advice please about my maybe poorly or just peed off cat

[paranoidandconfused]

last night I called and called for her but she wouldn't come in I tried several times over a half hour period to get her to come in

this morning dh says she was waiting at the door came straight in and went upstairs, I got up an hour later and had assumed she had gone back out as I searched everywhere for her as it's odd that she's not been begging for food

I have just found her upstairs under dd's bed looking really sad and bedraggled now to start with I thought that she may be peed off that she'd been out in the rain all night but this has happened before and normally she's fine. There are plenty of places to shelter in our garden dd's playhouse being one of them

I went to stroke her and she seems petrified of me, she feel sticky all over her side and back and has lots of cobwebs dust stuck to her and refuses to eat or drink. Now I realise I may be over reacting but this has never happened before and she looks ill one of her eyes looks slightly odd

I think I should maybe take her to the vet I'm not sure if she's been somewhere she shouldn;t or if some arsehole has done something horrid to her but we are skint at the minute and I obv don't want to take her if there's no need

Any advice would be great thanks

[ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween]

I'd say she's spent the night stuck in somewhere like a shed or garage.

[paranoidandconfused]

well everyone here has outhouse's so that's probably likely

she has something all over her coat something sticky do you think she needs to see the vet or should I try and wash it off myself

She's very put out!

[englishpatient]

How old is she? Does she have any health problems already? If not v. old and not ill before, I'd probably wait a day or so if you are worried about the vet costs, but keep an eye on her (can you put down a litter tray and keep her in for a day?).

I think I would try to wipe off the sticky stuff with a damp flannel, rather than bathing/washing her properly, as my cats both HATED baths.

Can you coax her to eat a bit by offering something nice e.g. a bit of tuna or cooked chicken?

If still worried tomorrow, especially if she's still not eating/drinking, I'd take her to see the vet.

Hope this helps and hope she's okay.

[paranoidandconfused]

thanks englishpatient she's not got any other problems and she's only 2 so still a baby really

I can't even get her out from under the bed at the mo tbh so think a full on bath is a definate no no but I'll try and wipe her if I can get her out

I've tried all her fave foods and she just backs further under the bed so I've left some under it with her

[ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween]

My gut feeling would be to leave her for a few hours or til tomorrow and see how she is. Does the sticky stuff smell of anything? If you do clean it iss, use something white to see if you can tell what colour it is (blood from a fight injury or example). My oldest cat once had sticky stuff in his fur and it was actually pus from a bite wound (very common!)

My last cats were always fairly freaked out if they'd spent the night stuck somewhere.

[ClaireDeLoon]

I would just give her time - she sounds frightened and will come out of the bed of her own accord when she wants to.

When I can't get scaredy no. 2 cat out from under the bed I dangle one of the other two in front of the bed and he eventually comes out to see them. Does that make me a bad person? Obviously this trick won't work if you don't have another cat to hand.

[englishpatient]

I think you are doing the right things - just give her a little time. Hope she comes out soon and is happy again.

[paranoidandconfused]

lol we do have another cat we got a kitten a couple of weeks ago but she only just tolerates him at the best of times

I can't anywhere near her to check out the sticky stuff now but I didn't notice a smell when I found her and I think it's too sticky to be blood but will have a better look later

[FABIsInTraining]

Something has clearly happened to her and she sounds terrified.

You need to get her out and clean her up as what she has on her might be harmful to her if she cleans it up.

Maybe start a savings account for unexpected vets bills?

[paranoidandconfused]

we have insurance but the excess is £50 and things have been pretty bad for us lately so we didn't have enough cash to buy food with last week so I would love to have a spare quid to start a savings account with

but obv I will take her if need be

[FABIsInTraining]

How is she now?

Phone the vet for advice? They don't always say to bring them in.

[paranoidandconfused]

she's still much the same I cannot get to her to get her out I need dh to come home and lift the bed for me

going to try them now and see what they say

[paranoidandconfused]

right well the vets has said to bring her in so that's what we are doing

[ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween]

How is she?

[FABIsInTraining]

Any news?

[paranoidandconfused]

Hi she's been probably been fighting and has got a swollen neck from the bite is infected and an ear infection too

She's had a shot of antibiotics and I've some eardrops to give her

I've to take her back tomorrow if she hasn't perked up cos she's still not eating or drinking but if I have to go back at least the pet insurance will be worth claiming off

she's just been sat in her pet carrier since I got back from the vets with her looking all sad the kitten seems to be more understanding than I though and is just laying next to the pet carrier in sympathy lol

will update you tomorrow

[ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween]

My old cat's infected bites (two in consecutive months!) healed up very quickly with the antibiotics. She'll most likely be fine tomorrow

[FABIsInTraining]

How is she this morning?

[paranoidandconfused]

she still looks a bit sorry for herself but she is eating and drinking now

I've kept the pet carrier out for her to lie in to get away from the kitten and kids and have seperated the kitten from her over night and this morning

I'm going to give her till this afternoon and if she hasn't perked up a bit I'm going to take her back again I think

ADragonIs4LifeNot were your cat's bites swollen the swelling still hasn't gone down on her neck

[ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween]

The first one wasn't but the second one was IIRC. the swelling is most likely [barf] pus. Once the antibiotics kick in, it'll start to go down (DS2's face went down over 36 hours or so when he had an infected injury. Although clearly he is not a car )

[paranoidandconfused]

yeah there is quite a bit of pus I think that's what all the sticky stuff all over heer coat was

[FABIsInTraining]

Or even a cat ADragon

[englishpatient]

I'm glad she is getting a bit better - I'm sure she will be fine. My cats had various bites over their long lives and they never caused any long-term harm.

[paranoidandconfused]

thanks everyone I'll keep you updated

[ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween]

Yes, that's right, he's not a cat either