Any Cat Experts Out There??

[prettyblueskies]

So it's Sunday, and our vet is closed. There is an emergency vet not too far away, but it would be very expensive, so I'm wondering if anyone has experienced these symptoms with their cat before.

My cat is very old, and I'm sitting here in a panic that she's on her last leg, so sugar coat it for me if you can; I'm emotional right now. She is an indoor cat and the only other contact she has with animals is with a golden retriever (no other cats).

She has quite a bit of tearing from her eyes, especially the right one. She's also been very lazy, seems to have lost some of her appetite and isn't "talking" as much as usual. She's not eating her dry food, I've given her some canned food, but she only licked the gravy off of it. I also gave her some baby food, and she ate a spoonful of that.

I've read about feline viral infections and am planning on setting her up with a humidifier as well as throughouly washing (bleaching) all of her things, but obviously, I'm not a vet, so I don't know if this is what she has.

Any experience with this? My husband is telling me not to panic and drive her to the emergency vet unless she seems to get really bad. Is there anything I can do today besides wait?

Thank you!

 

[tazdev3225]

I'm not an expert but I wouldn't panic yet. It could be an eye infection or a cold. My cats have gotten them and put them off their appetite. Keep an eye on her and if she gets worse call the vet. I think you can wait til tomorrow. Good luck and hope your kitty is feeling better soon.

 

[Uncle Remus]

So it's Sunday, and our vet is closed. There is an emergency vet not too far away, but it would be very expensive, so I'm wondering if anyone has experienced these symptoms with their cat before.

My cat is very old, and I'm sitting here in a panic that she's on her last leg, so sugar coat it for me if you can; I'm emotional right now. She is an indoor cat and the only other contact she has with animals is with a golden retriever (no other cats).

She has quite a bit of tearing from her eyes, especially the right one. She's also been very lazy, seems to have lost some of her appetite and isn't "talking" as much as usual. She's not eating her dry food, I've given her some canned food, but she only licked the gravy off of it. I also gave her some baby food, and she ate a spoonful of that.

I've read about feline viral infections and am planning on setting her up with a humidifier as well as throughouly washing (bleaching) all of her things, but obviously, I'm not a vet, so I don't know if this is what she has.

Any experience with this? My husband is telling me not to panic and drive her to the emergency vet unless she seems to get really bad. Is there anything I can do today besides wait?

Thank you!

Is she takin' in 'n expellin' water?

 

[laurafergie]

I'm not an expert but I wouldn't panic yet. It could be an eye infection or a cold. My cats have gotten them and put them off their appetite. Keep an eye on her and if she gets worse call the vet. I think you can wait til tomorrow. Good luck and hope your kitty is feeling better soon.

I agree it may be a cold. As long as she is drinking water, I think she can wait until tomorrow.

 

[HeatherH]

As long as she is at least eating and drinking a little bit, and using the litter box, I think it can wait until tomorrow when you can take her to her regular vet. I don't think bleaching her things is necessary, in fact a bleach smell may irritate her eyes even more.

I understand the deep attachment, one of mine has been sick too, but seems to be on the mend today. I hope the vet is able to give her some meds to help her tomorrow.

 

[Uncle Remus]

As long as she is at least eating and drinking a little bit, and using the litter box, I think it can wait until tomorrow when you can take her to her regular vet. I don't think bleaching her things is necessary, in fact a bleach smell may irritate her eyes even more.

I understand the deep attachment, one of mine has been sick too, but seems to be on the mend today. I hope the vet is able to give her some meds to help her tomorrow.

My thoughts as well.

 

[Imzadi]

Is she drinking water and peeing? Cats can go down in about 48 hours. Keep a close eye on her.

 

[Disney Doll]

My nephew is a vet and he always says "eating, drinking, peeing, pooping".

If she is doing that, she should be OK till tomorrow. Obviously, if you notice a suddenn downturn, the emergency vet is available.

Try some canned tuna if you want to try and get her to eat. I know you don't usually do it, but it might spark her a little.

I'd go easy on the bleach. The humidifer is probably fine. It sounds like a cold.

 

[prettyblueskies]

Thank you all for your responses. You're making me feel a little better.

I washed her bowls out with soap and water, I'll hold off on the bleach like some of you said.

She's still just laying in the same spot, but she is getting up when I go to check on her so there's that. She isn't "talking" to me like she usually does, but I am getting little chirps out of her. I think her appetite is still going down hill though, I'm going to try to hand feed her some more in a little while. I talked to my husband and he said that he'll take her in tomorrow if there's still no improvement.

Thanks again everyone! I really do appreciate it.

 

[TashaRVT]

Cats are so resilient, they surprise se every time!

Keep a close eye on her, and I would STRONGLY suggest you take her to her regular veterinarian tomorrow. I've seen an awful lot of what people think is "just old age" be something that's completely treatable and not the end of a beautiful life! Remember, a healthy cat can live to 20 or 25 years of age!

Keep us posted, please!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Could she have gotten something in her eye? Is she pawing at it? Is it reddened or irritated?

 

[Squirrel!!!]

Upper respiratory viruses can show up in indoor cats since they are airborn, and it is always possible for herpes to show up in an old immune-compromised kitty if she ever had it before, even as a kitten. It is also an upper respiratory virus.

No worries on clean up,whatever she has, she already has.

If she is pretty pitiful, you can always go to the emergency place and decline everything but the exam and subQ fluids and see your own vet tomorrow for diagnostics and further care. It will be expensive, but a way of helping her through the day since the big concern in waiting, is likely hydration.

Also....piece of mind since you are so worried. (as I would be, too).

Is she drinking? If so, but just not eating, waiting until tomorrow should be okay...but old kitties are brittle.

Whatever you decide....I wish you and your oldster many more days together!!!

 

[Principessa1284]

They eye tearing makes me think it's a herpes viral infection. My cat had one of those a few years ago and he had a lot of tearing up, so much that it looked like he had "bubbles" on his eye, and he just seemed listless. From what I remember, it's an easy fix if caught early.

 

[Feralpeg]

It always seems like animals get sick at the worst times financially and the emergency places are very expensive. If it comes right down to it, you might look at Carecredit.com. Most emergency vets take it. You can get approved online in a matter of minutes. It allows you to make payments rather than come up with a large lump sum at the vets.

Good luck. I hope your baby will be okay!

 

[prettyblueskies]

Hi everyone, this will be the last update.

We took her into the vet, and had to make the extremely difficult decision to let her go. It was something going on with her stomach, probably cancer. My husband knows the details; it's all a blur to me right now. I still can't quite wrap my head around it.

She had a wonderful and blessedly happy 19 years, and now I just have to be grateful that I had such a long time with my beautiful girl. I take comfort in knowing that she's no longer in pain. She was so weak and uncomfortable this morning, and I'm so glad that she has been relieved of that now. I know in my heart that I'll be seeing her again someday.

Thank you again, your support means more than you know.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Aww, I'm sorry.

 

[Tazicket]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[robinb]

{{hugs}} I'm sorry for the loss of your kitty. I lost my own kitty in May and I miss him every single day.

 

[dis-happy]

Heartbroken to read your update. So very sorry for your sudden loss.

(we had a 19 year old kitty too)

 

[sunnyday123]

So sorry for your loss.