i am worried about him because he hasn't had an appetite and is very thin right now. i know he has had a rough couple of weeks.... coming from a home with too many cats and having the UTI, (which he is still taking antibiotics for) he caught the cold once he got to our house... probably because the change in atmosphere. he has only eaten 3 times since he got here 5 days ago and threw up 2 of the 3 meals..... should i be really worried, or are cats resilient.... will he bounce back once the UTI and cold have run their course? how long do UTI's last before the cat feels better??
2007-02-12 04:54:59 · 9 answers · asked by don't be rude. 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
geez, don't come down on me!!! the cat was at the vet for most of last week, and i have been in contact with the vet who said that the antibiotics take time to work, and who also said that a cold was normal.... i am just wanting to hear from people who may have had experience with feline UTI and colds.
2007-02-12 05:05:59 · update #1
I'm so sorry to hear that your kitty isn't feeling well! I understand - being the maid to 6 cats myself, I understand your concerns.
UTIs, technically known as Urinary Tract Infections, can go from 2 days to 2 weeks (for extreme cases). Your vet has probably prescribed Clavamox for kitty which will help to clear any infection that remains in the UTI.
What I would be most concerned with is if your kitty is not drinking enough. Cats can go for a day or two and not really eat. In the wild, they can go for days and not eat a decent meal. It's normal, and shouldn't really give you cause for concern. Cats are VERY resiliant, and your precious kitty should bounce back with no troubles.
Check with your vet over the phone to see if there are any possible side effects with the medication that your kitty is taking. Just as with humans, every animal may react differently to a particular course of medication. Sometimes nausea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, etc. are side effects from a medication, and if your cat is experiencing these, that's probably what it is. If the loss of appetite concerns you though, please call your vet to confirm that it is a side effect of the medication - to alleviate your worry about your friend.
What kind of food is your cat eating - when he eats at the moment? You want to look for a food with a low ash and a low magnesium content in it - regardless of wet or dry. I had a little guy, God rest his furry soul, who had chronic UTIs. I had him on a high fiber, low ash/magnesium diet and he seemed to be fine. Every once in a while, if they'll take it, a teeny bit of cranberry juice is good for a treat. Pregnant women, who get UTIs or commonly called bladder infections, are not able to take meds, and most MDs will recommend drinking cranberry juice to help 'flush' the infection without the aid of medication.
I hope that this has been helpful... let me know how your kitty feels - I hope he feels better soon!
All my kitties send your little guy a big MEOW!
2007-02-12 05:08:36 · answer #1 · answered by sscodenameisprinceton 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's probably on clavamox for the UTI which would more than likely take care of the upper respiratory infection. It's what we use at the shelter for cats with URI.
He isn't feeling well, which is why he isn't eating. Just be sure to make sure he is urinating. Straining and meowing as he's going or trying to go could be a sign that he's blocked or becoming blocked. Males are more prone to this than females, crystals in the urine block the urethra and don't allow urine to pass. This is life threatening if this happens to him, so just be more aware when he's using the litterbox that he is actually going to the bathroom.
Normally, an animal is on antibiotics for 10 - 14 days. He should be feeling somewhat better after 4 -5 days on the antibiotic. Finish all the medication and if there isn't a noticable change for the better by the time the 14 days are up, you'll need to give the vet a call back, he may want to see your cat again to reevaluate.
Was the cat sick when you got him from the shelter? Ask them if they had cats with URI's there and if those cats (and your cat) were on any medication. URI's in shelters run rampant, usually if one gets it, all of them in the same room get it.
2007-02-12 13:14:10 · answer #2 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your cat needs to build up his strength to fight the virus that is affecting him. The vet has a canned food called a/d which is high calorie with fat (one of few cat foods made with pork generally considered too rich for cats).
Cats will eat this when they will eat nothing else. You can also feed him from your finger many times a day to get the nutrition in him. When cats have "colds" or flu they frequently can't smell their food so you have to entice them to eat till they are better.
So consult with the vet if this might be a possible food choice for him. I feel the viral infection came with him. He should be doing much better in a home without so many other cats and he MUST eat.
I might suggest some flower essences for him if you want to email me and I can learn more about his present state of mind. Colds and flu do run there course and it may be just a matter of time till he recovers and feels better and there might be something in the flower essences to speed things along.
2007-02-12 13:21:31 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I adopted my cat from the shelter and she also came with a UTI, but I didn't know that until a month after we got her. She was on special food for 3 months to dissolve crystals. You should definitly try feeding her some canned food, put some on your pinky and get her to lick it off, then shove the bowl in front of her. I have to do that to my cat or else she won't eat/drink it. I also add a bit of extra water to the canned food, which helps get extra water into the system.
2007-02-12 13:36:03 · answer #4 · answered by hello 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had kitties with trouble with UTI. If they're caught in time, they will rebound pretty quickly. But you may have to retrain him to his litter box.
Now, I've never had a kitty with both a UTI and a cold at the same time. But since he's being treated, he will probably be all right. I sure hope the Shelter is helping you with the bills!
Good luck to you and your cat!
2007-02-12 14:49:21 · answer #5 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take him to the vet, he probably needs IV fluids, he could be getting dehydrated. I would especially worry because he was already having bladder problems and you want it keep flushing the bladder with fluids to keep it clean. (as in free of toxins, bacteria, etc) I'm surprised you didn't go to the vet already. If you ate and digested one meal in 5 days how would you be feeling? GO TO THE VET NOW! Animals don't 'bounce back' without proper care. They are no different than humans in this respect. As living beings how could your cat be okay for having eaten one 'meal' in 5 days? And all this while his body is trying to recuperate from in infection!
2007-02-12 13:03:05 · answer #6 · answered by lildi_32 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would take him back to the Vet because it's sounds like he's now suffering from and Upper Respiratory Infection as well as the UTI.
You don't want to let that go on without getting it treated.
Good luck, I hope kitty feels better real soon.
2007-02-12 13:06:33 · answer #7 · answered by gracieandlizzie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i got my cat from the shelter he also had a cold. He took meds for about 2 weeks and got better. with ur case, i really don't know what to say. U HAVE TO make sure that he eats something. Hopefully things will get better for u and ur poor little kitty : (
2007-02-12 18:31:21 · answer #8 · answered by cheer_chic 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DID YOU TAKE THE POOR THING TO A VET?????
2007-02-12 13:06:03 · answer #9 · answered by November 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋