Advice for new cat mum please

[edwinbear]

We adopted Suki last Saturday from a rescue centre, she is settling in really well, making herself at home, slowly getting used to us and becoming a part of the family. As an ex stray, we don’t have a full background, but she’s about 18 months, neutered, microchipped (by the rescue centre) and had a cat flu vaccination/worming/flea treatment with them.

On Thursday, we took her to our own vet, for a health check and the first of a ‘full’ set of vaccinations - I understand this is another cat flu vaccination plus Feline Leukaemia, as whilst she’s obviously still indoors at the moment, the intention is she will ultimately have access to outdoors. The vet was very happy with her overall health, but she was displaying some symptoms of cat flu - she’s sneezing, runny nose etc, but he said her lungs were clear, no temperature and as she’s been vaccinated it would likely remain mild.

Thursday night she ate as usual, but today, she ate nothing all day, and has just slept. She’s snotty, sneezing, really just wants to be by herself. She’s perked up a bit tonight, eaten 1.5 pouches of food, had a really good drink of water and used her litter tray twice. She’s come downstairs to sit with us, hissed at a neighbours cat who she saw in the garden, but still really obviously unwell with the sneezing. As a new cat mum, I’m beside myself with worry. Is she likely to feel a bit rough from vaccine side effects on top of having a ‘cold’? How can we make her more comfortable? At what point should we take her back to the vet? Any advice would be so very welcome.

Phone the vet and ask.

Congratulations on your new addition.
My cat is alway a bit under the weather the day after her vaccines, off her food and sleeps a lot. She’s generally fine after a couple of days of being not quite herself. I’m sure Suki will perk up soon.

Thank you both - I’m so new to all of this. She’s currently awake and alert, snotty, but interested in what’s going on around her. It feels like when I brought DC1 home and had no idea how to keep him alive. He’s 13 now so we obviously managed OK, but this is really taking me back. This is Suki 2 mins ago. I don’t think I need an emergency vets appointment tonight, but it makes sense to call the vet tomorrow if she’s still off colour.

If she was already under the weather then the vaccination might have had a more extreme reaction. I personally don’t think this is all that much to worry about.

When to worry is if they stop eating.

Thank you @TheOGCCL she’s just wolfing down another pouch. I wouldn’t usually feed her this late, given she last ate about 8pm, but she was obviously hungry, meowing, and having not eaten all day, thought it best.

I found that my rescue would have a couple of off days after her vaccinations, it was normal for her but DDs cat was always fine afterwards. I used to keep her in and let her sleep and by day 3 she would be back to her normal self. If you think about it, some humans feel a little rough after vaccinations (and needing paracetamol) so why not cats (or dogs). Hopefully you will see some improvement tomorrow. Shes beautiful!

Thanks @Pixiedust1234 I’ve reminded the kids how poorly they felt after their COVID vaccines for a day or so, personally, I felt awful after mine for 24hrs. She’s now tucked up on the sofa for bed, I’d prefer her to be on my bed for tonight so I can keep an eye, but she seems happy enough. Hopefully she’ll feel a bit better in the morning and huge thanks to you all for reassuring a new cat mum!

She’s so beautiful! Black cats really are the best. And I agree with PPs that it’s probably just the jabs making her feel a bit rubbish. It’s excellent that she has an appetite.

She's beautiful :)

From what you've said, I think you're ok to continue with at home care and don't need a vets appointment.

I have a cat who was infected with cat flu as a tiny kitten. The virus lies dormant and flares up from time to time. She has sensitive eyes and nose as a result so is always a bit sneezy and blinky, bless her. We keep an eye out for signs of a flare (eg weepy eyes, runny nose, lethargy) and when it does flare a routine vets appointment for a jab helps enormously.

Otherwise, keep her warm, fed and watered. As long as she's interested in what's around her, happy in herself and eating and drinking I don't think you need to worry for now. If there's no improvement over the weekend, or if she suddenly gets worse, then take her in. As always, if in doubt, call the vet for a chat.

Always speak to vet. Remember to leave water for her. We have 2 who eat dry good quality food twice a day and water is always out. They are 10 and regular weight with no health problems. She will adjust but anything unusual with eating check with vet.

Thank you all so much for your advice, I really do appreciate it. She seems brighter this morning, she was padding about at 4.30am, presumably wide awake as she’d slept all day yesterday. She’s had a good breakfast, still incredibly snotty, but she’s having a post breakfast wash, whilst simultaneously looking out into the garden to make sure none of the neighbours cat venture into her terf. I’ll be watching her like a hawk all day and if she gets worse, will get her to the vet. I’ve put food and water bowls all round the house so she doesn’t have to venture far if she’s hungry/thirsty. DC were up at 7am (unheard of for them) to check on her, I’ve told her if she needs anything at all, to find a human - there are 4 of us in the house and any one of us will help her!

Her this morning ❤️

She's beautiful, OP. I hope she's feeling better today.

She’s gorgeous - fellow black cat owner here, never understood why they’re the least popular variety. I’d say if she’s eating, drinking, using the litter tray and grooming etc, then I’d just watch and wait. If anything changes then ring the vet, but sounds like she’s recovering. Our girl is always a bit off colour the day after her vaccines too. Plus she finds trips to the vet pretty traumatic, so there’s a fair bit of getting over that in the mix too.

Now that is one cat who knows that she is queen of all she surveys! What a gorgeous mini panther you have there OP. She's clearly stolen all your hearts in that first week with you, having all of you running around after her - which is how it should be 😁. She reminds me of my Girlcat, same features & the same expressions.

I agree with pp that unless she takes a turn for the worse just keep an eye on her. Neither of mine react to jabs, but I have an awful reaction to flu jabs and I had to go to bed for 24 hours after my first Covid vaccination. Just take her cues on what she wants/needs for the next few days, if she wants fuss then do so, if she wants to curl up in peace leave her be & only check on her every few hours. Keep a strict eye on her water bowl as she's likely to be more thirsty that usual with any kind of respiratory illness like a cold.

She is definitely Boss Cat. Everyone is completely smitten, even 13yr old DS is coming off his PlayStation, putting his phone down and coming out of his room to fuss her! She’s sat on my lap for half an hour having cuddles which was lovely, eyeballed a squirrel in the garden and now having a snooze on my bed. I’m running about checking food/water bowls and litter trays 😁

So beautiful ❤

She's alert, drinking and weeing so i think she's on the mend. Just remember she might be a cat that reacts to vaccinations every year and needs a few duvet days afterwards. The first year I forgot and (re) freaked out 😂

She’s adorable! Congratulations on becoming a mini-panther-mum. My little prince says a sleepy hello too.

@HonorHiding he’s utterly delicious! Suki is still sneezing & snotty, but still eating and drinking. She’s just woken up from a very long sleep and having a wander about. DS was left in charge for an hour and I’ve come home to find he’s tucked all her toys round her 🤣 I’m not sure she’s in the right frame of mind for chasing a ball, but it was good to see he’s been watching her and trying to make sure she’s comfortable and happy. He’s not nearly so kind to his sister!

Have you got some Lick-e-Lix for Suki? Your DS sounds lovely and (like mine) might enjoy gently feeding a sachet of Lick-e-Lix now and again. It’s very sweet to watch them together.

I have experience of serious cat flu, OP. Doesn't sound like your kitty has it badly. The stress of the move might have caused a minor flare up, but as pp said, likely the vaccine. If she's eating and drinking she's probably fine.

There’s no doubt she’s had a stressful few weeks - living on the street, into a rescue centre, then a move to us, and she’s still very young, she must feel a bit bewildered, but hopefully she’s starting to feel a bit more settled. We’ve not tried Lick-e-Lix but will get some and see if she likes them, thanks @HonorHiding

My cats would sell their grandma for liver flavoured lick-e-Lix. It's cat heroin.

Chicken Lick-e-Lix is what we have to buy in bulk here. Milo is officially grown up now at all of 19 months, but his little face goes all kitteny when he closes his eyes to lick that yoghurty golden nectar from the precious foil tube. At that moment we know that all is right in his world.

Ahhh glad she has perked up.
Such a lucky kitty to now have a new home and such loving owners.
My own cat is a rescue who had a hard start in life, the way she is now spoilt I’m sure it’s a dim and distant memory.