Need help with a sick cat!

[Dukkha]

My cat is sick and I don't know what to do about him.
Two months ago He had a urinary infection leaving blood marks on a futon and throw rug. I took him to the vet and got a prescription for him. He absolutely refused to take his pills but he seemed to get better and P switched to Purina One Urinary tract dry food.

Now he's been vomiting more lately and urinating on the living room floor plus craping on throw rugs. He just ruined a chair by soiling it badly just now plus vomiting again. He's not leaving blood marks this time or having trouble urinating, just not in his box. I don't know what to do since he refused meds and I can't force it into him even if I try. It comes down to either finding an alternative method to cure whatever ailes him or having him put down.

[flamingyouth]

1. Is your cat elderly?

It's possible that he could have kidney problems. I'm very sorry, I know how hard this is to deal with.:hug:

[flordehinojos]

6. when my dogs get sick and don't want to take their medication, i wrap

their meds in a little peanut butter, or in a little piece of cheese and they eat it with the meds in it. don't know what in you could wrap your cat's meds to see if he would eat it...perhaps you do, or others could suggest something.

[Dukkha]

8. i tried

He always finds it and eats around it or spits it out. he's too clever to be tricked.

[Sporadicus]

26. I've Smeared Liquid Meds on the Cat's Fur

in an area accessible to cleaning by licking. Works every time!

[NJCher]

2. a suggestion

I can't believe you'd kill you cat because he's sick.

For crying out loud, take him to the vet and have him boarded. They will make sure he gets the medication he needs until he's well.

This is not expensive--I've done it myself.


Cher

[faithnotgreed]

3. of course it can be various things but is the food new? food can be

a real problem for animals..

prayers are with you.

as far as i think animals are people too. only they cant tell us so clearly whats going on

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. Take him to the emergency vet TODAY

Time is of the essence. A cat's health can go downhill fast. Get the vet to show you how to give the cat its pills. If you have no success, board the cat with the vet so that they can give it the medication, or find out if there is another way to administer it (shot, liquid from a syringe, etc.). Your cat is urinating and defecating out of his box because he's sick and in pain. Get him to the vet - FAST.

[serryjw]

5. How OLD?

Please get him off of that crappy food. How would you feel eating McD's all the time. It could be many things. You have to get him to a VET and get meds in liquid form. It may not be serious but only a vet can tell you. When he didn't take him meds did you call the vet?

[Dukkha]

7. he's only four

and I'm not putting him down. that's not an option! I regularly feed him 9-lives canned food since I've had him with no problems. The Purina One I've started with since he got sick two Months ago

[jukes]

11. pilling

is difficult for some people. try crushing the pills, mixing w/water, gently pry the mouth open w/pressure @ the back of the jaw & inject the fluid into his mouth. try to keep his head tilted up so he's forced to swallow. a syringe w/o needle works best, but an eye dropper will do.



that doesn't fix your immediate problem, & some more detail wd help. is the feces loose? any mucus? that might be a worm infestation, esp if he goes outside. look for spaghetti like masses in the stool & vomitus.


check him for dehydration: pinch the loose skin at the nape of the neck into a peak. if it returns to shape almost immediately, he's fine. if it returns to normal slowly, he's dehydrated & i sugg you get him to the nearest emerg vet stat!

you can PM if you want more info. i'm available for the next hour or so.

[joanski01]

13. Take the Cat to the Vets again

Get liquid medication.

He may have kidney problems.

He may have a bladder infection.

He may have cancer.

What was the vet's original diagnosis?

How much experience do you have in owning cats?

[serryjw]

20. BOTH are terrible for an animal......

Check ingredients. Anything that says animal by-products in bad for them. Go to Pet Smart and get a human grade food.The FIRST ingredient on the label is what is is mostly in the food.

[NMDemDist2]

9. pet pill gun helps a lot

http://store.yahoo.com/absolutelypets/petpipigun.html

[happynewyear]

10. do you know how to "pill a cat"

It can be very difficult, but I've done it many times with many different cats.

If he is too freaked out to pill, you can buy cat tranquillizers at the pet store. Better yet, have you veterinarian write an RX for them if he's being difficult.

To pill a cat, you pry his mouth open and put the pill toward the back of his throat, hold the mouth shut and then stoke under his chin until he swallows.

He'll get used to it.

If he isn't swallowing the pills then the course of treatment is pretty useless.

:(

[skygazer]

12. Your cat needs to get to the vet

Today. It sounds like he has a serious kidney condition and if he becomes entirely blocked, it will be even more serious. He may very well need IV fluids because if he's continually vomiting and urinating he will likely be dehydrated - cats are not large enough to be able to stand much dehydration.

I feel for you - really I do - but "refused meds" is not a valid excuse. As another poster suggested, the vet can show you how to administer them and they have to be administered or your cat will only suffer further. Or die. Would you allow a child to dictate whether or not they got their meds?

Get off the computer NOW, call the vet and tell them you're coming in. Good luck - this is serious. I worked in a vet's office for a number of years - these things can turn quickly.

[happynewyear]

14. yes, I agree!!!

He needs to go to the vet NOW. He might die! I had a cat a long time ago that had chronic urinary tract infections. However, with treatment and loving care he lived to be quiet old actually (like close to 12 years).

I had a kitten that got dehydrated and he died at the vet! He was very sick and the vet told me they cannot last long if they become dehydrated.

[joanski01]

16. Excellent advice.

Thanks. I hope it's followed.

[Dukkha]

15. alring I'm off

I found a 24 hor emergency vet down the steeet so He's going in now

[happynewyear]

17. good for you!

and I hope your cat will be ok! Poor thing!

[joanski01]

18. Please let us know

what happens. Thanks, we care.

[skygazer]

19. Ditto that

Sorry to be so blunt - I sincerely hope all turns out well. Good luck.

[happynewyear]

21. sometimes blunt gets the job done

as is this case.

Please do let us know how your cat is. We are a pack of cat lover on the DU it seems! :D

Take care and I wish you both the very best!!!

:dem:

[Baja Margie]

24. Poor Kitty,

I hope kitty gets well soon. I had a kitty once, years ago, who had escaped from the jaws of a coyote. I didn't think she would make it, she had dragged herself home using only her front paws and legs. I rushed her to the vet, thinking the worse. After a four day stay in hospital, she came home, and we would pill pop her meds down, hydrate her using a syringe with 10c of gatorade every two hours, and fed her by hand baby food - chicken - which we would open her mouth up and put fingerfuls in until she would lick it herself, also petromalt. Also, I had the vet give her vitamin shots, and finally she pulled through. She was with us another 8 years, and always appreciative. Godd luck with your baby.


xxxooo

[steph_in_az]

22. your cat

I've heard that cats can become diabetic causing them to loose bladder control. You may also consider hairballs. I would go straight to pets-mart and put him on a premium food like Science Diet or IAMS, the crap you buy in the grocery store is terrible. Also I would take him back to the vet and have some blood work done.
Good Luck

[Catshrink]

23. How I finally got meds down the throat of a stubborn 25+ pound cat.

Sam is normally sweet and docile, but not when it comes to meds. And he's big and strong so pilling him was impossible. But..... this is how I did it.

I bought a pill pulverizer and ground the sucker up into a powder. Then I mixed in into a small amount of a stinky wet cat food (any fish flavor, pate varieties work better than the others). He scarfed it down and wasn't the wiser. He got better and stopped peeing on the bed 5 times a day. He's my love bug.

[happynewyear]

25. geez he is a BIG cat!

Your technique wouldn't work with my cats because they eat only dry food. Not easy ...

Maybe it would work with a can of for real tuna maybe? I feed the NutraMax (senior and regular). They are thriving on it.

I used to buy and haul the cases of the canned food around with prior cats I owned. The dry food is a lot easier, I know that much. One of my cats is 10+ now; the other is 3+ now. When I was doing the canned food thing with my now deceased cats, they were thriving too. In fact, one lived to be 17+ years old! :)

[Catshrink]

27. Mine get only dry food also...

the wet variety is only a special treat. They do love it though.

Sam is on a diet. He needs to lose 10#. It's been a month and he seems a little smaller. His brother has done much better.

[Dukkha]

28. I'm back

They're not entirely sure what his issue is because he exhibits such good health so that's good news. His vitals are strong, his weight is good, shiny fur, and very friendly and active even while being probed by the vet. He got some prescription bland diet food which I'll feed him for a week.

I have two cats but one litter box. So I'm off to get a second litter box for them. I usually just changed the litter once a week but I guess I'll have to get into the habit of scooping every day. He vomited only today and yesterday and I left town for the weekend which may be the issue there since Neo, the cat's name, doesn't like me leaving.

So this set me back $50.00 visit, new litter box and Rx food so that's good. A ruined chair I'll also have to replace. I'm already under bad financial hardship as it is but Neo's my best friend and I'll do anything for the little bastard since he keeps me happy and sane. :)

[jukes]

29. glad you got good news!

try him w/ "cat salad". before i cut the grass, i clip a tray full w/scissors and set it on the floor. they all dive in!

gives them enzymes not available in processed food (heat kills enzymes) plus adds some fiber to help them pass furballs.