Unwell Siamese - any help appreciated

[RustyPaperclip]

I have an 8 yr old Siamese, no previous health problems apart from getting in the odd scrap. On Monday night we noticed he had a very slight wheezy cough and we put it down to a possible hairball (although he has never had a problem before).

DH got home from work yesterday and found him laying on the back of the sofa, with very quick but deep breathing. He didn't want any food, and didn't want to move. He was trying to sleep but clearly was unable to settle. Before bed I wrapped him up in a blanket and put him on my pillow (we totally spoil love our cats as you can probably tell). In the morning he seemed perfectly well, he was running up and do the hallway screaming for his breakfast. Dh went to work after me and said he was still coughing badly and quite often but otherwise seemed fine.

I have got home tonight and he now seems worse than last night. I placed my ear on his chest and it sounds like he is hyperventilating. He has also started dribbling from his mouth. We can't think of any changes in the house which could have cause this reaction, and anything that could harm him is locked away. We did wonder if he has been spooked by something as he is a rather sensitive would, but this does seem an extreme reaction and doesn't explain his wheezy cough. Also, he is kept in during the day as we don't have a cat flap, so he couldn't have got hold of/eaten anything whilst we were working.

[Foxyspook]

Take him to the vet. They operate on Saturday mornings.

[spanky2]

They dribble when they feel sick. Could be a sore throat or sore mouth? Does his breath smell? Also have you had him vaccinated as I thought cat flu? If he has hot pads he could have a temperature. We put a fan on low speed when our cat had a temperature. Try high value food like cooked chicken or tuna to tempt him. Might have a chest infection. They can get colds and allergies. Tree pollen is really high.
Make an emergency appointment with the vet tomorrow. Don't let the receptionist put you off as he might need antibiotics.

[RustyPaperclip]

He has now collapsed and can barely breathe so we are rushing him to the out of hours vets. We are bloody terrified, we love him so much

[RustyPaperclip]

I've had him since he was a little rescue kitten, and I've always suspected dh loves him more than he loves me but that is ok with me. I'm bawling my eyes out and keeping one hand on his chest to check that he is still breathing.

[RomComPhooey]

Oh dear. Hope the vet can bring him back to good health. X

[AnotherStitchInTime]

You have done the right thing in rushing him to a vet. It sounds a lot like asthma which cats can get. If it is asthma it is managed in the same way human asthma is with inhalers. I hope he is OK OP.

[Katymac]

Good luck they are beautiful cats

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Good luck, I hope he's ok

[Vinorosso74]

Oh poor boy. Keeping everything crossed for him.

[RustyPaperclip]

My darling cat has passed away. The vet said that it was heart failure and there was nothing we could have done. I am heartbroken. He was everything to us, my poor husband is desolate. It might sound silly, but they were soul mates even though he was my cat first. I feel so guilty that I was trying to convince my husband to get another cat and now our lovely, perfect boy is gone

[cozietoesie]

I'm so sorry. I know what it's like.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I am so very sorry. Thinking of you and your husband

RIP little one

[DramaAlpaca]

What a terrible shock for you both. I'm so sorry for your loss

[Roobix04]

I am very sorry for your loss. We also have a siamese and the bond runs deep.

[tabulahrasa]

my Siamese died just after Christmas, they leave huge holes don't they?

You wanting another cat is nothing to feel bad about.

[isamonster]

So sorry. Been there. Be kind to yourselves.

[lottielou7]

Oh Rusty - I'm so sorry. I love my cats so much too - be kind to yourself .

[Vinorosso74]

Oh no I'm so sorry. RIP kitty.

[RustyPaperclip]

We feel so shocked, I can't stop thinking about him running around our flat, screaming for attention and food. He was such a character and we adored him. We moved flat last year and our new neighbour asked how old our baby was. We then had to explain that we didn't have a baby and that was in fact our Siamese. I'm sorry for rambling but I feel I have to get this all out even if nobody reads.

[BirthdayBetty]

I'm so sorry

[isamonster]

I'm sure I want be the only one who can relate to what you're writing and feeling. I know it is horrible to lose an animal and feel so powerless and lost. There's a cat shaped hole in your universe. I'm sure he enjoyed life with you and knew how much he was loved. Take care and be gentle with yourselves.

[Vinorosso74]

If you need to cry then cry. If you need to write down what you're thinking then do. The litter tray is full of cat loving people and I think most of us have lost cats at some point so can understand

[RustyPaperclip]

Thank you everyone, I should have said it sooner but I think I'm slightly in shock. I come from a massive animal loving family and I am accustomed to pets dying, but my Siamese boy was something extra special. He experienced all the major landmarks in my life like uni graduation, moving in with boyfriend, first professional job, MA degree, marrying boyfriend. We are struggling to see a future without him, we had even been discussing recently how he would react when/if we have kids. We just assumed he would b in our life for longer.

He was such a character, I'm scared that I will wake up and expect to see him

[Threetoedsloth]

I can't tell you how sad this makes me feel for you, they take chunks of our hearts with them and when they leave us too soon we feel horribly cheated.
Goodness we love them so much. We're reeling from the very sudden loss of our 12 year old boycat in January, who went out for a wander and just died suddenly in the garden- we suspect a heart attack. So I am crying for him (as I do most days) and for you and your husband-( boycat adored mine and he him- the loss is terrible and felt so keenly)

[Threetoedsloth]

I like these words. They speak to me and mine. I hope they speak to you.


We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary
than our own, live within a fragile
circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
never fully understanding the necessary plan.
From “The Once Again Prince” by Irving Townsend

Take care of yourselves- I hope you both manage some sleep.