Handhold needed - high fever and emergency vet

[Hamsterrific]

I’m writing this in a mess of tears as we’ve just come back from an unexpected trip to the emergency vet and I need an outlet. Our lovely cat was hugely not herself when I got home from work - listless and hiding - and she deteriorated quickly over an hour, so we went with our gut instinct to get her seen to quickly. Turns out she has a temperature of over 40 degrees so they’ve kept her in to do bloods and I’m assuming antibiotics - it’s a blur and I need to read the paperwork. She’s normally bright as a button but she’s an adventurer and I was terrified she’d eaten something toxic from outside, but the vet thinks the signs point to an infection. I’m not sure what’s worse! She’s under two years old and so young - I’m sitting here crying into her brother’s fur and need to pull myself together! I don’t know what I’m asking for really - probably just a handhold.

Holding your hand. I hope she improves overnight. She's in the best place and they'll hopefully get her started on antibiotics and fluids.

Bless her and you..she is in the right place xxx

An infection is probably the lesser evil.

Hope she improves overnight x

I hope that your cat gets better soon.

I quite like seeing high temps in sick cats , I'd be more worried if a sick looking miserable cat didn't have a high temp TBH. When the thermometer reads in the 40s it's like "oh good an explanation, no wonder you look like shit".
Cats are inflammatory creatures and flaming high temps are really not uncommon. They don't seem to be as susceptible to sepsis as people are and usually some anti inflammatories +/- fluids +/- antibiotics work the oracle.

You’ve no idea how much your replies mean. Just had a call from the vet - no liver or kidney issues or FIV but her white blood cell count is low, they mentioned the word sepsis and now I’m even more terrified. I’m just so glad we went with our gut and took her straight in the moment she became a bit off. I so hope that will have been enough.

"I’m just so glad we went with our gut and took her straight in the moment she became a bit off."

Yep good move. Fingers crossed for her, hope she's feeling a bit better tomorrow.

Hoping your kitty has a good night and the vet is able to figure out the issue and treat her quickly.

My cat had this when he was young, maybe similar age. I was so worried. He deteriorated suddenly and was breathing fast too. Vet prescribed antibiotics and eventually found a swollen node in his leg. The thought was that he might have had a tiny puncture wound that got infected. He got better very quickly with the antibiotics. Hope your cat is better soon x

Thank you so much again for your replies - I so appreciate you taking the time and they're giving me some much needed gentle reassurance that caring people are out there. Going to try to get some sleep now and hope to get an update first-thing - I'm praying with every last ounce of strength I have that she'll beat this!

I'm so sorry. Sending good vibes and healing and loving thoughts to your precious kitty. 🤗 Hope she is OK soon!

Just to chime in with my story - my cat once developed a high temp, so high I could feel it steaming from her paws and ears - she was more or less sweating through her fur. She was listless too.

She had an infection (cause unknown). She had a course of strong ABs and painkillers and was perfectly fine (still here, still going strong, 9 years later).

I hope your cat is ok. They can go downhill quickly, but equally they can perk up quickly too. She's in the best place where she is, sounds like you got her seen really fast.

You've done what you can, and you caught on quickly that she was ill.

I guess you have to leave it in the expert hands of the vet, and try to get some sleep x

Hope the morning brings good news 💐

Sending a hand-hold and a hug with love and wishes that your lovely cat gets better soon 💚

Paws crossed. Hopefully she's a bit better this morning.

Well that was a sleepless night! The night vet just called to say she's responding slowly to her treatment (temp just over 39 now) but not as quickly as they'd like and her tummy seems uncomfortable still, so they're going to do an abdominal scan and probably keep her in again tonight if there are no blockages and they can ramp up the medication. I feel frightened but hopeful - gosh these cats put us through it! So relieved again that we took her in and didn't leave her to sleep it off.

Best of wishes to you and your wee cat. You are clearly a very loving owner and have done the very best for it. It's so shite when our animals are ill. I hope your furry little guy is better soon. X

I hope there is more positive news through the day .

Hoping you get even better news later on.
It's surprising how cats pull through from things, and yours isn't very old.

What's her name?

Her name is Mindy and she's an absolute character 🩷🐈 We just had a call from the vet to say that no abdominal abnormalities were picked up from the scan. Big sigh of relief but she's still in discomfort with her tummy, so they'd like to keep her in tonight to double-down on the meds. I'm so hoping she'll continue to get better - the vet wants to keep her in again tonight. Thanks to everyone for caring - it means a lot!

Get well soon Mindy 🐈💗

Thanks for the update @Hamsterrific Praying for Mindy here! 🙏 Hope she gets well really quickly! 😍

They really can bounce back quickly. If she's not got worse whilst at the vets and receiving treatment, and is getting better (even gradually) that's a really good sign. Hope she continues to respond.

Great update 😸. Cats are a nightmare but so worth it. Fingers crossed he continues to improve.
Could you spare a picture of the offending cat?