Needing cat advice

[missdiane]

For the seasoned cat folks on here, I need to know whether to give JuneBug more time before toting her back in. She ate well after getting home and only started to slow down about 3am-ish (yeah, I know, weird feeding times but who knows when I can get these two adjusted if I ever can). They were all smaller meals and with some, I added in pumpkin.

She did well not vomiting...I think? but she still has regular loose poo in the box. I say "I think" since sometime between 8-10pm, one of the two of them horked up a big hairball with a little tummy acid but that could have been either of them. I was out cold since I was completely exhausted. I fed them around 11 which is their usual time and everything seemed fine.

There was another not great deposit in the box at the feeding near 3 and Junie had slowed down but did finish since I had been sprinkling on fortiflora to help her tummy.

Normally she pesters me about 5 or 6am wanting treats but she didn't get up. When I got up about 6:20, she was still lounging in the tree but did climb down and move to the bed. She didn't look comfortable but didn't throw up. She didn't ask for food and I didn't offer. I left for work about 7:10 and turned on the cameras when I got there where I saw that she'd moved back up to the tree. I figured she probably used the box but when I got home, along with the box being used (both pee and what was at one time squishy poo), there were also two small puddles of tummy acid. Since she was just climbing down from the tree when I came in, this had to happen sometime before 7:30am and there wasn't anything else until I got home about 11:30am.

I called the vet I went to yesterday since they said to call if she started vomiting again and all they could really tell me was to bring her back in for I guess more anti-nausea and/or adding some anti-diarrhea meds. Unfortunately, my neck is currently in spasm and it was hard enough driving home without really being able to turn my head. Emily has offered if I need that she'll drive us out there.

I'm wondering whether to wait a little longer to see if she starts feeling better? She did want food when I got home, so I took a little bit of one of their foods and mixed it with the pumpkin/ginger/turmeric blend that's for cats and again put some fortiflora on top. It was only about a tablespoon-ish and she ate about 2/3 of it. Currently she's back up in the top of the tree and sleeping. While she does seem uncomfortable and tired, I don't know if I'd classify it as "distress" so I don't know what I should do. I expect to have litterbox issues since I've been through the IBD battle before but the vomiting is what bothers me.

Comments

[halfmoon_mollie1]

If you talked to 'them' and she isn't vomiting, I think I'd wait. But then of course you run the chance of her coming up with symptoms in the middle of the night.

[missdiane]

She did vomit the stomach acid this morning and so didn't go 24 hours since they gave her the anti-nausea med. Although I wish they'd have given her an anti-diarrhea and/or perhaps a steroid shot for the suspected inflammation while I was there. I should have pressed for that.

If it's in the middle of the night, the place I took her is a 24/7 vet. It's not ideal but it is an option though I'd hate to bother Emily for that.

It doesn't help that we have storms coming.

[halfmoon_mollie1]

Well then. Take her now. Because YOUR mental state here is important. You need to be able to deal with what's going on.

YMMV.

[missdiane]

I'm glad I took her but I have a sinking feeling about the prognosis. She's going to be hanging out overnight and get another ultrasound in the morning.

Good thing I never take vacations. Oooooooof

[noachoc]

I dunno. It's so hard to tell with cats. Me, if she's keeping actual food down and stool is loose but contained to the litter box (that is, she's not having accidents), I'd probably keep feeding wet food with some added water (to help with dehydration) and pumpkin mixed in and give her another day. Irritatingly, cats respond to stress of going-to-vet with similar symptoms sometimes, so I try not to bring mine unless things seem to be getting worse, but also I'm not there and I'm not seeing what you're seeing. (Also I haven't read your prior post yet) <3

[missdiane]

If it weren't for the fact that she is still vomiting bile, I would've just given more time. My friend helped me get her for her hotel stay. Good thing I'm not planning on buying a car or anything anytime soon

[noachoc]

Ah, gotcha. Keeping her, and you, in my thoughts. <3

[threecee]

I usually stop feeding mine until the vomiting stops for a few hours and then start with small amount of something very bland like Purina Purely stewed chicken in unflavored broth. If that stays down until the next meal time, then we go back to normal. For diarrhea, sometimes mixing in a little cooked rice helps, if the vet approves.

"Uncomfortable" is a tricky word with cats because they are so stoic. I think I would call my vet about the emergency vet diagnosis and treatment and see if she wants to prescribe anything else or see Junie.

[missdiane]

They suggested I bring her in and when she started pacing from box to box and then kept looking like she was going to vomit at any time, I knew that this cycle wasn't about to stop without intervention.

Kiddo has an overnight stay for observation and another ultrasound tomorrow. Yes it's costing a mint but there wasn't any way I could bring her home, try to fast her overnight and wrangle her back. I'm already brain dead and have a frozen neck from the activity

[threecee]

Yeah, too many trips close together and she will really rebel at even coming in grabbing distance. Not to mention the wear and tear on you.

I hope they get Junie better soon.

[missdiane]

Emily got a battle scar. We had to get her out of the top of the tree and since I couldn't reach up safely with my neck, Emily gave it a go and with Junie's flailing, her back claw nicked Emily's chin pretty good.

If I don't get a call by 9am, I'm going to check in and see when things are planned for today, though I don't know if flooding issues in the area might be delaying things.

Evidently Junie has low cholesterol which the first vet didn't catch? Google doesn't tell me much about ranges or anything but most likely options are GI disease or possibly cancer. If it's the latter, we'll set a plan for palliative care. Either way I'm thinking I'm going to have to figure out how to give pills and possibly shots.

[threecee]

Emily is a good friend! Not everyone would wrangle a cat into a carrier.

I hope Junie doesn't have anything that can't be cured. If you have to give pills, my only suggestions are: Feline Greenies Pill Pockets or a pill shooter. Either makes it easier to give a pill with only five hands.