Sick kitty, any advice?

[britfish]

DD's kitty is about 1.5 years old and started throwing up about 24hr. ago. He did it a few times overnight but we thought it was a hairball and didn't think twice about it. Tonight he threw up a huge piece of grosgrain ribbon. I think it was about two feet long. Now hes not eating and acting odd and we are really worried. I will call the vet first thing in the morning but I am wondering if you think he will still be with us then? I have no idea what the ribbon is from so I can't even guess if anything was attached to it and still stuck in him.
DH is away and of course this is the worse time for vet bills to start. Any advice?

 

[TrixieB]

I would venture that the ribbon could be somehow twisted around the cats intestines. I had a cat that had a similiar situation a few years ago and I ended up wishing I had gotten to the vet sooner. If you can, I would get the cat to an emergency vet asap.

I hope it all ends well for you and the cat!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

I would venture that the ribbon could be somehow twisted around the cats intestines. I had a cat that had a similiar situation a few years ago and I ended up wishing I had gotten to the vet sooner. If you can, I would get the cat to an emergency vet asap.

I hope it all ends well for you and the cat!

I agree, if you can avoid it, don't wait! Ribbon can be really bad when ingested by a cat! Icicles from Christmas trees can be lethal too!

 

[DizneeCM]

Britfish,

I'm so sorry for your cat! If you can get him to a vet ASAP, that would probably be the thing to do (or can you call them after-hours to get some guidance?). My sister's dog ate a pair of pantyhose and he ended up needing surgery (but he ended up fine in the long run).

I hope he is okay!

 

[britfish]

Do you think only part of the ribbon was thrown up? I suppose he could have eaten two ribbons and one is still stuck.

I am so upset, the closet emergency clinic is 2.5 hr. away. Why does DH have to be away when this stuff happens.

 

[ceecee]

I would get him to the vet ASAP, sounds like there is still something in there if he's not eating and acting strange. Hope everything is okay!

 

[jacksonsmom]

call your regular vet now! There should be an after hours number you can get ahold of the vet. Talk to the vet and see what they have to say, maybe they will meet you at the clinic so they can check the kitty over.

I really pray your kitty is OK. But I have a feeling you may have to take her to the ER vet. It's not fun, I had to do that to my 4 month old kitten years ago. But it saved his life and today he is almost 7 years old and sitting right next to me.

 

[britfish]

So the regular vets answering service said that after hours to use the emergency vet. So either I wait it out or wake the kids up and drive to the emergency vet 2.5 hrs. away. I wouldn't nomrally think twice but we have a storm coming in tonight with 8 inches of snow predicted starting in the next hour. ugh. I feel helpless.

 

[brennicksmom]

Can you call the ER clinic and explain that bc of the weather you don't think you can get there? Maybe they can tell you what to do overnight.

Its too bad there arent any close to you than 2.5 hours. I agree with the need for him to be seen. You never know what the little kitties get into.

 

[NYEmomma]

So the regular vets answering service said that after hours to use the emergency vet. So either I wait it out or wake the kids up and drive to the emergency vet 2.5 hrs. away. I wouldn't nomrally think twice but we have a storm coming in tonight with 8 inches of snow predicted starting in the next hour. ugh. I feel helpless.

What a crappy situation to be stuck in, I'm sorry.

I agree with everyone else -- kitty needs to be seen ASAP by a veterinarian. Ingesting things like ribbon can be very, very dangerous to cats (and dogs). I worked for a veterinarian and saw quite a few pets that had eaten things and needed scoped, surgery, or worse. But for as much as I love my pets, it's still a judgment call that you have to make... do you drag your kids out of bed to drive that far away for the emergency vet or wait it out until the morning until you can be seen by your regular vet (who should work you in first thing in the morning for a problem such as this). I really wouldn't fault you for going either way in this case.

 

[jennyjinx3]

Oh I am hoping everything is ok for you and kitty

 

[britfish]

thanks for everyones kind words. While waiting for a call back from the vet it has begun snowing and I just can't risk the drive at this point so I am going to hope for the best and go to the vet in the morning. Fortunatley our regular vet is a mile from the house so I will be there first thing in the morning rain or shine. I just pray the night goes ok, he just threw up some more but it is just mucus. I hope he makes it through the night.
Thanks again for your kind words it really helps.

 

[cornflake]

do you drag your kids out of bed to drive that far away for the emergency vet

Yeah, you do.

It sucks that there's apparently not a closer vet or animal hospital or ANYTHING apparently, but yeah, you do. I don't even honestly get the drag them out of bed as a consideration. Sleep in the car, miss a night of sleep, whatever, it's hardly on the same level of importance as the animal's life.

 

[Carina]

Yeah, you do.

It sucks that there's apparently not a closer vet or animal hospital or ANYTHING apparently, but yeah, you do. I don't even honestly get the drag them out of bed as a consideration. Sleep in the car, miss a night of sleep, whatever, it's hardly on the same level of importance as the animal's life.

2.5 hours drive in the snow, with 2 young kids, her emergency may be far worse than a sick animal if she goes.

 

[BoogasMom]

I agree with the OP....I wouldn't put my kids in the car for a nighttime 2.5 hr drive in a snowstorm. I have 2 cats and I love them very much but the well being and safety of my children GREATLY outweigh the well being and safety of my pets. If the weather was stable then I wouldn't question taking them out of bed to take the cat to the ER vet but that's not the situation here. I pray that your kitty will be okay and I think you are making the right decision, sad as it is.

 

[britfish]

If the weather were clear but i ts a desolate route to the city and i cant take that type of risk in a winter storm

 

[sherry7]

I hope your kitty will be okay. I've had to take one of my cat's to the emergency vet twice because she ate dental floss, and the ribbon from birthday balloons. Fortunately, it passed through and she pooped it out. If you happen to see the end of the ribbon coming from either the cats mouth or her rear, do NOT pull it. If it is twisted around her intestines, you'll make the situation worse.

 

[BoogasMom]

If the weather were clear but i ts a desolate route to the city and i cant take that type of risk in a winter storm

Hearing that the route to the city is desolate, I wouldn't even take that risk in good weather in the middle of the night. What if your car broke down and you are stuck on the side of the road with 2 young children in the car with you? No way....not worth the risk.

 

[sookie]

People need to have their priorities in check!
OP, you are right - do not risk taking your kids out for a 2.5 hour drive one way in a winter storm! You could have a wreck - and winter storms are notorious for bad fatalities due to ice. Don't risk it!
Try for the AM.

 

[cornflake]

Hearing that the route to the city is desolate, I wouldn't even take that risk in good weather in the middle of the night. What if your car broke down and you are stuck on the side of the road with 2 young children in the car with you? No way....not worth the risk.

Tell it to the cat.

I mean...cell phones exist, as does AAA. It just started snowing and hadn't when this started. What if the car broke down anyplace? Call for roadside assistance. I wouldn't let what I thought was a gravely ill animal sit there because what if, randomly, the car happened to have trouble. A 'everyone off the roads, no visibility, super danger sleeting blizzard ice storm' I could see weighing. Snow? It's snow. Everyone's out of bed in my house and in the car. Desolate is better, no one on the road, go more slowly if there aren't sanders out yet.