Vaccines have made my cat poorly :(

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My little cat had her vaccines and was chipped at 9.30 this morning. I brought her home from the get and she went straight under the bed and hasn't come out. I've never known her to miss her dinner before, I'm so worried about her. Is it normal for them to make her a bit unwell?

Thanks people, hopefully she'll be ok.

I think her background probably doesn't help. When she came to us she was really underweight and had hardly any hair and was all bald and scabby down one side and her tail from stress grooming. We've got her up to a healthy weight - she's only 3 kg still but tiny so that seems ok and her coat is lovely now. When we first had her she spent about 3 weeks hiding but now she follows us everywhere.

I've just never known her to not be eating. I'll let you know if anything changes, thank you again for the support.

If it's any consolation, I've found that frequent vet attendances improve a cat's attitude - because they realize that they come home again! The first one is probably the worst.

I treat the whole thing in a very businesslike fashion - no love words, no soothing, just pick them up, put them in the box and ignore any yowls.

(They get plenty of love words/TLC when they get back home and that seems to improve their approach: Seniorboy, for example, was vet-phobic when he came to me but now seems to realize that it's a business to be got through and just grits his teeth and does it.)

My cat is like this after vaccinations, even the boosters. She'll sit all hunched up for hours not moving, doesn't eat or interact at all and doesn't sleep in her usual positions. Her ears always feel hot. After two days she's right as rain again. I always tell myself that if she's this bad after the vaccination imagine what she'd be like of she caught the disease. Let her have some peace, go about your usual business and try not to bother her. Make sure she has access to water.

Thanks raydown that's comforting. She's under the bed in the spare room with a litter tray and food and water. Im leaving her alone and hoping she'll sleep it off. How long did your cat go without eating?

About 36 hours. There are ways to check if your cat is dehydrated, google them. If you're worried she is then you should see a vet.

She had quite big pee this morning so I'm hoping that means she has drank something. The problem is that I can't really get to her to check much. She isn't panting.

Was that the pee she had during the night or another one that she's had this morning?

A poo and a pee last night and another pee this morning at 8.30. So I'm hoping that means she must have drunk something yesterday?

A separate pee this morning and a poo last night? That's good - and I would say she's been drinking. It shows her innards are working anyway and she's not so ill/miserable that she's neglecting her toilet duties.

If she's peeing and pooing I'd be tempted to wait and see how she is tomorrow , going back to the vet today could really stress her out .( plus costing a fortune)

I think I'm going to keep offering smelly food every DW hours and make a desicion later. She had enough energy as of this morning to get into her tray and see certainly. Dragging her out from under the bed is a real last resort. I've never violated her hidey home there and I think it would be quite damaging if she knew I can get her there if I want to.

This is the first time I've had a pet, it's really stressful isn't it?

Few I mean not DW

I think you've had a baptism by fire, certainly, if this is your first cat.

Does your local supermarket do rotisserie chickens? One of the vets on here says she uses that to tempt cats who aren't eating.

Yes. I was very much emotionally blackmailed into taking her to be honest. I took loads of advice and I think we did a good job settling her in and the vet even said yesterday that she was a picture if good health now. I really love her, it's crazy. I honestly didn't know you could feel like this about animals until I got her!

She's been with us a year and a bit and never been interested in outside - if I encouraged her info the garden she'd get as far as the back door and tremble on the thesh hold so she's been indoor. Then the last few weeks she's been more interested and has gone out the bathroom window twice so I thought she should try outdoors a bit hence the chip and vaccines. Regretting it a bit now to be honest!

My girl was really punch drunk after her 1st jabs, she was very young. She was so sleepy on my pillow that she rolled off into my ample bosom with 4 paws in the air and did not move!
The peeing and pooing is a good sign and probably means she has drunk water at least. Take her to the vet if no improvement, but I am sure she will be on.

And yes....they do age you quick with worry the litte fuckwrs darlings

She sounds like a sweetie, we need a photo when she's feeling herself again :)
The vaccines and the chip are really important. Those diseases kill and give a painful end :( the chip is really important too, even for a house cat. My friends house cat escaped a few months ago and thankfully she was eventually found living with someone else who had thought she must be stray because no chip had been found. If she'd have been chipped it would have saved my friend weeks of worry and upset.

If she's going out she does need a chip and vaccines so you've done the right thing .my mum has an indoor Ragdoll and he no longer has a full set of vaccines because he's allergic to lots of things and he has to have an anti histamine injection before he has the ones he does get ( flu I think) .He can be really off for a couple of days after a vet visit and often doesn't really eat much for a few days at a time . Could you get her some prawns - he loves those or cook her a fish finger .

Fishfinger is a good idea. I'm going to try her again at 2 o'clock with that.

Maybe also have a read of \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/2106215-Kitten-very-poorly-after-first-jab?msgid=47685225\this thread.} Lone recommends asking for a particular jab (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory if I recall) when getting her second shot.

I'd also, unless you're constrained by paucity of local provision, be looking around at the vet prices near you. They can vary a huge amount and £70 for a first vaccination seems on the high side.

Thanks cozie, can't tell you how helpful you've been.

Update is that Alrhoygh still not interested in food she is now out from under the bed! So that's got to be a good sign. She's sitting on my dressing table and she rubbed her lovely chin on me when I crept in to say hello. I'm now sitting just outside the door (door open) so she's not lonely and in case I think she can't get down.

Sounds as though she's getting there.

I think so. She did "excited tail" at me so we're still friends at least. She's snoozing in the sun so I'm going to let her recharge then cook her some fish at about 2 and see if that tempts her. She's breathing at a normal looking speed.

I've also nearly stopped crying after a pretty solid six hours so that's nice too.

Just as well you didn't have to see her through her spaying - you'd have been a complete wreck.

When is her second (follow up) jab due?

Bless you. I don't think the hormones are helping you I agree. Try not to worry cats are tough little beggars. She sounds like she's coming round now so keep tempting her with food.
And go have a cup of tea