Cat in snow for 4 days. What to do?

Question

We have a 8 month old cat that got outside and it was lost in the snow for 4 days. We found him tonight he was a little sunken in and he ate well. We have his brother inside who was going crazy while he was lost.

I am wondering if he should go to the vet after surviving 4 days of negative temps. and snow? Can he get distemper or any other illnesses and bring them into our home to his brother or worse yet one of us? I have a 7 month old baby who adores this cat but I am afraid to let the baby play with the cat since it was out in that kind of weather incase he is ill or brought something back home.

So take him to the vet? Yes or no?

TIA!

Answer 1

Cats are amazingly tough creatures. There are many of them living outdoors in our rural area. They can pick up more things when they go outdoors. I have a 10 yr old cat and take it to the vet for the feline leukemia shot each year and rabies every 3 years. Every 3-6 months I give him Drontal (actually get the vet's helper to do it) to get rid of parasites. The vet says all cats have parasites and children can catch them from animals. Also the animals' fur picks up worms and germs and your child can get them from the fur. I wash my hands every time I pet my cat. I remember having worms as a child and never want to experience that again!

Also the vet recommends neutering the male cats when they are still young.

Cat doesn't need to see a vet from being outdoors, but do make sure he gets the deworming treatment and do be careful about letting kids play with them.

Answer 2

I would definitely take your cat to the vet for a checkup after his outdoor adventure. He could have gotten into many types of chemicals and poisons in the outdoors with all the sanding and salting that goes on during storms.

It is always safer to spend the money on a vets appointment and be sure that your pet is fine after one of these adventures. You are very intelligent to keep the cat away from your baby until he gets a clean bill of health.

I am glad that you found your cat, and hope that everything will be fine for him. Have a good night.

Answer 3

final year at approximately this time my sister's cat went lacking. She's an exceedingly timid cat, and many times would not leave the backyard. She became up 4 weeks later and a pair of streets away, my niece had positioned flyers by doorways and somebody called her. my very very own cat did a similar some years back - we discovered her almost 2 weeks later, she had fallen in the process the roof of an old shed and hadn't been waiting to get out. She'd survived by ability of catching mice and eating rainwater.We have been strolling around the neighbourhood calling out to her, and that i heard her mewing back. the two one in each of them have been very drained, skinny and slightly bedraggled, yet they the two recovered in some days. they're very resilient animals. Does your cat have a collar or a microchip? if so then i might say no information is sweet information, because of the fact if he'd been in an twist of destiny then somebody might have permit you comprehend. do no longer problem too lots yet.Wait an afternoon or 2 and then positioned up some posters and positioned flyers by doorways asking people to checklist in the event that they see him, and to envision cellars and outhouses in case he's been close in. i comprehend how annoying it incredibly is while this occurs, you experience so helpless which you will no longer help him. i'm hoping you have some good information quickly.

Answer 4

If a Vet visit is not out of your pocket book range, it wouldn't hurt to have him checked. Distemper is more a warm weather disease, I believe. Rabies would be the one I would be more concerned about, if you live in a place with a lot of raccoons. He will probably only want to eat and sleep for a while. Look for patches of white, that could indicate frost bite. This is something the Vet could also check a bit better than you. Especially the ear tips, pads and nose. My Siamese lost part of his ear when he was lost in a blizzard. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Im so sorry your poor cat got lost for 4 days in the snow. Poor thing. If it were my cat., I would just call the vet to ease your mind. Maybe he should be checked just in case as 4 days is a long time to be out in the cold. Your vet will know best. Especially because you have a baby. Its just best to be on the safe side. Good-luck sweety and God Bless!

Answer 6

Most anything the cat could have picked up would be SPECIES specific, meaning it can be passed on to your other cat, but not to humans. Your cat would have to come in contact with an infected cat while outdoors and in that weather I expect there were not too many other cats around. Check your kitty for wounds, the most likely transfer of infection would be through a cat fight and through a wound. You might want to take him to the vet for a look over just to make sure all is well and he does not have a fever or infection.

Answer 7

Yes take him to the vet for a checkup. He could have picked up a virus or ringworm, earmites, so many things out there and be incubating it, and not show any signs yet and he can pass it on to other cats. You would need to worry about frostbite on his extremeties too so have the vet check. Also a vitamin tonic shot wouldn't hurt to get him back to health is a good idea.

Answer 8

Definately take the cat to a vet. Not only could he have gotten distemper or worms or other illnesses, but he could've gotten hypothermia or even some frostbite on his paws or pads of his paws that your can't see. Think of it this way... if it were your baby missing for 4 days in cold and below zero temps would youo take him/her? Of course you would! Good luck!

Answer 9

Yes! And as soon as you can but while your mom or you are driving in the car or anyone who is driving bring a really warm blanket just in case for the cat because the cat might get really cold again

Answer 10

Definitely make a trip to the vet. The same thing happened to our cat a few years ago and thank goodness we took her in - she developed a respiratory infection that could have kille her if we hadn't taken her in.