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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Advice re poorly cat please

16 replies

poppymagnum · 07/08/2013 21:42

My 6 year old lovely boy has been lying in the same spot in the garden for at least 5 hours - he was there when I got home from work at 4.30 so not sure how long he'd been there before that.

He is clearly not right, have taken out food and water but he doesn't even sniff it. He is responding to stroking and lifts his head when I go out to him. No sign of an injury as much as I can see. I have prodded him a bit and he didn't seem in pain anywhere - think it is more likely poorly than injured.

He has been like this twice before and rallied within 24 hours. However both times before he was inside.

I have tried twice to pick him up and bring him in but he made a very unhappy noise, he definitely wants to be left alone. I am worried about leaving him out all night. We have got a cat flap but I don't think he'll come in of his own accord.

Not sure whether to leave him, bring him in despite his protestations (not sure he'll even let me pick him up.) Shall I leave a towel or blanket out next to him in case he wants to lie on it?

Bloody hell, I hate this. Sad DH is at work all night, he's normally the practical one when it comes to the cat.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/08/2013 21:45

Sorry, poppy. I'd bring him in, despite protestations and have him to the OOH vet directly.

thecatneuterer · 07/08/2013 22:12

Exactly. Bring him in and make sure he can't get back out again, and get him to the vets as soon you possibly can. It does sound as though he should go to an out of hours vet rather than wait until tomorrow.

LEMisdisappointed · 07/08/2013 22:13

The unhappy sound was because he is in pain or feeling really bad - please take him to the vets or at least phone for some advice, my worry is that he has been poisoned

thecatneuterer · 07/08/2013 22:19

Yes that sound is pain. It could be poisoning, or he could have been hit by a car. Whatever the cause it is definitely very serious and needs urgent attention.

Original poster
poppymagnum · 07/08/2013 22:20

Thanks all. Have spoken to the vet and taking him in shortly. DH has managed to get someone to cover for him and will be home in 10 minutes.

Poor DS (8) is distraught.

LEM the vet did mention he may have ingested something toxic.

My poor boy Sad

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 07/08/2013 22:22

That's good. Wishing you all the best. Are there any lillies in your or nearby gardens? They are extremely toxic.

cozietoesie · 07/08/2013 22:23

Best of luck to him. Let us know how things go.

Original poster
poppymagnum · 07/08/2013 22:24

Not in ours and don't recall seeing any in immediate gardens. Lots of gardens I can't see though.

Strange how this makes me a jibbering wreck. In my job I am dealing with poorly people all the time and can be calm as you like.

OP posts:
bountyicecream · 07/08/2013 22:25

Has he urinated? Blocked male cats (with a stone in their urethra) often just lie looking lifeless and have a very sore abdomen when touched

thecatneuterer · 07/08/2013 22:28

If you're in the South of England there probably aren't as a result of the wonderful lily beetle, my favourite 'pest' ever. I hope it spreads north soon.

Anyway I know exactly how you feel. It's awful and far, far more upsetting than sick people

I really hope the vet can sort him out. Please keep us posted.

LEMisdisappointed · 07/08/2013 23:41

hope pusscat feels better soon x

Original poster
poppymagnum · 08/08/2013 00:54

We're home but sadly not with our lovely boy.

It was a blocked bladder and his heart rate was badly elevated.

Sadly we took the decision to have him PTS. I feel like a terrible person even though I know it was the only thing we could do and I feel ashamed to say that it came down to money in the end.

My poor DS is now sobbing in bed and doesn't really understand. He's 8.

I can't quite believe that this has happened, he was fine yesterday.

Vet was so lovely, if any of you are vets you deserve a sainthood.

Thanks to you all for your good wishes and excellent advice.

Sleep tight Roger x

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 08/08/2013 01:24

I'm very, very upset to hear that and I'm sorry for you and of course for poor, poor Roger.

I'm not sure that vets do deserve that much praise really. If they didn't charge that much people wouldn't be faced with that sort of decision so often. At Celia Hammonds we could have done that really quite small op for about £80.

If you do get another pet at some point in the future I hope you will also get insurance.

Again, I'm very, very sorry.

cozietoesie · 08/08/2013 08:00

So sorry, poppy.

LEMisdisappointed · 08/08/2013 08:40

So sorry to hear your news OP :( If his heart rate was elevated to a dangerous level he probably wouldn't have survived the anaesthetic so it sounds like the right decision was made. xx

bountyicecream · 08/08/2013 09:39

Very sorry to hear the sad news but I do not think you need to feel ashamed. If you had left him for his bladder to rupture then you should be feeling ashamed. But you didn't. You took him in and chose an option that instantly ended his suffering.

And it is not just a case of surviving the initial op (which not all cats do). Many cats will have electrolyte imbalances which can cause heart arrhythmias, acute renal failure which can require dys of hospitalisation to reverse and some may go on to develop long term chronic renal failure. And then it can all happen again, sometimes several times. To the point that some male cats have a big op to amputate their penis in an attempt to stop them blocking again.

But you have my utmost sympathies. Losing a loved pet with no warning is horrible as you have no time to prepare. It happened to me with my lovely dog. X

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