Off colour kitty - at what stage would you go to the vet? Please help

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

A bit of a WWYD - advice appreciated.

My cat normally...

• spends most of the day sleeping but getting up at approx hourly intervals to ask me for food
  
• is a glutton and wolfs the whole bowl down as soon as it's put in front of him
  
• is pretty chatty and likes a nice face bump with me
  
• goes out of his cat flap around 10-11pm and chases mice for most of the night
  

My cat currently

• seems to have lost a little bit of weight (maybe 1/2kg?) although this on it's own is no bad thing as he was a bit podgy. Not sure over how long the weight has come off
  
• on Monday didn't eat all his food in one go but ate it all eventually
  
• yesterday didn't really talk to me much and didn't ask for any food(!!)
  
• didn't eat all the food I gave him, which wasn't his full quota in any case
  
• seemed a bit sad and v sleepy all day
  

This morning he's still pretty subdued although he did say "maow" when I came down stairs and came in the kitchen to (half-heartedly) ask for breakfast. I gave him a pouch of wet food and he's licked the jelly off and eaten about half the meat. He looks a little more alert but defo not 100%

My question- would you take him to the vet at this stage or monitor for a bit longer? I'm not trying to shirk taking him, it's just that he finds it SUPER distressing (he's a timid puss) so I don't like to take him unless it's really looking necessary. Plus I have a natural tendency to over-react as he is my PFC and I love him more than anything.

TIA kitty lovers...

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd be booking him in, I don't like to wait though.

The not eating thing is worrying.

[soaccidentprone]

If this was my cat I would see how it goes, but make an appointment at the vets for tomorrow.

You can always cancel if he perks up.

Maybe he has eaten a mouse or something which didn't agree with him?

Cats sometimes eat grass if they are feeling unwell. No idea why?

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

Thanks for the replies. It's extra tricky because he poops outside so I don't know if he's got an upset tummy or not.

I am also tending to think he's eaten a dodgy mouse takeaway on one of his nights out. Boak.

[BIWI]

I'd ring the vet and ask their advice, to be honest. Cats are very stoical creatures, so if he's obviously not himself it's probably a good idea to take him - but I quite get that you don't want to stress him out with the trip there!

[RubbishMantra]

I agree with taking him to the vet.

As he's an out-doorsy sort of boy, who knows what shenanigans he's got up to. Could be a piece of dodgy prey or cat bite gone bad.

Either way, will set your mind at rest.

[minkymuskyslyoldstoaty]

hmm, i have a cat who occasionally does this, and it's because he likes eating slow worms.

Yet he is normally ok within 24-36 hours. I would take him in today tbh.

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

Ok, I've made an appointment in an hour's time. Like you say, just to set my mind at ease - I couldn't bear it if there was something really wrong. He absolutely hates it though so wish me luck wrangling him into his carrier

[minkymuskyslyoldstoaty]

i know it's stressful for them, but it will set your mind at rest. good luck xx

[crabb]

How old is he? Half a kg is substantial weight loss. Think you're doing the right thing.

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

He's 6. I don't think the weight has all come off recently though - he was 5.11kg last time we were at the vet (April) and they said he was a bit too big. Turns out my DH had not been weighing out his dry food (against my express instructions! ) and also at that point he wasn't going outside much so not getting much exercise. He's now 4.7kg but I think most of that probably came off gradually - he's been looking sleeker generally. That said, we went away this weekend and when I came back and picked him up, I thought he felt extra light. Gulp. Hope he's ok. He causes me endless joy and endless stress.

[crabb]

Good luck! Let us know how he gets on.

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

We're back. He didn't put up the slightest fight going into his carrier so that confirmed that he really must be feeling sorry for himself!

He's got a bit of a temperature and the vet said his gut feels "squishy" and she thought she could feel a bit of bone in there. So, yep, bad take-out (as predicted). Really glad I took him - I should learn to trust my instincts more!

Thanks everyone for all the advice xx

[BIWI]

What did the vet do? What treatment is he having?

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

She examined him, took his temp (high ), listened to his chest (fine) and gave him three injections which were (I think) a long-acting antibiotic, something to get hs guy moving + anti-inflammatory, and a multivitamin. He's to go back if he doesn't perk up in the next 24hours but tbh he's been much better - alert, wanted and ate food, chatted to me, gave me some face bumps . Fingers crossed.

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

*gut

[BIWI]

Fingers crossed!

[monopoly123]

How is he now?

[madamemuddle]

Our old cat was like this when he'd been bitten and had an abcess. Twice we took him to the vet and they gave him antibiotics and he was fine after a day or so. The third time, we didn't realise he had an abcess on his leg and it burst. We bathed it for him and again he was fine in a day or so.

Hope your kit kat is okay.

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

Fully recovered thank you! Was back to his normal self the following day, thank goodness. He's been a bit clingy though- Velcro cat.

Oh and he's randomly developed a really swollen bit around one of his claws so I might have to take him back to the vet. He lives to cause me stress and bankrupt me!

[monopoly123]

Glad he's ok!
Mine is in similar situation, stupid boy disappeared at some time after Sunday night, turned up last night skinny and grumpy, he ate last night but not today so took him to the vet - 3 jabs (antibiotic, steroid & vitamin), vet advised spoiling him food wise. He's lost 0.5kg since his last year jab but was noticeably fatter before he went AWOL, so maybe lost more. And we found a wound near his tail base that May or may not have been an abcess that's popped while he's been away.

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

Gosh - almost exactly the same! I'm sure he'll be much better in the next day or two. You must have been worried! If it helps, my little idiot spent a day feeling sorry for himself after the jabs and by last night he was feeling well enough to bring me a nice live mouse while I was watching tv. Thinking good thoughts for your boy

[monopoly123]

Thanks he is liking the Sheba, hope he doesn't get too used to it but he had a tray last night and just finished his breakfast so he's definitely on the mend.
Glad to hear yours is back hunting.