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

Worried about my poorly cat

15 replies

Marchflower · 02/08/2023 22:15

My 4yo girl is spending the night at the vets to have a feeding tube fitted and be swabbed for upper respiratory infection.

10 days ago we came home to find a big puddle of vomit and a hairball. Cat was a bit off afterwards, not eating much and lethargic. 2 days later she developed diarrhoea so we took her into the vet. They thought gastroenteritis and gave her some gabapentin. We went home and Cat was drinking constantly, like she couldn’t get enough fluid.

We were worried about her kidneys, so 48hrs later she was back at the vets. They ran basic bloods and all was fine apart from elevated amylase, indicating pancreas issues.

She seemed to perk up a bit for a day. Another 48hrs later and she was very sick, lots of clear/frothy liquid so we took her to the vets for the 3rd time. They kept her in for 2 nights on IV fluids, repeated bloods and did an ultrasound. The scan showed inflamed intestines, but bloods were normal. They prescribed antibiotics. I picked her up from the vets yesterday and she was full of cold - sneezy, runny nose and gunky eyes. She wouldn’t eat. I’ve taken her to the vets tonight and they’re keeping her in to fit a feeding tube and check what’s going on with her respiratory system.

Sorry for very long post! I’ve had her for a year (she’s a rescue British shorthair), have only taken her to the vet once before this so don’t have an established vet. This practice is an emergency place so she’s seen loads of different vets. I’ve asked about the possibility of FIP but they don’t think her blood ratios indicate that. Could it be flu? Would that affect her stomach as well?

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 02/08/2023 22:21

That's worrying for you.
There was a similar post recently, and it turned out that the cat had swallowed a foreign body which was causing an obstruction.
After surgery the cat made a good recovery.
I'll see if I can find it and link it.

Marchflower · 02/08/2023 22:24

Thank you. The scan didn’t find any foreign bodies. She had a fall from a window a few weeks back, so that could be a factor. She has also has a habit of eating flies in the garden (she goes into our small enclosed urban garden under supervision)

OP posts:
cinnamonfrenchtoast · 02/08/2023 23:09

Is she up to date on all her vaccines? It could be cat flu or parvovirus but she should be jabbed against both I think.

FIP in adult cats is rare - it generally presents in kittens and teenagers. That's not to say it doesn't happen but it's very unlikely.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/08/2023 01:20

My Persian had pancreatitis and triaditis a few years ago. She wasn't expected to survive but she did. She came home with a feeding tube after a week in the vet. She actually made a quick recovery. And the tube was hardly used. The respirator symptoms could be because she's so run down and poorly. Fingers crossed she's soon on the mend.

Marchflower · 03/08/2023 09:16

@cinnamonfrenchtoast I feel awful, I realised she’s a few months overdue her jabs.

The first time she was sick 10 days ago she had very runny eyes and was a bit sneezy but it’s really worsened - probably due to all the stress she’s been going through. We’re probably in a negative cycle where she won’t eat because of the congested sinuses so she’s getting weaker

OP posts:
cinnamonfrenchtoast · 03/08/2023 09:28

If she's only a few months overdue I wouldn't worry - they don't expire bang on twelve months!

Cat flu is one oh those conditions where the vaccine doesn't cover all the strains though so it could "just" be that.

TheShellBeach · 04/08/2023 10:50

How is your cat now, OP? I've been thinking of you.

Marchflower · 05/08/2023 00:02

Thank you @TheShellBeach - great news, she’s back home. They did a last ditch attempt to get her to eat before fitting the feeding tube and she suddenly got her appetite back. She spent a couple of nights at the vets having oxygen and IV antibiotics. She’s still snuffly and full of cold - they think it’s cat flu and have sent off swab tests. She had a nebuliser at the vets and decongestant which has helped her. But it’s looking much more positive

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 05/08/2023 00:37

That's such good news! I'm really glad.

caringcarer · 05/08/2023 00:40

Good to hear 🐈 on the mend. Keep her warm and out of the wet to recover.

Pudmyboy · 05/08/2023 07:31

Oh what encouraging news! All things crossed for a continued recovery 💐

Toddlerteaplease · 05/08/2023 10:43

Great news

EmmaBG79 · 17/04/2025 09:01

Hi there. 1st time on here.

Just looking for like minded folk who might understand where im coming from. I have anxiety and at the moment my 15 year old cat is poorly with Triaditis and Hyperthyrodism. She has been to vet alot over last few months and on a few medications. I just find I'm constantly watching her, waking at night worried about her cover when we are away for a week even though we have amazing neighbours who will look after our 3 cats.

Wish I was like hubby who is so chilled and can put things into prospective.

Anyone been like this? x

Toddlerteaplease · 18/04/2025 17:44

@EmmaBG79 I think it took me a year to relax when my late girl had triaditis. As the vet said she’d probably get it again. She lived another 6 years without it reoccurring. Then died of something else.

Gingerkittykat · 18/04/2025 20:07

EmmaBG79 · 17/04/2025 09:01

Hi there. 1st time on here.

Just looking for like minded folk who might understand where im coming from. I have anxiety and at the moment my 15 year old cat is poorly with Triaditis and Hyperthyrodism. She has been to vet alot over last few months and on a few medications. I just find I'm constantly watching her, waking at night worried about her cover when we are away for a week even though we have amazing neighbours who will look after our 3 cats.

Wish I was like hubby who is so chilled and can put things into prospective.

Anyone been like this? x

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