It's so quiet, as they have lost their voice. Frodo, who was the first one to get sick, is a lot better, still sleeping more than usual, but his appetite is back. I think in another week, everything will be back to normal chaos.

Steve

Fred's Turn

 Now Fred is down with whatever the cats have.

I think it's some kind of throat virus; the cats who have been sick have all lost their voices. This morning Mama was trying to meow, but she sounded very hoarse.

Frodo is much better; he is eating, drinking, and using the litter box. Mama and Sam still seem a bit down; they are eating a bit but not as much as usual.

I'm wondering if this is going to go through all the cats!

Fred is not looking happy.

Today, they got wet food for lunch, I think it's easier on their throats!

Enjoying lunch.

Sam was waiting in the other room, but not meowing!

Waiting like a good boy.

He really enjoyed his lunch!

He kept getting distracted by what was happening behind me but he really enjoyed this food!!

Now Three Cats Are Down

 I'm not sure what is happening with my cats.

Yesterday was Frodo; he's still the same. He was drinking water this morning but is off his food. He ate some cat snacks, which is good, maybe!

I noticed today that Mama and Sam are not their usual selves either. Both are off their food; neither has any energy. I'm planning on giving them some wet food tonight; if I can get them to eat a bit, it might help.

My one worry is that Mama cat got out last week, twice! I really hope that she didn't pick up something or ingest some kind of poison. I think another trip to the vet when they open tomorrow!

Sam, not looking good

Mama

Frodo

 Having nine cats means that there is always some drama!

Fights, racing around, knocking over water bowls and the occasional litter box accident. That's normal; one of the first T-shirts I designed said "81 lives, endless chaos", and it is!

The past couple of days, however, the cats have been very quiet, especially Frodo.

Frodo is one of the cats that always greets David when he comes home from work. Frodo purrs and meows, wanting to be held and petted. This morning, however, Frodo just sat, looking at David. No purring, no jumping up to get on David's lap, just sitting there. So David took Frodo to the vet; he thought that Frodo might have a cold. The vet checked but no cold, so they did a few tests, but there's nothing wrong. The only thing I can think of is the dramatic change in the weather, almost overnight! For the past couple of months, it's been in the upper 30℃, yesterday in dropped to the lower 20℃. 

I hope Frodo feels better soon!

Frodo checking out the box, hoping for cat food!

Alfie

 Alfie is my other grey and white cat.

He's usually very quiet; he isn't a people cat. He likes a few pets, but definitely on his terms. No sitting on laps, no belly rubs either.

However, over the past couple of weeks, he has become a terror, usually attacking Toast as they are similar in size. Occasionally he'll go after Steve, who is a lot bigger! He actually seems to win these fights!

Alfie, looking serious.

Most of these attacks are at night, which means I'm constantly being woken up! 

I've had to separate Fred from Steve, Alan, and Frodo; I don't have enough rooms to separate Alfie from the other cats as well. 

I'll try to spend more time playing with them and see if that will help. I really don't know what else to do!

He is cute, though.

Toast

  A few weeks ago, Toast got out and stayed out for about a week!

During that time, David tried to get Toast back. He put out food and water for him, even bought a trap, but ended up catching one of the neighbour's cats instead.

At one point, David chased Toast, but of course Toast was faster and got into a small space where David couldn't reach!

Finally, David caught Toast and got him back inside. Now, however, Toast is scared of David. Whenever David comes into the same room as Toast, Toast takes off! If David feeds the cats, Toast won't eat until David has moved away!

This was Toast the other day! David was standing behind me in the doorway, so Toast couldn't get out!

Poor Toast, he looks really scared!

Fluffy

 Fluffy is doing a lot better. 

We've been giving her the medicine she got from the vet twice a day. Actually, David gives her the medicine; he can just put it in her mouth and make her swallow it! If I try, I mix it with some wet food, but somehow she manages to eat around the medicine, and I'm never sure she has taken the full dose.

A lot better

The sores on her head are almost healed, but she is still scratching too much, so we have to keep the collar on her for a bit longer.

She is alright in herself, eating, begging for chicken, drinking, and using the litter box alright! With Fluffy, I know that she isn't well when she isn't shouting at me when I get chicken out to cook!

We've had this problem with her for the past few years. I'm going to look into some preventive ideas, as I hate seeing her suffer like this every summer!