Need some kitty help

[Antinor01]

I think I'm mostly looking for reassurance that this is ok, but here goes anyway.

I brought my new little bundle of joy home monday. (He's about 10 months old, black and very fuzzy, pictures will be forthcoming, but he's been sick) He was neutered that day and also seemed to have picked up a cold at the shelter. Talk about a double whammy.

My concern is that he doesn't seem to have been eating at all or drinking very much. He has just shown no interest in food of any kind, not even Pounce treats. He threw up the medicine they gave me for him, but not right away. He has been been drooling a good bit and is quite lethargic. The lethargy I expected, I wouldn't want to do much after that either. It's only been a day and half since surgery, so does it sound like I'm worrying needlessly?

[Walkabout]

That doesn't sound good at all, especially the drooling. I'd take him to the vet right away. Cats should bounce back from castration surgery pretty quickly.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

When Lenny came back from the vet post-neutering, he didn't come out from under the couch for almost three days. It's not unusual.

He also decided that moving was hugely traumatic and disappeared under the couch again for two days. He was out for all of three minutes when my then girlfriend dragged him out and put him in the litter box. He peed, looked very relieved for having dne so, and then went back under the couch, for another half-day.

Let him hide a bit longer and make sure he has food and water accessible. Give him lots and lots of reassurance and pets.

To test for dehydration, the vet told me I could twist the skin on the scruff of his neck (big pinch, not a little ouchy pinch) and if it stayed put instead of elastically going back to it's usual shape, that meant he was dehydrated. (Wait, that might have been a test for the raccoon at the wildlife shelter.... Maybe it works the same for cats as a dehydration test.)

ETA: And call the vet to ask about the drooling. Maybe he's having some kind of adverse reaction to the anesthetic.

[Antinor01]

Originally Posted by WVmom

That doesn't sound good at all, especially the drooling. I'd take him to the vet right away. Cats should bounce back from castration surgery pretty quickly.

I plan to call the vet today. I did read that liquid oral medicine can cause drooling, I'm hoping it's just that.

[Beware of Doug]

Good luck with newly-modified kitty. Give him a skatch for me. When come back, bring catpix.

[Antinor01]

Originally Posted by Beware of Doug

Good luck with newly-modified kitty. Give him a skatch for me. When come back, bring catpix.

Will do! I want to let him get feeling better first. The cold has him....well not as pretty at the moment.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Originally Posted by WVmom

Cats should bounce back from castration surgery pretty quickly.

Smokey, Lenny, and Squiggy would beg to differ. They all hid for 2 - 3 days each. Although Lenny was the only real drama queen about it all. Smokey is the only one who sort of bounced back pretty quickly and was back to rowdy playing around the 2-day mark, but he was a younger kitten when he had the surgery.

Squiggy was about 12 months old and was quite sickly for a few days after the surgery and refused food (even the yummy canned stuff). But around day three acted like nothing had happened.

[Mahna Mahna]

You may also want to try putting out a small amount wet cat food if you've been feeding kibble. My vet once explained to me that sometimes if cats have a cold, they can't smell their dry food properly and don't eat as they should. It'll give a bit more hydration than dry kibble, and will also smell stronger.

However, it might be best to check with the vet just to be sure. The drooling sounds like it might be worth worrying about, known side-effect or no.

[Scubaqueen]

the dehydration pinch is correct, but i wouldn't wait too long on the drooling to call the vet, either. if he isn't better by tomorrow, i'd make the call.

[Antinor01]

Just got off the phone with the vets office, they didn't sound too worried about the drooling. But did say he should be looked at if he doesn't start eating more.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Originally Posted by Mahna Mahna

My vet once explained to me that sometimes if cats have a cold, they can't smell their dry food properly and don't eat as they should. It'll give a bit more hydration than dry kibble, and will also smell stronger.

My friend did that when his kitty came down with a nasty, nasty head cold. Only he would pour a little juice from a tuna can over the kibble to make it extra stinky.

[Anne Neville]

Are you feeding him the same food he was getting at the shelter?

[Antinor01]

Originally Posted by Anne Neville

Are you feeding him the same food he was getting at the shelter?

This is the brand I got for him. Wellness, deboned chicken flavor. I'm not sure what he had at the shelter, but he was only there a few days.

I'll pick up some canned wet food on the way home and see if that peaks his interest more.

[vetbridge]

Originally Posted by Antinor01

He has been been drooling a good bit and is quite lethargic.

For a shelter source cat with URI signs including drooling, I'd be concerned about calici virus. Check the tongue and palate for ulceration. If there are oral ulcers, I'd have the cat checked right away. Also, it would be good to check a rectal temperature. There is a virulent form of calici virus with high morbidity and mortality.

Picture of lingual ulceration:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_calicivirus

More here:
http://www.sheltermedicine.com/portal/is_vs_fcv.shtml

[RedSwinglineOne]

Originally Posted by WVmom

That doesn't sound good at all, especially the drooling. I'd take him to the vet right away. Cats should bounce back from castration surgery pretty quickly.

My cat Tigger was a little groggy when I brought him home but was back to his old self within an hour or two, jumping off the couch, bouncing off the walls. He was so active in fact, that we wondered if they put him under but forgot to do the surgery. A quick looked proved he was 'sans balls'. We had to calm him down for fear he would hurt himself.

[SnakesCatLady]

Unfortunately, shelter cats often get URIs - the staff do clean and disinfect everything they can, but sick kittes coming in often don't show symptoms right away. Having worked at two different shelters I remember the battle very well - and the frustration at never being able to win it for very long.

If you have the time I would to ahead and get him to the vet. They will do their best to help over the phone - but if they can't examine him there is a limit to the help they can provide.

Sending good thoughts and scritches; hope he gets better soon.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by RedSwinglineOne

My cat Tigger was a little groggy when I brought him home but was back to his old self within an hour or two, jumping off the couch, bouncing off the walls. He was so active in fact, that we wondered if they put him under but forgot to do the surgery. A quick looked proved he was 'sans balls'. We had to calm him down for fear he would hurt himself.

That's pretty much how our Jackson was. Nothing could keep him down. Judging by other remarks, though, I guess all cats react differently.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Originally Posted by WVmom

That's pretty much how our Jackson was. Nothing could keep him down. Judging by other remarks, though, I guess all cats react differently.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the age and maturity of the critter. Squiggy, who took the longest to get back to being his usual self, was almost full grown when he lost his nads.

Smokey was the youngest and our family got the impression he was mostly hiding because he'd been frightened by the whole experience rather than suffering from physical discomfort.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by vetbridge

For a shelter source cat with URI signs including drooling, I'd be concerned about calici virus. Check the tongue and palate for ulceration. If there are oral ulcers, I'd have the cat checked right away. Also, it would be good to check a rectal temperature. There is a virulent form of calici virus with high morbidity and mortality.

Picture of lingual ulceration:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_calicivirus

More here:
http://www.sheltermedicine.com/portal/is_vs_fcv.shtml

What he said.

It's two days later, he's a young cat I wouldn't expect him to still be lethargic or drooling. URI's can be serious especially if it's the virus mentioned above or even any of the other viruses if the cat won't eat and keep down his antibiotics. Don't rely on a phone consult, the vet can't examine your cat over the phone, please take him in to be checked.

[Antinor01]

If he's not doing better when I get home, we'll be going to the vet hospital tonight. Hopefully it's nothing serious, but better to be safe.

[vetbridge]

Originally Posted by Wile E

Don't rely on a phone consult

I cannot stress that enough. Unless the caller is sufficiently skilled to describe the situation perfectly, a phone call is worth about what you pay for it. And if you are sufficiently skilled to describe the situation perfectly, you probably do not need the call.

I have talked to people on the phone who have asked me questions, but they were the wrong questions. Based on my answers, they have elected to not be seen, only to have the animal die later.

[Antinor01]

We just got back from the vet. They gave him an antibiotic shot and a steroid shot for the URI and a fluid injection in his back since he was deyhdrated. When they took his temp, they thought there might be some blood so they want a stool sample. It looks like he's down from 7.5 pds on the 4th to 6 tonight. They gave me a different food to try so we could see if he'll eat. I'll keep you posted.

[Antinor01]

A bit of good news, he's been sitting at his water dish drinking almost constantly for the last few minutes. No food yet, but this is an improvement.

[Pullet]

Good move taking him to the vet. Fluids under the skin can do wonders.

You can try microwaving the wet food ever so slightly to make it smellier. 5 or 8 seconds should do it, depending on how much food you're nuking at once. Be sure to stir it and test it with your finger for heat.

I bet he'd love you if you gave him a heating pad to sit on. You can jury rig one out of a sock stuffed with rice or beans, or a ziplock baggie with water. Put it under a towel so he can't scorch.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Poor little dude. Hope he's feeling better. I can't imagine being sick while recuperating from day surgery. (I guess it would be like having pneumonia right after having your wisdom teeth out.)

[Antinor01]

He's finally eaten, not much but I'm just so relieved that he's actually taking food. I was so worried I was crying on the way home. I just love the little guy so much already it's been breaking my heart to see him like this.

[Queen Bruin]

Nursing kitties through URI is quite worrisome, isn't it? Glad to hear that he is eating - if they are eating, that's usually a good sign. Pullet gave great advice - a little nuking will help make the wet food stinkier. Stinky food will get through all the URI crud and hopefully stimulate him to eat a little more.

[Fetchund]

My cat Wren was at the shelter for months before I adopted her. She had a horrible URI that wasn't getting better. I convinced them that I knew what I was doing, and got her out to a vet who changed her antibiotic - she had a horrible reaction to the stuff she had been on for WEEKS.

She is now a very healthy 10 pounds. Sometimes they just need to get the right meds to the kitties. Good luck with the little bugger!

[Cat Whisperer]

My cat tends to get hairballs all the time, and she drools when she's brewing up a big one. Maybe try a little hairball medicine if the vet okays it? Or just leave that until he's healed up from everything else.

[Apricot]

I've found that baby food is good if they really, really don't want to eat. They sell some chicken junk that has nothing but chicken and starch and water (no onion or garlic - that's important). It smells revolting. Cat's usually LOVE it - I can't imagine feeding it to a baby, that's for sure.
Anyway, if they are being really stubborn, you can drip it into their mouth, or put it on their lips so they have to lick it off - especially if you mix it with some water first.
I've had a few fat, stubborn cats, so I worry more than the typical owner about them going on a foods strike.

[Anne Neville]

You may want to try giving him food made specifically for kittens. Kitten food has more of some nutrients he needs while he's growing. Switch him to an adult cat food when he's grown up.

Originally Posted by featherlou

My cat tends to get hairballs all the time, and she drools when she's brewing up a big one. Maybe try a little hairball medicine if the vet okays it? Or just leave that until he's healed up from everything else.

Or a hairball treat. My Katya recommends Friskies hairball treats. She didn't like it when I tried to give her Petromalt, but she says the hairball treats are delicious.

[Rachael Rage]

I dunno if this helps (I'm having my own "cat eating" problems), but the whole downward spiral started when I switched my cat's food from Neutro Natural Choice Complete Care dry kibble to the Wellness brand you described. She lost a lot of weight and her hair started falling out! I am not dissing Wellness - I still feed her the Wellness wet - but she clearly didn't take to it, no idea why. Her general health and coat recovered quickly once I put her back on the Neutro. Maybe you need to try a different kibble, among the other things you are doing...

[Cat Whisperer]

Yeah, cat's are funny about their food. Our cats have been healthy and happy on the same kibble for years; as they're getting older, we tried them on the senior food made by the same brand, and the diarrhea was never-ending. We've given up on that food - a food-switching problem shouldn't last months, as far as I know. And I'm sure diarrhea for months isn't good for kitty, either. We did all the food-switching things right, and it's just not a go for our cats.

[Antinor01]

Update, his sinuses are draining so with any luck he'll be ready to eat!