Cat advice please.

[bomb]

We took our Cat ( Mr Japer ), to the vets at 10am yesterday. He had a look over - weighed, heart sounded, a general 'feel' of his body, and his teeth inspected. Then he gets his annual jabs.

Vet tells us he is in good shape but needs his teeth cleaning.

He gets booked in for his dental work in a fortnights time.

We come home and he appears to be fine.

Last night he goes out for a couple of hours 'mooching' in the darkness. Arrives home at about 11pm. Seems OK. Has a few 'Dreamies' as a treat.

When we go to bed he doesn't jump up onto the bed as he normally would, but he seems a little quiet.

He spends all night in the corner of the bedroom ( unlike him), and this morning he doesn't wake us and demand his breakfast. Very unusual.

He is very subdued and stays in the corner, unwilling to move.

A bit of a stroke and some gentle words and he manages a very small purr, but his tail is moving around as a sign he isn't too happy.

QUESTION - Would the injection put him 'out of sorts' for very long ?

We have phoned the vets for advice and they say the injection sometimes makes them a little sleepy, but its now 24 hrs on, and he isn't right.

Any advice from you guys ?

[neilb62]

Our old Angus (RIP buddy) was the daftest softest mog you could want but he always had a major cob on for about 48hrs after his jabs and got quite spiteful. We just learnt to leave him alone in the end. See how he is later....

[bomb]

we have left him upstairs. Its quiet and warm.

One other thought - when he came in last night his paws were pretty muddy ( been digging !). Maybe he has licked the paws clean and ingested something that's upset him ?

[oakdale]

You can never know what your cat gets up to when its out but what you have described is typical behaviour of a cat that's had some sort of injury, most likely caused by a fight with another cat.

[bomb]

There are no new bits missing from his ears, but he does patrol hi area with some serious attitude ! Normally a few scratches on his snout give the game away !

I'll see how he fares today.

[ali_kat]

Can you have a look at his paw pads & claws? Look for scratches & claws no longer sharp

If it's similar to when Bast came home like that, she'd been clipped by a car, she was ok after a visit to the Vet & painkillers

[bexVN]

Most cats do not suffer any after effects post vaccines, more likely as kittens and usually you'd see signs within a few hours.

My gut feeling is that it is not the vaccine but even if it is a call to your vet would be sensible. The problem is if he had been indoors you could be more confident in saying it was vaccine after effects but as he has been out I would be worried about something having happened!

Lets put it this way. I would be getting my cat rechecked today.

[ali_kat]

I wanted to say that Bex, but I only have my own experience of no reaction to vaccines to go on

I do think that the he should be back at the Vet today tho

[bomb]

Update - He has slept quietly for most of the day. He came downstairs of his own accord. Has eaten a small bit of food ( he was asking for it), and appears to be more mobile.
Now settled by the fire and content.
I have examined his paws and claws. All appear normal (sharp).

I have spoken to the vets and they advised to monitor him and bring him in tomorrow morning if no improvements.

We do live in a very quiet area and he does not wander up to the road at all - we know his boundaries, which is restricted to the locality around our house. There is very little traffic. He has no indication of any injuries at all. No signs of tenderness anywhere.

Appears to be making improvement.

(Old photo )

Edited by bomb on Saturday 20th February 18:01

[bexVN]

[MrV]

We had the same issue with Pumpkin when he was having his jabs ,the solution offered by the Vet was one one week then the other two weeks later.It seems to have done the trick as he was pretty normal other than the sulk from the vet visit the last time he had his jabs

[ali_kat]

[Jasandjules]

bomb said:

QUESTION - Would the injection put him 'out of sorts' for very long ?

It can do. It is rare, but happens.

I also suggest you read this if you "boost" annually..

http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/WSAVA%20V...


ETA - And also get it recorded as an adverse reaction.

Edited by Jasandjules on Saturday 20th February 21:03

[Flying Penguin]

Wow- this is incredible.

Just read the post and can't believe what I see. It is as if it was me who wrote it; the only difference is that we took our cat to the vets exactly 24 hours later (Sat 10:00AM) and that ours is a ginger tabby.
The rest is 100% identical... even the location and circumstances where and how the cat lives.

I was actually just about to write a post asking the same question.

Last year (after the booster jabs) we have noticed that the cat was a bit sleepy but nowhere near as "bad" as this time.

Reading all the comments above I think I will just wait, hoping things have hopefully improved by tomorrow- otherwise it's back to the vets in the morning. In any case, will call them later today and see what they would advise.

Our other cat is only due for booster vaccination in 3 months time, therefore no direct comparison possible, but last year she didn't show any adverse symptoms at all?

Oh and didn't mean to hijack the thread- just worried... and as already mentioned, the similarities are just unreal.

P.S. Cat still wouldn't move from the sofa and now 3 hours "late" for breakfast...

[bomb]

Another update - He has been slowly showing signs of returning back to normal. Last night he enjoyed a number of hours in front of the log burner - yawning and stretching. He ate a few times - small bits that we put out for him. Popped out for a quick wee, then back in front of the fire.

Bed time - came up to the bed as he often does and gave us a long stretch of strong purring and 'snuggling'.

This morning - out early for a regular patrol.

Eaten breakfast and definitely more active. more purring. A bit of 'window staring' at the rabbits outside ( tail swishing too).

Yes - much more perky today.

[bomb]

Jasandjules said:

bomb said:

QUESTION - Would the injection put him 'out of sorts' for very long ?

It can do. It is rare, but happens.

I also suggest you read this if you "boost" annually..

http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/WSAVA%20V...


ETA - And also get it recorded as an adverse reaction.

Edited by Jasandjules on Saturday 20th February 21:03

Thanks for that information. I have had a look and intend printing it off to study in more detail. A couple of items of note from that report :-

1) I will report this as an adverse effect.
2) We did note that the Vet did NOT check his temperature, and the report recommends this as part of the routine health check. Any comments from you guys regarding that omission ??

[mrmaggit]

Guzzi is like this, Tim is but only for half a day, Peep shrugs it off completely. They're all different.

[bexVN]

bomb said:

Jasandjules said:

bomb said:

QUESTION - Would the injection put him 'out of sorts' for very long ?

It can do. It is rare, but happens.

I also suggest you read this if you "boost" annually..

http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/WSAVA%20V...


ETA - And also get it recorded as an adverse reaction.

Edited by Jasandjules on Saturday 20th February 21:03

Thanks for that information. I have had a look and intend printing it off to study in more detail. A couple of items of note from that report :-

1) I will report this as an adverse effect.
2) We did note that the Vet did NOT check his temperature, and the report recommends this as part of the routine health check. Any comments from you guys regarding that omission ??

Temperature interesting. They never check your temperature when we or children have vaccines!!

Usually other signs of being off colour reported to indicate a temperature check first pre vaccine.

Gold standard is of course to try and check as much as you can but honestly cats especially, really hate having their temperature taken even when ill, let alone when well.

I do second vaccines and questioning of how the pet has been is usually a great indicator of whether there is a need to stress them out further by sticking a thermometer up the bum!

Your vet should report it so check with them that they are doing so.

[bomb]

Thanks Bex. Yes, I'll ensure the vet reports / records his adverse effects.

I thought sticking a thermometer up his bum would take his mind of things.

[Jasandjules]

bomb said:

Thanks for that information. I have had a look and intend printing it off to study in more detail. A couple of items of note from that report :-

1) I will report this as an adverse effect.
2) We did note that the Vet did NOT check his temperature, and the report recommends this as part of the routine health check. Any comments from you guys regarding that omission ??

Frankly in your shoes I would cease any further boosters in case the reaction next time is worse. Not to mention the guidelines WRT how often they should be used in worst case. Odd that the vet thinks they should be annual.