The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Cats => Topic started by: Chris H on August 29, 2012, 07:26:51 pm

Title: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on August 29, 2012, 07:26:51 pm
Help please, Violet is a small 13 year old cat, she was sick on Monday several times, after the first few times just bringing up bile, vet on Tuesday who gave painkiller and antibiotic, she will not eat and is drinking very little just sitting/sleeping in her bed. She brought up more bile an hour ago. She looks fine and I stroke her but can not get her to eat, which I know is OK but she also is not drinking. She is not stressed as in the room with her sister, warm and quiet, I will take her to the vet again but wonder if anyone has any ideas?
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Brucklay on August 29, 2012, 07:33:46 pm
After my old cats never seemed to have anything wrong till old age go them in their late teens/early twenties we now have Bang Bang - previously all girls - he seems to have phases of getting ill - not sure if he goes somewhere he shouldn't or eaten something that maybe ate poison but now and again he doesn't eat. My fall back is tuna and tuna brine, hopefully strong smelling enough to get the taste buds going.
Hope she picks up Chris  :fc:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on August 29, 2012, 07:39:05 pm
Thanks Brucklay, will try, the cooked chicken and steamed fish did not work but maybe something with a bit more smell :thinking:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: doganjo on August 29, 2012, 07:45:45 pm
Try to get fluids into her rather than tempt her to eat - mind you that isn't so easy as with a dog.  I have used a dropper to put drops of water under the tongue so they have to swallow.  Hope you get her to take something soon.  Did the vet give any reasons for her being sick?
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on August 29, 2012, 07:46:57 pm
Nope to the tuna, her sister is loving all the food coming her way ::)  she does not seem to be in pain, but it's back to the vets tomorrow.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on August 29, 2012, 07:48:59 pm
The vet said he thought it was gastric (yeah being sick might be a clue). I thought she might drink the fluid I added to the tuna but no interest other than a quick lick. Tried watered yogurt and moist fish.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: doganjo on August 29, 2012, 07:51:34 pm
I would try just plain boiled water cooled, and try a dropper, unless she is likely to scratch you.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on August 29, 2012, 07:58:23 pm
Thanks Doganjo, she is an ex feral :o  but will try my best.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: plumseverywhere on August 29, 2012, 08:08:44 pm
Try some baby food?  this sometimes helps.


also if she is not keen on tap water you could use some water collected from the rain. Sometimes they are more adverse to the chlorinated water when they are this poorly.
Maybe message mummyshaz (I'm sure she's a vet nurse?) she could have more advice from her experience at work.


Really hope that Violet is OK xx
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Mammyshaz on August 29, 2012, 08:35:01 pm
Sardines in tomato sauce has something in that can attract cats ( strange I know ). Try slightly warming it so the smell is stronger than normal, and only offer a few mouthfuls worth in one go. There's nothing more off-putting than feeling off your food for somebody to offer a huge plate of the stuff.

Two days of no food or drink means she will be getting dehydrated now which can hinder an older cats kidneys so if possible another trip to the vets in the morning would be a good idea. Fingers crossed she improves soon. Hopefully whatever the cause will pass by soon  :fc:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on August 29, 2012, 08:59:26 pm
Got her to drink a little water, vets in the morning, tucked up tonight in the warm. They are a worry :fc:  thanks everyone for the tips.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: in the hills on August 29, 2012, 09:42:38 pm
Sickness could of course have many different causes. Telling you about a problem we had very recently with our mog just in case it helps. She was fine all day and went outdoors late afternoon. When she came back she was being sick .... quite often but only a teaspoon of biley looking stuff each time. She had obviously been sick when out because her tummy was drawn in. Looked a bit miserable but bright and alert. She went to her feed bowl but everytime she tried to eat or drink she would only take a mouthful and vomit almost straight away. No improvement the next day so rang vet straight away ... thought she would become dehydrated. It turned out that she had a piece of grass (only about 3cm long) stuck in her soft palate area. Apparently very common in cats. Removed under anaesthetic and fine afterwards.


I suppose your vet would have known if it could possibly be this but just thought it might be worth a mention.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on August 30, 2012, 06:06:54 pm
Update on Violet; saw different vet (much better one) thinks she has picked up something to cause sickness and this has brought on acid inbalence, couple of injections and no food till tomorrow. She does look brighter, touch wood can eat tomorrow :fc:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Mammyshaz on August 30, 2012, 06:40:00 pm
That's good news  :thumbsup: get well soon violet  :hug:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Brucklay on August 30, 2012, 09:34:23 pm
Oh great - glad she's picking up a bit - naughty little animals cats  :innocent:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Dans on August 31, 2012, 11:49:17 am
How is she today?

My boy came in one day completely off food and water and seemed to just want to fade away. He was so weak we managed to get some water in him with a syringe. Perked up the next day so think he had just eaten something bad. Hope Violet is perking up!

Dans
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on August 31, 2012, 02:56:42 pm
I think that mine take it in turns...........puts years on me, thanks for all the advice, nice to know I am not the only daft one :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on September 04, 2012, 05:29:07 pm
After a day of picking up, Violet went down hill again, vets yesterday morning and a stronger long acting painkiller, antibiotic and anti sickness jabs. The vet could feel nothing in the gut but she was very sore.
She has had nothing to eat, we now have a tinned stuff from the vet to syringe, but she is non responsive, anyone know if this could be the drugs? the vet says it could be? she is very sleepy and shows no interest in anything. I am worried and feel I should be doing SOMETHING! we have booked her in for blood tests tomorrow, but for now she is slightly spaced out. Anyone have any ideas, I would love another vet to consult but we only have the one on the island.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Dans on September 04, 2012, 05:32:04 pm
No advice but am thinking of Violet. I hope the new tinned food helps.  :fc:

Dans
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on September 04, 2012, 05:36:02 pm
Thanks Dan, her proper name is Violet Elizabeth! we had her from 4 days old when her and her sister were found in a wood pile, 3 hour feeds for weeks and we have loved them for 14 years.
And yes in those early days she used to scream and scream.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: in the hills on September 04, 2012, 08:06:02 pm
Oh sorry  :bouquet: . Hope the blood tests show something more definite. It's such a worry when you don't know whats wrong with them and don't feel like you can help them much. She must be very special to you and you to her after her start in life. Can't give any help but thinking about you and Violet.  :fc:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on September 04, 2012, 10:17:46 pm
Violet looked worse this evening so took her back to the vets as an emergency. Thankfully saw the boss, he right away felt thickening of the intestines. Booked for surgery in the morning. Maybe an 'eaten object' if so fine or some sort of tumour then not good at all. Please say a little prayer for a small black and white cat tonight.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Dans on September 04, 2012, 10:31:43 pm
Keeping her in thoughts  :fc:

Dans
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: in the hills on September 04, 2012, 10:54:43 pm
Good luck little cat.  :fc: :cat:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: in the hills on September 09, 2012, 11:12:43 pm
How is Violet?
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: luckylady on September 10, 2012, 12:21:33 am
How is Violet?
I was wondering too.   :fc:
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on September 11, 2012, 03:28:22 pm
Sorry to say we lost Violet on Friday night, she was a sweet and dear little soul, who the vet fought for with all he had, I was in floods for Saturday. You know when you love them it will break your heart when they go, but you never learn :'(
Thank you for asking and all the replies with help.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Dans on September 11, 2012, 03:52:41 pm
 :bouquet:

Rest well Violet.

It breaks you so much to lose them, but remember the good times you had with her, and how both your lives were better for it. Thinking of you.

Dans
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: in the hills on September 11, 2012, 04:15:31 pm
 :bouquet:  So sorry


You obviously thought the world of her. She was lucky to find you.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Mammyshaz on September 11, 2012, 06:49:18 pm
So sorry  :bouquet: violet was a lucky cat to have a home with you.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: luckylady on September 11, 2012, 08:19:41 pm
Oh so sorry  :bouquet: .  Like others have said you must think of the good times you had with her.  Rest in peace Violet.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Bumblebear on October 17, 2012, 10:52:44 am
:( so sorry too.  I hope the last month has been better for you.
Title: Re: Sickness
Post by: Chris H on November 13, 2012, 12:28:45 pm
Thank you all for your posts, I will always miss her and am still angry with the young vet who missed the signs which may have saved her. However it has made me give extra cuddles to the three other cats we have which include Violets sister Simian and they have all enjoyed that extra dish of prawns and cod that come their way.