On Jan 24, 2:35 pm, honeybunch wrote:
On Jan 24, 7:02 am, dragon wrote:



I havea 4 year old neutered female cat who is otherwise healthy. On
Sunday morning she was caught under my kitchen table starting to try
and eat a blackbird. I removed the bird. Later in the day she
seemed a little lacklustre and on Monday morning she did not go out
as she normally would when I open the door (both my cats go and patrol
the gardens first thing) instead she lay on the bed and I
returned and she stayed with me for a while. Then she went to her
tray and seemed to produce some pretty soft and messy faeces. She
seemed very lifeless and it was very wet and messy around her anus.
I tried to wipe it with some kitchen towel but she was not
enthusiastic and would not let me. She tried to clean herself up by
licking it (yuk)
She spent the day lazing about and sleeping and ate almost nothing.
But in the evening she had made a small bit of progress. On tuesday
morning she wentoutside for some time, ansd was brighter, and indeed
very keen to eat. Although she was brighter she did not appear to be
much interested in grooming. I decided to take her to a vet. Near me
is a practice that is very basic and charges a small fee and have a
walk in hour (no appointment needed) I took her there and was
first in (thus avoiding a long wait with barking dog patients)

The vet examined and said he could find no abnormality and he said he
would gu=ive her his pick me up. I asked what it wass and he said it
would be vitamins and antibiotics. I refused the antibiotics as on
a previous occasion the intramuscular injection caused my other cat
not to be able to walk properly for over a day
and because it was far from clear after only a 24 hr or so illness
that infection was evident. Nonetheless the vitamin injection
seemed also to be applied the painful intramuscular way (large
needle into front shoulder area. ) The cat screamed, and when I
got her home rapidly developed shaking and trembling and staggering
about and clingy. After half an hour she was more competant on her
feet and steadily ambled to the bedroom where she jumpted onto the
bed and curled up for a sleep. I decided after some frantic phone
calls not to take her back to the vet (or the other vets I use)
and instead let her rest and closely observe her. In the evening she
joined us in the living room and rested quietly, then spent the night
on my bed with me, as usual.

I think that vet hates cats and is disrespectful of dogs. Other
people have told me that he has been brutal towards clients
animals. Thats another story but I thought his injection came close
to killing my cat and its only since that trauma that the tiny red
blood spots/mucus appeared in the litter tray

On Wednesday morning she was keen to go out and more normal, ate
plenty etc. But in the afternoon I noticed that on the litter tray
surface was some muvus and blood (the very tiniest amount.
Probably not enough to paint a fingernail. And about 3 hours
later I observed her do it again This time a little bit of faeces in
which was a tiny bit of blood and mucus.

Then at bedtime she left the bed used the litter tray and this
morning I could another small example. So several hours seem to be
between attempts to defecate

This morning (Thursday) she has gone out, ate etc but I think
she is lethargic and quiet (as throughout most of the last days)
So it seemed to have started dramatically on Monday and all her
elimination until wednesday 5pm seemed just softer than normal, now
there are tiny bright red spots/flecks of blood

I observe also a tendency to strain a bit at the litterbox She has
like a spasm does not cry out but it looks as though he colon thinks
there is something ti eliminate but there isnt.

So now the dilemma. A trip to the vets today ? A bright eyed
otherwise lacklustre creature that is eating.drinking and spending
some time outside as well as not hiding away inside. Should I rush to
a vet ? It will involve a real struggle to get her into the
carrier (can take 5 minutes of fighting ) Or shoukld I watch
and wait for another 24/48 hours.

She seemed keen for me to lie down on the bed and snuggle on my
chest. Last night for 2 hours in mid evening. I think that might be
that any soreness from colitus may be soothed by the warmth. Like
putting a hot water bottle on the tummy when poorly

Both my cats are insured, and so cost is not an issue

My reading indicates the greatest liklihood is colitis, unlikely to
be parasite related in the adult cat. More likely other causes./

I really wonder about that dead bird.

Any advice would be appreciated

Its a bit odd that you have decided to take a sick cat to a vet who is
conviently near to your house but has a bad reputation and doesnt even
know how to properly dispense medications to animals. Very odd
especially since money is no object. You'd better take that cat the
best vet you can find. We all know it is dangerous to allow our cats
to go outside at will where there are all kinds of dangers lurking:
virus, poison, larger carniverous animals, cruel people, fleas,
poison, etc. My cat came in from the cold, so to speak. He was a
stray and I dont have the heart to deny him his daily visits outside.
He insists on doing his business outside and rarely uses the litter
box. If your cat is suddenly started to use the litter box, please
take the cat to a competent vet immediately. You seem very fond of
her and will be very unhappy when she dies.

Thanks for the reply., But I need to make some responses,

Initially I should point out that the cat uses the litterbox sometimes
anyway, and other times she goes outside. I keep both my cats
inside from dusk onwards and so the litterbox is always available to
them.

1. This cat was hardly "ill" within the sense of needingto be taken
to a vet at all. She had about a 24hr bout of being out of sorts
and with somewhat soft faeces./ She had not been sick. I was being
vigilant even though the cat was at the time 50 to 70 per cent better.

2. I did not suit corners in the sense you think. The vet has an
asistant who almost always takes the cases. That assistant is
clearly competent and compassionate It was unusual that the
principal himself saw my cat this time. Additionally, that
practice is convenient in that it is possible to arrange ones visit so
that no other clients are there (with their barking dogs etc)

3. My 2 cats. Both were rescued by me. Neighbours did not
want them,. failed to care for them properly etc. Like you I
allow them to maintain their outdoor lifestyle as the road here is
very quiet (on a housing estate) and the
gardens are very cat friendly. I agree indoors only is the safest
and kindest one from the viewpoint of preventing physical
suffering. I think however that outdoor cats should continue to be
allowed that freedom except in such cases as where there is a
substantial risk of harm such as from a main road etc.

Thanks for the reply