Go to Vet or over reacting?

[ohsobroody]

D cat has just returned after being absent for two and a half day's. He's done this once or twice but it's not a regular occurrence.

When I came he didn't rush to greet me as normal in fact I didn't even notice him until I nearly tripped on my way up the stairs.

He's strolled straight past his food and ignored it. He seems quiet and lethargic but purrs when touched and despite a good firm prodding all over appears to be uninjured.

He's ignored the dreamies I offered but seems content to lay and snooze.

It seems ott but I hate the thought that something happened or hes Ill and can't tell me.

Any suggestions fellow cat slaves??

Oh and he seems bedraggled, which in itself isn't weird because it's wet out but he would normally have groomed himself tidy immediately ..

Wrt the non-interest in food... do you think maybe someone might have fed him so he isn't hungry? Maybe put a "please do not feed me" collar on him?

I'd give it 24hrs and monitor food and fluid before I'd start getting worried.

Thanks @TwatCat it doesn't seem like that, surely he would still nibble a few dreamies? He's pretty greedy normally
I've locked the cat flat so I can keep an eye on him and going to see how he is in the morning

Is he walking normally? Are his gums a normal pink colour? If you pick up the skin on the scruff of his neck and let go, does it quickly ping back into place, or remain in the picked-up position for a while? Can you use your hand to feel for his heart beat and count the number of beats in a minute? And also count the number of breaths (in + out = 1) in a minute?

(I’m a vet)

Oh thank you @littlecabbage that's really helpful, he's not fancying walking around but moves normally and I've felt his hips and paws and ribs which all seem fine and didn't bother him.

His neck skin seems to pop right back down and his eyes and gums seem normal and clean/shiny.

I counted 34 breaths in a minute, couldn't get heartbeats becuase when I touched his chest he purred really loudly and just vibrated in time with his purrs which j found reassuring

Hmmm, it doesn’t sound too serious from that. I wonder if he has a slightly raised temperature making him lethargic and inappetant? If you feel really keen, and have a thermometer, you could check his rectal temperature (you’d probably need an assistant!) but I would just make sure he is warm overnight, has water nearby and keep an eye till morning. You could try warming a little food to see if that will tempt him - scrambled egg, tuna, canned food?

Oh he is not a fan of that, last time the vet did it he made it clear it wasn't his favourite thing and lucky for him I don't have a thermometer !
I'll keep trying to tempt him and see how we are in the morning thank you so much for replying

No probs, hope he perks up soon.

Thanks fro all the advice Dcat seems much more himself this morning, I tbink he did have a temperature he seems cooler today and has drunk plenty of water