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Cats/my cat is sick

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Expert: - 1/11/2010


Question
my cat is sick and hiding in dark closets etc... he looks at me when i lay quiet by him and talk to him, i want to try to get him to drink water. he drank a little, he is about 3 or 4 mancoon, i know i spelt this wrong, earlier, his belly twice suced in and he meowed... i'm scared

Answer
Samme,

Unfortunately I'm not a veterinarian so I'm unable to provide you with any kind of diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Based on what you describe I would say that based on my experience your kitty is quite sick and needs medical attention as soon as possible. If the financial costs of medical care for your pet are an issue I do keep a list of organizations that might be willing to provide some financial assistance to cover the cost of veterinary care for this kitty. All I ask is that you save both of us a considerable amount of time by providing me with the general area you're writing from so that I don't end up sending you resources that aren't available in your area and you don't have to sift through a list of every organization that I'm aware of - in the US the name of a state will suffice. If you have any further cat related questions please feel free to contact me again and I will do my best to help you out or direct you to appropriate resources that can provide what your kitty needs at this point.

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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.

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