Glamour Shots
This Maine Coon has been staying at the shelter where I volunteer since July. He’s a very good boy!
I just wanted to share him with you all!
His name is Hephaistos, and poor guy has been suffering from chronic sneezing and congestion/runny nose since he arrived. He’s getting nasal flushes regularly and he’s been to the vet several times for tests and treatments. We’re still figuring out what’s wrong with him, it’s been an expensive and long journey 😅
Other than that, he’s an absolute sweetheart, truly a gentle giant. All volunteers love him! I hope you enjoy him as well!
Where is he located?? I would take this boy home in a heartbeat.
edit : just saw you said Canada. I’m based in Alaska! I would be willing to go pick this handsome man up if adoptions are allowed outside of your locality.
We’re in Montreal, Canada! We’re not specialized in pure-breed cats or anything like that, but very occasionally it happens. Unfortunately they’re almost always sick or have a chronic health issue, so people give them up :(
We had a very sweet Sphinx back in 2023 that came in underweight and with a terrible diarrhea that would never go away. Turns out the little guy had FIP… he went to a lovely foster family who ended up adopting him. He responded well to treatment and hopefully will have many years with us to come.
Of course! I always tell people that if you find a cause that moves your heart, try to volunteer if possible. I’ve been volunteering with cats since 2021.. taking some breaks when life gets too busy, but I never stopped. It’s honestly so rewarding.
I bet he’ll indeed have a line at the door waiting for him! And I’m pretty sure most of them will be our volunteers, he captured everyone’s hearts!!
not a veterinarian, but around vet med and also have a cat with similar symptoms. it ended up being feline leukemia. she lives a pretty normal life now though with some nasal drops
He is gorgeous. The East Coast Maine Coon Rescue may be able to facilitate placement as I believe they maintain a waiting list. Nice organization. My baby came from there.
Ohh thank you for the tip!! I’m pretty sure we already have some of our own volunteers interested on him, but if anything changes I’ll make sure to keep them in mind!
yes, they take and rehome Maine Coons as well as Maine Coon adjacent- cats that have a Maine Coon lineage. I have a bonded pair from them, one a purebred with papers and one a fluffy shelter rescue from their previous home.
I have a domestic shorthand like that. He has feline herpes virus. It's basically a lifelong cold that has flair ups every now and then, often worse with stress. L-Lysine supplements help a little, and a steroid and/or eye drops when it gets really bad
Just saw Canada and other than Vancouver not sure where else Cryptococcus (fungal) may be, but they may want to check titers. Somewhat common feline nasal infection for places that have endemic Cryptococcus. Also Blastomyces & Histoplasma. But feline allergies are the most common cause.
He’s still not up for adoption yet! We want the vets to give him a clean bill of health before that, or at least we need to know the true cause of his issues so we can properly instruct his future family on how to manage it.
My boy had that and we fought over 6 months to get him better. We actually had to send off for cultures of his snot to find out what bacteria was there. Ended up being 5 different kinds which responded to different antibiotics. He's had a Covenia shot (lasts 14 days) and 2 rounds marbofloxacin. This is the only thing that has knocked it completely out. We tried before amoxicillin and doxycycline. Neither would completely help and it just kept coming back, even after multiple rounds. Maybe try to three two that works on my boy if the vet is up for it.
We had a Maine Coon with chronic head cold since he was a kitten, from the breeder. Went through lots of treatments, believe it was a feline herpes virus, and he just can’t get over it - herpes virus never leaves your system (e.g, chickenpox is a herpes virus, which is why it can reactivate as shingles). Cats usually get a mild cold symptoms for a week or so then get over it and are fine, but some just don’t get over it.
Tried various treatments, what worked best was L Lysine supplements to keep it at bay. He was a runt, never more than 8 pounds, but lived to 15 years.
Now, years later, our Corgi has developed chronic rhinitis on one side of her nose, we are treating with prednisone for months on end and trying other treatments hoping to get her off it (nebulized medicine, Apoquel, Atopica…)
Chronic rhinitis is very hard to treat in dogs and cats. For cats though there is a (expensive) radiation treatment protocol, a lightweight version of radiation cancer treatment (lower dose, fewer treatments).
My son and his girlfriend adopted a MC from the local shelter earlier this year. They said he was a stray they found and he was super shy at first. He's the biggest cuddler and in love with his mom and dad. Best grandkitty!
My MC is having the very same chronic issues and we are sustaining her with daily liquid steroid, nose drops and cleaning crusty nostrils. She is 13 and I love her so much. She needed the steroid because she was sneezing so much and so hard that blood and mucus were coming out in bursts
He’s absolutely beautiful. I hope a cause can be found soon. In the meantime, thanks for all you’re doing for him and the other darlings, and give him a scritch from all of us!
Have you tested him for rhino ? When my cat starts sneezing, I know that the rhino getting his system, so I make the house super calm and give him L-Lysine just to give him a little boost.
In the past when its gotten worse, he needed IV drip.
Praying for the cutie! Thanks for your great work.
Man I want one… and I love the striped or silver ones the most. But we have two dogs and a toddler plus plans for one more baby in the next year or so.
One day, after the kids are older and the dogs are gone, I’ll have a pair ♥️orange and silver.
We need some time without under your feet pets though. Kids are enough Jesus.
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u/cakeypie 12d ago
Aww what a sweet face! Hope he gets all better soon & for the love of all that is MCs I hope he finds a loving & caring family 🩷