So the vet examined the cats and had no idea what was wrong with them? I would definitely find another vet. Unfortunately, no one except a vet can tell you what was wrong, especially not anyone who hasn't even seen the cats. I know cats can die rather quickly from hepatic lipidosis from not eating, but I didn't think it could happen in a matter of hours. Maybe it can. Besides that, you have no idea why they stopped eating. I would watch all your remaining cats carefully and rush them to a different vet at the first sign of illness. Maybe even call around to different vets in your area right now, describe the symptoms the other cats experienced and see if they have any ideas at all what could have caused it.

 

Could they have been poisoned?

 

If you have 27 more cats at risk, I strongly urge you to have a necropsy performed on one or more of the dead cats (if you still have their bodies available). That's the only way you'll know how they died at this point. I also agree that you should be looking for a new vet immediately.

My first thought is that your cats may have been poisoned.

Laurie

 

Thank you for your messages.
I understand your concern, but I don't think they could have been poisoned. No one went there except me.
There are proteas in the garden where they are. Do you think they are toxic for the cats?

 

Firstly, why was Synulox prescribed? It's an antibiotic, did any of the cats have an infection? Was it prescribed to all 30 of them?

I'm not familiar with the protea flower, but just did a search on it and it does not appear to be poisonous to cats, but there are several plants/flowers that are poisonous, so you may want to check out what else is in the yard.

 

What kind of tests did the vet do? Why did he prescribe the antibio?

 

The antibiotic was prescribed as a "palliative treatment" because the vet could not identify the disease that they had.
He listened to their hearts and their breathing and measure the fever. Everything was normal. In the morning he gave the antibiotic injected into one of the cats because he could not eat the tablet. Late in the afternoon he was dead.
He told me to give the antibiotic if the other cats look sad or prostrated.
There are not other plants in the garden.

 

No blood work?

 

How can you be certain that someone else didn't come by the garden and feed poison to the cats? Are you there, watching the cats, all day and night every day and night?

 

That is my thought.

From the acute symptoms and quickness of death, that was my first thought. Poisoning.

 

I agree with what others are saying here...I Would Not Rule Out Poison...
Poisons act very quickly and that you had three that expired pretty much in the same time frame...Sounds like poisoning unfortunately, not a disease, very sad...
Do you know anyone that don't like cats or might have a reason to hold a grudge??
I'm sorry for your losses...

 

I think you should set aside poisoning. I live in a small town and I know all my neighbours for many years. They love animals to. All of them have cats and dogs. Anyway cats have their little houses and at night I close them there. The door of the garden has a padlock and I am the only one who holds the key. During the day I watch them many times because I work at home. So, I cannot see how could they have been poisoned.
----
10cats2dogs : I love this T.S. Eliot thought! I completely agree with it! My cats have their particular names however I usually call them by their nicknames... and, of course, they have their names that only they know (and they will never confess)! Brilliant!

 

I didn't see if you answered the question about necropsy. Was a necropsy done on any of the bodies? That would seem to be the fastest way to find out what is going on.

Off the top of my head the only two things that come to mind are
Feline panleukopenia (though I think more of them would have showed up with it already) or poisoning. YOu have an extensive outdoor habitat for them, have you checked every plant species, fish species, etc that is in there?

 

It's hard to let go of poisoning when the scenario of sudden onset and rapid death is so consistent with poisoning. Do you have any poisonous snakes, lizards, toads/frogs, spiders, or insects in your area? Any of them could easily enter a locked garden, and that type of poisoning would easily explain why only a few of the 30 cats have been stricken.

Laurie

 

Was there any blood work done?

 

Marie : No, there was no blood work. The vet said it would take to long to know the results and decided not to do it.
MowMow : Unfortunately they don't do necropsies in my town. There are only proteas in the garden.
Laurie : I don't have any of the animals you pointed out in my area. Just snails and slugs. Are they dangerous?

 

Wow CatsLover,
You really do have a mystery there...
Slugs, possibly...if someone put out slug bait poison...
Some snails, I believe can put out a toxin...?
Do you live
in the UK or the US?
Have any more cats shown anything wrong at this time?
I know its horrible when you can't figure out what the hec is going
on...
Praying no more cats are lost.

Glad you like the "Quote"!

 

Not sure if you will ever be able to figure out what killed your kitties w/o a necropsy. And since there was no blood work and poison has been ruled out not really much left to go on.

I hope your other kitties are ok and that whatever it was wont affect them...

 

Thank you all.
My cats are fine at the moment. I hope they will be ok and don't get this strange disease.
If you have some new information, please let me know. Anything you think may be suspicious. I want to know every possibility, as the slugs and snails. Can they put out a toxin? I don't know. I thought they could not, but at this time I have many doubts.

 

Are there any plants toxic to cats in the area (lilies, baby's breath, azaleas, etc)?

Some of the acutely toxic plants, like some lilies, don't take long to shut down vital body functions.

Some cats, like my Nala, will eat any plant if she can get access to it.

 

There are only proteas in the garden. Are they toxic to cats?

 

Not that I can see. The four lists I checked listed it as nontoxic or innocuous.

 

A book I have for cats, lists the three common poisons for cats, as follows:
1. Snail bait
2. Rat poison
3. Ethylene glycol Antifreeze

Plants seem to be ruled out.
Argh....Looking for Mysteries without any clues...

Hope the rest are still doing OK!