My cat is sick

ShannonMVT · #1 January 11th, 2009, 06:27 PM

My boy cat, Justin, is sick.

He threw up his dinner either late last night or this morning. And now all day today he won't eat anything. I've had him 6 years and I can't remember a time when he has even not been willing to eat (even when sick), he is ALWAYS hungry. He is laying around, so quiet. Usually he is following me around, bugging me and meowing constantly. I'm so upset, I'd give anything for him to be bugging me and for me to hear him meowing at me again.

I'm just so worried it could be something bad. I just called into work last week so I don't feel like I can call in tomorrow. Dh said he will take him to the vet tomorrow if he doesn't start eating something.

Please send some good thoughts this way, it scares me to see him feeling so badly and I don't know what I'd do if I lost him.

My boy and I:

Update: Justin is very sick. This morning when I got up he looked like he was having a hard time breathing so I rushed him into the vet. The vet did an x-ray, he has fluid in his lungs and his temp is only 95-96 when it should be 101. They were having to give him oxygen because he was having such a hard time breathing. She can't tell exactly what is wrong, but she suspects cardiomyopathy (heart disease) but we will have to get an ultrasound of his heart to really know because she couldn't visualize the heart on the x-ray from all the fluid. It could also be pneumonia, but she didn't think so because his temp was low and not high. Right now they are keeping him stablized and we are transferring him at 5:30 to an overnight emergency place where they can give him oxygen if needed. He is on antiobiotics and a drug to help him pee, so he can hopefully get rid of the extra fluid.

This is killing me girls. I love this cat so much. Dh joined me at the vet's office to hear the results of the x-ray and even he started crying after we left. I have only seen him cry/tear up twice in the almost 10 years we've been together.

I just don't know what I'll do if I lose him. I feel so guilty for all the times I lost my temper with him or didn't spend enough time with him. I also gave him a couple mLs of water last night force feeding so he wouldn't dehydrate, but now I think that was a very bad thing since he has too much fluid. I also gave some new treats yesterday and Dh is worried that maybe they had some of that stuff from China that causes kidney failure. I don't know.

He just really looks bad. I'm so scared. I've had him for 6 years and I just want him to be okay.

Hoosier Kitty · #2 January 11th, 2009, 06:46 PM

Oh I soooo know what you are going through!!!

My boy cat, Smoke was sick on this past Christmas Eve and he WOULDN'T move or eat or drink water... I gave him Pedialyte cuz he was dehydrated. Then I took him to the vet 2 days later. They didn't find anything wrong except he had fever of 104 and that was bad. Vet gave me meds.. but Smoke wasn't getting better over the weekend. He drank a lot over the weekend and I gave him Special Kitty wet food instead of dry food. Vet said wet food will help the cat eat than dry food. If he's not drinking, eyedrop water/ or pedialyte in his mouth. I would take him to the vet ASAP. I am firm believer once a cat is sick, do not wait any longer. Cats cannot communicate what is wrong so take the cat to the vet.
anyway, the following monday after Christmas, I took him to the vet again...they ran blood test on him and confirmed he had an infection. He was put on strong medication for 10 days. He's all better now!!! I gave him TONS of TLC and wet food/water.

Hope your baby boy gets better ASAP! He's a cutie!

A*LOT*OF*HOPE · #3 January 11th, 2009, 07:50 PM

Im sorry your little guy is sick!!!! I hope he gets better, or the vet figures out whats wrong!!!

Mod-LadyCoconut · #4 January 11th, 2009, 10:41 PM

I'm sorry Shannon! I'm glad you guys will get him into the vet and checked out and all doctored up! He is a GORGEOUS little guy!

~* Helen *~ · #5 January 12th, 2009, 01:28 AM

AWw sorry hes not feeling too good, I hope he eats soon xx

ANGWife · #6 January 12th, 2009, 03:24 AM

I hope he's eaten since you've posted! I am SO in love with my cats and I understand how hard it is when they are sick. The unknown sucks.

Mars · #7 January 12th, 2009, 03:55 AM

I'm so sorry he's sick. I hope you can find our what's wrong with him and he feels better soon.

Oriyan · #8 January 12th, 2009, 04:59 AM

Maybe your boy is related to my Jarrett and is just having sympathy pains for him -- My feral Jarrett went missing for a week and came back to me 2 days ago with a hole in his tummy and i had to rush him to work to get him fixed up.

I am sure your boy is just fine -- he might just have a tummy ache. Try switching him to a chicken based food for a few days and see if that doesnt help him.

petalfuzz · #9 January 12th, 2009, 05:21 AM

I hope he gets better soon! He looks just like our Petal!

**jessie** · #10 January 12th, 2009, 06:17 AM

I hope your guy is feeling better today. I wish I could do something to help.

JediRach · #11 January 12th, 2009, 07:22 AM

I am sending good healthy cat vibes!

A*LOT*OF*HOPE · #12 January 12th, 2009, 05:32 PM

Im so sorry you little guy is going through this!!! I love my cat like he is my child, he has tons of health problems, including a live shunt. I thought he wasn't going to make it a bunch of times!! He always has, and hope he continues to!! Im sure your kitty will be ok as well!!! My kitties are sending your kitties some love!! I actually put my Gizmo up to the computer and he touched noses with your kitties picture, so he will be ok!!

#13 January 12th, 2009, 07:05 PM

Oh Shannon, I feel for you sweetie

Justin and YOU are in my thoughts and prayers. Its a hard thing when your kitties sick!! I hope he bounces back quick! Please keep us updated!

Kristen_at_the_lake · #14 January 12th, 2009, 07:09 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your cat. I hope that whatever it turns out is wrong is something he can recover from quickly.

*krista* · #15 January 12th, 2009, 07:53 PM

I'm so sorry your kitty is sick! I really hope he starts looking better, poor little guy.

ShannonMVT · #16 January 12th, 2009, 10:03 PM

update (x-posted)

Thank you all for the kind thoughts and prayers. He is now in the care of the emergency overnight vet until tomorrow morning. They did another x-ray and an ultrasound; it does show that he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This has caused fluid in his lungs and in the space around the lungs. The vet seemed fairly positive towards us and did say it cannot be cured but it can be treated with medication. The vet recommended that we see a cardiologist to determine what meds and what dosage will be best for him.I am still very scared of the things I have read online, it does sound like that the BEST case scenario is that he will have a few more years if the meds help him. Which at this point, I am really praying for. I just want more time to love him.
His breathing is much better, he is peeing, but his temperature was still too low when we came in. He did look better when we left him tonight and I just hope he continues to improve. He is getting heat and oxygen and all sorts of meds right now.
I don't know what we'll be doing from here...we are a little worried about having to transfer him back to our family vet tomorrow morning, because we're afraid it is stressful for him there. (He can't stay at the emergency place.)
Please keep praying and also for my husband and I to make the best decisions for our little guy.

Mod-LadyCoconut · #17 January 12th, 2009, 10:18 PM

Oh Shannon! I absolutely hate this for you... how scary! I'm so glad they do know at least what the problem is and are able to keep him warm and on oxygen etc. I'm glad there is a medication that should help. I'm so sorry you all are dealing with this, I don't even want to imagine how awful it must be to see your little guy so sick!

Sending TONS of love, hugs, prayers & thoughts your way!

#18 January 13th, 2009, 12:38 AM

Oh no Shannon

I hope the appts go well and the meds can help. Whatever you decide to do will be the best for your kitty

**jessie** · #19 January 13th, 2009, 12:51 AM

Oh Shannon, I was hoping it wasn't something like this. Please don't blame yourself. No one knows exactly why cats get HCM but it most likely has a genetic predisposition. With the appropriate medications which will be daily for the rest of his life, he should be able to live symptom free for several happy years. And even if does show signs of heart failure again, the medications can be adjusted or their dosages can to get him back on track. He will probably stay on oral Lasix (diuretic) to prevent to much fluid build up, plus a beta blocker (such atenolol) to slow his heart down to allow better filling of the heart chambers. Possibly an ACE-inhibitor (such as enalapril) drug as well to cause the vein to dilate so his heart does not have to work as hard. I have a bit of an interest in cardio, so if there is ever something I help with (of course, under his own vets), please let me know. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers.