Terrified my cat is really ill

[LoveMyKitties]

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.

thecatneuterer thank you, and this is what I think too, at least until we've tried to help her with the various suggestions from the vet.

Good point that she could be stressed about her mouth!

She looks lovely.

I've had mixed responses to Feliway and Feliway Friends. I have one older cat and 2 kittens (littermates but unrelated to the older cat).

Older cat was originally one of 2 who occasionally didn't get on, to the extent of giving one of them urinary crystals. A quick burst of Feliway around the house worked like magic and peace would be restored, and wee would return to normal.

When kittens arrived older cat was livid and they did not get on at all. Seeing as Feliway Friends was now on the market we bought that - utter waste. No effect at all. Got the old stuff out and again it did the trick.

So it is luck of the drawer as to whether your cat is sensitive to the product or not, but if not don't panic - old-style Feliway may still work for your cat and calm the situation down.

Aw thanks Anna :)

That is really helpful actually, hearing your experiences with Feliway. Maybe the old one is the best then, will have a look at some reviews of both.

Oh bless them, sorry to hear about the urinary crystals that sounds so painful. How are they all getting on now, do you use the Feliway permanently?

Old cat has come to realise the kittens are a permanent fixture. Plus we bribed her with Snackies.

Had the Feliway on for 2 diffusers and then gave up. Everyone appeared happy.

Now I always make sure I have some in the drawer in case of emergency and any sign of persistent bullying or upset in kittyworld and the Feliways get plugged back in again.

Does anyone have any advice?!
I do, in regard to this -

he thinks we should re-home her as it's unfair on her
Rehome him instead!!

Anna sounds like a good system you have there, am pleased it's working out ok!

PersianCatLady - Oh I said something along those lines to him

But that's a whole other thread!...

I want our girl with us, we at least need to try to help her manage her stress, plus I was thinking if she really hated being here she would just leave of her own accord. Unless cats don't usually do that, but she came to us as a stray and hasn't been away from us since, she really does seem to love the humans in our family!