Help! What can I do?

[RedPandaFluff]

DCat (3.5 year old neutered Maine Coon male) seems to be constipated, or have a urine infection, or something. We've made a vet appointment for 8.40am tomorrow but he's so uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do for him overnight?

Background - yesterday evening we noticed he hadn't used the litter tray, and seemed to be a bit subdued. Decided to see how he was today, and he's slightly worse - just wants to sit in his tray, but doesn't actually go, and seems very unlike himself - not interested in dreamies, didn't rush to the door to greet DH etc. Phoned the vet this afternoon and they said they couldn't see him today, but unless it's an emergency, to bring him in first thing in the morning.

Now I've just seen that he's peed all over the floor near his litter tray. This is completely unlike him. And he's currently sitting in the tray. It's so sad to see him unwell. Any ideas?

I was about to say take him in as an emergency in case it's a blocked bladder, but I see he has peed so he can probably wait until morning. There is nothing you can do until then, just make sure he doesn't go out.

Thank you for answering, thecatneuterer - he's now climbed into his cat carrier, which again is really strange as he doesn't like enclosed spaces. I'm guessing he's in pain and trying to hide from it. Poor love. It's going to be a long night

If he is obviously in pain I would consider the OFH vet. I know it's very expensive though

OOH. I don't know what OFH stands for

I'd agree with the out of hours vet too OP.

If he is in pain and hiding I would call the vet, they will have an out of hours number.

So we had our dinner, and he seemed to come round a bit - jumped up and sat in his usual spot on the TV cabinet, and now he's playing with a paper straw he nicked from my drink!

I'll keep an eye on him for the rest of the evening and if he deteriorates I'll take him to the OOH vet. If not, I'll take him to the 8.40am appointment as planned.

Why do we have pets? It's really stressful

Hope he feels better and you both get some sleep, they are a worry,

He's happily playing a bit now. If he were in pain he wouldn't be interested in playing, would he?

Really hope it goes well tomorrow. Ps - he is gorgeous

He's beautiful, OP.

When I was growing up my family had a Siamese cat who occasionally walked around with one eye closed. My would panic, thinking the cat had damaged her eyes somehow, and would rush her to the vet.

Inevitably, once at the vet said cat would open her closed eye.

She also used to fall over quite a bit. The family joke was that she had Meniere's disease. I suspect she did it just because she could.

Thanks everyone - he is a gorgeous boy; lovely gentle nature too, a big teddy bear. I can't bear the thought of him being in pain.

I'm actually wondering if he has made the connection between the cat carrier being out and going to the vet, so he's now feigning a miraculous recovery . . . I'm still taking him though!

TerfsUp that's so funny - we're their playthings, purely here for their amusement

TerfsUp, we had an oriental cat that used to suffer with a terribly sore paw, she used to sit with it in the air and it went all limp, sitting in front of us eating chicken seemed to bring it on.

Op, he is beautiful! I would love a Maine coon but dh says no

Hah, Holey! Poor unhappy kitty, suffering from an ailment that could be cured only by eating chicken....

We are indeed at their mercy, RedPanda. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

My current cat is an old boy with arthritis and kidney failure. He's a rescue cat and had bounced around a few homes (nothing wrong with him; just bad luck) before he came to live with me. I vowed that mine would be his last home.

He creaks around but still loves his food and cuddles. But, yes, having him makes me hostage to fortune.

I had a cat with constipation issues - turned out to be a condition called megacolon, which I think Maine's can be more prone to.
Plenty of treatments a vet can administer, from enemas to medication and dietary changes. Hopefully won't be needed though!

My horse has a great trick of being absolutely hopping lame when you try to ride. You then turn her out in the field to watch her gallop nimbly up the hill

He is very handsome and has a ruff to be very proud of. Hope he's feeling ok today.

My old cat was a rescue who was malnourished when we got her, which lead to balance problems. As a result she ended up falling out a tree and sprained her ankle. She'd limp around and sit with it held up, which, obviously, garnered lots of sympathy from her humans.

She played on this after it had healed. You'd see her running along the road quite normally, but as soon as she realised she'd been seen she'd start limping and putting on the "I'm a poorly pussy" act. It was highly entertaining. She did stop, eventually.

I hope all's gone well at the vets today.

The two little dark paws peeping out from under his ruff have me overcome completely : )

Hi everyone - thought you might like an update. Vet doesn't think he's constipated as she can't feel any hard stools. She reckons its cystitis, so I'm keeping him hydrated and I have special litter that will make it easier to collect a pee sample.

He hasn't peed since I got him him at about 10am though so I'm getting anxious . . . reckon I'll have him back at the vet by the end of the day

Utterly - he's magnificent, isn't he? My ginger coonie has little white paws that are equally adorable

And we're back at the vet because he hasn't peed all day

Poor lad! Fingers and claws crossed for him here! xxx

Poor baby. I hope the vet is able to solve the problem.