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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

I could use some support please. My cat is poorly.

24 replies

SunshineCake · 05/10/2019 20:22

He is just over seven and a half and we have had him for just under six and a half years. He was a rescue after being abandoned.

I took him to the vet this afternoon as he hasn't eaten properly for a couple of days. His tests looked fine until he had blood taken and that did not look right. His bilirubin is 18 when normal range is 0-15. I can't quite remember what the vet said but I know he said he has mild jaundice and he is also dehydrated. He's on antibiotics and going to see another vet at the practice tomorrow. He'll be seeing the vet we saw today on Monday if he's still not eating. All he has had some roast chicken today, at four a reasonable amount, but then a tiny bit at 6pm and he's just refused more now.

Has anyway else had this with their cat ?

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/10/2019 20:26

No but see how he is in the morning. Are you sleeping with him tonight?.

Original poster

SunshineCake · 05/10/2019 20:35

Just said to DH about DCat sleeping in our room and he said no. I will work on him. Usually dog sleeps in the lounge and the cats sleep in the utility room. The plan is for poorly cat to sleep in the kitchen which is large as he isn't allowed out.

OP posts:

AssangesCat · 05/10/2019 20:40

Try warming the food slightly, either add boiled water and mash it up or stick the food in the microwave for about seconds then give it a stir. The smell can prompt their appetite, so might work better with fish. Ours was a fussy eater for years till she went on thyroid meds, then she improved massively but I think that's more common in elderly female cats. Think she is now on end of life and was going to post about that. She's about 23 years. We have thought the end was nigh several times only for her to bounce back again.

Veterinari · 05/10/2019 20:41

He’ll hopefully be fine - has the vet given any meds? We’re his white cells high?
Monitor his drinking - use wet food to get fluid into him or tuna in spring water or pilchards in tomato sauce depending on how he responds. Blast food in the microwave for 20s to warm it and enhance smelliness/palatability. Offer water from different types of bowls/dripping tap/water fountain.

His values are only slightly elevated so fingers crossed xx

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/10/2019 20:45

When our cats ill dh sleeps in the spare room and the cat sleeps on the bed with me.

Dog in kitchen, you and cat in the lounge?.

PinglePongle · 05/10/2019 20:47

Whenever mine have been ill (ranging from serious to mild) they refuse to eat anything at all so the fact that he's eaten something, even if small is a really good sign

Original poster

SunshineCake · 05/10/2019 20:53

We are currently hand feeding him though he did feed himself the chicken at 4pm. We will warm up his food when we put him to bed and will leave out extra chicken as he may chose to eat when he is alone and he won't be able to go out to hunt.

His white blood count wasn't elevated and he has had an antibiotic shot and we will give him more in tablet form starting tomorrow.

I will go shopping tomorrow to buy some things to entice him, thank you.

OP posts:

Original poster

SunshineCake · 05/10/2019 20:55

He could sleep in my room but not sure if he would eat then as he's never slept in their apart from in the day and not for a couple of weeks.

OP posts:

Beamur · 05/10/2019 20:56

Poor kitty. It is a worry when they're I'll but it sounds like you're doing all the right things.
Fingers crossed he perks up soon.

Original poster

SunshineCake · 06/10/2019 11:05

. Overnight he ate a whole sachet except for three chunks. This morning he has had some chicken and 2/3 of a sachet. Doesn't seem to have passed urine and we can't tell how much he has drunk but he has groomed himself and bit me when I stroked him so I think he is doing better.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/10/2019 11:18

Someone’s feeling better then!.

Original poster

SunshineCake · 06/10/2019 11:30

Yes! I cancelled the vet for today but can take him tomorrow if we feel he needs to see someone.

OP posts:

Veterinari · 06/10/2019 15:19

@SunshineCake

If he’s been dehydrated, off food and with signs of liver disease then there could easily be a chronic disease process going on. I’d strongly recommend further investigations/specialist vet advice rather than deciding for yourself that he’s better.

Original poster

SunshineCake · 06/10/2019 15:58

With respect, veterinari, I am not deciding for myself whether he is better or not. I fully trust the vet and he has done lots of tests. I also know I can take him back if I need and right now we are keeping him in, keeping a close eye on him and feeding him little and often. Liver disease has not be mentioned as dramatic as you are making it seem. He is slightly jaundiced.

OP posts:

Veterinari · 06/10/2019 16:04

Jaundice is an indicator of liver disease. It’s not ‘dramatic’ to date y that - simply a medical fact. I’m Surprised that your vet hasn’t mentioned it.

I just find it odd that you appeared to be so anxious about him yet have now cancelled his medical appointment and aren’t investigating what is causing the jaundice. It’s unlikely to simply spontaneously resolve.

I’d be worried that his improvement is a transient response to the antibiotics and when his injection wears off, his hepatitis/cholangitis may flare up again. But then i’m ‘Dramatic’ So i’ll Leave you to make your own decisions. I hope he does well

Original poster

SunshineCake · 06/10/2019 18:07

The appointment for today was only for if he didn't eat. He has eaten overnight and eaten today.

All his tests, including his liver came back within normal levels. The bilirubin was the only thing concerning the vet and it was always the plan to obviously keep an eye on him and take him back.

I have interacted with you before and now as well as then I found you to be bossy and abrasive without any compassion. Just aggression when things weren't done as per your advice immediately.

I have quite a few pets and all are extremely well looked after, fully insured, loved and cared for with everything they need and all I think they want. How dare you imply I am not caring for him.

DCat has been hand fed roast chicken as well as cat meat, is currently sleeping on my lap. Has groomed himself, chatted, bit me . Is looking 100% better.

I have a standing arrangement that I can take him back whenever I want too, or have a phone consultation, and I have no doubt the vet will ring himself tomorrow to see how he is doing.

OP posts:

Original poster

SunshineCake · 06/10/2019 18:09

He is also on antibiotics for five days so it isn't a case of one injection wearing off. He is being given a boost and I know my cat well enough to know he needs vet care.

FYI my late cat had had a cancerous lump for less than a day before I found it. I know my animals and when they are poorly even if I don't know the exact diagnosis.

OP posts:

Veterinari · 06/10/2019 18:55

@SunshineCake Thanks for the massive drip feed and the personal attack. It certainly makes things much clearer....

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 06/10/2019 22:42

When our cat went a bit off her food - which was, thankfully her teeth, and easily treated - we gave her tinned tuna in spring water which she liked. I had a feeling it was her teeth because she was otherwise fine, and is usually very greedy, so I mashed it up and added a bit of extra water. She also took cat milk. I hope your cat is okay, OP.

Original poster

SunshineCake · 07/10/2019 13:17

Veterini - don't be silly. There is nothing to be made clearer. You were rude and unkind before and I ignored you. I wasn't letting it go again.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses pleased to hear your cat is ok. Mine is doing great. Has his appetite back and has asked to go out.

Definitely does not have hepatitis or any other chronic disease. Will be speaking to vet again later.

OP posts:

Veterinari · 07/10/2019 13:48

@Sunshinecakes
You were rude and unkind before and I ignored you. I wasn't letting it go again.

Please point out where I was unkind or rude.

You asked for advice and support.
I gave you advice on encouraging your cat to eat.

You told us you were cancelling follow up appointments with no context or further information.
I strongly advised that you get further veterinary advice as liver pathology can be serious.
You called me dramatic.

I explained that jaundice is often a sign of liver disease (it can also be a sign of haemolysis, both are significant and warrant further workup). With the limited information you had given and with the potential seriousness of your cat’s condition it was confusing for me why someone who was clearly worried, would not follow up on this

You described me as bossy, abrasive, aggressive and without compassion for simply questioning you.
And now I am apparently ’silly’.

You are calling me a lot of names yet accusing me of being unkind and rude. Please point out where.

Original poster

SunshineCake · 07/10/2019 19:31

No.

I think it's clear.

No one could look after this car better and my vet is brilliant. Cat is heaps better. Back to normal.

I have no issue taking him back should he get poorly again once the antibiotics have finished.

OP posts:

Vinorosso74 · 07/10/2019 20:08

Ok I don't think this is the place for arguments.... I don't think @Veterinari
was being rude but just giving some professional advice which is harder via the internet rather than in a face to face consultation.
I would be cautious as our old cat had cholangitis (plus other issues) and initially showed no obvious symptoms-the liver issues were initially picked up via a routine senior blood screen at her annual jabs and MOT. The story is too long to go into now. Has the vet mentioned doing a follow up blood test at some point after the antibiotics are finished?

Veterinari · 07/10/2019 21:55

No.

I think it's clear.

So clear that you can’t give a single example? but then we both know that’s impossible because you there aren’t any. The actual evidence doesn’t fit the narrative you’ve created in your head.

I’ve given you constructive advice throughout this thread, and there are no examples of me being unkind or rude. There are however multiple examples of you attacking me personally, calling names and generally being deeply unpleasant.

What has actually happened is that for whatever reason you’ve decided that you don’t like me - perhaps we’ve interacted on a previous thread and you’re harbouring a grudge, to be honest I’m disinterested in why, I don’t have time to ‘keep score’ on MN - but to justify your unwarranted attack on me on this thread, I must be ‘unkind’ and ‘rude’ because it’s the only way to justify the fact that you’ve spent most of this thread responding to my constructive advice and questions with petty name-calling and slander. You seem to think that at some point I’ve suggested you’re an unfit owner. I haven’t. and your obvious defensiveness is bizarre

@Vinorosso74
You’re absolutely right. And this argument is futile. It’s impossible to reason with an unreasonable person. You’re also quite right to be concerned about possible cholangitis - it’s why I mentioned it up thread - it’s a common issue in cats this age but you would expect to see elevations in other liver parameters too, though it can definitely was and wane. It could also be haemolysis. When I mentioned cholangitis, I got a diatribe of insults and the OP took my suggestion of liver/biliary disease as a personal insult. So good luck!

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