Cat health question, please help experienced cat owners or vets?

Question

My cat has been sleeping too much for the past couple of days. Sleeping and not getting up even for things he loves, like the printer sound or food sound. He eats, but only his favourite food when he gets very hungry - normally he keeps asking for food all the time. He accepts that I hold him for a long time, which he usually doesn't. His breath is a little quick and I can hear him breath, like his nose is a little stuffed, but not visibly.
He is a male 3 years old. We went to the vet yesterday. He had a blood test, no problem with kidneys or liver. His lungs don't sound like having a problem. He doesn't have fever, although his temp is a little higher than usually and hs ears are warm. He has no fleas or worms. The vet couldn't find something wrong, but the cat looks very sick (very tired, he doesn't move at all for hours). Any ideas? Could he have a cold? Is that common, like with humans, just a cold which is not serious, or do you think he may have some serious problem? and where?

Answer 1

This sounds exactly, and I mean exactly, what my favorite cat went through a few weeks ago. Like you, I took him to the vet. The vet did tests but could find nothing. He ended up putting fluids into him not once, but twice (two different days) and gave me two different medicines to give him. Unbeknownst to him, I did not give my cat either medicine. My cat recovered completely and is better than ever now.

I'm not sure but I think having the fluids put into him helped a lot. Cats won't eat or drink when they are sick and they need to at least drink. It's very difficult, my vet said, to get enough fluids into a cat to do any good at home. (Such as using a syringe to inject water into the mouth). You might go this route, because you don't want the cat to dehydrate while he fights the virus he undoubtedly has.

Hope you get a good recovery like I did!

Answer 2

There are almost too many diseases/illnesses of cats that have these symptoms, to list. On the good side of things, the fact that the blood test values are all within their normal range, would eliminate most of them.

However, the lethargy, anorexia, and warm ears would say to me that the cat is stressed physically. Is it possible that he has injured himself and is in pain? Has your vet considered a heart abnormality? Cats with cardiomyopathy often go undiagnosed until they collapse. Nothing will show on blood tests, although if an x-ray is taken the right way, enlarged hearts can be detected. But that is not always a feature of cardiac problems.

The other poster is correct. The cat needs fluids. If this has gone on for a couple of days, I would either go back to your vet or seek a second opinion. They will be able to tell if the cat is dehydrated and may either keep him in the clinic on IV fluids, or give him some under the skin and send him home, to be checked again the next day.

Answer 3

Has your lifestyle changed in any way? Have you moved, re arranged your furniture, changed bedding? Has your cat lost a friend? Any of these things can upset/depress your cat. If none of the changes have occured then it is a possibility that your kitty has a cold. One of my girls gets the same way when she is feeling under the weather or gets depressed. All she wants to do is lay around (on me when possible) which is completely out of the norm. Just give him lots of love and special attention, he should get better in a few days. If after a week you don't see any improvement then call your vet and voice your concerns. Try getting a new toy or blanket for him, maybe some turkey baby food, anything that may perk him back up. Good Luck to you and your kitty!

Answer 4

awww.... that is so sad. I hate not knowing what is wrong with my pets. I wish they could just tell me. My first concern would be to make sure the food he is getting isn't any of the ones that have been recalled lately. There are many pets getting sick from those foods.
Otherwise, I would assume it would be some sort of flu or something. You did the right thing taking him to the vet.
If he isn't better in a few days, I would take him back for a recheck.
Good luck. I hope he gets better soon.

Answer 5

He maybe just going through a funk so to speak. If the vet checked him and he is OK with his blood work I wouldn't worry to much. Keep your eye on him for a while and see how he does. Don't be afraid to call the vet if he gets worse and if you aren't happy with the results find another vets opinion. Good Luck

Answer 6

Vet said just take him home? Maybe your cat is enjoying the springtime sun. If nothing in your or his routine has changed maybe that's what it is. Try spending time with him, 20 min. in the morning and at night and just pet him or play with him. Even if he doesn't like to be held you can join him on the floor and see how he is.

Answer 7

It might be something not very serious, but I would keep pestering your vet, try another vet, whatever, until he gets better or you get some answers. Definitely take him back if he's not any better in a day or two.

Answer 8

If it were me I would take him to a different vet. I would have him checked for an upper respiratory infection. If he is acting different then usual and you know it then I would get a second opinion. Good luck.

Answer 9

Make sure your kitty has plenty of water. Sometime, she may be coming down with something, just allow the immune system to do the fighting. Just don't worry, just give her TLC. and talk to her and reassure her.
She will come around soon.
Good Luck...!!!

Answer 10

Sounds like a wee bit of cold or flu. That's how I act when I have one.