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Post by bextull on Apr 1, 2013 14:46:42 GMT
Hello cat people!
My cat is around 11 years old. She was spayed as a kitten but she hasn't been to the vet since then. She isn't the nicest cat, you cannot examine her or pick her up or anything like that because she will take your eyes out. You can rub her, and she will sit on my lap from time to time but thats about it. She is an outdoor cat.
Recently she hasn't been eating her food. She is fed a wet food, the same food she has always been fed and she isn't a fussy cat but she wasn't eating it so we tried her on some ham which she did eat, eventually. Last night we gave her some turkey and ham that we had leftover from our dinner but she hasn't touched it. She ate around 2 pieces when I gave them too her but thats it. She usually drinks milk (yes, I know she shouldn't but its what she has always had and despite trying to ween her over lots of times she will only drink it) but she has been drinking out of the dogs outdoor water bowl for the past few days and not drinking milk.
She also isn't sleeping in her house, which has her bed in and is fully insulated but she is sleeping in the dog kennel, which is bigger but not as warm.
I haven't been able to find her at all today, which isn't usually strange as she usually goes out hunting and comes back at night but for the past few days she hasn't been going anywhere so its a little odd now.
Do you have any ideas as to what could be up with her?
Taking her to the vets is not an option.
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Post by cia on Apr 1, 2013 17:39:19 GMT
A change in her behaviour is a big clue that something is not right. Im afraid the only person qualified to assist you would be the dreaded vet.  |
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Post by bextull on Apr 1, 2013 18:25:38 GMT
Not sure what I can do for her then  We got a tin of different food to try tonight but she is nowhere to be seen. I'd like to take her to the vet, just to see what her general health is like as well but we cannot get her to the vet (she will not go in a carrier) and the last time she was actually at a vets she had to be sedated, even then she was determined to kill the vet and we were told not to bring her back. When she was spayed a squeeze cage was needed, and she still got 2 nurses. So hence the reason why taking her to the vet is not really an option. When she is ok with you she is a lovely cat, but currently only me and a handful of people can really see he friendly (ish) side. Here she is,   |
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satori
Newbie
Posts: 14 
Pets I own: Sassi, Rolo & Bruno
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Post by satori on Apr 1, 2013 19:24:31 GMT
Oh my, she is just stunning. I feel for you. We have a coule of 6 month old kitties refusing food since Friday ( b/c of URI) and it is heartbreaking. Fwiw, we are force feeding and hand feeding them though that doesn't seen to be an option for you. Some thoughts:
Does she show any symptoms of URI? If so then highly seasoning her food or warming it up might do the trick. We season with fortiflora, powdered thrive treats, Parmesan, tuna water etc. For warming the food, I heat in the microwave for 15 seconds at 160w or, if hand feeding, just warm it with my mouth.
Are you sure she is not eating, since she is an outdoor cat? It is spring and there a young mice and birds around after all. I guess she would be very difficult to weigh?
Even our indoor door cats can't resist a raw chicken wing so I would imagine your outdoor girl would love them. We just slice them in a few places down to the bone to get some blood showing then drop them in hot water for a few seconds to get them to live mouse temperature.
Good luck.
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Post by cia on Apr 1, 2013 21:36:41 GMT
Shes gorgeous.
I wonder if vets do house calls in situations like this!
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Post by tonib on Apr 1, 2013 22:33:52 GMT
she really is lovely but like the others I would strongly suggest getting her to the vets or at least speaking to them for their advice. Warming food and/or strong smelling food such as pilchards in tomato sauce is something that the vet has recommended us to use when we had a cat off their food but for that you need her to be around. I hope she has returned.
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Post by judypops on Apr 1, 2013 22:36:12 GMT
She is waiting for you to pick her up and examine her and then she will kill us all,even "the cat whisperer". That cat is evil, but I hope she gets better  |
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Post by bextull on Apr 2, 2013 12:11:10 GMT
Oh my, she is just stunning. I feel for you. We have a coule of 6 month old kitties refusing food since Friday ( b/c of URI) and it is heartbreaking. Fwiw, we are force feeding and hand feeding them though that doesn't seen to be an option for you. Some thoughts: Does she show any symptoms of URI? If so then highly seasoning her food or warming it up might do the trick. We season with fortiflora, powdered thrive treats, Parmesan, tuna water etc. For warming the food, I heat in the microwave for 15 seconds at 160w or, if hand feeding, just warm it with my mouth. Are you sure she is not eating, since she is an outdoor cat? It is spring and there a young mice and birds around after all. I guess she would be very difficult to weigh? Even our indoor door cats can't resist a raw chicken wing so I would imagine your outdoor girl would love them. We just slice them in a few places down to the bone to get some blood showing then drop them in hot water for a few seconds to get them to live mouse temperature. Good luck. She has shown no signs of a URI. She had one when she was younger but never again since then. Well we got a new tin of food (different brand) and she ate some of it, so I am going to try heat some up for her to see if she will eat a little more. She could be back hunting again, but usually she brings it back with her. She is known for bringing large adult rabbits back over the fence but so far this year she hasn't yet (I'm hoping she starts too as there could be a few free meals for the dog if she does! She will get some too of course) She usually never refuses food, but I suppose if she is back hunting again and not bringing it back with her she could be eating it out there. I'll have to see if we have a weighing scales, I'm sure I could get her onto it. Thanks. She is back around today, in the dog kennel sunning herself! judypops , you are so helpful and caring! Maybe she is on her way to you........ |
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Post by heartpawprints on Apr 9, 2013 17:35:58 GMT
I know our vets do offer a home consultation service, but it sounds as though you need to look for another vet if she's not welcome back. My Tia (RIP) had an asbo flag at the vet as she would always lash out and needed to have a nurse holding her with a towel.
If she's not eating, it may be a tooth problem. I'm afraid there really is no substitute for the vet. A good one will have encountered this sort of issue with an aggressive cat so will have tactics.
Sadly some cats (and Tia was one) will fight against any help so stressing her out and me getting some scratches was unavoidable. She was never the same with the vets after being spayed too interestingly enough!
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Post by tonib on Apr 10, 2013 1:00:23 GMT
How is she doing now. Did the new food tempt her to eat again?
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Post by migsy on Apr 10, 2013 15:57:14 GMT
I sympathise with your problem of taking cat to vets not being an option Bextull,Skip is terrified when he gets into the surgery and is a proper nightmare,he must definately have a red flag on his card.We were so shocked to see our wonderful friend to all freak out out with fear of the vets.(you will have read my posts about that befor).My daughter had a kitten from a farm years ago,and he was a monster!he would be purring on your knee,then strike in a sudden fury.Yeeeooowwww!
Lady in front of us in vets one time was having her cats vaccinated,the noise and screams were blood curdling.When I went in I expected scene like aftermath of war,with a ragged vet,and said same to him.He laughed,saying it was all just lots of spitting,cursing,and terrible language from them.
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Post by bextull on Apr 10, 2013 18:34:11 GMT
She is eating now, not all of her food but most of it. She seems tobe more active now too, caught her out the the field to other night while walking the dog and then walking up the driveway the next morning. But I'm not convinced she is catching anything.
She is no longer drinking any milk, only water now, she seemed to decide that herself.
Its not a teeth problem as I have seen her teeth, they are the perfect example of 'pearly whites'.
While I was convinced she was getting better she is still 'tamer' than usual. But this morning I was up and let the dog out for a pee and she was there waiting at the door. Grand I though, she is probably hungry. But then she shook her head and it was unlike anything I have heard from a cat before. AS she shook, there was this
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Post by bextull on Apr 10, 2013 18:40:10 GMT
She is eating now, not all of her food but most of it. She seems tobe more active now too, caught her out the the field to other night while walking the dog and then walking up the driveway the next morning. But I'm not convinced she is catching anything.
She is no longer drinking any milk, only water now, she seemed to decide that herself.
Its not a teeth problem as I have seen her teeth, they are the perfect example of 'pearly whites'.
While I was convinced she was getting better she is still 'tamer' than usual. But this morning I was up and let the dog out for a pee and she was there waiting at the door. Grand I though, she is probably hungry. But then she shook her head and it was unlike anything I have heard from a cat before. AS she shook, there was this 'click, click, click' noise. Then when I was out having my tea on the wall with her she did it again, and the noise was there this time aswell.
I have no idea what this is or what it could be.
I want to take her to the vet, and we do have a new vet since we got Oscar but it is not up to me. If it were up the me then she would have an appointment made for this week.
For now at least she is eating food and not in any discomfort or pain.
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Post by gladys on Apr 11, 2013 15:44:59 GMT
I think you need to call the vet and ask them about bringing her in. See if they have an action plan for when a untamed cat has to come in. Maybe chat with your parents about the best way to catch her???
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Post by nannycat on Apr 12, 2013 13:39:24 GMT
Hi - sorry to hear you are having so much trouble with your girl. couple of suggestions as i have dealt with ferral cats and getting them to vet. firstly, i would say there may be a problem - cats are very very good at hiding pain. tho the teeth may look white we have had cats with problems right at the base causing bad pain. secondly, i would see if there is a better vet who is able to deal with this kind of temprement. you could ask the Cats Protection in your area who they use as they will be used to dealing with ferrals and bad tempered cats. also you could ask your CP if they have a trap you could use to initial get her and then you can take her to vets in that. you could offer a small contribution for their help. once you have her in vets - if you get there - then i would recommend a thorough check out - i have just had a cat who had bad gums/roots and he is a changed cat since this has been sorted - truely.!
Tho saying all this some cats are independent and just use us for the food and occasional strokes/love and that is how they are but if she has been different in the past and more loving etc. i would say - she is either getting fed somewhere else and maybe spending time with someone else or there is something wrong and she is keeping out of the way. The other thing to check this is you can put a paper collar over his original one asking 'are you feeding this cat as it does belong to me?' and leaving your phone number. hope this helps and good luck.
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