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Archive through March 17, 2006

The TVClubHouse: General Discussion ARCHIVES: 2006 Mar. ~ 2006 May: Hairball Haven: Cats (ARCHIVES): Archive through March 17, 2006 users admin

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Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 9:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Costa, I sure hope you win that! It is very nice but I think the real Costa is even more gorgeous..

Baby, I got some lap trays at Barnes & Noble that have very nice bottom pillows.. I actually set one up upside down and Critter uses it at times as a nice squishy mattress.

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 9:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Whoami a private message Print Post    
Cool Baby! There's a nice large variety of lap desks out there to choose from (just Google "lap desk" and you'll see what I mean!). Mom and I each have THIS one. Its great. The bottom is "bean bag" filled, so it will shape and conform to the shape of your lap. The top has a sturdy insert so meals, laptop computers, etc will stay stable. The insert is removable (and you can invert it so the cup holder is on the other side too) for cleaning. Maybe if you removed the insert and placed a nice soft pillow/blanket or something to tantalize a kitty, Baby would like that? Another site that sells the same model HERE.

Costa is going to be famous! Woo Hoo! Great picture of him. Now just make sure the bidder knows they only get the pic, not the actual cat! LOL.

Jeep
Member

10-17-2001

Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 8:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jeep a private message Print Post    
Well, it looks like I have a sick kitty. The vet is booked today and told me to call tomorrow am to see if they have a cancellation they can put me in. I thought someone here might have seen something like this.

Casper is about 12 and is a very light gray and white tabby. She is very skittish. I have never been able to pick her up or even pet her for very long. Been like that since she was a kitten. Giving medicine to her would be a momentous task. However, she's so sick now, she even let me pick her up last night for just a minute.

This winter she was coughing a bit. Not much and I figured it was due to the dry gas heat that is new to my home. It bothered me a bit, too. The last month or so, I noticed that she wasn't eating a whole lot, mostly just licking the food's gravy and then taking just a bite or two. But she would scarf up all the treats I gave her. In the past several weeks, she has been sneezing, again just a bit, not all night or anything. No gunky eyes or nose. And she started eating even less and turned down the treats. Now she won't even lick the gravy and I can tell she's lost weight. And she smells bad, like rotten bad breath. My first thought is a bad tooth. But she has thrown up yellow water-like stuff, too. Would a bad tooth make her throw up? I can't get her to let me look in her mouth.

Despite all this she is still purring loudly and walking around the house, but kind of avoiding the steps. I guess she's a bit weak from no food. She sprawls out on the floor and is even still making biscuits.

Any ideas? Any tips on what I could do until we get to the vet? I sure hope they take me tomorrow. I have a notion to call again today after lunch even tho she said not to call until tomorrow. I can be persistent when my girl is sick.

Oh yeah, the 20 pound black tabby Fred is now jealous of my attention to Casper. LOL

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 8:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Jeep, I don't know if a bad tooth would cause her to throw up, but the yellow stuff is bile. And if she's not eating, that means there's nothing in her stomach TO throw up, so only stomach bile will come up.

I would try to get your little Casper to eat, if you can. Try using the CatSip that I used with Rosie. He finally realized it was yummy, and after he got used to drinking it they started to mix a bit of canned food in it. Then gradually he started getting interested in real food again.

If she's got an upset tummy, it's possible that something like Pepcid AC would help settle her. Ask you vet if you can give her a quarter table of Pepcid. If her tummy is feeling urpy that may be why she doesn't wanna eat.

Is she drinking water?

At any rate, I hope you get in to the vet today!!

CASPER!!!! Hugs to the little kitty! And kitty kisses from Costa and Kassie! :-)

Jeep
Member

10-17-2001

Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 8:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jeep a private message Print Post    
Costacat, I've never heard of CatSip. Do I have to get it from the vet?

I have seen her drink water, but not this am.

I did hear her tummy rumbling a week or so ago, so that could be it as well.

She has been soooooo healthy all her years. Never even a cold, so this is very unusual.

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 9:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ophiliasgrandma a private message Print Post    
Jeep, go to a different vet. Time is critical in small animals. And a vet who won't see a sick animal is useless.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 9:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
CatSip is a milk that's lactose free, so cats tolerate it well. You can get it at most grocery stores, as well as pet stores (including PetSmart). I think it has a taurine additive, so it's somewhat better than just water for your little girl.

Also, if she really does have a bad tooth, it's entirely possible that she's in a lot of pain, or that there is an infection. And if the infection is draining into her tummy, that maybe could cause the nausea, too.

I would take her to the emergency animal hospital if you can't get into your vet today. The fact that she's not eating and is losing weight is a bad sign. And sometimes the earlier you diagnose and treat a problem, the better. (I'd also reconsider your vet, if they won't clear space on the calendar for such a really sick kitty.)

Jeep
Member

10-17-2001

Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 11:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jeep a private message Print Post    
OK, got an appt at 2:45 this afternoon. I called again and a different lady answered. She was much nicer. By the time I get there, have her seen and take her home, I won't get back to work today. I'll let you know tomorrow what happened.

Thanks for the info!

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 11:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
Casper

I hope you get encouraging news, Jeep. And take care, Casper.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 4:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Good luck Jeep and Casper!!

Wendo
Member

08-07-2000

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 12:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wendo a private message Print Post    
Aw, Jeep. Sorry about your sick kitty. Looking forward to an update in the morning.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 1:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Jeep, hope they are able to find something simple to treat in Casper and she is on the road to recovery!

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 5:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Goddessatlaw a private message Print Post    
Jeep, sorry your kitty isn't feeling well. Hope it's nothing serious and the vet was able to help.

Regee
Member

10-09-2005

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 6:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Regee a private message Print Post    
How is Casper this morning. Hopefully feeling much better :-)

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 7:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Hey Jeep! I'm hoping Casper is doing better this morning! What did the vet say?

Jeep
Member

10-17-2001

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 7:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jeep a private message Print Post    
Now I remember why Casper hasn't been to the vet in so long (besides being healthy). This cat freaks out big time. I was able to put her in the carrier ok, but she instantly started screaming. She threw up twice getting there and had her paws bleeding a bit from clawing at the door. And she's declawed (another crazy story). She was so upset, she was actually panting. I thought she was going to have a heart attack before we even got there.

Vet said she was slightly dehydrated and he couldn't feel any mass in her body. Her teeth had lots of tartar, but no bad ones. Had to do blood work to check kidney, liver and blood sugar. OK. Casper screams at the top of her lungs, but it was only a few seconds to get the blood. She let me pat her head after that and she did start purring. Then I hear a loud bang! The centrifuge they were using blew up and Casper's blood went everywhere. They had to take blood again. Screaming resumes. This time Casper is gone a lot longer. The assistant finally brings her back and said she just didn't want to give it up again. Casper's panting loudly now and slobering from the mouth. I bend over to pat her head (she's cowering at the back of the carrier) and my back goes out! I can hardly move my right leg. For the next hour I try to calm Casper and walk-out the crink in my back & leg. I'm afraid to sit because I might not get back up. LOL

The vet comes in and says all the blood work is fine, everything is right down the middle of normal. Casper's in great shape! Right. He wants to do the fluid under the skin to help her with the dehydration and give her antibiotics as a precaution. I asked for a shot since I don't know if I can even get pills down Casper (have never had to). He said OK and he'd give her a slight steroid to help her feel better, too. Off goes Casper again, screaming and panting.

So, 2 1/2 hours and $115 later, I still don't know why she isn't eating. At least I know she doesn't have any kidney, liver or other physical problems. I hope it's a passing virus.

Anyway, she threw up again on the way home (vet said that was probably car sickness). When we got home she promptly crawled under a big piece of oak furniture and continued to pant and drool. I went to the store to give her some peace and quiet and she was walking around when I got back. She did not eat. This morning she was sprawled out in front of the gas stove and meowing like she was hungry, but she didn't come into the kitchen like she usually does when I'm fixing the food. She stuck her nose out from two feet away to smell the food and then just turned around. Wouldn't eat any treats either. Back to square one.

I'm not going to worry too much today since she had the fluids and shots yesterday. Tomorrow when I'm home all day, I'll keep a better eye on her and try to get her to eat something.

I'm racking my brain to try to think of something she might have gotten into in the house, but I can't think of anything that hasn't been there forever. I hope I go home today and she eats like a pig!

Thanks for all the well wishes!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 7:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Jeep, this is really farfetched, but... have you checked your gas heater for leaks? Maybe she's got gas poisoning?

Good luck on getting her to eat! We really had a problem with Rosie, but eventually he decided food was a good thing again. I do know they did manage to get a Pepcid AC into him; did you ask your vet if that would help Casper's nausea?

Maybe if you put food out for her, and just let her be, she'll decide to eat. Give her a smorgasbord of stuff to choose from! That worked with Rosie! :-)

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 9:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ophiliasgrandma a private message Print Post    
Check for carbon monoxide too.

Jeep
Member

10-17-2001

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jeep a private message Print Post    
I have a C02 detector. I think that would tell me if the stove is leaking. It's only a few months old and was leak tested then. But now you've got me wondering, especially since it is fairly new. I might just turn it off this weekend and see what happens.

Costacat, I thought of that this morning and left two different types of canned food out and three small bowls of dry food. Her treats were still on the floor, too. Trouble is, old fat Fred might scarf it all up. If he stops eating, then I know something's wrong in the house!

Regee
Member

10-09-2005

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 11:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Regee a private message Print Post    
Would Casper eat any tuna or shrimp or fish like sardines?

Just a thought!

Also wonder how Smudgie is doing, we haven't heard a word for a long time now :-(

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 11:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
jeep, if you have two cats and the other cat is not showing these symptoms, then i'd say it was not something environmental. i would separate your cats. give him some cat sip mixed with some mushed up tuna (usually a favorite). make sure there is plenty of water, and his own litter box so that you can see his eating/potty habits. as you said "old fat Fred" may be just being a bit too pushy, and casper may just not be getting his share.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 1:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Whoops. Didn't realize there was a second kid in the mix! If Fred isn't showing any symptoms, then yeah, it's probably not the gas stove. But I'd check it out anyways (it's possible little Casper can be more sensitive than Old Fat Fred).

But the symptoms Casper is showing are not just the result of Fred possibly eating more than his share. If Casper was throwing up, that's not a good sign. It's a sign of distress somewhere, somehow.

You may need to separate the two until you can get Casper to eat again.

Jeep
Member

10-17-2001

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 2:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jeep a private message Print Post    
Good ideas from everyone! I plan to keep a sharp eye on them both this weekend.

Regee, Casper would not eat "real" tuna the other day. That's when I really started to get worried.

Landi, I do have 2 litter boxes and Casper goes in the covered one. She does not have the runs, which is one good point.

I'm going to concentrate on the food now and watching them closely to see if Fred is being a bully. They are usually pretty good when I'm around, but that's not all day.

I just hope I go home tonight and all is back to normal.....whishfull thinking!

Nansco98
Member

03-06-2003

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 3:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nansco98 a private message Print Post    
I need some input on what to do with my three outdoor/indoor cats. My home was condemned due to Hurricane Rita, part of the roof was blown off and some of the inside walls moved. I have moved to a rental behind my house so the cats would not have to be moved. They come in every morning for breakfast and in the evening to eat supper. They still sleep in the laundry room at the old house. That part of the house is fine. I am fixing to tear the house down and re-build. Should I put the cats in their cage for a little bit and let them see the house being torn down. I was going to make sure they were in the rental house on the day this happens, but then I started thinking, they are going to go outside and there will be no house for them to see. There is a big parking lot next door that nobodys uses. I was going to take them over their to watch, and if they get upset being in the cage I will bring them back to the rental house. I feel kinda stupid letting the cats watch it being torned down, but I dont want to cause them distress not having their home the next day.

Shadoe
Member

11-04-2004

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 4:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Shadoe a private message Print Post    
Nansco, I was thinking about how cats like certain places for a reason. Maybe if you can salvage something from the laundry room that they seem to like, you can transplant it to the rental.
Even if it's a part of a wall or floor, it will have their scent attached, so it may help them get over the loss of their laundry sleeping room.

I don't know if I would want to watch something being demolished; maybe it would be better if they just find out later - now you see it, now you don't.
It may be more traumatic to watch it torn down than discover later that it's just gone. Maybe it's just a people thing to want to watch.