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

Can Harry have some sympathy please?

52 replies

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/08/2022 20:46

And I need some advice! Every summer Harry's face seems to get pink and itchy but this year it's been worse than before. He's hardly got any whiskers left and he's made his face bleed. I've obviously taken him to the vets but each time they've been reluctant to do anything because of his age, his kidneys and his heart murmur (grade 1, not always detectable).

Last time I asked about a steroid injection but the vet was reluctant even though I said he'd had one last year which had fixed the problem. In the end we compromised and I have steroid cream for him which doesn't seem to be making a difference, in fact it's getting worse. I've tried the cone of shame but he crashed into the French doors and then started walking backwards. He was so distressed we took it off him.

I phoned the vets again today to ask to see one of the senior vets but can't see anyone until next Tuesday. I have no idea what to do in the meantime though!

Sorry this is so long and thank you if you've got this far! (The last picture is just to prove he can still look cute and not battered!)

Can Harry have some sympathy please?
Can Harry have some sympathy please?
Can Harry have some sympathy please?
OP posts:
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JaneJeffer · 22/08/2022 20:48

I have no advice just want to say he's gorgeous even when dressed up as a sunflower!

Could it be sunburn maybe?

Motnight · 22/08/2022 20:49

I have no suggestions Op but Harry is extremely gorgeous!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/08/2022 21:05

Thank you! He usually is very handsome and not bad for a 17 year old (I know I'm biased!) but he looks like an old alley cat at the moment!

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 22/08/2022 21:09

Presumably you've tried antihistamines? I had a horse many years ago who used to get Hayfever - literally from one type of hay!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 22/08/2022 21:10

Poor darling Harry. I hope that it is sorted soon.

JaneJeffer · 22/08/2022 21:12

Wow 17! He's amazing.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/08/2022 21:16

@Allergictoironing no, no one has suggested that but it makes sense. It's worse during summer, him and I are in a right state! Are there special animal antihistamines or can he share mine (if the vet agrees of course)?

@JaneJeffer despite using up most of his 9 lives it seems there's not a lot wrong with him apart from a scabby face and old age!

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 22/08/2022 21:21

We used Piriton (at vet's suggestion), but a medium sized horse is a LOT bigger than Handsome Harry.

Please add a pic of him sans scabs - he's such a sweet looking kitty :)

Unforgettablefire · 22/08/2022 21:33

Aww he's gorgeous he looks like a little sunflower in his cone. Looks like allergies especially when it's only happening once a year. You can give them piriton my cat was on it for hay fever. Don't buy it from the vets the mark up is ridiculous get it from the pharmacy, just make sure the ingredient is Chlorphenanine.
My dog used to have hay fever, and also got itchy sores on his feet in the summer.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/08/2022 21:45

I'm always happy to share pictures of him!

Can Harry have some sympathy please?
Can Harry have some sympathy please?
Can Harry have some sympathy please?
OP posts:
TwoMonthsOff · 22/08/2022 21:49

Poor Harry ❤️ He’s so lovely, My boy gets scabby in summer too. Has a steroid injection sorted out now no scabs and no itchy scratchy action, ( 2 weeks ago) what is vets reluctance I wonder
hope he feels better soon

TwoMonthsOff · 22/08/2022 21:51

@Unforgettablefire
peter Gabriel 🌻

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/08/2022 21:55

The last vet didn't want to give him a steroid injection because of his heart murmur. It's a grade one and they can't always find it! It's getting to the stage where I think we'll have to take the risk anyway. I really want him to see one of the experienced vets (the ones he's seen are all fairly newly qualified) and it's a pain we've got to wait a week.

I've ordered a skin and fur supplement and I'll get DH to talk to the vet about antihistamines. I've also ordered some Cat Stuff from Stinky Stuff for his face - it gets rave reviews so we'll see.

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 22/08/2022 22:17

What a beauty!!

No real advice except if its happening every summer but not winter then its either sunburn or an allergy. Animals can get hayfever too. Is it more tree pollen season or grass season? Our little girl used to get sneezing fits every July when our privet hedge started flowering. Pre and post flowering, no sneezes.

BlueKaftan · 22/08/2022 22:21

You could try gently dabbing on some coconut oil. It’s fine for cats and is good for healing scratches.

AllTheOtherCats · 22/08/2022 22:30

Harry is so lovely poor thing. I love his little face and his beautiful markings 😘

Allergictoironing · 22/08/2022 22:47

He's so cute!

TwoMonthsOff · 22/08/2022 22:51

@PinkSparklyPussyCat
aaah okay that makes sense

Leafy3 · 22/08/2022 22:54

Oh he's so handsome, I want to smooth my face into that fluffy tummy
#noshame 😍

Leafy3 · 22/08/2022 22:54

Smoosh

That was meant to say smoosh.

mountainsunsets · 23/08/2022 09:45

If the vet is refusing to treat him I would be going to another practise tbh.

You can't just leave a cat to suffer like that!

Toddlerteaplease · 23/08/2022 10:09

Poor Harry. But Snorg thinks his sunflower is hilarious.

Toddlerteaplease · 23/08/2022 10:11

I have Snorg 1/4 of a chloraphenamine tablet on the vets advice.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/08/2022 10:23

mountainsunsets · 23/08/2022 09:45

If the vet is refusing to treat him I would be going to another practise tbh.

You can't just leave a cat to suffer like that!

It's not so much they are refusing to treat him, they are being wary due to his age and other health issues. He's absolutely fine in himself, eating drinking, sleeping and doing what he usually does. If he wasn't I would be changing vets ASAP.

OP posts:
BlossomsOnATree · 23/08/2022 10:26

Does he go outside? It could be hayfever, but possibly it's a particular plant like nettles or something else he's coming into contact with?

Poor puss ❤

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