What to do with my terrified cat!

[QueueEtwo]

I have 2 cats, the garden is cat proofed so they can't leave the garden but we keep them in overnight anyway.

Woke up on Thursday morning & couldn't find the youngest, he's about 2.5 years old,
Found a pile of cat poo in the living room(first time this has happened) and then eventually found him cowering beside the downstairs toilet.
He then shot into the spare room & there he has been ever since!

He's eating when you take food in, coming out from under the bed for cuddles & spending some time sat up on the windowsill.

I got him out & downstairs yesterday with dreamies & he went outside but a perfectly normal noise sent him flying back in & back under the bed!
He has a felaway plugged in, in the bedroom.

This morning I have put him some Scumbles out on the landing, to try & get him out but what's the best thing to do?

He's eating, drinking, washing, I have checked him all over he doesn't seem hurt.
Is it best to leave him? Lure him out with food, does he need to go to the vet? (Reluctant to take him because obviously that will really freak him out) but 🤷‍♀️
Any ideas?

The other cat, his mum is absolutely fine, quite enjoying not being chased around the place & staring at him in a WTF way from the landing! 🙄

Bump & a photo! He's such a fabulous cat!

Sounds like he's had a big fright. As you can't find any wounds on him, I would leave him be & let him come out of it in his own time rather than pushing him. The fact he's sitting on the windowsill is a good sign - does that window face out on the garden or the other way?

As long as he's eating, drinking & using his tray fine, he should eventually come round. Make sure he has access to food, water & litter tray indoors, and you could also try Zylkene in his food.

The window faces the garden, he has used the litter tray in there for a wee no poo yet!

I'll see what happens today, he seems reluctant to drink but will with persuasion & I'm mixing some in with his wet food.

I'll get him some Zylkene.

Thank you for your help! They are such a worry! 😕

Feliways everywhere. Bribe him with treats.

One of mine stopped eating after a big fright. Only it turned out she would eat, just expected her diet to be 100% dreamies.

Not ever having had two cats at the same time, much less mother and son, this is probably a silly question, but do they get on with each other? There couldn’t have been an altercation between them, could there, which has spooked him?

They do get on generally, they play chase together, eat together, nose bump each other but they don't sleep together & some rooms are obviously marked for one & not the other.
They may have had a proper fight but I think we would have heard!
And there was a nose bump & mutual bottom sniff yesterday! 🤣
He's a lot bigger than her too, & tends to be the most boisterous!

Here they are together!

Honestly, I would get him seen by a vet sooner rather than later.

Just because you can't see any visible injuries doesn't mean he's not in pain and wouldn't benefit from some painkillers.

Thanks Coffee.

The behaviour you describe is exactly how all my cats have been when they're in pain. They've all eaten and drank but they still needed vet care ☺️

Hopefully it's nothing major!

I've given him some meloxicam & will take him to the vets tomorrow!
Thank you for your help everyone!

Been to vets who think he has stress induced cystitis!

Thanks for your advice! Hopefully he will be back to charging round the house & jumping out at his mum very soon!

She is v quiet, I think she's missing him! 😕

Bless him! You might want to consider a supplement like Cystease in the long-term to help with general bladder health. D-Mannose is also a good supplement to consider long-term.

And if you notice any inappropriate urination or pain/blood/yowling when he urinates then he needs to go straight back to the vets ASAP as it can mean a blockage which can be fatal in male cats if not treated.

I don't say that to scare you, just from experience - I've had two male cats with urinary issues and I know the drill inside out

Thanks coffee, we got some from the vet today, 2 per day for a week & 1 per day maintenance.

Also said if he's not picked up in a couple of days to go back & they'll give him some antibiotics!

He seems a little bit brighter but still holed up in the spare room!

No problem - like I say I have lots of experience of male cats and urinary issue's unfortunately 🙈

Mine current boy was eventually diagnosed with crystals and is now on a set diet as well as various supplements which seem to have solved it thankfully 🤞

Ah bless you, OP. My cats have now passed over from old age sadly up to that big field of clover in the feline sky. But I still have some Zylkene etc if you want it, I'm happy to post it to you. PM me if you do.

(And anyone else who wants some. I've got a few blister packs in the boxes.)

That is so kind Autumn I have ordered some today but thank you!
If they work I may take you up on the offer though!

Well he is much improved, bounced on to our bed at 5.00am this morning & has left the spare bedroom for the landing & the office although hasn't made it downstairs yet & is now back under the bed!

Small steps!

You're welcome, @QueueEtwo. Hope it works for your cat quickly. Stress can affect cats in all sorts of ways, poor things.

Tried to get the supplement down him tonight in his food! Absolutely no chance, turned his nose up!

He's still not drinking so I'm mixing some water in with his wet food, so hit a fresh uncontaminated one! 🙄 honestly cats!

Just to update, he's absolutely fine now! Still giving him the Cystocalm tablets when he chooses to eat them! Thanks everyone for your advice!

Great news! Must be such a relief to have him back to normal!

Yes Pud, I'm even pleased to have him nose bumping me @3am! 🤣

They are back to their favourite Uniqlo paper bag games!