Cat Health Question/Dilemma
Discussion
Our house has a sort of pet cat. I say sort of because she simply turned up one day and now spends most of her time here. I've grown rather attached to her as she's house broken and very friendly towards me. I don't know her age, breed or even for certain she's a she
She seems underweight to me, but otherwise pretty healthy. She doesn't have much energy and sleeps a lot, but in my limited knowledge of cats I know that's just the way some are. Problem is that every time I feed her, she throws it back up a few minutes later. I've tried several different types of food but the result is always the same. She is fine with liquids as well as things like yoghurts (yes I know it isn't that good for them, so only a very occasional treat).
Now the thing is should I do anything? She's been like this for a while but must be getting some sort of food somewhere or she simply wouldn't have lived this long. On one hand she may belong to someone else (no name tag or anything) but she could also be a stray who I'm starving! She pesters for food just like any other cat and it's getting rather hard to ignore. I'm in 2 minds whether to take her to a vet or to simply not feed her and presume she's getting sustenance somewhere else. Help PH cat people!
She seems underweight to me, but otherwise pretty healthy. She doesn't have much energy and sleeps a lot, but in my limited knowledge of cats I know that's just the way some are. Problem is that every time I feed her, she throws it back up a few minutes later. I've tried several different types of food but the result is always the same. She is fine with liquids as well as things like yoghurts (yes I know it isn't that good for them, so only a very occasional treat).
Now the thing is should I do anything? She's been like this for a while but must be getting some sort of food somewhere or she simply wouldn't have lived this long. On one hand she may belong to someone else (no name tag or anything) but she could also be a stray who I'm starving! She pesters for food just like any other cat and it's getting rather hard to ignore. I'm in 2 minds whether to take her to a vet or to simply not feed her and presume she's getting sustenance somewhere else. Help PH cat people!
One of our rescue cats had this problem, we started her on rice and cooked chicken.
Also, our cat now gets metaclopramide (I think that's how it is spelt)... After a fair few tests to check her stomach and everything out she can't process food quickly and so after eating, throws some of it back up. Now the tablets help her process the food and she rarely pukes.
Oh, and I'd
1. Feed her
2. Get her to the vets
3. Keep her.
Bottom line, if she spends all her time with you then you have been chosen to be her servant. And sleeping most of the day isn't uncommon.....
Also, our cat now gets metaclopramide (I think that's how it is spelt)... After a fair few tests to check her stomach and everything out she can't process food quickly and so after eating, throws some of it back up. Now the tablets help her process the food and she rarely pukes.
Oh, and I'd
1. Feed her
2. Get her to the vets
3. Keep her.
Bottom line, if she spends all her time with you then you have been chosen to be her servant. And sleeping most of the day isn't uncommon.....
Edited by Jasandjules on Thursday 5th February 21:59
Negative Creep said:
Problem is that every time I feed her, she throws it back up a few minutes later. I've tried several different types of food but the result is always the same. She is fine with liquids as well as things like yoghurts (yes I know it isn't that good for them, so only a very occasional treat).
Now the thing is should I do anything? She's been like this for a while but must be getting some sort of food somewhere or she simply wouldn't have lived this long. On one hand she may belong to someone else (no name tag or anything) but she could also be a stray who I'm starving! She pesters for food just like any other cat and it's getting rather hard to ignore. I'm in 2 minds whether to take her to a vet or to simply not feed her and presume she's getting sustenance somewhere else. Help PH cat people!
My neighbour has a cat that goes through phases of being sick after every meal. They take it to the vets and get an injection of some kind that fixes it for a few months.Now the thing is should I do anything? She's been like this for a while but must be getting some sort of food somewhere or she simply wouldn't have lived this long. On one hand she may belong to someone else (no name tag or anything) but she could also be a stray who I'm starving! She pesters for food just like any other cat and it's getting rather hard to ignore. I'm in 2 minds whether to take her to a vet or to simply not feed her and presume she's getting sustenance somewhere else. Help PH cat people!
To keep it simple - it's not normal for a cat to do this. Please take it to the vet and get a professional opinion. Your anxiety will be solved and the cat will have a much happier life
Marf said:
If you feel attached to her and want to help theres no harm in running her down the vet to get her checked out, they'll also be able to scan her for a chip to see if she is registered.
Vets please, and let us know how you get on 
Its not expensive for a check up.
Have you put the collar on her? Put a dog tag on it, you can get ones that are a little container you can put a note in, that way if she is owned, her owner will see it when she next goes home.
Cats are often sick when changing their diets over, so if you are giving her lots of different food, it could be that simple, or just that the 'wet' food is too rich for her - get some Science Plan or ProPlan from Pets at Home, both are good dry foods, Iams is ok, but these are better
It could also be that she is just over eating and so being sick! Mine do this when they've been greedy (not often, just if they've managed to con both of us into giving them a treat!)
Edited by ali_kat on Thursday 5th February 22:14
I should also add that I lost my first and much-loved cat when she suddenly became unable to hold food down - it was some kind of inoperable tumour that sprang up overnight. So it may be that your cat has a growth or obstruction. As she's thin and tired she may simply not be getting enough energy, but is struggling on. Only you have the power to help her; she is dependent on you.
ETA: I see you've been feeding her Energizer batteries!!
ETA: I see you've been feeding her Energizer batteries!!
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 5th February 22:27
Jasandjules said:
One of our rescue cats had this problem, we started her on rice and cooked chicken.
Also, our cat now gets metaclopramide (I think that's how it is spelt)... After a fair few tests to check her stomach and everything out she can't process food quickly and so after eating, throws some of it back up. Now the tablets help her process the food and she rarely pukes.
Oh, and I'd
1. Feed her
2. Get her to the vets
3. Keep her.
Bottom line, if she spends all her time with you then you have been chosen to be her servant. And sleeping most of the day isn't uncommon.....
Also, our cat now gets metaclopramide (I think that's how it is spelt)... After a fair few tests to check her stomach and everything out she can't process food quickly and so after eating, throws some of it back up. Now the tablets help her process the food and she rarely pukes.
Oh, and I'd
1. Feed her
2. Get her to the vets
3. Keep her.
Bottom line, if she spends all her time with you then you have been chosen to be her servant. And sleeping most of the day isn't uncommon.....
The PDSA can help with the vetinary side of things if cost is a concern.
However I'd keep him / her / it away from any other cats you might have in case of feline AIDS. Get the cat tested
Take her to the Vet, ask how much for an X Ray as a physical inspection won't do the job here if it has a bowel obstruction and is causing a back up. Most importantly change the water everyday and if you can get one of those plug in cat drinking fountains. A good way to test for dehydration is to "pinch" some of her fur/skin and let go if it takes a long time to go flat again she's very dehydrated.
Lastly try switching her to sea food flavoured cat food for a few days. Don't feed the bugger tuna out of a can, the metal lining of the can is partly absorbed by the tuna and will eventually cause stomach and bowel cancer.
(Guess who reads far too many veterinary journals on the loo
)
Any questions let me know and I'll ask the weef, she's an ER vet.
Lastly try switching her to sea food flavoured cat food for a few days. Don't feed the bugger tuna out of a can, the metal lining of the can is partly absorbed by the tuna and will eventually cause stomach and bowel cancer.
(Guess who reads far too many veterinary journals on the loo
)Any questions let me know and I'll ask the weef, she's an ER vet.
Looks like a gorgeous puss!
FWIW our's is a rescue cat and was mal-nourished in the rescue centre. The result is that at 7 years old now she still looks like a kitten. Sprightly thing though.
I'd echo the other thoughts and get her to the vets, and whilst he/she's there get them to check for a chip. Ours doesn't have a collar because we've heard too many horror stories of cats strangling themselves in fences and branches etc. She is chipped though (and slammed
)
Let us know how you get on.
Simon
Edit to add after reading the post above that ironically our's prefers stale water that's been out for a couple of days. We think 'fresh' tap water is too chloriney for her...
FWIW our's is a rescue cat and was mal-nourished in the rescue centre. The result is that at 7 years old now she still looks like a kitten. Sprightly thing though.
I'd echo the other thoughts and get her to the vets, and whilst he/she's there get them to check for a chip. Ours doesn't have a collar because we've heard too many horror stories of cats strangling themselves in fences and branches etc. She is chipped though (and slammed
)Let us know how you get on.
Simon
Edit to add after reading the post above that ironically our's prefers stale water that's been out for a couple of days. We think 'fresh' tap water is too chloriney for her...
Edited by SimonD on Thursday 5th February 22:41
My cat does this sometimes; rescue cat of unknown age; she will be fine for months and then have an elastic stomach. Often sleeps for 16hrs a day, or more. She is very people-dependent, very sociable. Only patterns seem to be changes of food - have found a mix of small biscuits helps (eg Royal Canine mini biscuits) mixed with sachets of food helps, as does feeding her "mouse sized portions" - lots of very small meals with gaps in between. Seems that rich sachet food gets too much sometimes.
In my experience (limited to a few cats) - but talk to a vet - some cats when they "adopt" an owner can't control their eating - they are so glad to have warm place, endless food on demand that they lose the control to stop eating - and will gorge themselves - to the point of making themselves sick. Can take months or years to break them of the habit, especially if they had a hard life initially living outside, etc
That said, vet check up won't hurt (other than the wallet) and have a ring round first - a good vet will be happy to talk about symptoms first - but not diagnose. A ripoff vet will insist on a health check session first before taking cat onto his books, and then start charging for diagnosis. If you are in a rural area then I've found the mixed practices can be good - those that do farm/stables and small animals. :-)
All the best - she looks like a sweet little mog!
In my experience (limited to a few cats) - but talk to a vet - some cats when they "adopt" an owner can't control their eating - they are so glad to have warm place, endless food on demand that they lose the control to stop eating - and will gorge themselves - to the point of making themselves sick. Can take months or years to break them of the habit, especially if they had a hard life initially living outside, etc
That said, vet check up won't hurt (other than the wallet) and have a ring round first - a good vet will be happy to talk about symptoms first - but not diagnose. A ripoff vet will insist on a health check session first before taking cat onto his books, and then start charging for diagnosis. If you are in a rural area then I've found the mixed practices can be good - those that do farm/stables and small animals. :-)
All the best - she looks like a sweet little mog!
Royal Canin DR21 Hypoallergenic food, introduce it in 10g increments per day up to the recommendation depending on age/average weight for age of the cat after about 3 days of boiled chicken and brown rice. Has there been any diaorrhea? Sounds skanky but my dog had the same problem, went through loads of blood tests etc. and eventually it turned out to be an intolerance/allergy to normal foods. Could be gluten/wheat/1000 other things but the hypoallergenic food was the answer thankfully. Good luck
Beautiful animal you have there. Get it to the vet, do the right thing.
Forgot to say... let local vets know (drop a photo or description with dates, etc), local police station (if they take such info) and RSPCA.
In the mean time, adopt her :-)
Oh, and you might like to buy some Frontline from a vet or authorised shop - get rid of any unwanted house guests (fleas, etc)
In the mean time, adopt her :-)
Oh, and you might like to buy some Frontline from a vet or authorised shop - get rid of any unwanted house guests (fleas, etc)
Ok thanks for all the replies. Tomorrow I'll have a look for the local PDSA, they may be able to point me in the right direction. I also wonder if they rent out carriers/baskets as I don't have one. She does get plenty of fresh water, in fact she will only drink directly from the bathroom tap!
One other silly thing, I know what animals think of a trip to the vets and I'm half worried if I force her she just won't come back!
One other silly thing, I know what animals think of a trip to the vets and I'm half worried if I force her she just won't come back!
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