You are here:

Cats/My cat is sick

Advertisement

Expert: - 2/16/2009


Question
My cat is 18months old, we had him neutered a week ago Friday and he seemed to be just fine. I put ear mite medicine in his ears this last Friday night and he definitely didn't like it, but he was ok... I did the treatment again on Sat, he was angry... then went outside and he has been sick ever since. Onset was rapid, his breathing is slightly labored, he is running a temp, stopped eating or drinking anything... so, I have been giving him water with a dropper (7-8 tsp) and got him to take a little milk (2tsp) to try to prevent dehydration...I can't afford to take him to the vet and I am really worried about him and am not sure what to do for him or how long a cat is usually sick for. Please help me.

Answer
Kelly,

Obviously your kitty is sick. The fact that he's not eating or drinking on his own is concerning. You can't go on giving him tiny amounts of water (and he doesn't need milk at all, in fact that may make him more likely to vomit or have diarrea) without knowing what's wrong with him. I keep a list of resources and charities that are willing to help cover part or all of the cost of veterinary care in cases where pet parents are experiencing financial difficulty. Due to the sheer number of resources I don't list all of them every time, I prefer to have a general idea of where you're living - a city, state, or province will work - so that I can give you advice tailored to your individual situation. I know that you love your kitty, but he's sick and forcing him to take things he's not willing to take on his own may cause him to become sicker depending on what's wrong with him. I would recommend that you give the cat a rest and stop forcing food/water down his throat via syringe at this point. Give him at least a 12 hour break and watch him closely to see what he does on his own. During that 12 hour time you should hopefully be able to get back to me so that I can give you information about how to get him the vet care he needs. There's a good possibility that he'll need blood work and possibly hospitalization with IV fluids, x-rays and other tests. If he's eaten something he shouldn't have or he's been in a fight he may require surgery to drain an abscess or remove a foreign object so the sooner you can get back to me the faster we can get this situation solved so that everyone gets what they need.

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Ali

Expertise

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.