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Cats/How did my cat survive

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Expert: - 10/28/2008


Question
I went out of town for alomost four days.  Before I left, I made sure that my cat had plenty of food and water in the bathroom.  Well, as I realized I was running late for my flight, I closed the bathroom door.  I kissed my cat good-bye and left the house.  The food and the water plus her cat box where all in the closed bathroom.  The cat was left in the living room.  When I got home, I saw that the door was closed.  She hadn't eaten nor drank for alomst 90 hours.  I felt so bad.  Fearing that she was dead after calling for her for alomost ten minutes, she crawled out from under the lazy chair.  I could tell she was sleeping and thought she would die.  I took her to her food.  She ate about three little pieces of food and then wanted to play.  She then slept on my tummy all night long.  Also, I can't seem to find any place that she may have pooped or pee'd during the whole time I was gone.  So, How did she go more than 3 days with no water, no food and possibly not pooping or peeing on the floor?  She seems fine, she's very playful and wants to be loved.

Answer
Trevor,

I am guessing that this kitty was fairly resourceful and managed to find a dripping tap where she was able to get some water. It's quite possible that she didn't eliminate at all without any food to go through her system...I do think that it would be wise to have this cat thoroughly checked including blood and urine testing because it is possible that the four days without food and a significant source of water may have caused serious damage to her major organ systems. The fact that this kitty looks okay doesn't necessarily mean that everything is fine because cats are well known for their ability to hide serious health problems until they have become life threatening or extremely serious...She may have peed in a sink so it might be a good idea to clean the sink thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of any potential odor or staining as well as bacterial content....Your cat is extremely lucky to have survived so I would strongly suggest that you consider paying a bonded petsitting service to come in and check on her the next time that you have to go out of town.....

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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