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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

My Poorly Boy

27 replies

Icequeen01 · 04/07/2016 21:19

Over the weekend I noticed my cat's eyes looked sore and then his third eyelid came across and he's wasn't eating much. Luckily DH was off so could get him straight to the vet this morning. I assumed he had an eye infection but our vet found that one side of his tongue is ulcerated. Vet thinks he might have got something caustic on his paws and licked it off. No idea how or where this could have happened. He doesn't have a temperature but she's given him antibiotics and painkillers. I'm just not convinced that's what has happened. I had a cat a few years ago who had ulcers on his tongue and all around his mouth and he had something called, I think, the caliche (sp) virus? He was really poorly for a couple of weeks and had to be syringe fed but went on to make a full recovery.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

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Original poster
Icequeen01 · 05/07/2016 07:38

Anyone? His eyes look worse this morning but vet did warn us the third eyelid can take a while to retract. He's eaten a little this morning but not much but was 'begging' for his slice of chicken that he has a treat in the morning so I guess that's a good sign. I hate seeing him look so poorly Sad

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maybeIwillmaybeIwont · 05/07/2016 08:07

No, I have no experience of this but at least you got him to the vets when you noticed. And begging for his slice of chicken is also a good sign, hope he makes a full recovery, they can be a worry!

anoldiebutagoody · 08/07/2016 22:31

Ice. Both my cats have had Calcivirus which caused inflammation of their gums and later revealed?lord into sneezing and runny noses. The vet at that time said there are various symptoms including ulceration and tooth loss but neither of mine had those, took about 3 weeks before they started to improve.
However the 8month old has been poorly with something unrelated, his gums flared up again and started to bleed and the vet thinks he'll probably lose his small front teeth.
As it's a virus there's not much they can do, my vet did give antibiotics to prevent any infection forming.
Hope he feels better soon

Original poster
Icequeen01 · 09/07/2016 21:36

Thank you so much for your reply. He's a bit better since posting but did become quite snuffly and went right off his food. However, over the last couple of days he has seemed brighter in himself and is definitely eating better but seems to slump at night. I'm keeping a close eye on him and if he worsens he will be straight back to the vet, although not sure they can do much to help. I'm convinced it is the calcivirus. Luckily he hasn't had bleeding gums but still got a slightly ulcerated tongue and his third eyelid is still visible, although it appears more at night. Here's a photo of my poor baby.

My Poorly Boy
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mollypopsal · 10/07/2016 18:23

He's gorgeous. How is he today?

Original poster
Icequeen01 · 10/07/2016 20:05

Thank you for asking. He's been sleeping a lot today and his eyes still look like in the photo. He has eaten a little again but he's still not himself. I guess we just have to ride the storm. At least he's no worse but just want my fluffy hooligan back. I'm keeping a close eye on his brother as well just in case he starts to look poorly too.

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mollypopsal · 10/07/2016 21:08

Fluffy hooligan! They are such a worry when they are ill, they remind me of young children, they can sometimes drive you mad with their antics but when they are poorly you miss their enthusiasm. Do you have to go back to the vets for a follow up?

Original poster
Icequeen01 · 10/07/2016 21:39

Our vet just said to keep an eye on him and bring him back if I'm worried. As he's had an injection for antibiotics which apparently lasts for 14 days I'm not too worried about infection and from what I can see of his tongue the ulcer is beginning to clear up. If my suspicion is right and he does have the calcivirus (and not licked something caustic as vet suggested) it's just supportive treatment ( I'm also still giving him metacam each day). However, if he has any problems with his breathing he will be straight back but so far so good on that score. Here's a photo of him when he was well. When you compare it with my previous photo you can see how poorly he looks.

My Poorly Boy
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mollypopsal · 10/07/2016 22:25

Ah, he does look poorly at the moment compared to his very handsome usual self. So it's just a waiting game for you both. Hopefully the vet is correct, who knows what they step in on their travels. Keep us updated.
I have to say, he has a magnificent tail.

Original poster
Icequeen01 · 12/07/2016 19:00

He seems really poorly today. Lethargic and not eating and just so flat. I phoned the vet when I got home from work (my mum who lives next door also commented that she didn't think he was well - now I know he's poorly! ) and they said to take him in first thing in the morning in case they have to do bloods/keep him in! Now I'm really worried. It's my birthday tomorrow and we are supposed to be going out for a meal but Im going to be too worried to eat anything. My poor Archie.

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PeaceOfWildThings · 12/07/2016 19:29

Do you have a local animal hospital? I'd see if they can take him in this evening.

Original poster
Icequeen01 · 12/07/2016 19:58

No sadly we don't. We live in a village which is quite rural. Since posting he has eaten a little and went outside for 10 mins and is now curled up in the conservatory. If I think he is going downhill I will drive as far as it takes to find an emergency vet. God they are such a worry.

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mollypopsal · 12/07/2016 20:54

I have been wondering how he was. If you can afford an emergency vet I think I would take him tonight. Are his third eyelids still showing? Do you have insurance in case he is kept in? I live in a rural place, but my vet has an out of hours surgery about 10 miles away.
How old is he by the way, he looks in his prime.

mollypopsal · 12/07/2016 21:20

I've just been thinking, lethargic and not eating and just so flat sounds like he might be dehydrated.

puddingisgood · 12/07/2016 21:26

Here's hoping Archie picks up soon Ice, it's horrible to watch them not be their usual selves. He really is a gorgeous cat!

Original poster
Icequeen01 · 12/07/2016 21:41

Thanks so much for all the replies. Strangely his third eyelids have retracted a little but his eyes do look a little sunken so I was also wondering if he is dehydrated. He will be 4 on 1st August and is insured with Petplan so no problems there. He's just had a few more mouthfuls of food so I honestly don't think he needs an emergency vet at the moment but will keep a very close eye on him. There is an emergency vet 12 miles away if he deteriorates.

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Original poster
Icequeen01 · 12/07/2016 21:57

Sorry, also meant to say thank you for saying he is a beautiful cat. His mum was a Burma and was in our local rescue as she had given birth in someone's work shed and they never found her owner. He has an equally beautiful brother who, I am pleased to say, is in full health. I've attached a photo of both of them with their best friend from next door (mine are the two gingers). This photo always cheers me up and I need cheering up right now.

My Poorly Boy
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mollypopsal · 12/07/2016 22:15

What a beautiful picture! Ginger cats are lovely. I have two black and white,and a tabby. If Archie is very dehydrated the vet may put him on a drip tomorrow to puff him back up again. My vet checks how quickly the skin falls back after pinching it on the scruff of their neck to indicate how dehydrated my cats are, but you probably know this trick already!
Sending Archie good wishes for his trip to the vets, and best wishes to you on your birthday tomorrow.

puddingisgood · 13/07/2016 21:41

Happy Birthday Icequeen! I hope you have had a good day and that Archie is doing ok. I love that photo of him hanging out with his brother and friend!

mollypopsal · 13/07/2016 22:08

I hope you had a very enjoyable meal this evening with lots of wine! How did Archie's trip to the vets go this morning?

Original poster
Icequeen01 · 14/07/2016 19:45

Thank you so much for my birthday wishes and my apologies for not getting a chance to post yesterday. I may have, purely out of politeness of course, had one or two drinks last night!

So Archie went to the vet yesterday morning. He was a bit brighter than the night before ( don't they always do that) and I had a terrible time getting him in his cat box as DH goes to work early and 16 year old DS was dead to the world in bed so had no help. Poor Archie got very stressed and unfortunately my hands got badly shredded.

Vet gave him a really good check over. His temperature was fine and he wasn't dehydrated. She weighed him as I said he hadn't been eating much. In fact, he has put on a little weight since his first visit so is obviously eating more than I thought. She felt his kidneys and tummy and all seems fine. She could see his eyes are still not right but said she is certain this is a viral illness and did agree it could be the calicivirus. She said we have to wait for it to go through his system. She could see he was flat so has given him some more antibiotics (just in case) and said to continue with the loxicom. She said that she was having a similar thing with her own cat and had been unable to find anything wrong with him as well. She was also lovely to me and insisted on giving me some antibacterial solution as she was concerned about the state of my hands!

So, I think it's just a case of giving him some more time. He is out in the garden at the moment with his brother but you can see his mojo just isn't there. He's eaten some food tonight so I will just continue keeping a close eye on him and try not to stress too much. I did warn vet that I will be back in a week if he's not back to his old self!

Thanks so much for your support with this. My friends aren't really cat people and don't really understand.

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mollypopsal · 14/07/2016 21:39

Glad the trip to the vet went well, apart from getting him there! This illness certainly has got it's claws into him, poor Archie. It's been going on a while now.
Some people only see cats as animals, and don't understand, however some of us see them as our family and think about them as if they were our children, it makes life far more interesting!

anoldiebutagoody · 15/07/2016 11:26

Hope Archie gets better soon Ice, mine took ages to get over it completely I'm afraid I think it was 4or 5 weeks.
Also please keep an eye on his brother as he might catch it - I think it's spread through fluids, sneezing or saliva. My two kept infecting each other until they finally both had it together then once it had run It's course they were OK.

Original poster
Icequeen01 · 15/07/2016 21:32

Oh wow - 4/5 weeks! We could have a way to go then. He seems to have good and bad days. I have been worried that his brother could pick it up as they often curl up together and wash each other. I didn't realise they could keep re-infecting each other. I will be keeping a really close eye on the pair of them. I've also mentioned it to my neighbour as her cat Hamish is never far from one of mine. I would feel terrible if her cat did catch it as she doesn't have much money and I know he's not insured.

Luckily I work in a school so I break up next Friday so will be around most of the time to keep an eye on them. Thanks so much for the advice.

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mollypopsal · 18/07/2016 19:44

How's Archie and his brother enjoying the heat today? My three just keep moving from shade to shade, and I know I will have trouble getting them in later!