Our poor cat is sick...

Mama2six · 01-20-2016, 02:41 PM

Our cat became very sick last night and tonight. I know you're all thinking, "You have a CAT? With HAMSTERS?!" This is a sweet stray who adopted us over 18 years ago. He has out lived probably 200 hamsters over the years. When we have an escapee, he follows them, and has actually been the one to help us find two and put them safely back in their cage. (I wouldn't' trust him with them overnight or anything, but he has a sense that it is an important rodent, if it is a hamster.

)

Of course, being with us for so many years, he is pretty important in all of our lives. Seeing him decline so quickly overnight was pretty traumatic. Last night he was wobbly, but he was eating. Today he couldn't even stand, and he was so sick he really could hardly eat or drink.

Thankfully the vet had an immediate opening, and we took him right in. The good news is that it looks like he is going to be okay. He has a bad infection of some sort (maybe pneumonia, but I suspect the sound of his breathing was more due to his trouble drinking this morning.) He received some liquid, his first dose of antibiotics, and it looks like he should make it. There was no organ failure, which is GREAT for a cat of his age.

Now to just take care of him carefully, (force feeding if necessary - ug!) and wait it out while treating the infection. We are praying for a full recovery!

After the liquids at the vet, he is able to weakly stand again. I think that's a good sign!

climber008 · 01-20-2016, 03:13 PM

Awww! I hope that he gets better! I know how sad and upsetting it is when your pet is sick!

xbuttons94 · 01-20-2016, 04:07 PM

I'm glad he is starting to recover. If he doesn't eat then you can try heating up his food to make it smell stronger and to help give him an appetite, then let it cool down a little. I have a cat and 3 hamsters but they are upstairs. If she does happen to peak at them she runs away as she is scared of our Syrian hamster! A literal scaredy cat. I hope that your kitty has a speedy recovery and I wish you all the very best. Keep us updated if you can xx

velma · 01-20-2016, 04:34 PM

Oh no! I'll keep my fingers crossed. We have two cats but they don't go in the hamster room. I hate it if I even think they're under the weather.

Josie · 01-20-2016, 04:38 PM

Hope he gets better, it is always upsetting when our pets are not well. In human years your cat is 88 years old so he is doing well

Mama2six · 01-21-2016, 06:10 AM

I hate force-feeding.

He is definitely a bit improved today over yesterday, but he is still very sick. As silly as it sounds, I am so thrilled that he used his litter box... just that he COULD again. He is walking again, but he's very wobbly. The vet said it would take 3-5 days of antibiotics for him to start showing improvement from the infection, so we just have to keep him eating and drinking until then.

Josie · 01-21-2016, 05:21 PM

Thousands of years ago, cats were worshiped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this

Mama2six · 01-21-2016, 08:54 PM

He is declining again... not as bad as yesterday morning, but worse than he was most of today. He did not drink very much (the juice from 1 can of tuna, and about 3 licks of water), and I felt like he needed fluid. I was afraid he was not going to make it through tonight, so we took him to the vet er. They wanted to hospitalize him, but it was more than I could afford, so they gave him liquid and I'm going to get him back to our vet in the am. They wanted to charge $1000 - $1200 for the night, and I don't have that kind of money.

Is this a normal cost for emergency vet care?

We're going to take shifts with him through the night... keep him warm, and hope the antibiotics kick in really soon. (His vet said 3-5 days before he starts feeling better, and we're on day 2!) The vet er offered to put him to sleep, which makes me quite mad, since he was doing better tonight than he was when he went to the vet yesterday, and he is on day 2 of meds... why kill (literally) all hope of recovery on day 2 without waiting until day 3?

Anyway, we will see what our vet says in the morning. If he agrees, of course I will see reason. But our vet was so hopeful, that I can't help but have hope too. Prayers appreciated!!!