Help! Sick cat advice

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cseemeuk@googlemail.com - 08 Mar 2006 20:20 GMT

Hi,

We've rehomed a cat 5 days ago (from an RSPCA approved sanctuary) and
have noticed some problems. The cat is a 7 year old female black and
white one (no particular breed) and is exhibiting the following
problems:

* She has blood in her poo. This is a small amount of fresh red blood.
She appears to be straining pretty hard when pooing as well.

* She is sneezing quite badly.

* The cat sits in a box all day hiding and not eating particularly
much. There is no pattern to eating and it doesn't seem excited about
food at all.

* Since getting the cat, my 2 year old daughter has started vomiting
and has had odd stools really bad. She is off her food as well (apart
from sweet things). I don't know if this is related or not.

The sanctuary have said there was nothing wrong with the cat but I have
my suspicions that they didn't check properly.

Any help as to how to deal with this appreciated!!! If all else fails,
it's back to the sanctuary as we can't afford to look after a cat which
is ill and needs expensive vetinary care.

Thanks.

Chris Smith

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Ivor Jones - 08 Mar 2006 23:01 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> afford to look after a cat which is ill and needs
> expensive vetinary care.

What does your vet say..?

Irrespective of cost or anything else, the *first* consideration for the
cat's health and welfare is a vet. Get her there *now* and worry about the
cost afterwards. Any reputable vet will come to an arrangement with you
about payments if you are not particularly well off (no shame in that).

Get to the vet NOW..!!!!!

Ivor

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Barnabas - 09 Mar 2006 00:15 GMT

> * She has blood in her poo. This is a small amount of fresh red blood.
> She appears to be straining pretty hard when pooing as well.

Get thyself and thy cat down to the vet ASAP.

> * Since getting the cat, my 2 year old daughter has started vomiting
> and has had odd stools really bad. She is off her food as well (apart
> from sweet things). I don't know if this is related or not.

Probably not but i'd get her to a doctor to have it checked out.

Why would you get rid of the cat if it is sick? Would you get rid of
your
daughter if she got a cold/the flu?

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NanCe - 09 Mar 2006 01:05 GMT

>* She has blood in her poo. This is a small amount of fresh red blood.
> She appears to be straining pretty hard when pooing as well.

Could just be from a change in diet but should be checked out.

>* She is sneezing quite badly.

Could be an upper respiratory infection (is NOT transferable to humans) that
has recurred due to the stress of moving to a new home.

>* The cat sits in a box all day hiding and not eating particularly
>much. There is no pattern to eating and it doesn't seem excited about
>food at all.

She may not be excited about food because she is nervous from just moving
into a new home and not feeling well; if her nose is stuffed up, she can't
smell food as well and cats rely on smell quite a bit. Do not let her go
without eating at all as this can be dangerous and cause liver disease.

>* Since getting the cat, my 2 year old daughter has started vomiting
>and has had odd stools really bad. She is off her food as well (apart
>from sweet things). I don't know if this is related or not.

Doubt it. The only things a person can get from a cat are toxoplasmosis,
ringworm and roundworms, but you would know if the cat had ringworm as she
would have bald patches. As for toxoplasmosis and roundworms, if the cat had
either of these, your daughter would have had to eat the cat's feces to get
them.

>The sanctuary have said there was nothing wrong with the cat but I have
>my suspicions that they didn't check properly.

Agreed, the sanctuary should not have adopted her out if she wasn't feeling
well but perhaps she was feeling well there and the new home has caused a
recurrance of her respatory infection. This can be remedied by taking her to
a vet and getting medication, if needed. Ask the sanctuary if they will
reimburse your adoption fee so that you may use the funds for the cat's care.

>Any help as to how to deal with this appreciated!!! If all else fails,
>it's back to the sanctuary as we can't afford to look after a cat which
>is ill and needs expensive vetinary care.

It's too bad you feel this way. It is hard for a 7 year old cat to get a
home. She may have made a wonderful pet once she was feeling better. If you
end up getting a different cat, what happens if she gets ill in the future
and needs vet care? Will you be able to afford it then?

NanCe

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