I need advice about a really sick cat.

Hi everybody, long time no see

I'm on a vacation, visiting my mother-in-law right now, and she has got this three year old male cat which is very sick. Hes got eewwwy stuff coming out his nose, and sometimes his mouth. I don't think its snot, I'm pretty sure it's pus (if that is the correct word?). The amount of pus is almost unbelievable, and he is having a very hard time breathing as this clog up in his nostrils.
They took him to the vet yesterday, and he thought the cat might have a straw of grass stuck in his nose, but he is in too poor condition to operate on right away. The vet put him on penicillin and scheduled an x-ray appointment on Monday. He also told us to bring him in right away if he gets any worse.

My problem is: how do I know if he gets worse? He is very lethargic, and hasn't been eating, drinking or been to the bathroom in almost two days now. To mee that seems like the final station before death...

I've used nosedrops (is that the correct word?) to soften the dried pus on his nose, and I've been able to remove most of it, so now he breaths easier. And there seems to be less pus coming from his nose. I've also been force feeding him Hill's Prescription a/d mixed with water.

Does anyone know what I should look for to know if he gets worse? And how much water/food should I force feed him? I'm afraid to give him too much since he isn't using the toilet...


This is how he looked like earlier today, but he is doing better now.

And one more thing: he is an asmathic cat that is allergic to cigarett smoke, and my mother-in-law is a heavy smoker... I'm thinking this could be the reason if it turns out not to be a straw in the nose. Any ideas about that?

 

Oh my goodness, poor kitty. I'm so sorry Bente. I don't have any suggestions. I sure hope the Vet can help him. Is there anywhere else you could keep him away from the cigarettes smoke?

Please keep us posted.

 

Wow is all I can say. This poor guy.
Are you using Baby nasal spray? Use that I think it is called Little Ones as it's only saline solution - no chemicals.
A good food to syringe feed him is the AD mixed with Pedialyte and some NutraCal mixed in. Will keep him hydrated and the NutraCal will give more nutrients.
This poor guy - I hope you can make him stronger for a surgery.
He must be miserible

 

Thanks Halaroo and Mary!

It's not a nasal spray, but more like nasal drops (?), with only saline solution.
I'm not sure if Pedialyte and NutraCal are available here in Norway, but maybe I can find something similiar. The farmacy is closed for today though.

Mary: is it possible to feed him too much? And do you know how much and how often I should feed him?

He has been lying in the same spot all day, just sleeping. And I'm really afraid he'll get worse without me noticing :?

 

with fostering they tell us if we can get 1/4 cup of that mixture into a cat per day they will maintain. If he's a large cat perhaps more. Go slowly though as you don't want him to end up with the food in his lungs. If he can't breathe through his nose he might end up swallowing the food wrong.
Are you familar with what we (or at least I) call Booger Snatchers? They are the little bulb things used for newborn babies to help keep their noses clear. You squeeze the bulb and put the end of it at the end of a nostril and then let go of the bulb. It'll suck anything in the nose right out (and here I am eating lunch :y_the_best: )
Try one of those. They work really well. Might help at least before you feed him it'll offer some relief for him to swallow food

 

Thanks alot Mary I'll see if I can get my hands on one of those booger snatchers tomorrow, that's a great tip. He seems to be clogging up again, but he also seems more alert. He actually put up a fight when I tried to whipe his nose. I'll take that as a good sign :wink:

 

Hi Bente. Poor guy. Just wanted to wish him all the best. You got some good advice from Mary_NH. Keep us posted. That picture was worth a thousand words. He must be miserable. I'm glad he has you to take care of him until he goes back to the vet.

 

Poor little kitty. Thinking of him and hoping he'll improve. Big cyber hugs for the both of you.

 

how's he doing?

 

Thanks for all the sympathy I've been super busy, so I haven't had time to post untill now. We actually left my mother-in-law on Saturday, so I haven't seen him since then. But we have been in contact with them and they said he was doing a little better: still difficult to breathe, but he was eating and drinking a bit on his own yesterday. And his x-ray is just about now, so it'll be exciting to hear what they have to say later today.

 

Yes, please keep us posted.

 

We just talked to my bf's step-father, and the vet had decided to wait with x-ray/surgery until the cat is better. So he is on penicillin for another week now. I don't understand it, but hey, I'm not a vet...
At least he will eat and drink on his own now

 

Hi Bente. Well, I'm sure they think it's best for him to wait. I'm glad he is feeling better now that the antibiotic is helping his infection.

 

Oops, I just noticed that I mistaked Sunset for Halaroo earlier in this post... I'm sorry Sunset I guess I was in a hurry :wink: