I have an issue with my cat. Not a debate

Jaime - posted on 01/01/2011

yup, see, lookie there, it was situated after all xD

Jaime - posted on 01/01/2011

I haven't been online in a week xD so I don't know if this has gotten situated or not...

I used to have two cats. I couldn't keep them after I got married (no pet-friendly housing and got lots of flack for having cats while expecting) but one of them got to stay with my parents n.n

Your baby probably has a cold. You should make sure she's kept warm and if she's an outside cat, you should see about bringing her inside until you can get a hold of the vet. I don't think it's anything more serious than a simple cold, though. When you do get her to the vet, they'll probably prescribe some kitty amoxicilin like they did my cats and she'll be better in a week or two. Just make sure she gets plenty of sleep and liquids and eats.

As for the stinky, I wouldn't attempt to give her a bath or anything because 1) it'd probably stress her out and 2) if you live in a cold climate it would only make her sicker. Maybe if you got a warm damp rag and stroked her while sitting in front of a heater it'd be okay, and it'd probably help just as much as if she cleaned herself. But anything more than that wouldn't be too beneficial.

Mary - posted on 01/01/2011

I feel for your frustration w/the vet...I was very lucky growing up b/c the vet we had was very dedicated and would help over the phone, make payment arrangements & would see any animal...even my sister's hamster & my iguana. But since I've left home, I've had trouble finding that kind of dedication & love in the vets I've encountered. It's not unusual for my husband & I to drive the 2hrs. (when possible) to see the vet, who took care of my animals w/I was a kid. I may cry if/when he finally retires.

Sharon - posted on 12/31/2010

Oh yeah - I wanna know too. What was it? How was it cured?

Kate CP - posted on 12/31/2010

Explain, please? Did you take her to the vet? What was wrong with her? Did she just miraculously recover?

Julianne - posted on 12/31/2010

shes better now :) thanks

Mary - posted on 12/31/2010

The drastic change in only over 2 mos. would prompt me to take the cat to a vet. If yours isn't available maybe another or an animal hospital. Cats can get viruses/infections similar to what people get & some illnesses can be transferred from cat to person or vice-versa. It may not be anything life-threatening, but it sounds like whatever your kitty has, it's got it bad. Better safe than sorry.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 12/29/2010

Yeah that is ridiculous. 30- 50 for an office visit I can see...but if they are the only vet in the area, they have no one to compete with. It has always been my dream to open a vet hospital with all the bells and whistles. Sounds like you need another vet in your area for sure!

Julianne - posted on 12/29/2010

it would cost an extra 100 for an emergency call. Only one vet office in my direct town, theres two outside of town too. so the smaller the place the higher the price, yepp its a rip off.

Kate CP - posted on 12/29/2010

80-100 for a regular office call?! That's a ripoff! It costs that much here for an emergency vet. Sweet jeebus! :/

C. - posted on 12/29/2010

Hope she gets better soon, Julianne!

Julianne - posted on 12/29/2010

its 80-100 here Sharon thats what the vet told me when i called.

Julianne - posted on 12/29/2010

i put some echinacea in her water and her nose stopped dripping, she seems to be getting better, i still have an apt for her next friday just in case.

Nikki - posted on 12/29/2010

Wow I didn't know animals could get all these sorts of illness' Julianne hope it's nothing serious and she recovers soon :) I am such a slack pet owner, my poor cat is 16 and has never been to the vet except for her first vaccinations when she was little! But she has never been sick, I would take her if she was.

Sharon - posted on 12/28/2010

UGH - we just finished treating a goose with botulism. now I've got another goose with issues. No clue what it is now and only the most nebulus of symptoms to work on. It drives me nuts and frankly, pisses me off, that I can't get better information somehow and take care of my animals like I do my kids.

Hopefully we can get the second goose to the vet tomorrow. the botulism goose is doing much better.

Julianne - I really hope you can find a vet to see your cat. I don't know about where you're at but here its $35 for the office visit. Other vets charge more but my vet for average problems charges $35.

Melanie - posted on 12/28/2010

hmm i think this is 1 for your vet....my cat started sneezing & coughing a few wks ago & turnes out she had tonsilitis & laryngitis!! never knew cats could get either
good luck & hope ur kittys better soon

Kate CP - posted on 12/27/2010

Marina: Yea, herpes in the eye makes much more sense than a cold in the eye!

Unfortunately there are lots of people who take advantage of vets and their love of animals (well...most of them love animals!). You can try looking into Care Now credit and see if that is a viable option for you.

Sherri - posted on 12/27/2010

Find an emergency vet hospital and get her there. It doesn't sound good.

Vegemite - posted on 12/27/2010

Sounds like a number of things to me but it's impossible for anyone to say without seeing your cat, knowing her history-vaccinations, where she's lived/is living and prior illnesses, also possibly doing some blood work. Some things might be respiratory infection, FIV- Feline HIV or feline influenza. Let us know when you've gone to the vet. Hope she's well again soon.

Julianne - posted on 12/27/2010

thanks for your help, i appreciate everyones concern.

Julianne - posted on 12/27/2010

I dont understand the vets, if an animal is in need, you look at her, regardless if the owner can pay right away. I bet it was the lady that lived here before that made her sick. It was infested with fleas, i wouldn't bring her here until they were gone, she comes home and now shes sick. Last tenant was evicted for being a dirty pig she had 7 cats and 2 dogs. i didnt know until i moved in but the cats were taken off of her because of her neglecting them...the smell of cat pee was so strong in the laundry room i needed industrial strength odor eliminator to get rid of the smell. I used two jugs of it too. I am so friggin pissed right now. I hate the vet and my landlord. People only care about money......

~♥Little Miss - posted on 12/27/2010

Shauna, sorry about your experience. Sounds like your vet had no tact, or bedside manor. I am sure in his opinion it was medically sound advise...considering his diagnosis...but it sounds like you chose correctly. I am glad your kitty pulled through!

Fyi, upper respitory infections are a virus. It may lie dorman forever, or be triggered by stressful situations. If this is the diagnosis, make sure you speak to a vet before intruducing more cats into your home. This is very contagious, but not life threatening (when it is the only ailment) but the vet may have advise on how to introduce a new cat without infecting anyone. Good luck!

~♥Little Miss - posted on 12/27/2010

If she stops eating for a 24 hour period or more, do not wait...that can trigger all sorts of other issues. If she is snacking, that is ok. She feels like shit for sure! If she gets worse, don't wait. Uri is not life threatening, unless something else triggered it.

Shauna - posted on 12/27/2010

yeah, come to find out the vet i took my cat too doesnt care too much for cats, maybe thats why he wanted to put him down, dont know. He was kinda an asshole the whole time i was crying too, so pretty sure he didnt give a damn.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 12/27/2010

Kate, "cold in the eye" she mest be referring to herpes. Chances are, that is exactly what your cat has. Herpes effects upper respitory system, can be breathing problems, nasal discharge, eye drainage...both eye and nose can be with or without color. Green and yellow being the most common. Makes sense for lethargy and lack of grooming. If this is the diagnosis from the doctor (after exam) a round or two of anti biotics should do the trick. There are also injections if the office you go to has it available. Make sure you know if you will have an easier time giving liquid or a pill.

Here is the thing about fiv/feleuk....so easily passed through bodily secretions...urine, mucous, blood, saliva. If your cat has been exposed, they can be tested. Does your cat get yearly or every 3 year vaxes? Feleuk and fiv are a yearly vax, but if your cat is not exposed to other cats, it does reduce the risk...unless introduced before you adopted....chances are slim from what you are saying. Exposre to uri is more likely. Considering other cats lived there prior to you. Herpes can be passed so easy...or orherwise known as upper respitory infection. It can lie dormant a spring up at any time. Stress of any sort can trigger it.

Deffinately monitor all eating, drinking, defication, and urine. Your issue sounds pretty straight foward, but needs the trained eyes and hands of a proffessional vet. Good luck!

Julianne - posted on 12/27/2010

Shes still drinking fluids and eating, a little less food then usual, but shes still eating. I might not be able to get her to the vet until after the new year!! ahh i hope its nothing serious.....

Kate CP - posted on 12/27/2010

How does one get a cold in one's eye? A secondary bacterial infection I'll believe but a "cold" is typically a respiratory infection.

Kate CP - posted on 12/27/2010

I have *never* heard of a vet wanting to put a cat down for a URI unless the cat was just ancient to begin with. Wow. o.O

Shauna - posted on 12/27/2010

I would consult a vet imediatly. Is your feline still eating and drinking water? I had a similar situation happen to one of my cats, and wheni took him to a vet he had some sort of respitory infection sneezing runny nose etc, he had a high temp, and they wanted to put him down. I refused and demanded they give him a shot of antibiotic... and i gave him some other oral antibiotics ... he came out of it after a week or so , however his temp got so high he went a little crazy after getting over the cold.... but in my case the cat wasnt eating and we got him to start eating again by giving him pet grass, it gave him a apetite back and eventually went back to his food. Hope your kitty is ok!

Desiree - posted on 12/27/2010

Some one need s to get Kitty to the Vet... One of mine had a cold in her eye that wasn't treat3ed properly and now she is blind in that eye. Not nice for you when you feel gross can you imagine how they feel and they can't tell you they are not feeling well. Please take her to the vet.

Kate CP - posted on 12/27/2010

I dunno if I'd call myself the queen...my husband does call me the Beast Maiden, though...

Katherine - posted on 12/27/2010

Kate is the Queen of animals. Any info you need, she knows.

;)

Kate CP - posted on 12/27/2010

Well, I can understand that there's no other option for you. :/
However, a vet that diagnoses over the phone needs a head check. She can't know how serious it is until she checks the cat. And a cat that has suddenly stopped grooming itself and is lethargic is seriously sick. :/ Make sure you keep up with the fluids (more fluids than food is important) and watch her litter box for signs of blood or straining.

Julianne - posted on 12/27/2010

I got a hold of the emergency doctor, she finally called back. She said its not that serious, and to call back tomorrow to book an appointment. She is the only vet covering the 3 clinics in the area. So calling another one is not an option....They wont payment plan me either, so i cant get them to come out until i have money even if i did say i feel its an emergency. The lady that lived here before me had 7 cats.

Bonnie - posted on 12/27/2010

Wow Sharon, your cat is 37 lbs! I thought my parents cat was fat at 17 lbs lol.

Bonnie - posted on 12/27/2010

Julianne, my brother went through the same thing with his cat. He took him to the vet and turned out the cat did have a cold (oddly enough) and had to be put on anti-biotics.

April - posted on 12/27/2010

I agree with Sharon. 7 is not old for a cat. When my SIL's cat got sick...he acted the same way as your cat. Then he died a couple weeks later. If your vet doesn't think this is serious, I'd get another vet!



**Her cat was 14 years old when he got sick and passed away

Kate CP - posted on 12/27/2010

FIV and feline leukemia can be easily acquired through minimal contact with other cats. She absolutely needs to see a vet- ANY vet. A sudden change in grooming routine and energy level are HUGE red flags. How's her appetite?

Tracey - posted on 12/27/2010

If you can't get a vet phone an animal charity, they will probably find you one.
www.vetinfo.com/catnose.html
www.catster.com/forums/Cat_Health/thread/484576
www.petcaregt.com/catcare/catrunnynose.html

Tara - posted on 12/27/2010

Whoa Sharon, that is one fat cat!!! Maybe he carries the obesity gene lol
Seriously though Julianne, I would keep calling the vet, they should have an emergency number for a 24 hr answering service or something like that. If not, get the yellow pages out and start calling other vets. I have two cats who are 8, neither of them act like yours is acting now. A dripping nose is likely (as sharon also said) a sign of an upper respiratory infection and since cats breathe primarily through their nose (unless they really want to open their olfactory glands to smell something) it's going to be hard on your kitty's oxygen levels if she can't breathe through her nose properly.
Let us know how it turns out.
:)

C. - posted on 12/27/2010

My sister's cat and my brother's cat are both older than that and they've never acted that way before.. I would take her to the vet. She may seriously be sick :( Try to get hold of them. There should be a vet clinic open somewhere, I'd think.. So keep trying b/c that doesn't sound good. Hope she's Ok!

Sharon - posted on 12/26/2010

I think they can be born with cat aids.

Sticker is a chubbo. Comes from having kittens in the house for nearly 4 years straight. You ever try to HIDE kitten food from a cat?

We took him to my daughters' school for show & tell - he's huge and placid - always has been more dog like than cat like.

If it is your regular vet, I'd call and call until I got an answer, but it is christmas weekend. I hope you hear back from your asap.

Julianne - posted on 12/26/2010

you have a 37 pound cat????holy i thought dali was big...

Julianne - posted on 12/26/2010

I know 7 is not too old. She is middle aged though. I cant see how she would catch some infection, she lives alone and doesn't go outside. I keep dangerous things away from her so she doesnt get hurt or sick. She eats the best cat food to help her stay healthy. She got her needles. Shes fixed, and didnt have the opportunity to catch cat aids. I'll call the vet again tomorrow in the morning, see about booking an appointment.

Sharon - posted on 12/26/2010

http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/upper-r...

Your cat could have anything from a respiratory infection to FIV - cat aids.

Sharon - posted on 12/26/2010

I'm sorry but you're going to have to nag your vet.

If its a simple respiratory infection - it needs to be addressed. 7 is not old for a cat.

My 37lb cat is over 10 years old and still going strong.