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Original poster

Cat suddenly very unwell - vet doesn’t know why

81 replies

honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 14:38

Came downstairs this morning to our 15 year old cat in his bed, rather than his usual yowling for food. He wouldn’t get up or even lift his head. No interest in food or anything.

Took him to vets when they opened, he’s still there now. They have run blood tests and can find nothing significant. He’s too weak to stand, won’t eat. He was absolutely fine yesterday :( They have no idea what on Earth is wrong, he’s on a drip and they are trying antibiotics and anti inflammatories. Apparently it “could be viral” but they have no idea what or even if it is that. His temperature is slightly raised and he has been bleeding from his nose.

Now they are saying he will need to go to overnight vets to stay on drip and I’m panicking how much this is all going to cost. He only has accident and injury insurance. Obviously I will find the money but when they don’t even know what’s wrong or if he will get better, it’s a tough call.

What on Earth could have suddenly made him ill like this??

OP posts:
Itsvalentino · 26/01/2023 15:21

Could he have been fighting?

I ask because my moms cat goes like this after a fight, spent years taking him to the vets and they never found anything wrong with him. He'd sleep for days, hardly eat if at all, and if he did move he was very slow and careful.

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 15:23

No he barely goes out anymore. And not a mark on him, they checked him for fractures etc.

OP posts:
whataboutsecondbreakfast · 26/01/2023 15:57

Has he eaten something he shouldn't and poisoned himself?

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 16:00

I thought poison but no sign of that apparently. I’m guessing it would have shown up in tests?

OP posts:
Choconut · 26/01/2023 16:03

Have you asked them about costs? I think you should find out ahead of time how much it's going to cost as vets are expensive. He's very elderly now and maybe it would be kinder to put him to sleep if he doesn't recover quickly as he sounds very unhappy.

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 16:08

Today has cost £350 so far. They say he needs to stay in 24hr vet hospital overnight which is £500 just for the stay!

there has been no improvement with any of the meds they have tried :( I want to say I will just bring him home but is that awful of me? He hates cages and vets and will be so unhappy there.

OP posts:
whataboutsecondbreakfast · 26/01/2023 16:10

honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 16:00

I thought poison but no sign of that apparently. I’m guessing it would have shown up in tests?

Hopefully but it maybe depends how long ago he ate it?

Is he weeing/pooing normally - it could be an obstruction or a urinary blockage?

Bubbles2022 · 26/01/2023 16:51

Could it be cat flu?
Sounds very similar to when my cat had it.

Motnight · 26/01/2023 16:55

Sounds very similar to my old boy whose knee joints had popped out. He was in terrible pain, and reacted by becoming floppy and not moving. Good luck Op

NeverDropYourMooncup · 26/01/2023 16:57

honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 16:08

Today has cost £350 so far. They say he needs to stay in 24hr vet hospital overnight which is £500 just for the stay!

there has been no improvement with any of the meds they have tried :( I want to say I will just bring him home but is that awful of me? He hates cages and vets and will be so unhappy there.

You can't bring him home without treatment as he would suffer.

HikingHairDontCare · 26/01/2023 17:00

Do you know what blood tests they did?

Ohdearnotagain76 · 26/01/2023 17:00

Could he of had a fall and hit his head?

verdantverdure · 26/01/2023 17:02

Do you have anything scented running in the house like plug ins?

I've heard of that suddenly incapacitating cats.

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 17:03

I’m bringing him home. He has deteriorated more this afternoon and no meds are working. Vet says he may pass tonight and they won’t be able to do anything as they have no idea what is wrong. I think I owe it to him to bring him home to sleep in his bed tonight.

OP posts:
whataboutsecondbreakfast · 26/01/2023 17:03

I am so sorry OP Flowers

Adventadventures · 26/01/2023 17:09

@honeyandbutterontoast so sorry to hear. Give him lots of love and cuddles. I think this is the right call given his age

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 17:11

I don’t want him to die at home but I also don’t want him to die alone scared in a cage. He is an utter terror of a cat who has driven me crazy for all these years, so I will give him the chance to fight this here.

my dog has been going crazy all day without him. He’s her best friend, they sleep together all day.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 26/01/2023 17:14

Have they done his blood pressure @honeyandbutterontoast , as we had this with our dog on New Years Day , perfectly fit and well and then suddenly unable to stand . We went to the OOH vet twice ( NYD + BH) and then to our vet on the Tuesday who diagnosed high blood pressure . He’s since had scans and potentially could have a tumour on his spleen but is back to walking / running about on blood pressure tablets and a minimal dose of steroids that we are reducing .

HikingHairDontCare · 26/01/2023 17:16

honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 17:03

I’m bringing him home. He has deteriorated more this afternoon and no meds are working. Vet says he may pass tonight and they won’t be able to do anything as they have no idea what is wrong. I think I owe it to him to bring him home to sleep in his bed tonight.

Don’t do this, he likely won’t be comfortable. Have him put to sleep, it’s the kindest thing you can do for him now. I’m so sorry.

MidasWhale · 26/01/2023 17:17

So sorry to read this. Would having him put to sleep at the vet be a quicker therefore kinder option? If not take him home and in his bed. I wouldn't put an elderly cat through lots of tests and caging, they don't understand there's an end goal, just that they're scared xx

Commonsensitivity · 26/01/2023 17:19

Does he eat felix? Lots of online publicity about it making cats ill.

Aquamarine1029 · 26/01/2023 17:22

Please don't bring him home. He will be suffering horribly. Have him out to sleep at the vets while you comfort him. It's the responsible thing to do.

Cycling80 · 26/01/2023 17:23

Please don’t potentially subject him to a drawn out death at home. Has the vet not advised for you to have him pts rather than take him home? Sorry you’re going through it but the kind thing to do is to put him to sleep as hard as it is.

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 17:43

No the vet has suggested if he makes it through tonight but doesn’t improve we could maybe pts tomorrow. Not something they have said to do tonight.

I do not want him to suffer. That is not my intention. I just don’t want him to be alone. And maybe he might perk up at home.

He spent 6 weeks in a cage some years ago after a car accident, and developed a lot of mental health issues from that. Cages are terrifying to him. Poor little cat :(

OP posts:
Cycling80 · 26/01/2023 17:48

honeyandbutterontoast · 26/01/2023 17:43

No the vet has suggested if he makes it through tonight but doesn’t improve we could maybe pts tomorrow. Not something they have said to do tonight.

I do not want him to suffer. That is not my intention. I just don’t want him to be alone. And maybe he might perk up at home.

He spent 6 weeks in a cage some years ago after a car accident, and developed a lot of mental health issues from that. Cages are terrifying to him. Poor little cat :(

How likely does the vet think it is that he’ll improve?