Cat is sick? Need advice!

[emo]

Hi everyone! Just need a bit of advice. Sometimes I think that I might be too overprotective with Clyde. He's my IBD cat that has it controlled with diet. Yesterday he only ate part of his breakfast and was moping around most of the day. He's drinking water but won't touch food or treats. He's also sleeping in my clothes basket which he usually does when he isn't feeling well.

This morning when I let him out of his room he wasn't meowing or anything like he usually does when he wants out. He was just sitting next to his water bowl. Overnight he vomited in the shower that's in his room, a little on his blanket, a very tiny amount by litter box.

Then he went in the laundry room to lay on the rug and vomited brownish liquid. About 10 minutes after that he sat by the water bowl for at least 15 minutes drinking and just staring into it.

I had to go to work so I left some food out just in case he got an appetite since he hasn't eaten since yesterday AM and it wasn't even 1/2 a can of wet food.

Question: Should I take him to the vet or wait a little longer? Last time he got sick because I switched treats and gave him too many and he threw them up everywhere. I had taken him to the vet for his shots and he was really dehydrated and had to have fluids injected. The vet yelled at my for waiting so long and giving an IBD cat different treats. Am I just being paranoid or should I get him in after work? HELP!!

[Taz_Zoee]

You know your cat better than any of us. And it sounds like he's not being himself so I would say take him in. Better to be safe than sorry, especially since he already has health issues. It may be nothing, but you'd feel a lot better hearing that from the vet than worrying about him.

[emo]

I know he's not being himself but I just didn't know if it was necessary to run to the vet every time he's vomiting. He pooped yesterday and it was normal and not in his box as usual!

How long is a good amount of time to wait to see if he just had some bad food?

[Taz_Zoee]

Yeah, I see what you're saying. I probably wouldn't run them to the vet for vomitting either. I might wait a day and if the vomitting doesn't stop or at least slow down maybe give the vet a call and see what they say.
Others on here may have better advice for you. :) I hope he's okay.

[emo]

Thanks! I do appreciate your advice. I adopted him from the Human Society last year and I now know why I'm his 3rd owner...litter box problems. I've spent a lot of money at different vets. He's going to be 9 in October. I know that I'm sometimes overprotective with him but I just want him to be happy and healthy. I'm going to go home and check on him at lunch time and see how he's doing. If you think of anything else I should try let me know!

Thanks for answering!:)

[Barbara]

I would not be worried by the vomiting- rather by his behavior which is more quiet than usual. And I would be definitely worried by him not eating.
Cats can be under the weather a day- but after 2 days I would take him to the vet.

[emo]

The last time he ate was only part of his breakfast yesterday morning. When I go home to check on him at lunch I'll see if he's touched his breakfast. I'm glad that he's been drinking water though!

The part I have a hard time with is that he is so skinny so I worry when he doesn't eat. I've been trying to fatten him up but it's just not working.

I'll keep you posted on what I find at lunch time. He just might have to go to the vet when I get off of work today. I just hate taking him there for everything because it gets so expensive when they don't find anything wrong and then want to see him for a follow-up visit.

[Barbara]

The last time he ate was only part of his breakfast yesterday morning. When I go home to check on him at lunch I'll see if he's touched his breakfast. I'm glad that he's been drinking water though!

The part I have a hard time with is that he is so skinny so I worry when he doesn't eat. I've been trying to fatten him up but it's just not working.

I'll keep you posted on what I find at lunch time. He just might have to go to the vet when I get off of work today. I just hate taking him there for everything because it gets so expensive when they don't find anything wrong and then want to see him for a follow-up visit.

If he is losing weight even when he is eating it's time for some bloodwork. Could be kidneys (which is not the end of the world) but there could also be quite some other reasons.

[emo]

He's been skinny since I adopted him. They attribute it to the IBD. He had bloodwork done a little over a month ago and everything was fine.

[emo]

Here's what I found when I went home at lunch. His "room" is the bathroom and I found him laying in the shower facing the wall. His ears were cold and his nose was dry. Poor guy didn't even move when I came in.

He has an appt with the vet at 6pm. I'm a little worried that this is going to be an expensive trip.

[katladyd]

Keep us updated on how your precious little boy is doing. From what I could see in the picture, he's a hearbreaker!

[Taz_Zoee]

Oh no. He does not look like he feels good at all. I'm glad you're taking him to the vet. Hopefully it's an easy fix for him.

I will be thinking of you and Clyde.

[emo]

I know...I feel so bad for him. I did notice that he's been catching crickets and eating them the past couple of weeks. I hope that doesn't have anything to do with him not feeling well. He has me so worried right now!!

[TommyCat]

Oh, poor baby. We'll be waiting to hear from you and hope he's okay.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear that Emo doesn't feel well.:( Hopefully it's nothing serious. Please update us about his vet visit when you can. Prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[emo]

Well I'm so sad to report that Clyde had to be put to sleep Tue evening.

When I got home from work he was still in the shower but sprawled out on his side and appeared to have peed on himself. I gave him some water and he was so weak that he almost fell over. I rushed him to the vet. They were unable to get a temperature and found that he was extremely aniemic and his gums were very pale. The vet felt a large mass on his spleen and said that his bowel was enlarged. There was also something said about his lymph nodes. The vet thinks that he might have had lymphoma. I really had no choice other than to relieve his pain by putting him to sleep.

That was the hardest decision I ever had to make! I'm so sad and upset and I miss him so much already! I just don't understand how all this happened so quick. He was just at the vet last month for his rabies shot.

I just hope that I was able to make this last year a great one for him since everyone else had given up on him. I was determined to give him a happy home and tried as hard as I could to fix him. He would've been 9yrs old on Oct 27th.

Clyde you will be missed so much! I'll never forget you!!

Thanks to everyone who has given me advice and listened to my story. I don't know what I would've done without you!

[Medusa]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about Clyde. I somehow missed this thread until now. When I saw the pic of him in the shower facing the wall, the first thing that came to mind was anemia because that's exactly how my RB Puddy behaved shortly before her trip to the Bridge. Anemia can also cause senility in cats and this may be what Clyde was experiencing and, believe me, that would've been a hard road for both of you. You gave Clyde much happiness that he wouldn't have had otherwise and you did right by him to the very end. RIP, dear Clyde. Only good times for you from now on. Peace to you, emo. :love:

[TommyCat]

I am so sorry for your loss and sad for you, as I know it was unexpected. I looked for your thread first thing this morning. My heartfelt prayers go out to you. My 16 year old kitty had intestinal lymphoma, and they can deteriorate so fast and the anemia, too. Try to focus on the good memories.

[Barbara]

I am so sorry to hear this- but when you showed us the picture of the position he was in I was really worried as that was how my dear Tigris who passed away on Monday from cancer was sitting during the last days.
Godspeed Clyde.

[emo]

Thanks so much for your thoughts! I'm just so sad without him and can't stop crying. I just got off midnights and was looking forward to snuggling with him. I still can't believe he's gone!! I just hope that I was able to make his life better because I sure loved him a lot! I know that I did the right thing but it sure feels horrible!

[emo]

I am so sorry to hear this- but when you showed us the picture of the position he was in I was really worried as that was how my dear Tigris who passed away on Monday from cancer was sitting during the last days.
Godspeed Clyde.

I'm sorry for your loss too! Were you treating the cancer? I'm having a hard time with everything because it kind of happened out of the blue. He was just fine and rubbing noses with me on Monday. I miss my snuggle buddy!

[Barbara]

With Tigris it all happened during 2 weeks. (see the thread just a little below Clyde's story). We got the diagnosis on Sunday and it said already taht the cancer was in the intestines AND in the liver. And it said the cells were very active.
With Tigris getting worse very quickly we felt it would have been a torture for him to try any treatment - being no recommended treatment in the first place. Tigris is now out of pain but his parents are not and will not be for quite some time to come.

These little guys leave big holes:(

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear this.:( Now Clyde is pain free and at peace. I'm sure that he knew how much you loved him. RIP sweet boy.:( Please take care. (((HUGS)))

[Pinot's Mom]

I'm sorry to hear about Clyde; I know you've had some other issues with him in the past and I hoped this was just another bump. My sympathies are with you.

Godspeed to the Bridge, dear Clyde, and Peace to your human.

[Anikaca77]

I'm so sorry. You did everything you could and thank you for rescuing him from the shelter.

May he rest in peace.

Melissa

[Catty1]

Because of your love and care, Clyde had the best times of his life when you adopted him last year. :)

He leaves a huge hole...and you know how much he loved you too, because you were on his side every step of the way, even when being on his side meant sending him peacefully to the Bridge while your heart broke.

You were the best cat meowmie for Clyde. :love::love::love:

{{{{hugs}}}}

[mrspunkysmom]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[emo]

Thank you so much for all the thoughts and kind words! I miss him so much and was so lonely last night. I kept hearing noises and thought I heard him meowing. I'm sure it's in my head but I am having a hard time without him.

I have a friend who is looking for a home for 2 female kittens that are 12 wks old. She wanted to know if I was interested. I just don't know if it's too soon to do something like that. I've only had 1 cat never a kitten at a time and I've never had a female cat...I've always had males. Clyde had so many problems...how can I make sure these cats won't?

What should I do? My boyfriend hasn't given me the ok yet but he's been very upset and told me last night that he misses Clyde too!

[allmycats]

I just hope that I was able to make this last year a great one for him since everyone else had given up on him. I was determined to give him a happy home and tried as hard as I could to fix him.

you did:)

you did all anyone could do, kitty was lucky to have you the last year of his life.:) I'm sorry for your loss:(

[columbine]

Thank you so much for all the thoughts and kind words! I miss him so much and was so lonely last night. I kept hearing noises and thought I heard him meowing. I'm sure it's in my head but I am having a hard time without him.

I have a friend who is looking for a home for 2 female kittens that are 12 wks old. She wanted to know if I was interested. I just don't know if it's too soon to do something like that. I've only had 1 cat never a kitten at a time and I've never had a female cat...I've always had males. Clyde had so many problems...how can I make sure these cats won't?

What should I do? My boyfriend hasn't given me the ok yet but he's been very upset and told me last night that he misses Clyde too!

Nobody can predict the future. But if you do choose to take this opportunity to celebrate Adopt a Pet Month, you can nudge the future in the right direction by taking them to the vet for regular checkups, giving them high quality food, fresh drinking water and a clean litterbox every day, and keeping them indoors. As an aside - females are actually less prone to certain health problems (urinary tract infections) than males!

Love, Columbine

[Journey'send]

I am sorry for your loss of your sweet little kitty, and to all who have lost a fur bearing family member. They give us love and companionship and listen to us when no one else will. My heart is broken too.

Journey'send