DP has taken our lovely cat to the vet

[addler]

It's the first time he's been poorly. He hasn't done a wee in his litter tray since yesterday, last week did a big wee in DS's swimming bag which is very unlike him, he's never done a wee anywhere outside the tray before. Also noticed over the last couple of days he sometimes smells a bit like wee, or we can smell it in the house, but can't find the location.

He's our first cat for both of us, we've only ever had dogs before. But we love him so much and he's so lovely and gentle and I'm pregnant and hormonal and am very worried about him, I keep reading about male cats having blockages and needing surgery.

Have attached a picture of our lovely placid boy.

Will they keep him in overnight? Are people with the animals overnight or are they alone? Why does having a pet bring so much worry along with so much love?

He’s lovely, OP.

And I know you’ll know I’m right saying this, but if he’s unwell, he really is in the best place.

I would think that he will probably be in overnight, yes, and my vet has an overnight care assistant who is there on call to check pets and their if drips etc.

This is probably no consolation, but hopefully he’ll be fine, and if he’s pretty poorly thank goodness you didn’t wait any longer 💐 🐈‍⬛

• iv drip, not if drip!

And yes, they cause us so much worry because they’re amazing and we love them to bits. I prefer my little dog to most humans! ❤️

My cat had to stay in the vets for a long time. The nurses treated him like their own. They have this job because they love animals. He's in the best place. I hope he's ok and it turns out to be something minor.

Oh, he is adorable.

Sounds like a uti to me, I think they're quite common in cats. My own lad has been treated for 3 and it's awful because you can't explain to them what's going on! The important thing is that he's off to the vets to get all checked out.

If he does have to be there over night (which I think is unlikely) vets will have over night staff who look after the patients.

Sending you a (((hug))) because these furry nuggets now how to yank our heartstrings!

Thinking of you. Just been through a scare with our boy cat. Vets were amazing and so caring, he's fine now.

I did have to laugh the vet was reading back through his notes
"Sneezing episode" erm yes he got some grass stuck in his soft palate, I didn't realise he was just trying to dislodge it
"Scratch in eye from feather" erm yes he was playing with a feather and poked himself in the eye
"Diarrhoea in litter tray" erm yes he has got a sensitive tummy...
We are their cat slaves and destined to worry about them forever...

Hope your DCat is OK.

It's a mucous plug?!

And here I was thinking I'm the only one in the family with one...

I've never heard of this. I've heard of crystals, that's what I thought it might be.

The vet said it's caused by a muscle spasm? And that he needs to eat more wet and less dry food. Which is going to be difficult because he's SO picky about wet food. We've tried lots of different types and he just licks the jelly/gravy off all of them.

Any recommendations for more types to fry him on? I really don't want this to happen again. The vet said we took him at the right time before it got worse and became more of a problem. DP is just waiting for some pain meds and then I think he can come home. I'm so glad it's nothing worse! And so glad we got him checked instead of waiting longer.

I might keep DS up until they get back, he cried when DP took him away. Our lovely cat is so patient with him, he'll let DS drive trains over his back and he always goes in during nap time and hops up on to the bars of his cot to look at him, and then goes to sleep underneath the cot for the whole duration of nap time. One time DS woke crying in the night and we were slow to wake up, and our lovely boy ran in to our bedroom meowing his head off as if we were being terribly neglectful parents.

I mean look at this sweet boy! How could anyone not worry?!

Thank you all for reassuring me and calming me down

Have you tried him on gourmet pate foods? There’s no lumps and you can add an extra spoon of water to keep his fluids up.

You can mix Cystease into wet food too for sore bladders

Leroy needs a high wet diet. We do it with a water fountain so he's drinking regularly, a daily Lick-e-Lix and Felix AGAIL Doubly Delicious (Gourmet Mon Petit for special occasions).

Cats are the most manipulative animals alive! When trying to find wet food he likes, start at the cheaper end and work up. You really don't want to end up buying the most expensive stuff for the rest of his life if you can give him cheaper. I know that sounds mean but cats run rings round humans!

I'm so pleased that he's been sorted and he doesn't have stay in overnight. They're such a worry.

My fussy boy (who is also allergic to most commercial cat foods) does well on Katkin food. I add boiled water to it and mash it which increases his water intake :).

That’s a brilliant cat. 10/10

Ok he loves a lick-e-lix so can definitely give those once a day. He's just had one with his dinner as a welcome home treat.

He did another wee on the way home in the carrier so must have been a bit backed up even though they expressed his bladder there too.

So far the only one he's been mildly interested in is Felix Tasty Shreds, but the last week or so he's gone back to just licking the sauce and not eating much of it at all.

I think he tried soup with my sister when she cat sat while we were away, and he liked that. We haven't tried too many of the different types as he's only just turned one so was on the boring kitten stuff before.

Buying a water fountain on Amazon now! Whatever he needs so he doesn't get this again.

And thank you for the love on him, we think he's very majestic too!

Have you tried Felix Tasty Shreds?
My cats lick the dish clean every time. Granted they’re not at all picky, and their main food is regular (cheapest) Felix, but they always used to leave some of those chunks.
Purina randomly sent me a free sample of Tasty Shreds; for their supper I mixed a pouch in with the chunks left over from breakfast, and they hoovered the lot up!
It’s so sloppy it has to be scooped out with a pointy spoon so as not to waste any, but it’s worth the effort!
(They only ever eat the fishy flavours, never been keen on meat).
Good luck ❤️

Oh damn, sorry, just seen now you have tried it.
Never mind!

The other great thing about about giving a Lick-e-Lix every day is that they don't eye you quite as suspiciously when you need to add a medication 😁

Lovely cat OP!

You could try Untamed or Katkin, which are both available on subscription. Our DCat enjoys both, but they are £££ and like a PP said, once your cat has a taste for them it is difficult to persuade them back to anything cheaper!

He is gorgeous.
I think this is a really common issue especially with male cats.
Just buy a few different varieties. When he goes off one, just rotate to a different one. Mine go off/on all the time.
Generally approved of: gourmet Perle, the little tins of 'cake' go well. Webbox mousse. Gourmet nature's creations. Felix (as good as & shreds) Sheba in gravy is preferred over jelly.. they also love a bit of poached fish and you can put some of the fishy poaching water down too.
Maybe also look into a dry food that's for cats with this - some are better than others

Hi OP
my cat has been through similar recently, initially it was mucus plug but a week later he was in again with a full blockage
i was given anti inflammatory, muscle relaxant to help with the spasms and pain relief for him
I’d recommend a water fountain if you dont have one already, I was really sceptical but my boy loves his
cystease is also good and u can buy this cheaply online
i now have my cat on specific urinary food, dry food was easy but he has been very picky with wet food, he’s currently on royal
canin wet food and seems to like it but it was definitely trial and error
i hope yours recovers soon, its such a stress and worry

Be wary about felix food
if you’re on Facebook search cats affected by felix and see for yourself

all of my three cats develoepd
bowel issues with the new felix food and one is still not out of the woods

yoo could try Scrumble or natures menu pate food which is high meat content and bone broth

or perhaps double minced raw food?

your cat is lovely @addler

is he a black smoke British shorthair by any chance?

Is the wet food because he needs more liquid? After a similar issue with kjr cat, our vet recommended wetting his dry food. It was only for a few days as his issue was different - an infection- but he was quite happy to eat his dry food when it was wet. We just gave it in smaller more regular portions so it didn't sit around.

Your boy is gorgeous!

Mine lick the jelly off felix too

Our remaining two cats (had four at one point) are 10 now and over the years have eaten a variety of paté foods, which it is impossible to lick the jelly off! Animonda Carney, Lily's Kitchen, Grau and Bozita (?) all from Zooplus. They are mostly back on Felix now because one is such a fussy bugger, plus he's sick and deserves to have what he wants!

Miamor does a version of lixelix which is cheaper and they go just as crazy for it. I think it's called cat cream.

Also cat milk (whiskas or supermarket own) will help get more liquid in.

Sorry forgot to add that he is a very handsome chap!