Someone PLEASE tell us our elderly cat isn't dying? Can cats get colds?

[expatinscotland]

DH took in a stray Persian cat about 6 years ago, so we don't know his exact age.

Our vet in Edinburgh said he was quite elderly, perhaps a teen.

Well, he's really not doing well.

He's eating and drinking, but he's very weak, lost weight and sleeping loads.

He's very, very snuffly and can't manage but very weak miaows.

He let DH hold him for ages tonight and he doesn't normally at all.

We'll take him on Monday to whatever vet we can find in town, but we're obviously very worried that this is it for 'Smokey'.

Can cats get colds?

Poor wee man!

Anyone?!

expat will ask dp hang on...he is making dinner

Thanks, Otter.

He's not miaowing.

He's just laying there with laboured breathing.

I thought it was just the move at first, because cats don't deal with change so well.

But he's really not well.

We're out in the sticks, too.

No advice but poor thing Hope he gets better soon

I've bathed his eyes.

You have to do that every now and again with Persians.

But they do seem rather gunkier than usual.

He just sat there when I brushed him today.

I got so upset today and DD1 kept saying, 'Is Smokey dying? I'll miss him.'

dp says cats can get colds or flu
dp says he would give antibiotics and maybe anti-inflammatory secretalytics(sp)
says if it is flu/cold should be ok till monday - pamper it with food (sometimes they like it warm) keep cat comfortable.
if breathing worsens try to see vet before
if eating and drinking still a good sign...

They can have Cat Flu, one of the things included in the vaccinations for cats. This is something that once they have it in their system can 'flare up' - can make them very snuffly with discharge from the eyes and nose. It can be quite serious, particularily if he's old and weakened anyway. I think stress can kick it off if it's in their system. The fact he's also losing weight is bit worrying, although sometimes old cats just get skinny. Deffo get to a vets asap! Poor old thing.

cats can get pneumonia and pleuresy (sp?)both of which would cause laboured breathing. If it is either of these early treatment is crucial. Maybe ring a vet for advice?

The vet had been concerned he was losing weight, but he hadn't lost much at his last checkup last month.

She just said he was a teenager. She could tell by his claws and teeth.

His teeth were okay. He had some out last year so she always checks them.

She really hates it that people continue to breed Persians, because she said they're prone to breathing problems, eye infections and dental problems due to their compromised face and jaw, but she knows we got him as a stray.

Poor soul!

He really is a sweet old man and we'll be sad when he goes.

Meanwhile, teh younger cat hasn't been harassing him at all.

Yes it's interesting how other cats in the household leave a sick one alone. Most considerate isn't it. Wish humans were more like that!

Am looking up a vet in town and will phone tomorrow to see if they have an emergency number.

Poor soul!

Our vet in Edinburgh didn't like to anaesthetise him because of his age.

He's HORRID about taking anti-biotic pills - he had to take some last year for his teeth and we'd give them to him disguised in cheese and then I'd find the tablet on the floor the next day, scary with DD2 around.

Expat - losing weight but still wanting to eat loads can be a sign of thyroid problems in a cat - does he do this as well?

Sorry, but sounds like he just crossed the line into geriatric catdom. When they start to lose weight and go a bit scrawny round the hips you know they really are old. Our cats got feline leukemia which affects the immune system. Maybe get him a blood test? I know it's hard to hear this but you will know when it's time to let him go. We ended up taking one of ours to be put down on a Sunday morning at a 24 hr vets, she'd been sitting, wheezing and not eating or drinking for 2 or 3 days. This was after a year and a half of treatment for the leukemia tho and many ups and downs.
Sorry if I sound a bit harsh but I still regret not taking her to the vets sooner...

Hope it is just a cold tho...

He's eating less than his usual amount.

Yes, that's what our vet thought, peggy, so we'd take him in to get weighed every other month or so because she was concerned about the potential for thyroid and/or kidney problems especially given his age.

But this is definitely his breathing.

And his eyes are gunkier than usual. I usually bath them with some cool boiled water and a teaspoon of salt dissolved in it.

Persians are very high maintenance and we won't be getting another one.

This one had been found by DH's former friend's girlfriend.

They then left Smokey with DH whilst they went on holiday and then never came back for him.

Gits.

Yep, persians are the divas of the catworld - high maintenance is an understatement! Really hope he's going to be ok.

dp says even if he is old - this does not sound like he is dying, he can get over this

I hope so, too.

Only one small animal vet in town so that makes things easier .

Several large animal vets with 24-hour mobile numbers, however - welcome to the country!

ladylush - i'm afraid cats dont leave other ill cats alone out of consideration but out of self-preservation....

expat - try crushing pills and then packing the powder into some slits cut in small bits of liver, if small enough they'll just wolf it down without even chewing it.

Also, cooled camomile infusion is good for bathing eyes.

He's purring. He's still curled up by the heater.

We want to keep him going as long as possible, BUT no way would we keep an animal whom the vet says is suffering and can't be helped alive!

MIL's cat does indeed have kidney problems, but he is 20 years old next month so for now they are just enjoying each other and when he stops eating and drinking then they will know it is time. .

if you've found your lovely old man high maintenance just make sure you don't get a somali next time around, they're like a by shadow, want loads of affections and make their presence known at every possibilty.

Hope your old man is okay, our old moggy got a cold got over it

Expat, has he had a flu jab? What you describe brings tears to my eyes as it exactly describes how my beloved childhood cat was when she died of cat flu. She was 12 at the time and I still can't think of it now (25 years on) without feeling a prickle in my eyes.

But the good news is, the type of cat flu that took my cat away is the type you vaccinate against annually these days. I hope your cat is better soon.

Oh, no, Car, I don't think we'll go for another pedigree again. Got landed with this one, but all of our animals have either been adopted from rescue shelter, taken in as strays or brought home from 'free to a good home' ads.

In fact, my ex H was a die-hard cat hater.

Until 'Midnight' came into our lives via a 'free to a good home' advert on my work's For Sale or Wanted board.

Six months later, we adopted 'Newman' from Recycle Critter Rescue.

He was so attached, after our divorce, he kept the cats.

Who have since made the move with him and his new wife to Germany!

If you're really worried you could try ringing the number for the samll animal vet. You might find that it geos through to, or provides the number for the closest "out of hours" vet.

It could also be kidney failure, which our last cat to die suffered from. Don't remember him being snuffly though - it was a sudden "crash" which 4 days of treatment and rehydrations at the vets didn't cure, so we had to put him down