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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

Terrified my cat is really ill

31 replies

LoveMyKitties · 18/03/2018 21:13

Hi I have a lovely black and white girl who was a stray we adopted 6 years ago. We took her to the vet to see if she was microchipped and she wasn't, and no one was looking for her. She was however pregnant. She had her kittens a few weeks later and we kept all three (long story!)

All has seemed fine over the past few years, she doesn't like the other cats although she seems to tolerate them. Anyway, over the past few weeks the fur down her left side has been coming out, it's quite hard to explain but she basically has a long bald strip that goes down to under her tummy. It doesn't look sore but she licks and atgrooms herself a fair amount there.

The past week I've noticed that she really stinks :( when she opens her mouth to yawn or just if I'm sitting next to her and she licks herself, her mouth/saliva smells really bad. I googled this and found that it could mean something seriously wrong.

I plan to phone the vet tomorrow to get her an appointment but does anyone have any idea what it could be? I'm so worried and upset and hate the thought of her suffering.

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/03/2018 06:58

It could be her teeth. Before Harry had quite a few of his removed his breath was vile. He also overgroomed for a while and we think it was due to stress as the neighbours were having building work done.

I know it’s easy to say but try not to worry too much.

SilverHairedCat · 19/03/2018 07:04

It's likely her teeth need cleaning, and it's also possible she'll need some out. Don't panic, trip to the vets and they'll talk you through it.

My girl had a canine or a year out two ago, after I missed an infection. She must have been in agony, the poor thing. Within 48hrs she was as crazy as a kitten again, clearly out of pain at last.

Yogagirl123 · 19/03/2018 07:11

Try not to worry, see the vet and it will probably be a simple solution, could be a rotten tooth and that could be getting her down. I had a female ginger cat and she lost some fur as she got older, I think it was due to a hormonal change. One of my cats had kittens many years ago, mum cats don’t usually enjoy there offspring hanging around for too long! If the fur lost is due to overgrooming it could be stress, or even fleas, but I am sure you treat her and the kittens for those. My cat tolerated one of her kittens long term, but the others were rehomed. Good luck I hope the vet can get things sorted out very soon for you and your cat.

ifonly4 · 19/03/2018 11:07

My girll's breath smelt and I could smell when she was washing herself close up before she had a clean and three of her teeth out. I don't get a wiff of anything now.

Either way, do phone for an appointment today. The sooner she's soon, the easier it is for the vet to treat whatever before it progresses.

Original poster
LoveMyKitties · 19/03/2018 16:26

Oh thank you so much for the replies!

I feel much better after reading them, it does make sense that it could be teeth related. Couldn't get an appointment for today but got one for tomorrow so fingers crossed they'll be able to get her sorted :)

Yogagirl that's interesting about your cat having hormonal changes, that didn't even occur to me but adds up as we don't know how old our girl is. Lol yes I heard that too about mums not liking their babies hanging around, she's had to put up with them for almost 6 years now and they are lovely boys who adore her and each other but she avoids them as much as possible!

They are all due to be flea'd now but I read that it shouldn't be done if a cat is ill so have held off until she's seen but yes there have been a few fleas around recently so that might be making her fur worse. I'll ask the vet if I can do it tomorrow.

Thank you again all and I will update Flowers

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Wolfiefan · 19/03/2018 16:28

Does sound very like a tooth issue. Bad teeth make their breath STINK!!
If you are using a defleaing product you need to get one from a vet (not frontline). Avoid OTC stuff. If you see fleas then Indorex the house too.

Want2beme · 19/03/2018 21:45

My girl has a smelly mouth, so much so, that I sometimes think the stink's coming from her undercarriageGrin. Vet has checked it for me and apart from a little bit of gingivitis, which is normal, there's nothing else wrong with her mouth or otherwise. Good luck at the vets tomorrowFlowers

Original poster
LoveMyKitties · 19/03/2018 22:14

Wolfiefan can I ask what products you recommend? I confess I normally use Frontline as I thought that one was ok, I also use Indorex. I read quite a while ago that the worst flea products are Bob Martin and would never use those.

Want oh no!! It's pretty grim isn't it?! Didn't know smells like this were possible tbh! That's good it's only gingivitis for your girl.

Thank you will let you know how it goes.

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Wolfiefan · 19/03/2018 22:18

Frontline is rubbish! It's completely ineffective in much of the country.
We use advocate monthly. Profender every three months for worms.
The baldness could be a flea allergy. Our old girl had exactly that.
Feliway do a product to help cats in multi cat households.
She may need a dental too.

Original poster
LoveMyKitties · 19/03/2018 23:17

Omg thanks so much I feel so embarrassed now that I didn't know this about Frontline. It's all I've used and explains why they're never flea free for very long. I've heard of Advocate so will get some of that and will look for Feliway - thank you I really appreciate that.

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PersianCatLady · 19/03/2018 23:22

My cat went for her jabs last year and the vet noticed that she had gingivitis.

She had three teeth removed and now is as good as new.

Every time I see the vet he tells me that I shouldn't give my cat too much tuna as dry food is better for her teeth.

I smile and nod and continue to give her tuna.

She is nearly 11 years old and it is the only food that she truly loves.

I was so scared when she had her operation but j wish that I had noticed her red gums sooner.

PersianCatLady · 19/03/2018 23:23

Forgot to add

Terrified my cat is really ill
PersianCatLady · 19/03/2018 23:25

I use Stronghold on my cat for fleas and put Endectrid on my neighbour's dog (she asks me to do it for her) and I have not seen a flea on either of them.

Want2beme · 19/03/2018 23:46

Persian what a faceSmile.

Original poster
LoveMyKitties · 20/03/2018 00:06

Oh Persian she is an absolute angel! What a gorgeous kitty Smile
Glad she is ok now and hope she enjoys her tuna!

Thanks for the recommendation of Stronghold will have a look, I've managed to find Feliway Friends on ebay and I think the cats will really benefit from that too.

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PersianCatLady · 20/03/2018 00:18

That is her posing face

PersianCatLady · 20/03/2018 00:25

With regards to flea treatments, some vets offer a "Healthy Pets Scheme".

You pay a monthly DD and for that you get a flea treatment every month, wormers every three months, yearly vaccinations and vet health check.

I think you also get money off (10% i think) of any vet treatment or medications that your cat needs.

I do this for my cat because I don't really notice the DD coming out of my bank (so much so I can't remember how much it actually is) and because they give me the flea treatments as I need them, I use them on her regularly.

I know a few people who try with their cats and dogs to scrimp on flea treatments to save money and I think that it is a false economy so the scheme ensures that on a tight month I don't do the same as them.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/03/2018 06:59

We’ve just signed Harry up to the Healthy Pet Club at his new vet and we’ll be getting Advantage for fleas and Profender for worms. We’ve never used Advantage before so I’m hoping it’s ok!

HardAsSnails · 20/03/2018 07:08

I've been using Advantage for 8 years now and never had a flea problem, it's the only OTC flea treatment that works, it's usually on offer at one of the online vet stores.

Hope she's ok Kitties, they are a worry Flowers

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/03/2018 07:15

Good luck for today

PersianCatLady · 20/03/2018 10:25

Whatever flea treatment you get from the HPS seems to work and in the last ten years there have been times when the vet has changed to a different brand.

When I asked him why that was he said "fleas around here are getting immune to that one so we want your pet to be the best protected it can be".

Original poster
LoveMyKitties · 20/03/2018 21:37

Can't reply properly to other replies right now but long story short, I had to cancel it Sad something family related and urgent came up and I had no one to help me so have had to rebook for Thursday now.

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Original poster
LoveMyKitties · 22/03/2018 19:56

Hello, hope all of you and your lovely pets are ok.

I've just sat down after a long day and wanted to update about the vets earlier. She has a bit of gingivitis which is causing the smell, but the fur coming out is stress related - the vet thinks it's because of her three boys and how she feels living with them.

We've been prescribed Prednisone (steroid) to help her immune response calm down, and I've also bought some Stronghold flea treatment for her. We have to go back in three weeks to see how she is getting on.

Also been advised to give her a separate area to eat away from the others and to make sure she has plenty of space away from them, which she does anyway.

I'm quite upset - me and my partner have had a huge row, he thinks we should re-home her as it's unfair on her but I'd like to at least try and see how she is after this three weeks. Also been advised to get some Feliway Friends which I will next week when paid.

So that's it, I'm happy she doesn't have anything life threatening but am sad for her that she's struggling with the others. Does anyone have any advice?!

I must say that the vet at no point suggested us re homing her or the other cats, if she had said we should then I'd do it straight away.

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Original poster
LoveMyKitties · 22/03/2018 20:03

My angel, love her so much :(

Terrified my cat is really ill
OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 22/03/2018 20:09

Poor girl. I'm glad she's getting treatment. It really isn't that easy to rehome cats, particularly ones with medical problems. I'm sure she'll be better staying with you, particularly if you can put measures in place to help with the stress.

Also bear in mind that the causes of stress can usually only be guessed at. Your vet has made an educated guess - but it's still a guess. She could be stressed about something else entirely - such as having a sore mouth!