Has anyone’s cat had bad flu, please?

[Anothernamechange3]

My beautiful Birman started hiding/sleeping loads and was off her food. At first I put it down to the hot weather but it became apparent she was really poorly early last week. We’ve had 3 trips to the vet, she thankfully started eating a tiny bit on Friday, which avoided another trip/possible stay at the vets but she’s still eating minuscule amounts and I don’t think she’s pooed in ages. She’s lots a lot of weight, and her inner eyelids are partially closed. She’s had antibiotics and painkillers. She’s not getting worse and seems slightly brighter than she was but she’s still so poorly. Really snuffly nose/breathing and when she tries to eat/drink it sets off sneezes/mucus gets dislodged.

Has anyone had similar with their cat please, and reassure me that she will get/is getting better and it’s just a slow road? I will be ringing the vet again tomorrow

well things have changed as her pupils became massively dilated to the point she can’t see. The vet now thinks she has got something neurological and there doesn’t seem to be much hope. I was able to take her home last night and have been feeding her through the tube every four hours. This was to give her a last chance through the night, but also to spend that last bit of time with her. The vet said if she had a bowel movement by today then there might be some hope. That hasn’t happened though so I think when I take her back to the vet today the decision will be to put her to sleep. I’m devastated, can’t stop crying but I know she can’t go on like this, she’s like an unhappy little ghost not the cat I know.

The vet still not 100% what it is but we have talked about the possibility of it being dysautonomia as the symptoms fit, but it is so incredibly rare we don’t know.

I'm so sorry, OP. What an awful situation. My best to you and your little puss.

Now the vet is saying they want to try one more thing (a med to try and get her gut moving) speak to a specialist and keep an eye on her until this evening, when they will phone me again. It’s a fucking emotional rollercoaster. I’d love to hope she’ll be ok but I just can’t. I’d already prepared my kids that she’ll likely be put to sleep today and they’d said goodbye (for context we had a puppy that had to be put down 18 months ago due to illness and it devastated them, this is an adult cat we gave a home to last October, and has helped all of us so much).

I have such mixed feelings. I’m sure the vets are doing what they can but also there’s a lot of trust there that the expensive treatments are necessary and the best for the cat. The diagnosis was looking good until they ‘spotted’ the dilated pupils yesterday. I had seen these days before and reported it to the vet practice when I regularly telephoned. I’m shocked that during 3 vet visits (throughout which I kept commenting that she usually has beautiful blue eyes but you can’t even see them) none of them noted this issue with the eyes. The practice manager has admitted this shouldn’t have happened and he doesn’t know how it did. Hence although the vets are all lovely people I’ve lost a lot of confidence in them.

sorry I don’t know what I even want from posting here, it’s obviously not a cat flu situation anymore. It does seem they are all suspecting dysautonomia (which I actually suggested to them after researching symptoms). This is really hard to diagnose and survival rates scarily low. I guess it’s just helping me write it down because none of it is making any sense.

Fingers crossed for you, OP.

I'm so very sorry to read this. I'm keeping everything crossed for you and your girl.

Oh this is upsetting, I really hope she pulls through: keeping everything crossed for you

Thank you for the replies. Unfortunately we put her to sleep earlier this evening. The vet was amazing though, had removed her feeding tube and also given her lots of strong pain relief. So when it was time to euthanise she wasn’t in pain and was actually enjoying being stroked and cuddled. It has really helped me having this thread as obviously I’ve been devastated but not everyone in real life understands how sad it can be. So thank you for listening to me and commenting.

I'm so sorry 😞 it is truly heartbreaking losing them.

I’m so dreadfully sorry to hear this. She was such a lucky girl to have you as her Mum xx

Oh no!! I am so sorry to hear the devastating news about your lovely girl. You must be so sad. Lots of love take care 💐💐

I’m so terribly sorry. It’s just heartbreaking when you lose a beloved pet. I’m glad it was peaceful at the end and you were with her. I’m sure she knew how loved she was. Sending you UnMumsnetty hugs.

OP, I'm so sorry to hear the news but I'm glad your cat had a peaceful passing.

I'm so very sorry to read your update and my heart goes out to you. Losing a pet is like losing a member of the family and hurts like hell. Sending you a huge hug.

Sorry that you have lost your beautiful cat.

Thank you for your kind messages. I’m not loving social media algorithms at the moment. Just because I’ve been googling a lot of cat illness related stuff does not mean I want cat stuff all over my feeds today. Rant over! I feel strangely better today knowing she’s at peace. This morning my first automatic thought was an anxious ‘how is she today? Will she eat?’ until I remembered. Made me realise how I’ve been carrying that anxiety for the last two weeks and how exhausting it’s been. It wasn’t the result I wanted but she’s not poorly or suffering any more.

I just wanted to add my sympathies @Anothernamechange3. The last few weeks must have been so hard for you both. At least you know she is not in pain any more. Be kind to yourself too.

I'm so sorry OP - what bad luck for your lovely cat, and your family.

I’m so sorry. She was beautiful

Thanks all. This is the lovely, positive, supportive side of the internet. Complete strangers caring and wishing us well. I love it and it has really helped me.

My cat went into the vets in May with a blockage in hi stomach he was there 4 nights and the litter tray really got me through. So supportive

Wow four nights is such a long time you must have really been through it. I’m glad you got support here and I hope your cat pulled through. We’ve already decided that we will be filling this cat shaped hole in our household at some point and I will definitely be here again when we do.

We really went through it he'd been in and out the whole week then was admitted Thursday night, had surgery Friday night then had to go on a feeding tube and couldn't come home until the Monday. I thought we'd lost him, they are such a worry.

I would do the same in your shoes, please share photos when you get your new cat 😊

It can be brought in on shoes etc. This is why is essential that indoor cats are still vaccinated. Sadly once a cat has cat flu it has it for life. You can treat it into remission but the virus will always be there and can flare up at times of stress.

Well it happened a lot sooner than I thought, maybe too son for some but I contacted a local breeder thinking it would be months waiting for a litter but they had a kitten available and, long story short (after lots of tears and agonising) we have already welcomed a new kitten to our home. She’s called Pearl and she’s setting in really well. Will never replace Saffie but she’s definitely helping to fill the cat shaped hole and the kids are absolutely smitten. She’s the same breed (Birman) but different colouring which helps me feel like she’s less of a ‘replacement’ for a cat that couldn’t be replaced.

Pics