Limping Calici- Feline Calicivirus in Kittens

What is Limping Calici, and does it always involve a limp?

According to Kitten Lady, “Limping calici is a form of calicivirus, a viral infection in cats. While calici is mostly recognized for its symptoms of severe respiratory infection and painful oral ulcers, some kittens can become ill with a form of calicivirus that has no respiratory or oral symptoms at all. Limping calici is a form of the virus that causes sudden limping and lameness. While any cat can develop these symptoms, it is far more likely to occur in kittens due to their underdeveloped immune systems. It is also sometimes seen in recently FVRCP vaccinated kittens who are having a reaction to the vaccine.”

However, this is only partially accurate. Kittens do not need to “limp” in order to be symptomatic for the Callicivirus. It is only one way of many a kitten can start showing signs of muscle weakness and sudden fatigue. Some kittens simply get too tired to walk, others begin wobbling and falling over. But the end result is still the same. An untreated kitten will die within days.

Sudden onset anemia is the real killer when dealing with this virus. It is regenerative in an otherwise healthy kitten, meaning the red blood cells will eventually repopulate. It’s unclear why this happens in kittens, but it happens very quickly.

Also important to note, once a kitten becomes infected with FCV, they will periodically manifest symptoms for life and become carriers to all other cats they come in to contact with. 35% of all cats carry this virus in their systems. It is activated due to stress, vaccines, environmental conditions, and poor diet.

There is no cure at the present moment, but the worst way to treat this is with antibiotics and steroids. They only fuel the sugars and yeast in the body, killing off any T-cells the kitten might have. Further, there are more virulent strains than others, which is why some kittens are able to recover, while others are not. The immune health of the mother is a telltale sign of the prognosis of the kittens as well. A healthy mother fed a proper diet high in protein and enzymes will have kittens who are able to fight off more infections as a whole. One great way to ensure kittens never encounter this disease is to forego the FVRCP vaccine altogether.

How Do I Know if My Kittens Have Limping Calici?

Symptoms Include:

• Sudden weakness

• Lethargy

• Loss of appetite

• High Fever

• Vomiting

• Dehydration

• Anemia (white gums)

How Do I Help a Kitten with Limping Calici right now?

Time is of the essence if you have a fading kitten. Most vets have no idea what it is, and most who do recommend IV fluids, which is expensive and risky for kittens. This is not needed. Antibiotics are also useless against a virus. Here is what you need now to help right away:

1. DON’T separate kittens from any family they may have. Their stressed out bodies need all the comfort they can get. Warmth at this time is paramount, as is a calm, quiet environment. Think heating pad warm. Anemia will make you cold- fast.

2. Hydration is paramount, which includes electrolytes (NEVER use Pedialyte- always use either Trace Minerals or unflavored electrolyte-infused water) . We use 10 drops of 40,000 Volts by Trace Minerals per half cup of water.

3. Don’t skip the B vitamins! B-12 by itself is not enough- B’s need to be given together in liquid form. We use mashed up raw chicken livers for best results, but any liquid B vitamins- with NO Xylitol or Aspartame!- works fine. For severe kittens- twice a day until kitten is moving about freely, then once a day for a week.

4. Goat milk powder is best for routine spoon feeding, mix according to directions and serve with B vitamins if tolerated. If not, lactose free whole cow’s milk is ok. Never use Esbilac or KMR. They can be deadly for kittens as they are chock full of toxic chemicals kittens cannot digest properly.

5. Raw egg yolk is an excellent addition to the mix, but wait until day 3 if kitten is in truly poor shape.

6. A ¼ tsp raw honey can be added days one and two if kitten is especially weak and needs the extra glucose for energy.

7. Medicine droppers are more efficient than spoons, but exercise extreme caution if your kittens are under 3 weeks old, as the droppers can cause the kittens to aspirate. A narrow plastic tea spoon is best. The process will take longer- and will be messier- but a half-full teaspoon is safer than a dropper for neonatal kittens, and safer for your fingers, too!

So, What’s the Recipe?

Glad you asked!

DAY 1 BASE (for severely weak kittens):
1 cup of mixed goat milk or lactose free whole cow milk
¼ tsp honey
1/8 tsp concentrated electrolytes
or
1TBSP unflavored, unsweetened electrolyte fluid (or 10 drops of 40,000 volts Trace Minerals)
¼ tsp Pure Encapsulation B vitamins, or one crushed raw chicken liver
(do not use B-12 by itself! Use with at least one other B vitamin to ensure it can be absorbed properly)

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ADD-ON’s (if desired)
1 Packet Proboost thymic protein (daily)
1 scoop any kind of collagen protein
1 raw egg yolk (after day 3 if kittens non-ambulatory)
1 TBSP organic baby cereal (after day 4 or 5 if needed)

Mix all base ingredients until well blended. Note: this recipe is per cup of milk, double or triple as needed, but mix no more than 3 days’ worth in advance.
Any of the add-ons above can be very helpful to put in the mix, but are not required.

A severely dehydrated kitten is going to need to be fed more often and in micro doses to ensure maximum absorption. 1 full tsp in the stomach slowly is going to be more beneficial than 3 tsp forced out of stress. Expect the first day the kitten to urinate nearly all of the fluid out quickly due to dehydration. This is normal.

DO NOT FORCE FEED! Place liquid at the kittens’ lips and around the mouth, electrolyte water can even be placed on the paws or fur for absorption as well. Gently open the mouth but don’t shove anything inside of it, or they may choke. A paper towel wrapped around the neck can help. Be sure to use a baby wipe or some kind of towel to keep the neck dry. It is very possible to cause a secondary infection on the neck if it gets too wet too long.

For precise amounts, this will depend on the weight and health of the kitten. As a general rule:
On average, kittens should eat 2 tablespoons or 30 ccs of formula per 4 ounces of body weight within a 24-hour period.

Need more help navigating Limping Calici? Let us know! Hit reply to this newsletter and let’s talk. Also, tell us what your little ones are facing now, and we would be happy to connect.