Last week during our walk in the park, Snickers was getting so much attention as usual. We were on our way to the car when we got stopped by two middleaged expats who went on inquiring about the cat and taking pictures of Snickers. At the end of the conversation one of the guys went on petting Snickers. While doing so green plant leaves dropped from the hand he was petting with.

The sight of the leaves stayed in my mind, but couldn't make a sense of it. This happened just before noon on last Wednesday. The very next day Snickers lost much of her appetite and was a bit lazy. But the following day I noticed she started having diarrhea and she doesn't move from her place except to go to the toolbox. Later on the day I had to carry her to drink water, she'd never eat and I carry her to the toolbox.

Of course, I immediately rushed her to the vet. Our guess was that the leaves carried by the stranger at the park were a chewing tobacco or some sort of drug. Snickers was given paste injection in her mouth containing antibiotics, and a tablet to improve her appetite. For four days we went on every morning to the vet for her treatment and for every single day she was all the time on my lap napping or just sitting. Her appetite started gradually improving but very minimal. I used to carry her periodically from my lap, to the water fountain to the litter box. That's how these four days went by. And at night, she used to sleep on my pillow or my arms. As these days progressed her diarrhea became less frequent till it stopped completely and her appetite got restored just two days ago.

It was a nightmare to me, I was losing my mind. But the vet assured me she'll be alright. And thank God, her she is back to normal... jumping, playing, chasing, eating, drinking... etc.

Her weight before the incident was 1405 g. After the incident she dropped to 1195 g!!!!!! But thank God in the last couple of days she recovered her lost weight and put on additional few grams. I'm feeding her every two hours to boost her systems back to normal.

One of the disadvantages of having a Bengal is the attention they get, be it in the car, at the park, at the clinic... etc. She gets more attention than any of my sports cars do. I'm not sure if this is because this breed is unknown here, or is it everywhere in the world.

The reason I'm sharing this nightmare, is to bring awareness to cat lovers that horror outcomes can happen from mere petting. Not sure if the guy intended to harm her, or was just a junk addict.

The silver lining in this however, she's become more attached to me. I'd curl her up around my neck like a scarf, tickle her tummy with my mouth, carry her on my arm upside down... etc. We eat on the same table, we sleep on the same pillow and if she's not playing she's on my lap napping or grooming.

I'm her daddy, friend and human... and she's my little sweetheart baby.

Snickers is just a little kitten. I would not allow someone to pet her! She is quite susceptible to a lot of things as her immune system has not completely developed. You don't know where these "hands" have been. They can look, but shouldn't touch! You were lucky this time. What if the guy had picked lilies previously? Snickers grooms herself, licking her fur and is going to get whatever is on there into her mouth. I really hope you learned a lesson! Seriously ...... I tell people Raiden is vicious and may reach out and bite them! He isn't, but the only person that gets to pet him is his previous owner when he happens to be outside when we walk by his house. Please be more diligent. We all want Snickers healthy and happy.

Completely agree with Sherry. Please Hassaan, don't let strangers pet Snickers. They may also be passing on disease or infection. I know nearly all of the people at cat shows here get really cranky if anyone other than the judges touches or handles their cats. The judges disinfect their hands and tables between each cat for this very reason.

Its properly a coincidence that you kitty got sick. kittens get sick all the time.

One never knows what might have caused this, but an owner always has to be careful! Cats do groom themselves and lick whatever is on their fur.

Oh wow, I am glad Snickers is better!

(I always ask people to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before petting my cats. I don't know how much that would have protected Snickers in this case, tho.)