so sorry for your pain.
we just adopted a feline from the pound that is 3 y/o and was treated with a poisionous flea med by his origional owner. they could not deal with it and they decided to just dump him at the pound.
we got vinny cause ,well, he was the best one there!. he has problem breathing. he weezes all night long. 24/7 when he meows, sounds like he had been doing it for weeks straight, and has no voice left. but, he is so affectionate and awesome with the kids. we have tried tons of meds, but not a single thing worked. last doctor told us to stop blowing our money on crap meds, that there will be no cure for him. either you love him and put up with it, as nothing can be done.
i nver liked cats. fact is, i always hated them. then some elderly lady told me to get one, and i would feel different about them. so, we got our first, and i have a change of heart, as i got to have one myself and realize, they are part of our family. take care