Feeling nervous about my cat

[drmeow]

Last edited Wed Oct 28, 2020, 10:39 PM - Edit history (2)

She's been having sneezing fits all day and her voice sounds funny. No other symptoms (no discharge, no change in appetite that I've noticed) but I'm still nervous. I've isolated her from the other cats and will call my vet tomorrow. She's not happy about being isolated - wants out to be with her sister.

It's a good thing I don't have kids given how much a potentially sick cat messes with me!

Update: I spoke with the vet's office and they said to monitor her and bring her in if she stops eating or gets a discharge. They also said if it's a virus she's probably already infected her sister so no need to keep them separate.

Update: She's finally back to (mostly) normal today.

[Midnight Writer]

1. I feel for you. Going through something similar with my old tom.

He's just gone mopey. Eating and drinking as usual.

I dread taking him to a vet. Afraid of bad news.

Now I am watching him like a hawk, even taking notes of anything unusual.

I've got my own problems to deal with, but I am totally wrapped up worrying about him.

[drmeow]

8. Trust your intuition

If you think something's wrong get him checked. I could tell something was wrong with my last cat but the vet couldn't find anything. He passed about in Jan 2019 at almost 14 and I'm still convinced that I could have saved him if I'd argued back with my vet - but we were moving across the country and it was easier to take the vet's word.

[Big Blue Marble]

2. It could be rhino virus.

Some cats carry the virus and when they get stressed, it re-emerges. It usually goes
away within a few days. Your vet will know. Sending you and your kitties good vibes.

[drmeow]

9. Interesting

She does tend to snort and snore. Right now I'm monitoring it. If she seems to be better tomorrow I may hold off on the vet.

She and her sister were "found" when they were 6 months old. The adoption agency thought they were feral but they are both way too comfortable with me after just 1 1/2 years - I think they were dumped when they were 6 months rather than living in the wild from birth. Anyway, I hate taking her to the vet cause I'm always afraid it will set back my progress with them.

[Big Blue Marble]

12. I know exactly what you mean.

I have two ferals as well. They do not do well with the vet. They had both been TNR cats prior
to our rescuing them. They were traumatized by the experience.

I previously had a cat that I adopted at 6 weeks and he quickly came down with Rhino.
He did get pretty sick, but fortunately recovered. All his life he was susceptible to reinfection as
a carrier. It always happened when he was stressed. Unfortunately, it is highly contagious to other
cats, so my other cats would then get sick as well. It is like a cold in humans, usually not too serious,
but I would seek the advice of your vet to make sure you know what you are dealing with.

Also, sometimes cat's will stop eating when they get congested as they lose their sense of smell and
that can be dangerous as it can cause liver damage so also make sure your cat is eating well.

[drmeow]

15. Yeah, I'm definitely

keeping an eye on her eating - so far so good but that can change

[smb]

3. I Hope It's Just Kitty Sniffles

We had to fit one of our cats with the cone of shame because he got a nasty sore on one paw (apparently caused by allergies or maybe some autoimmune issue, as best as the vet can tell).

[Thekaspervote]

4. We give both our boys a small dose of diluted apple cider vinegar when they get watery eyes

Or sneezing. Doesn’t hurt them, if it’s something minor it clears up....saves taking them to the vet, which we know how traumatizing that is for pet parent and pet!

[drmeow]

10. How do you give it to them

and how much do you dilute it?

[Sanity Claws]

5. Could be allergies

I had a cat who started sneezing a lot. After a while, I realized that he did that when I had flowers in the house. The last time it happened, I had got a bunch of daffodils and he reacted strongly to them. His strong reaction was what led me to the connection. I got rid of the daffodils and he stopped sneezing.

Is there anything airborne that he might be reacting to?

[drmeow]

7. It could be allergies

she tends to snore and make snorting noises when she sleeps so I think she does tend to be congested. When she has occasionally had a sneezing fit I usually don't worry. But she's had lots of them today and some yesterday and her voice is raspy. I can't think of something which has changed which made things worse all of a sudden.

[peacebuzzard]

6. If you do go to the vet,

might as well do a baseline blood test for chemistry values.
My sweet kitty who passed in March started with sniffles, sneezing and her baseline was off in the bun/creatinine kidney values. She only had the sneezing for symptoms way early in the disease process.
I need to take a couple of cats in to the vet also. I have since adopted 3 new cats.
It is such a chore, especially now with the pandemic.

But I miss my other kitty who passed everyday.

[drmeow]

11. Was it kidney failure?

She's only about 2 years old but that doesn't guarantee anything.

[peacebuzzard]

14. she did pass with kidney failure.

and ultimately her little heart couldn't take the end stage treatment of the fluids.
but your kitty is young, chances are so much better. She probably has upper respiratory issues.
easily treated.
My sweet kitty was a month shy of 18. She had a great life, but that doesn't console her loss.
I really miss that sweet girl.

[marti]

13. sneezing

my older kitty was sneezing too much- turned out she needed thyroid med- using a transdermal gel in her ear and it's working great! no more sneeze attacks and she's gaining needed weight!