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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Cat needs eye drops but can’t be kept inside

8 replies

nomorespaghetti · 03/08/2020 14:25

My 1 year old cat boy has an eye ulcer, quite small and doesn’t seem to be bothering him. I took him to the emergency vets last night when I noticed he was squinting and he was given two sets of drops, which he needs three times a day. It’s terrible timing because we’re going away for 4 nights, but we have a very experienced cat sitter who has agreed to give him the drops. We’re in the UK and can easily get back if there’s an emergency.

The problem is that he’s very much an outdoor cat. He usually comes home in the night and sleeps with us, then leaves after his breakfast and stays out all day. It’s not uncommon for him to stay out 24 hours plus. He’s well known and liked around here, other people do feed him (which I’m not keen on).

We kept him in yesterday evening and this morning, and he got increasingly upset, pee’d twice in the bathroom, and poo’d on a rug. He does have a clean litter tray that he never usually has a problem using (he usually does all his business outside unless it’s raining or something). I’m not sure if the stress was due to the eye drops or due to being kept in, but either way it was horrible to see him so out of sorts, so I let him out.

The cat sitter will try to get the drops in 3x a day, but it’s unlikely he’ll be around for all the doses. I’ve messaged all the people I know who feed him asking them not to, hoping to encourage him to come home for food, but who knows if they’ll listen! I called the vet and they said it was very important he get all the doses, but also he mustn’t get stressed! He will not tolerate being kept in, he’ll make himself ill Sad

What do others do in this situation?! My poor boy. I’m so worried about him and will be worrying all the time we’re away!

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Toddlerteaplease · 03/08/2020 15:39

Could you put him in a cattery. My cat has to stay in the vets for 5 data as she needed drops 4 time a day and I work 12 hour shifts, so she wouldn't have got them. Plan B was to have put her in her cattery, but they were closed and staff were furloughed.

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/08/2020 15:52

I’d go for a cattery too, they can do eye drops.

nomorespaghetti · 03/08/2020 17:28

Yeah, cattery would be the ideal, but we’re already away now

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FrankieChips · 03/08/2020 19:13

My old cat got his leg amputated and it was impossible keeping him in. He and his sister managed to open two doors and get the cat flap cover off. I phoned the vet and he said it might be more stressful to his healing to keep him in so I just let him out and checked his stump constantly. One of my neighbors had a go at me for being irresponsible but it would have been impossible to keep him in unless I tied him up! His leg healed well and he lived for years after.

nomorespaghetti · 03/08/2020 21:32

Blimey frankie, that must have been stressful! And here I am fretting about some eye drops Grin The cat sitter has managed to get all 3 doses in today, which is great, but he’s not been happy about it apparently. At least he’s in his home environment with access to outside. I’m ever so worried about him though

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FrankieChips · 04/08/2020 15:08

It was at first but he was absolutely fine. Cats are a lot hardier than we assume. At least I think they are :) He was much happier being able to hop around at will. Hope your little kitty will feel better soon. Try not to worry and enjoy yourself!

GreyishDays · 04/08/2020 15:11

If you keep in touch with the cat sitter she can let you know how many doses she’s managed and how it’s looking. We had similar with an ear infection and it cleared up with less than the full dose.

nomorespaghetti · 06/08/2020 09:58

She’s been keeping in touch, which is great. He’s missed two doses so far, so not doing too badly, but I expect he’ll miss a few more, as he’s rarely back home at lunchtime. His eye seems fine for now at least. I’m looking forward to getting back to him tomorrow!

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