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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

My cat is ill...

27 replies

WishesAndStars · 23/09/2014 14:42

We have a vet appointment later on today but I just wanted to check I'm doing everything right.

He is all phlegmy and snotty, has a nasty cough, and his eyes look gummy and sticky. Not interested in food, although he is drinking. He is fully vaccinated.

I've just been leaving him to sleep all day - he loves the outside, it is his favourite thing in the whole world, but hasn't asked to go out at all today. He also hasn't used his tray since he came in yesterday at about this time - is this a bad sign?

The complicating factor is that we are moving house at the end of the week, and he is booked into a cattery from tomorrow until the beginning of next week. Will the cattery accept him if he is under the weather?

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/09/2014 16:04

They might not, it depends what their policy is & what his diagnosis is.

I hope it goes well with the vet.

cozietoesie · 23/09/2014 16:19

It sounds as if he's got a case of flu even though he's been vaccinated. (My own Seniorboy gets those from time to time and has all of his life.) Best of luck at the vet.

The cattery may not take him - depending, as Fluffy said, on their policy and the vet's diagnosis. Let's see what happens this afternoon.

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 23/09/2014 17:38

Thanks. Just heading off now so hopefully I'll get some answers.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/09/2014 08:42

How did he get on?

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 24/09/2014 12:35

He's got cat flu.

He's got a v high temp and really isn't well, so no question of taking him to the cattery. The vet gave him a jab of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, and we have to give him antibiotics for a week.

The cattery have been really lovely, and if he is up to it, they will keep him in their isolation pen away from the other cats for a couple of days when actually move. It will depend on how he is though.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/09/2014 13:43

Poor lad - I know what it's like for them.

By the way, don't expect the ABs to have an almost miraculous overnight effect. They're there to help him deal with the opportunistic infections that he's got and in my own experience, they generally take two to three days to really kick in. With any luck, you should start to see the snottering and coughing start to slow down just a bit by this evening and tomorrow though.

Best of luck to him and let us know how things go.

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 24/09/2014 16:32

Thanks - I'll bear it in mind re: antibiotics. I think his temp is down from yesterday - he doesn't feel as hot to me now. Still no interest in food, but he is drinking which I suppose is the important thing. He has slept all day again.

We are moving about 2 hours away so I hope he'll be ok with a car journey that long, esp while he's ill. Hopefully he'll just go to sleep.

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cozietoesie · 25/09/2014 10:19

How is he today?

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 25/09/2014 12:06

Well he got up when we did this morning, and wandered about for a bit. He also sat on my lap for a while (he is normally v cuddly but just hasn't been interested the last few days) so I think he must be feeling better.

He still has a disgusting cough and isn't eating though, and still actually pretty lethargic, given that he is normally very active.

I think progress is being made! Still don't think he's going to be well enough to go to the cattery, I don't think it would really be fair on him or them, even if he is in an isolation pen. So, we'll have to lock him in a room while we load the van etc, and take him with us on moving day.

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cozietoesie · 25/09/2014 13:44

That sounds about OK given how unwell he was the other day and how recently he's had the ABs. Best to offer him small and frequent amounts of fresh wet food, varying the flavours if it's commercial, and perhaps add a little warm water to make it more palatable.

Best of luck with the move. It may be that his immune system has been affected by stress (have you by any chance been rushing around and/or packing boxes etc over the last few weeks?) so I reckon your aim is to get back to a settled routine for him as soon as you can.

(Seniorboy's attacks don't have much to do with stress - I should have his life! - but he's very elderly so his immune system isn't good and needs a helping hand at regular intervals.)

Fluffycloudland77 · 25/09/2014 15:50

You'd only worry about him anyway if he was in a cattery.

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 25/09/2014 18:37

cozietoesie Thanks for the tip about adding warm water to food. I did that a little while ago and he actually ate some so that's a relief!

I think he probably is a bit stressed out by all the boxes etc, so that could well be why he's got the flu.

Yes, I would have worried about him in a cattery - although a bit inconvenient, it is better this way I think.

Any tips for making the journey bearable for him, especially as he's still feeling pretty ropey?

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cozietoesie · 25/09/2014 19:43

Sounds as if he's coming out the other side.

He would have had to make that 2 hour journey anyway - it's just a pity that he has to do it if he's feeling rough. Maybe by tomorrow he'll be a bit better still though, especially if he's put a few calories inside himself by then.

I always give my boys a big, soft (and washable!) towel to sit on in their carriers and put a light coverlet over them in such a way that they can still get plenty air and see me but also have a little darkness and security. I'd just get on and do the drive as calmly as you can (although you'll probably be up to High Doh yourself) and then get him, litter tray etc out and into a quiet place at the other end as quickly as you can with some fresh food and water.

Maybe sit or sleep with him tomorrow evening to reassure him and make him feel better about life ?

Best of luck anyway. Let us know how you get on.

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 29/09/2014 14:38

Thanks for all of your help last week. He's much better now - still pretty snotty and still has a bit of a cough, but much more himself.

The journey was great - I did what you suggested cozie and he slept the whole way - all we could hear on the motorway was snoring coming from the back seat.

He's still not eating, and has definitely lost weight - it could be the flu or the move - at what point should I start to worry?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 29/09/2014 14:50

Has he not eaten at all ?

Oh - and have you identified a new vet for him?

cozietoesie · 29/09/2014 14:53

PS - is he drinking?

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 29/09/2014 14:58

He's had a couple of nibbles, but probably hasn't even eaten a whole day's worth of food in the last week.

He's drinking fine, and seems ok in himself, so I'm not sure if it is a problem or not.

Yes, I've registered him with a new vet here, so I could always take him along for a check-up if necessary.

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cozietoesie · 29/09/2014 15:26

If he's feeling a bit off he may not have much appetite - and also if his head and nose are still stuffy then he may not be able to smell/taste much and that's very important to cats.

You don't need his system to 'get out of the habit of eating though' - I've seen that happen with humans and animals both. Could you try him for a couple of days with some strong flavoured/smelly food just to get him going? Some posters have had good results with sardines and I've found myself that Seniorboy (His Pernicketiness) is a real sucker for lamb - especially roast lamb in a dish with fat-skimmed joint juices. (Cook it in foil and forego gravy for yourselves.)

It's good that he's drinking but has he pood and peed recently? (I start to get a little edgy if they haven't pood for a bit in case they're getting constipated with old faeces because that can cause problems with eating as well.)

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 29/09/2014 20:05

He absolutely loves rotisserie chickens from supermarkets - particularly Waitrose

I'll get one for him tomorrow to tempt him to eat.

Yes, he is using his tray for both pee and poo, so I don't think he's seriously ill at the moment, but I don't want it to become serious. We'll have to see what he thinks about the chicken tomorrow.

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cozietoesie · 29/09/2014 20:26

That's a relief - it's all moving through the system.

Good idea about the chicken so let us know how he does. (I must warn you that if he starts noshing it you'll need to then either put most of it in the freezer in little pots as a future treat for him or finish it off yourself. Letting him finish it all runs the risk of raising the bar so that he won't eat 'ordinary'. )

cozietoesie · 01/10/2014 12:38

How is he doing?

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 01/10/2014 13:35

Well, he ate some chicken yesterday evening, and has eaten about half a day's worth of biscuits so far today, so I think it worked!

He does now seem a bit constipated, but I'm hoping that everything will start moving as normal again soon now that he's eating again. (I'll keep an eye on him though, and if it doesn't resolve in a day or two I'll take him back to the vet.)

Thank you for all of your advice - I think it has made a difficult and stressful time easier for both my cat and me!

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cozietoesie · 01/10/2014 13:46

Oh I'm glad to hear that he's eating! A day or two might be enough for evidence that the the conveyor belt is going again because the poor lad has had a lot to cope with over the last week or so and may be all discombobulated inside. Maybe try him on wet food at the moment as well to keep him hydrated just in case?

Anyway - best of luck to all. And I hope the new house is working well so far. (I still have boxes up in the loft that haven't been unpacked for 10 years but I don't want to discourage you so I won't mention those! )

Original poster

WishesAndStars · 05/10/2014 11:22

Just a quick update - he seems 100% back to normal, and has started whinging about being kept in.

I'll probably let him out of the new house for the first time next weekend - I was just going to open the door, and let him go but I don't know if there is anything else I should be doing?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 05/10/2014 13:21

I always go outside with them for the first time at a new house - I just feel that having a picture of me against the back of the house in their mind's eye is helpful if they're not sure of where they are. (Maybe some of my scent hangs around as well.)

Will he be able to get back in again quickly as soon as he wants to? (Or does the new place have a cat flap for example.) He may not want to stay out long as it will be new and he hasn't explored it fully. The weather may also not be that great and as he's only recently been quite ill, I don't think he needs to stay out for long. I'd have a nice fire/heater and some chicken waiting for him when he gets back even if he's only been out for 10 minutes. In fact it might be a good idea to open the door prior to feeding in any case.

Have you changed his chip details?

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