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The kittens with mamma Nala
"At the first visit, they all looked like healthy little babies, said Maraya, owner and founder of Rescue Kitties of Hawaii (RKH). Following their check-up, the four were transferred to a foster home to be bottle-fed. However, the health of one kitty took a quick downturn.
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"He crashed so fast, declining by the second. He was very anemic," Maraya expressed. "We would have gotten a blood transfusion, but we didn't even have time."
Afterward, the RKH team became suspicious of the anemia levels in the other siblings and the yellowing teeth of two in particular.
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"It was the strangest thing," opined Maraya, who has assisted in the care and rehoming of over 5,000 cats in 2020. "I've never seen teeth that dark yellow on babies."
At a later follow-up appointment, every veterinarian in the PetVet Animal Hospital put on protective gear to examine the two afflicted kittens. When they shined a UV light on their teeth, they glowed bright, fluorescent pink.
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"None of the vets had ever seen that," Maraya said. The vets explained, "We've never once seen this in person. We've heard about it, but it's such a rare anemic condition. It's a learning lesson for the whole clinic to see."
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The Merck Veterinary Manual points to erythropoietic porphyria (EPP), a rare hereditary disease, as a possible origin of the condition. Often called "Vampire Disease," EPP causes low levels of an enzyme involved in producing heme, part of the hemoglobin molecule that carries oxygen in the blood. The development of hemolytic anemia will also trigger the body to destroy blood cells, and abnormal byproducts caused by the lack of enzymes will accumulate in the skin, causing photosensitivity.
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Not only were two of the kitties dealing with this – one kitten was unaffected – but the two, now dubbed Dracula and Bella, had tested positive for Feline panleukopenia (FPV), a highly contagious parvoviral infection. After aggressive treatment, "they bounded back," Maraya said, expressing relief. Two weeks later, they tested negative for FPV.
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A loving family quickly adopted the unaffected feline, and Dracula and Bella were transferred to another foster home where they grew bigger by the day, playing and as happy as can be. Both are now nine months old and doing "amazing," but there's a catch: they can't go in the sunlight. The photosensitivity caused by EPP means UV rays will severely harm the kittens. It's likely that their mother also suffered from the genetic aliment considering the open wounds on her body when RKH rescued her.
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"I've had multiple vets tell me, 'if you see that, you have to euthanize immediately,'" Maraya explained. "It's the most horrific, painful death."
Maraya, however, wants to give them the life they deserve. She even paid a shelter $200 a week to get the kittens out of the sunshine as she moved residences.
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Dracula and Bella need dedicated adopters. They must be conscious of EPP and its effects, and keep up with their blood testing and medical care.
"My goal with these kittens is to raise awareness, first of all to their incredible endurance and survival story, and to hope that the right person, maybe even a vet somewhere that wants to learn more about it," Maraya stated. "They're the sweetest, most gentle, playful, loving kittens, and we just want them to find the best home and live the best life, however long that may be."
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