Metapost: Sick Cat

Content Note: Pet Illness

Some of you are already aware of this through emails and texting, but I wanted a centralized place for updates.

Primary Cat started vomiting at fixed intervals on Thursday evening and into Thursday night. We at first thought he had a hairball blocking his system and got him some hairball paste to eat Friday morning, but by Friday afternoon he had started up again and was vomiting foam. At that point, he'd thrown up maybe 20 times in 24 hours. We couldn't get into our vet, so we took him to the local cat hospital. They did x-rays and blood work and announced that he had a bacteria that causes pancreas problems -- they gave us an oral antibiotic to give him, and gave him liquids and an anti-nausea medication by IV while there.

Today it has been crucial to get him eating again, or his internal systems could shut down. Absolutely nothing we've been able to do has worked to get him to eat. We're facing either taking him back to the animal hospital for hospitalization and IV fluids and food -- something they aren't super keen on because he's a high-stress cat and the environment and experience could traumatize him a lot -- or syringe-feeding him food liquids (low-sodium chicken broth, tuna water) until he starts eating on his own. Obviously, all this has been very stressful and has pretty much ensured that I won't be at the computer for an extended period since I have to keep an eye on him at all times and he prefers the safety of the closet right now.

I'll post updates here as they come available. Thank you.

Update 1600 hours (2/16): I'm back home; Primary Cat has been left at the hospital for barium treatment (to look for esophageal blockage) and for overnight stay with IV liquids and medication. I'm pretty shaky, and feel really dreadful about leaving him overnight somewhere he won't be comfortable and where I'm not there, but this seemed like the right thing to do. We're supposed to pick him up tomorrow at 0730, unless things have taken a bad turn.

Update 1400 hours (2/17): We called the vet this morning and they were concerned because he hadn't eaten all night. They told us to bring in some favorite food, in the hopes that he would eat with us there. I was really quite shocked and upset when we got there, because they hadn't put him in isolation like they'd told us they would -- he's a very high-stress cat and terrified of and aggressive to all other animals, and they knew that, but they'd put him in a room full of dogs and other cats in surrounding cages. I told them that he wouldn't eat there, not even with me present (and he didn't), so they sent him home and said we absolutely had to get him eating within 24 hours.

As soon as we got home, I re-opened the can of soft food we'd taken to the vet and he stumbled drunkenly (from the sedatives they had to give him to take the IV out before we left) out of his carrier, ate half the can, drank some water, and curled up in my arms. He's slept most of the day, with a quick trip to the litter box about an hour ago. Now he's sleeping on the bed with daddy. We're hoping against hope that everything will go back to "normal" and that he won't start vomiting or refusing food again like he was a couple of days ago; we have some antibiotics to give him which are supposed to help fight the pancreatitis.

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Kitryan said...

I use an app/program called icam to monitor my cat when I'm away-I mention it because it has a motion sensor function so you can look at live footage via smartphone or stored images when the motion sensor is triggered. Saves on memory if you continue to need to monitor food intake. Also, if you need to leave and want to be able to check in-I know there's an iPhone/pad app and I think there's an android app too.

Frenchroast said...

I hope your kitty is feeling better soon! Mine went through something similar (she literally ate an entire small ball of blue yarn, end to end) a few years ago and I know how terrible going through something like this can be. Hopefully now that your kitty is home and in familiar surroundings, things will start to improve. Sending my best wishes!

Ann Unemori said...

I have five cats who condescend to let me live here, they all send their best wishes. Don't give up, Primary Cat, we're all with you.

Randomosity said...

Ohhhhh. Poor kitty! I'm glad to hear he's doing better. My kitties send snuggles and purrs his way. I hope he continues to get better. He's in good hands and has a good pair of humans.

RedSonja said...

If he was on fluids overnight, I wouldn't be terribly surprised that he's not thirsty. He was probably well hydrated when he came home, and eating wet food helps maintain his hydration.

Sick kitties are SO frustrating. Cats HATE change, and so trying to help them feel better can make them feel (emotionally) worse. Add to that antibiotics, which as many of us have experienced = unhappy tummy, and good luck.
The good news is that there are anti-nausea meds AND appetite stimulants. They aren't always effective, but if you're giving him meds anyway they may be worth asking about.

PS I've worked as a vet tech for 10 years, much of that in emergency /critical care. So if you have questions, I'm happy to answer them. It's so awful when the furkids are sick!

sabotabby said...

I'm working on getting my own sick cat to eat, and can totally sympathize. I hope Primary Cat is back on his feet soon.

depizan said...

No, no, Primary Cat, you're supposed to eat! I wish I could ask my kitties what sounds really good when they don't feel well. They might have great suggestions, if only I could understand them. And you probably already know all the usual tricks. Does your regular vet have any thoughts?

depizan said...

Poor kitty. I really hope he continues eating now that he's home where he feels safe.

bekabot said...

My Mom's cat died a couple of years ago, and I'm still not over it. (And she wasn't even my cat.) This is the reason I won't get a cat...it's because I don't want to put myself through this stuff. I can endure anxiety on my own account and I can endure anxiety on behalf of other people, but that's probably b/c I don't like myself or other people all that much. But I admire hell out of teh kittehs, and I can't stand to see them at a disadvantage. So here is a portion of cat ♡ and a wish for Primary's speedy recovery.

J_Enigma23 said...

Oh no D:

I hope your kitty gets well soon.

Caroline Rødvik said...

I had the same problem with my cat Muffin (in her case, it ultimately turned out to be an inflammation of the gall bladder). It's nerve wracking and awful. :( My sympathies. I'm crossing my fingers for your kitty's speedy recovery! And offer lots of overseas internet hugs for you.

RedSonja said...

Even if they don't find anything, sometimes barium can be therapeutic for massive GI upset. It coats all the angry surfaces, kinda like radiopaque pepto-bismol. Fingers and paws crossed here for PC!

Lily said...

Poor kitty! I hope he recovers.

~Lily~

Steve Morrison said...

All best wishes for your cat and for you and your husband.

Anonymus said...

Poor kitten! I hope he feels better soon. It's so nerve wracking when they're sick.

Thomas Keyton said...

I hope things go well.

AnnaLK said...

Poor kitty and poor Ana :( I hope he's restored to health soon.

AnnaLK said...

Poor kitty and poor Ana :( I hope he's restored to health soon.

RedSonja said...

Oh no! On the bright side, there will be people there all night keeping an eye on him, and you may be able to get some rest, or at least leave the closet. Also, if he's high stress, he'll probably get a towel over the front of his house to give him some privacy and feel hidden; that's certainly what we did. Please keep us posted as you feel up to it!

RedSonja said...

Poor Primary Cat and his people! Pancreatitis is the pits. You've likely tried all of these, but just in case, these are the tricks I've used to try to get hospitalized cats eating. Heating up the food to make it nice and stinky; smearing a little on the nose so that they have to lick it off (and taste it, which is sometimes enough); meat baby food; familiar dry kibble soaked in broth or fish juice; low sodium lean lunch meat; butt skritches while offering food (for the cat, though maybe you'd enjoy them too....); pretending to or actually eating the food myself, then offering to the cat; using a flat plate instead of a bowl.

I hope he feels better soon! He is clearly well loved and cared for. :)

depizan said...

Oh no! All the hugs and scritchies.

I hope the syringe feeding works. Poor guy. I wish I had some suggestions or way to help. :(

Get well soon, Primary Cat!

Ann Unemori said...

Poor kitty, hope he gets well, esp after all the time and effort. You must really love your cat, a mega-plus in my book; history's good guys and gals tend to be cat people.

Redcrow said...

Best wishes for your cat.

Trynn said...

*hugs for you and the cat, if he can tolerate them at this point*

I REALLY hope he gets better soon...

depizan said...

*crosses fingers and offers more hugs and scritches*

Hopefully the lack of water consumption is just him still not being thirsty after the IV, and by now he's had a drink. Poor you and Primary Cat (and all others involved).

Annafel said...

I hope your kitty is doing better! Much sympathy and concern for all of you.

Ann Unemori said...

Mmm, smoked salmon, that should make any sick kitty start to feel better.
May I offer a prayer to St. Francis for your furry friend?

MaryKaye said...

We had luck with smoked salmon when our elderly cat had pancreatitis. I think the strong smell helps get their attention.

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