Poorly cat looking for advice

[eekbumbler]

Hello there, I shall start by saying she is not my cat before I get shouted at.

A few months ago my ex took in a young female cat. She had chosen to give birth at his friends, then original owners didn't want to know about her or kittens. She was approx 5 months. She had jabs etc.

Anyway kittens rehomed and ex took in cat for him and our daughter.

She went missing for 4 nights a couple of weeks ago. When she came home ex said she 'wasnt right'. She has been kept in since, but daughter told me yesterday after the weekend there that she had a strange cough and was not purring at all.

I have stressed to ex how cats (I have 2 ofy own) are very good at masking pain and looking fine. The fact that she no longer purrs indicates to me that she isn't happy at all.

Ex hasn't sought any vet treatment and I want to push him in that direction, but feel that need some more info... So...
Does anybody have any idea what could be wrong, no outward physical injuries.

I just feel so sorry for her, unfortunately I cannot afford to take her myself otherwise I would.

Hope that makes sense!

Presumably he had the cat neutered? It could really be anything and only a vet could advise, it is cruel and negligent of him not to take her if she needs vet treatment, the pdsa or blue cross will treat for those on low incomes/benefits.

Thank you @Stickytreacle sorry I should have mentioned that yes she has been neutered.

I know how you feel, unfortunately it's not an income problem, probably more of a work, pay day after Xmas issue 🙄

I'll have a chat with him later, luckily we get on okay. I know he gets paid on Thursday so will offer to take her if he will pay. I'm worried not only for cat but for daughter as well.

It could be anything. If she was missing for a few days then an injury is quite likely - a car accident for example. She could have internal injuries. But really anything is possible. Is she eating normally? Toileting normally? Moving around normally?

She needs to see a vet ASAP.

Thanks both, like I said, she isn't my cat and I have never even met her. It all relies on me talking to ex and telling him. I'm worried something internal. I also told him to look out for any injury no matter how tiny as one of my cats had been bitten and puss coming out of toe.

It's all very well vet asap, but I do not have access to his house and he works til 6pm.

Like I said, his payday is Thursday and I have zero money til then after Xmas and daughter bday next week. Plus it's not my cat, I'm just trying to find out if the cough was anything common and then get him to see sense sooner.

Has she been vaccinated? Could it be cat flu?

I think talking to him is your only option then, a cough could be anything from a bout of flu, heart failure, parasites, ingesting something toxic etc etc. I hope he listens to you.

Thanks @Leftbutcameback yes she had all her vaccinations, the man who took her in and subsequently rehomed kittens had them all vaccinated, he was a real cat lover, sadly passed away in December 🙁

Thanks @Stickytreacle I have sent him a message and said I am happy to take her as she sounds v poorly. We will speak as he has daughter every weekend. Our daughter is 12 and has lived through her first cat having a misdiagnosed spinal injury and being PTS so she is very cat savvy too. I don't think she'll let Dad not do anything.

I shall update. Fingers crossed for kitty xxx

Glad to hear she's had her vaccines and been neutered. Likes others said cats are rubbish at letting us know what's wrong (if anything). My cat had a really high temp and I just thought he was being lazy

My cat Troy had a cough and he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, when his lungs filled with fluid there was no room for the vibrations that enable cats to purr. He died just before he was 6.

Aw @Leftbutcameback (my skim reading mind read that as left buttock) 🤣 I hope he made a speedy recovery.

I live with guilt of taking one of mine to a well known chain... She wasn't walking properly and I knew it. Young vet just said looks fine to me, prob had a fall or scrap (no sign of scrapping). So brought her home with cat Calpol (forgot the name!) and the next morning she was like Bambi on ice on my rubbish old laminate floor.
Took her to local non chain vet 2 days later, first thing he did was squeeze her back feet - nothing. Then her tail - nothing. He sent us home with stronger meds and sleepy meds to keep her still, but within 3 days she had lost all bladder and bowel control, legs completely gone. Spinal injury and had to take her and say goodbye 😭 Sorry, lost in memories!!

Yes she's been well looked after since kittens (so far!) So I don't want to think she is suffering.

Well he'll have to buck up and take responsibility, not something that comes naturally to him without a good kick up bum!! We've been split 10 years, you wouldn't have thought I'd still be running round after him. That said if it was anything other than poorly pet I wouldn't lift a finger 🙄😕 Will see what he has to say later.

Oh so sorry to hear that @TroysMammy was that something that occurred naturally or as a result of injury? Poor Troy 😢

@eekbumbler I'm not familiar with cat genetics but the vet said it was probably congenital as there were suspicions his mother and father were brother and sister.

Well he hasn't bothered replying to my text re kitty or daughters birthday next week so right now I can only hope she is okay (cat, DD upstairs zonked out?) Thank you for the replies. I will update, hopefully positively soon xx

Zonked out! Not zonked out?

Let's hope once he is paid he will get Kitty checked out. Cats don't usually complain that is why owners need to be vigilant with them.

Yes, mine was absolutely fine once he’d had some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory shot. Perked up the next day and then fine by day three. His temperature was so high he was at risk of seizure but I had no idea.