RP Board Planning - Original 5 [opening date: 7/21/2020]

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     Below is the information for fowlcough. It's a sickness that comes from birds. The difference between a bird that is healthy and a bird that carries fowlcough is the smell, as healthy birds will not smell foul, almost like carrion. At this point, the cats know the difference between them and avoid putting the birds with the sickening scent on the fresh kill pile. Instead, they bury the bird on the outskirts of their territories, away from everyone else. Each Clan is being impacted by the illness.

    Stage One: Cat has a low-grade fever and chills. They may be able to perform easier tasks with supervision. Feverfew would be given to combat the fever and chills.
    Stage Two: Cat's fever develops into a high fever, chills still occur, and the cat has a sore throat with small bought of coughs. They are restricted to the camp, performing small tasks. They are given a concoction of tansy and feverfew with honey to treat symptoms.
    Stage Three: The fever remains, coughing becomes more common and harsher, worsening sore throats. Loss of appetite is present, and nausea sets in. Bodyaches and headaches are common, forcing the cat to rest in the medicine cat den. Elders and kits are cautioned to remain a safe distance, as the disease may kill weaker cats at this stage. Lungwort and either chickweed, hawkweed, or catmint is used in addition to borage or tansy, feverfew, and honey.
    Stage Four: Fever rises to deadly temperatures and must be reduced. Severe coughing fits will cause the throat to bleed. Vomiting is common and breathing is difficult. If fever is not reduced, the cat will possibly die. The cat is treated with catmint, tansy, feverfew, borage, and gromia root.

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     Below is the information for coppercough. It's a sickness that comes from a fox bite. At first, the wound where the infected fox bit the cat will fester, appearing a common wound infection. Two days later, the first symptoms of coppercough will show. The sickness is named after the color of mucus that comes from the nose and the color of vomit. The stages displayed below will only count for the illness portion of coppercough. It is noted that some herbs cannot be used to combat one of the symptoms due to the higher concentration of one of the herbs.

    Stage One: Cat has a medium-grade fever and mild aches. A bellyache and feeling of nausea is common, they have low appetite. Due to nausea, they must remain in camp and have prey be brought to them. They are permitted to do small tasks like guard the camp. They can eat only a small portion before getting sick, however they can handle about half a mouse at most and if they are a bigger cat. It is noted that the mucus is copper-colored as well as the color of the vomit.
    Stage Two: Cat's fever develops into a high fever. Chills are very visible and constant. Due to having drainage of a copper-colored mucus, they have a sore throat. Nausea and bellyache develops to where they cannot eat prey without getting sick. Water is the only thing they can hold down. They are restricted to the medicine cat den.
    Stage Three: The fever remains, coughing becomes more common and harsher, worsening sore throats. Water cannot be held down, however they need to try to drink to keep some hydration. Herbs cannot be held down. Chills remain and aches become severe, causing the cat to sleep from the pain if they are able to. Elders and kits are cautioned to remain a safe distance, as the disease is easily caught. The medicine cat may protect themselves from infection by cleaning their muzzle with lavender, chervil, hawkweed, juniper berries.
    Stage Four: Cat will vomit at the pure scent of prey. Water cannot be held down. Chills remain, along with aches. Cat has trouble sleeping due to aches and nausea. Their voice is gruff from the sore throat. Cat can die from starvation, hydration, and mucus filling the lungs. Elders and kits will most likely die at this stage or the stage before.

     The only way to save a cat from this illness is to try to prevent the cat from reaching stage three, otherwise the later stages may be too hard to cure. Juniper berries cannot help the cat, but the roots can as it has a higher concentration. Below is the process to cure coppercough. If the cat vomits from the dose, medicine cats must start over with an increased dose. Usually only one juniper root is used at a time per cat, however size of the cat may cause for an increase.
    Stage One: The ends of root itself are used. They are placed on a scrap of moss to soak into. This is given at morning, sunhigh, and dusk. The cat is expected to rest all night. Several ends may be used at once to make up for the lack of size of one root.
    Stage Two: Half of the juniper root is used in the same process, with the moss being soaked in water first.
    Stage Three: The whole root is sliced up and placed on a honey and water soaked moss scrap. Only time addition is at moonhigh to quickly improve the cat's condition.
    Stage Four: Moss may be removed from the process and the root may be given with the company of lavender, chervil, and hawkweed. Hawkweed is typically used for greencough, but works well in combination of juniper roots.

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     Below is the information for foamcough. Most cases of foamcough result in death, primarily in kits, elders, and cats with weaker immune systems. If a cat reaches stage four, then the best method is to feed them nightshade. Curing foamcough is very tricky, as the cat can rapidly become worse and if not treated and restrained, pass the disease on. Foamcough is generally passed through shared meals and primarily a bite from an infected animal or cat. If a cat has a confirmed case of foamcough, then they must be separated from the camp to prevent the spread of infection. Medicine cats must wash their paws and muzzle with a herb remedy made up of lavender, stinging nettle stems, and dried oak leaf.

    Stage One: Cat has a medium-grade fever and mild confusion. They begin with minor convulsions, mistaken for chills. They will have increased appetite and be irritable.
    Stage Two: Cat's fever develops into a high fever and will have mild convulsions. They will excessively drool and sometimes foam at the mouth. In weaker cats, they may cough up blood. Headaches are common and they have memory trouble. The cat has trouble sleeping. Hallucinations are mild.
    Stage Three: The cat's fever disappears, but they have convulsions. They will still excessively drool and foam at the mouth. Coughing up blood and having bloody drainage from the ears is common in weaker cats or cats with a severe case. Cat is extremely aggressive and impulsive. Aggressive cats must be constantly given poppy seeds and thyme. Horsetail in combination with raspberry leaves are given to help stop the internal bleeding. The only cure for this illness at this point is cocoa beans from twoleg gardens. However, high dosage may poison and kill the cat. Cocoa beans improve overall brain function and blood pressure to push the toxins out of the body. Also enhances mood and healing, which can help with the bleeding.
    Stage Four: Cat is extremely aggressive and has lumps on their head. Bloody drainage is common from the ears and nose. They will no longer drool, but foam. They will have moments of paralysis and convulsions before going to into a blind rage. Cat cannot sleep and is extremely paranoid. The lumps on their head are rather large and tender. This is the last stage and commonly last a day before death.

     Foamcough, like coppercough, is hard to cure. However it is much easier to treat. All cats with foamcough must be taken out of camp to a secluded spot to prevent spread of infection. The medicine cat must be accompanied by warriors and all cats that have not contracted the disease must wash off in a stream and wish herbs.
    Stage One: Often given chamomile and poppy seeds. Lavender is given for fever and chills.
    Stage Two: Chamomile, lavender, and depending on the cat, raspberry leaves are given. Marigold is the best remedy for pain. Juniper berries are given in addition to chamomile to calm the cat's mind. Poppy seeds are given to help the cat sleep.
    Stage Three: Aggressive cats must be constantly given poppy seeds and thyme. Horsetail in combination with raspberry leaves are given to help stop the internal bleeding. The only cure for this illness at this point is cocoa beans from twoleg gardens. However, high dosage may poison and kill the cat. Cocoa beans improve overall brain function and blood pressure to push the toxins out of the body. Also enhances mood and healing, which can help with the bleeding.
    Stage Four: Juniper roots are given due to the high concentration to calm a cat. Raspberry leaves and horsetail have no effect. If a cat bites another, the bitten cat will become infected. Unfortunately, there is no cure past this stage. To end suffering, the cat can be given nightshade.