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Original poster

Would you call the out of hours vet?

36 replies

ServantOfFelines · 26/02/2023 23:13

I've put this in Litter Tray as well but though chat would be busier.

I'm so worried about my cat. She's two years old. All day she's been really off colour. She hasn't eaten a thing and she's done nothing except sleep in a drawer under the bed. She wouldn't touch her food this evening.

I'm so worried about her. Would you call the vets tonight or see how she is in the morning and call them then? I'm finding it hard to sleep. She always sleeps next to me on the bed, but she's taken herself back to the drawer to be on her own. Don't know what the best thing to do is.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 26/02/2023 23:14

Does she seem in pain at all? Have you checked her over?

YourTruthorMine · 26/02/2023 23:15

It's probably a bug, cats can get them, dogs too. I would wait until the morning. I would only contact emergency vet if my animal was in intense pain or unable to pee

snufflebuns · 26/02/2023 23:19

Would you go to A&E for the same symptoms?

If not, call up in the morning and get a regular appointment. Vets need sleep too.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Babies & sleep Cats Children's sleep
Original poster
ServantOfFelines · 26/02/2023 23:20

She's not vomiting or had any diarrhoea. She doesn't seem in pain either, but she definitely doesn't want to be bothered by me. I can tell she feels like shit. I just really don't want to leave it and potentially miss something.

OP posts:
Original poster
ServantOfFelines · 26/02/2023 23:21

snufflebuns · 26/02/2023 23:19

Would you go to A&E for the same symptoms?

If not, call up in the morning and get a regular appointment. Vets need sleep too.

This is a good way of looking at it. I suppose it's not an emergency, I'm just panicking.

OP posts:
PriamFarrl · 26/02/2023 23:21

Do you have insurance? With my insurance I can call a vet all included in the price.

RoseBucket · 26/02/2023 23:22

Has she had any water or will she take any?

OhNoNotThatAgain · 26/02/2023 23:23

Has she been outside last night or earlier today? If so, check her claws, front and back. If they look damaged, then you need the vet asap as she may have been hit by a vehicle. They cling onto the road involuntarily and it is a tell-tale sign.

GoldilockMom · 26/02/2023 23:24

If a child was I’ll like this you’d let them sleep and give water - you might call a doctor the next day.

Let her sleep and see how she is in the morning.

Rellywobble · 26/02/2023 23:24

Cal the vet tomorrow unless there is obvious distress.

dodobookends · 26/02/2023 23:25

snufflebuns · 26/02/2023 23:19

Would you go to A&E for the same symptoms?

If not, call up in the morning and get a regular appointment. Vets need sleep too.

A human can tell you if they feel ill or are in pain. An animal can't, and it is their instinct to hide away when sick or injured.

Giraffapuses · 26/02/2023 23:26

If insured emergency vet. Our cat acts like that when he has an upset stomach and is dehydrated. Geneal things to check are:

  • Any lumps or hard places in her body if yes straight to vet
Can she pee and poo normally? If no, straight to vet
  • is her heart rate elevated - if yes straight to vets. Sign of pain
  • are her gums discoloured?
  • is she able to eat and keep down food perhaps if fed to her by hand if she's too unwell to reach her bowl
  • has she had more than a few incidents of sickness of diarrhea in the same 24 hour period. If yes then straight to vets.

Hope she gets better soon. I should I am not a vet. We've just had a very poorly moggie (who made a full recovery and is currently downstairs making mischief).

TheShellBeach · 26/02/2023 23:29

I would take her to the vet tonight.
If she's seriously ill she needs treatment.
You have no idea what's wrong or if she's in pain.
Humans can tell you their symptoms but animals can't.
Please phone the vet.

peonyjam · 26/02/2023 23:30

Is she also not drinking? Has she used her litter tray today? Does her breathing seem normal or more rapid than normal? How do her eyes look? You could see if she feels hot to the touch on her ears too. If you are really worried some out of hour vets will offer video consultations and they will be able to advise if she needs to be seen urgently. I hope your kitty perks up soon, as others have said she may just be feeling under the weather. I would call the vet first thing tomorrow morning if no change over night.

TheShellBeach · 26/02/2023 23:31

ServantOfFelines · 26/02/2023 23:21

This is a good way of looking at it. I suppose it's not an emergency, I'm just panicking.

Show quote history

It isn't a good way of looking at it because animals cannot tell you their symptoms.
It may be an emergency. Only a vet can diagnose and treat what's wrong.

Lavender14 · 26/02/2023 23:34

I'd be inclined to let her sleep it off, make sure she has good access to water and food. Sometimes cats won't eat much and will sleep a lot if they're feeling under the weather. If it lasts longer than a day or two I'd get her checked over. If you know she's eaten something she shouldn't/ come into contact with things like lillies or other toxic plants etc then I'd ring the vet. But if there's nothing like that you are aware of then I'd just let her be and keep checking in on her.

Rebel2 · 26/02/2023 23:37

My test is always for mine, will he eat some chicken or ham (that's his fave food, if he refuses it then he's sick)
I would use the vet helpline if you have insurance as I know it's hard to tell
Mine has gone from being like that to fine the next day but then other times he's seemed ok and been pretty unwell. Cats!

belimoo · 26/02/2023 23:42

If you don't have a free insurance helpline number you could try pocket vet who do online consultations. I used them once when I wasn't sure whether a trip to the vet was necessary and they were helpful. I think I paid £5. I hope your cat feels better soon.

isitaline97 · 26/02/2023 23:45

As others have said is insured a video call would be advisable, if not are your very worried you could always call the ooh vets just for a bit of advice, they will likely just ask you to keep an eye on her and book her in first thing.

Feel her armpits does she feel overly warm? How is her gum colour? It should be a nice salmon pink, blue can indicate lack of oxygen and white can be shock. If nice and pink I would say wait until the morning, if she has any excessive salvation I would get in touch tonight though.

Maybe pop a bowl of water close to her, if she refuses to eat don't leave any food under her nose as they tend not to like that.

She likely just has some sort of bug but as other have said it's good to check her paws/claws in case of car injury, and maybe just a physical check of her body for any large cuts that might be bothersome.

I used to be a veterinary nurse and this would be my advice but id always say if something really doesn't feel right, do get in touch with a vet, even if just for a phone consult. I hope she feels better soon ❤️

Panama2 · 26/02/2023 23:56

Check her all over when one of my cats refused to come out from under the bed she had an abscess from another cat clawing her under her tail. She refused all water and food too.

maximist · 27/02/2023 00:00

Does she go out? Could she have had an encounter with another cat which has stressed her? One of mine hides under the bed after any sort of traumatic experience, but comes round eventually...

BookShark · 27/02/2023 00:54

I would call. One of my cats gets cystitis and if I ring, the vets very kindly point out that it's going to cost me and I could get her seen more cheaply in the morning. But I can afford to treat her now and don't want her to be in pain if I can get her treated more quickly.

Depends slightly on your financial situation, but if DD has been off her food and sleeping all day, I'd have rung 111 by now, so I'd do the same for the cats

TheShellBeach · 27/02/2023 09:44

How's the mog today?

Original poster
ServantOfFelines · 27/02/2023 13:43

I've got two threads going so it's hard to keep up with the updates!

She was a bit perkier this morning, came onto bed for a cuddle and was purring. But still refused food. She asks for it, but I've offered her everything and it's like she just can't stomach it even though she wants to. She's a calico cat and all her usual pink bits - like her nose and inside of ears - are white/grey.

After non-breakfast she was back upstairs in the drawer all morning and I had to go out. When I got back at lunchtime she was bothering me for food again but couldn't manage to eat anything. The only thing she could get down was one treat biscuit thingy - like Dreamies but supermarket own brand. After that she wanted to go outside so I let her out, she chased after a squirrel and vaulted over the neighbour's fence like normal. Weird.

Now I don't know whether she's on the mend or has taken herself off somewhere and will feel too I'll to get back. Am kicking myself for letting her out. Maybe I shouldn't have? I've got a vets appointment at 6.

OP posts:
SallyWD · 27/02/2023 14:09

My cat is occasionally like this. I usually wait until the next morning to see if he's improved and generally he's fine the next day. Sometimes they just have a bug and bounce back. If he was like it for 48 hours I'd take him in.