# I need some temporary help for my cat **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376 "2007-05-01T21:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/1 "2007-05-01T21:10:38Z")
My 9-year old tabby, Max, has been listless these last few days. He’s been wheezing and his breathing is labored; lots of mucus coming up. My son and I took him to the local vet, but we missed the office hours (4:30) and have to wait until tomorrow. Is there anything I can do to make him comfortable until then? He’s on the porch, laying on his side- he is listless but reacts to us, and will walk short diatances. -hoping someone can help- ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/2 "2007-05-01T21:45:22Z")
Sounds as though he needs immediate attention. Most places have emergency vet clinics. Call your (closed) vet’s nunber. The recorded message may well give the number and location of such a clinic. If not, call another vet number, or a shelter, or Information. Please don’t wait. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/3 "2007-05-01T21:46:46Z")
Bring him inside, keep him cool, put water next to him (if he looks like he wants it, you might have to give it via dropper, open some moist food and see if he want to eat. Mostly though. Keep him hydrated. try to give him water, or milk thinned with water if he isn’t interested in water alone. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/4 "2007-05-02T02:14:25Z")
[QUOTE=The Mad Hermit] … Is there anything I can do to make him comfortable until then? He’s on the porch, laying on his side- he is listless but reacts to us, and will walk short diatances. -hoping someone can help- [/QUOTE] Cats compensate for illness for a long time before they just can’t anymore. They won’t seem that sick and then will “suddenly” be very sick, but it’s not really sudden. When they get to the point when they are just laying around and not very responsive or active it is an emergency. Anytime you have potential breathing difficulties it is an emergency. I hope you were able to get him seen somewhere tonight. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/5 "2007-05-02T03:12:18Z")
No. At the moment, I’m trying to keep him comfortable. He has enough energy to resist my attempts to use a small suction ball to help drain the phlegm. But he’s very cold and lethargic otherwise. I have a heatpack on him, per the vet’s instructions by phone. We’ve been painfully aware that he might not last the night; we finally did get in touch with a veterinarian. It turns out that there is some problem in this state where 24-hr emergency services for animals are no longer paid for, at least that’s the reason the vet gave me that he couldnt see him until office hours at 8:30 am. So now I get to sit for the night and contemplate about the fact that he might make it through the night but still need to be put to sleep. Time has slowed to a perverse crawl. ---
**Author:** ![tashabot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tashabot/32/6250_2.png) [@tashabot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tashabot)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/6 "2007-05-02T07:08:23Z")
Oh no. ☹ I hope kitty makes it. _sends warm thoughts to Max_ ~Tasha ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/7 "2007-05-02T14:09:01Z")
He didn’t make it. Nine years old this month; he was the longest-lived out of his litter. His litter-mates died in seperate incidents on the local roads, which changed Max from an outdoor cat to an indoor one, because there are people who live nearby that think killing cats is a game. He held on all night, but the stress of the trip to the vet got him and he was gone. I lost my best friend. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/8 "2007-05-02T14:17:52Z")
I’m so sorry, **The Mad Hermit**. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/9 "2007-05-02T14:47:03Z")
Much cursing was typed and deleted in the creation of this post. I’m sorry, **Hermit**. There just aren’t any words. I hope it helped you both that you had an opportunity to say goodbye. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/10 "2007-05-02T14:50:01Z")
Awww. I’m sorry. When you said he was cold, it brought to mind the loss of a young kitty of mine - she had some sort of congenital heart defect and her heart just gave out - the symptom which really worried me was that she was cold. When we got her to the vet, we were told that she could last maybe six more months with medication but it would be difficult for her so we had to put her down. It sounds like your poor fellow might’ve had something similar. It’s hard to see our furballs go through things like that ☹ ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/11 "2007-05-02T15:02:07Z")
I’m so sorry. ---
**Author:** ![badkittypriestess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8baadc/32.png) [@badkittypriestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badkittypriestess)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/12 "2007-05-02T15:03:06Z")
Much love being sent your way Hermit. Our “Snickers” sends purrs and cuddles to Max. We’re here for you if you need us. {{hugs}} badkittypriestess ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/13 "2007-05-02T15:06:04Z")
I’m very very sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/14 "2007-05-02T15:06:54Z")
☹ Damnit. I’m sorry to hear it. My kitty Pebbles and I send our sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/15 "2007-05-02T15:07:13Z")
I’m so sorry. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/16 "2007-05-02T15:25:11Z")
Ophelia and Shadow send purrs…sorry for your loss too. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/17 "2007-05-02T15:57:56Z")
I’m so sorry! I know how hard it must be and how sad and bereft you must feel. Our cats send their condolences too. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/18 "2007-05-02T16:02:02Z")
I’m very sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![tashabot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tashabot/32/6250_2.png) [@tashabot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tashabot)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/19 "2007-05-02T17:25:56Z")
☹ Sad. ~Tasha ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376/20 "2007-05-02T17:26:49Z")
Aw, sorry to hear. ☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-temporary-help-for-my-cat/402376.md?page=2)