1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Is My Cat Sick? Help Needed.

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by wchardin, May 25, 2008.

  1. wchardin

    wchardin Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    2,055
    3
    0
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I just checked his gums and they are pink.
     
  2. barbaram

    barbaram Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2006
    911
    70
    9
    Location:
    Trenton, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Feliway is cat pheremones. very helpful for spraying or other bad behavior.
    my cat doesn't travel well at all either, you's think I have 10 cats in the car with the noise he makes!- be sure no food or water for about 1/2 day before you go to the vet otherwise you may have a mess in the cage. (my vet is very good about this) best of luck! hopefully it was just a cold or something....
     
  3. wchardin

    wchardin Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    2,055
    3
    0
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I won't have a problem with no food part, he hasn't ate in 4 days, thats the reason he is going to the vet.
     
  4. apriusfan

    apriusfan New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2007
    6,050
    205
    0
    Location:
    S.F. Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Glad to learn the gums are pink - that is an encouraging sign.

    I am hoping it is something like a hairball. While a nuisance, a hairball is relatively easy to deal with.

    Keep us posted.
     
  5. canesfan

    canesfan Culture shocked...

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2008
    544
    7
    0
    Location:
    Jacksonville, NC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I guess technically you might call Feliway a drug, but according to my vet it's not going to physiologically alter the cat to skew an exam since you don't actually apply it to the cat.
    From a vet's website:
    Feliway

    Feliway is a synthetic feline pheromone use to control inappropriate urine marking behavior and to reassure cats in strange surroundings. ​
    You have noticed that your cat rubs his chin on things. He rubs on your leg, the corners of furniture, doorways – pretty much all over the house. Naturally, animal behaviorists have noticed this too and have also observed that when cats are stressed and spraying urine to mark their territory, they rarely mark the areas where they have been rubbing their chins. It turns out that cats have a specific pheromone which they apply to things they consider their own. It is called feline facial pheromone, and where cats have applied it they feel at home. They have no urge to urine mark these areas, and since they feel at home, cats are more comfortable and relaxed.
    You can actually buy this pheromone in a bottle, which is pretty remarkable all by itself, and the pheromone has some remarkable effects. It is used most frequently to eliminate urine spraying by female cats and neutered male cats and works pretty well, since urine marking is usually the result of uncertainty and anxiety over territory.
    Cats who get worried and upset in strange situations can benefit from Feliway in other ways. Feliway is non staining, colorless and odorless. Spray it in your house when introducing a new pet or use it in unsettled multi cat households. Spray it in the cat carrier before stuffing Kitty in there. Behavioral studies of normal cats in stressful situations show that Feliway reduces anxiety by about 50%.
     
  6. wchardin

    wchardin Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    2,055
    3
    0
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Update: Went to the vet and he checked TJ over. Took his temperate and it was normal. Looked at his mouth and eyes and they checked out ok. He felt around on his stomach and lower abdomen. He said that his bladder didn't feel enlarged. He did say that he was dehydrated. He told me that from just looking at him he didn't know what was wrong. I let them admit him to the animal hospital so they can do some blood work and hydrate him. Supposed to hear back about the blood work sometime tomorrow. Hope that its a minor thing.
     
  7. canesfan

    canesfan Culture shocked...

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2008
    544
    7
    0
    Location:
    Jacksonville, NC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the update. I'll be hoping your kitty will be OK.
     
  8. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    2,480
    176
    0
    Location:
    Gaithersburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Well, 13 years is not all that old for a cat. I hope its something minor...
     
  9. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    5,122
    268
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I just saw this thread... it reminds me of something that happened to one of my mom's dogs about a year ago. She was only 5 at the time, but she stopped eating for about a week or so, really scared us a lot. My mom had her into the vet several times, and ended up with a special (and expensive!) dog food for her, that helped to get her "back on food". It was probably a month before she was eating regularly and properly again.

    I hope your cat pulls though and gets back to normal soon!
     
  10. canesfan

    canesfan Culture shocked...

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2008
    544
    7
    0
    Location:
    Jacksonville, NC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    My cat is terminally on vet-prescribed diet food! Otherwise he gains weight at the drop of a hat! My Mini Schnauzer is also terminally on vet-prescribed food and half a Pepcid daily due to a sensitive stomach. Otherwise he's a daily barfer! The only hardy soul in the bunch is our Australian Shepherd. 10 yrs. old and gets the Costco senior citizen dog food. We tried giving him a little treat yesterday from our Memorial Day bbq, a couple little pieces of grilled teriyaki chicken but he went and barfed that up! Guess he's getting too old for that! The things we do for our pets; small price to pay for what they give in return! Maybe not the cat so much... :eek:
     
  11. PriuStorm

    PriuStorm Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2007
    2,239
    149
    0
    Location:
    Davis, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I'm glad you got him to the vet. Hopefully the labwork, etc. will reveal a little something towards the mystery.
     
  12. dwdean

    dwdean Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    377
    2
    0
    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius

    I'm glad that you got TJ to the vet.

    Appetite loss is a pretty serious symptom in a cat of any age (if it goes on for long enough cats can develop what's called fatty liver syndrom, which is not good.) If his gums and the insides of his ears weren't jaundiced he likely hasn't gone there yet, which is really good.

    Hopefully, your vet has gone through that (and a few other things.) Please keep us up on what's going on with him.
     
  13. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2004
    14,487
    1,518
    0
    Location:
    Spokane, WA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Thanks for the update. I hope all turns out well for the kitty. Keep us posted.
     
  14. pmanza

    pmanza Fernsmom

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2007
    123
    2
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Wchardin
    Any update on your cat, many cat lovers out here care.
    Fernsmom
    Also mother of Chaplin, blk and white kitty with a moustache (hence Chaplin)
     
  15. wchardin

    wchardin Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    2,055
    3
    0
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Just got the little devil back from the vet. He is currently at my feet, meowing while I rub him. The doctor said all the test they did came back ok, and they are waiting on the one for his thyroid, but he said it should be ok too, and that he wasn't worried about that one. While he was at the vet he supposedly at both dry and wet cat food and they hydrated him. We are supposed to keep a watch on his food/water intake and his movements. Going to have to buy a litter box, I guess he will instinctually know to go in it, I don't think that he has ever used one before. Also I don't know how he is going to do with staying inside, I foresee a loud night. The vet bill was insane, funny to think that we got him at the animal shelter for 50 bucks, and now with all the treatments he has had throughout the years he is probably worth thousands! But thats the love of our pets.

    I guess he has a clean bill of health, but I still haven't personally seen him eat, will let everyone know what else happens with him. Thanks again for all the well wishes.
     
  16. canesfan

    canesfan Culture shocked...

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2008
    544
    7
    0
    Location:
    Jacksonville, NC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I am glad the tests came back OK! Do you plan to make him an indoor-only kitty now? Mine is.
     
  17. KayakerNC

    KayakerNC Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    399
    7
    19
    Location:
    Eastern North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Maybe he ate something that didn't agree with him. Toad?
     
  18. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    My wife and I don't have kids. That's our justification for a few dollars here and there on Nina.
     
  19. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    641
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I don't have kids - at least none that I am aware of or remember making ...

    So it goes without saying my boys get all the attention. And yes, my cats are *far* nicer than Tony's
     
  20. Dan-Wolfe

    Dan-Wolfe Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    166
    31
    0
    Location:
    North Canton, Stark, Ohio, USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    That's absolutely correct, and cats who are obese are at particular risk.

    I had a cat who stopped eating after she moved into a new environment. She started losing weight, and we really didn't notice it all that much because she was incredibly fat!

    Bottom line, we were required to force feed her two or three times a day -- anything to get calories into her and stop her body from processing triglycerides to stay alive. Eventually, after nearly six weeks of this, she started eating on her own again, and four years later, she's fine.

    The clinical diagnosis is feline hepatic lipidosis, and it's nearly always fatal. We were lucky to have Kitty with us today. She's sleeping at my feet as I type this, fat, dumb and happy!

    Just like me.

    Glad your kitty got a clean bill of health!

    Dan