Sick cat?

Hi,

Today my cat started exhibiting some strange symptoms and I am wondering if she is sick. First, she had three bowel movements within 6 hours which is very high as far as I know. She is an indoor/outdoor cat so it's possible she goes this many times while outside but I highly doubt it.

Second, I noticed her shaking her head a bunch and scratching at her ear more than normal.

Third, later in the night, she came in and immediately began scooting and trying to get whatever was on her butt off. Turns out it was feces. All over. Yay for me. So, I put her back outside for a bit, hoping she would clean it off but no luck. It seems like after she came back in it was worse - and with some twigs stuck in there too.

So, I've put her in the bathroom. I attempted to remove the smeared fur with some scissors (something I've had to do before given that she's a medium hair) but any time I come near the area she gets very defensive and swats at me like she means it (she's usually an aggressive player but this was some strong batting) and hissed a couple of times.

While in there, she used the litter box to pee with no observable pain. However, when done she went to scratch her ears again and let out some small sounds of discomfort while doing so.

So in sum:

Frequent, messy bowel movements
Ear twitch/itch and head shaking
Irritability (though I am not sure if this is a result of the other symptoms or part of the problem)

She is up to date on flea meds and vaccinations as far as I know (she has a regular vet and they always let me know when she needs to come in).

Does it sound like she's sick or just had a small bout of diarrhea, got it on herself, and is defensive about anyone cleaning it off?

Thanks much,
Josh

Could be something like worms, impacted anal glands, or something more serioius. Hard to say. Is she vaccinated? I would contact your vet just to be safe and get her in for a fecal.

Hi josh,

Your cat is obviously uncomfortable... The butt dragging can be a series of things, including impacted anal glands, which is what sounds like to me, and it can be painful... Simple fix by a vet, but if not fixed, it can rupture and get inflamed...
It also sounds like she can have an ear infection.

The problem with cats is that they are notorious for hiding pain and disease - so when they show symptoms, you can bet things are somewhat advanced... especially pain... If a cat is showing that it hurts, it is because it really REALLY hurts.

Please do not delay vet care for her... I do not think this will be serious, but necessary, and yes, if not taken can become serious...

This morning I came in to find that she had vomited several times. I'm calling the vet now.

Please take her in as soon as possible... And please keep us posted...

Glad you are getting to the vet and please update us when you can

Glad you're getting the vet and I hope you get good news. I'm sure the vet will be glad you're able to supply such a good description of unusual activity by your cat. Please let us know what happens.

Thanks everyone for the support and advice.

The vet said there appears to be nothing seriously wrong. She is pretty sure Keenan (the cat) just got into something she shouldn't have. I was sent home with an antiemetic and general antibiotic for stomach/intestinal issues. She did a blood panel that came up clean and the fecal panel results will be in tomorrow.

For now, she is eating and drinking fine with no incident - though getting her to eat the chewable antibiotic is proving challenging.

Thanks again.

do you have pill pockets?

Originally Posted by Subblue586

Thanks everyone for the support and advice.

The vet said there appears to be nothing seriously wrong. She is pretty sure Keenan (the cat) just got into something she shouldn't have. I was sent home with an antiemetic and general antibiotic for stomach/intestinal issues. She did a blood panel that came up clean and the fecal panel results will be in tomorrow.

For now, she is eating and drinking fine with no incident - though getting her to eat the chewable antibiotic is proving challenging.

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

If the chewable antibiotic is metronidazole... forget it... My vet also gave these to me... Yes, supposed to be chewed, but metro is SO bitter, that nothing masks that taste.
Anyways, what I do, is wrap the pill on pill pockets and pill the kitty. I do not give it as treats, especially with the chewable one, as if she bites into it, she will fill the bitterness, and immediately spit it off. Yes, it will make a big pill, do not worry, it will go down her throat...
So, wrap the pill int pill pocket ans stick as far back on her throat as you can. I had a syringe filled with water, and as soon as i did that, I squirted some water on her mouth, to help the pill to go down.

Pill pockets are sold pretty much everywhere - make sure to get the ones for cats; the dog ones are huge.

This way there was no foaming, no spitting, and no problems... The syringe you get in any pharmacy for oral meds, or on the baby isle...

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Carolina

If the chewable antibiotic is metronidazole... forget it... My vet also gave these to me... Yes, supposed to be chewed, but metro is SO bitter, that nothing masks that taste.

Click to expand...

Taken it yourself or is that just your observation by how much cats hate it?
I have taken it, it is a terrible tasting med (and had some potentially serious side effects for me) - actually all antibiotics tend to be terrible tasting.

Pill pockets or try to pill it down the cat like a regular pill.

I hope this clears things up. Did they ever look at her ears? It could be unrelated to the current diarrhea, but since you do use a monthly flea treatment she shouldn't have earmites. That could point at either an ear problem or infection.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Taken it yourself or is that just your observation by how much cats hate it?
I have taken it, it is a terrible tasting med (and had some potentially serious side effects for me) - actually all antibiotics tend to be terrible tasting.

Pill pockets or try to pill it down the cat like a regular pill.

I hope this clears things up. Did they ever look at her ears? It could be unrelated to the current diarrhea, but since you do use a monthly flea treatment she shouldn't have earmites. That could point at either an ear problem or infection.

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Of course I noticed how much each of them hated it ,and decided to have a taste... MAN... NASTY! It took a LONG time to wash that taste off my tongue! awful. I tasted clindamicyn, but really, nothing comes close to metronidazole. So... to answer your question... Yes, I tasted myself.

Originally Posted by Carolina

Of course I noticed how much each of them hated it ,and decided to have a taste... MAN... NASTY! It took a LONG time to wash that taste off my tongue! awful. I tasted clindamicyn, but really, nothing comes close to metronidazole. So... to answer your question... Yes, I tasted myself.

Click to expand...

I'm willing to bet that there's not many people on here... adventurous enough to taste test their cats meds!

Her ear issue seems to have went away as well.

Well, I went ahead and bought some of the pill pockets but they are both too small to hold the chewable and to big to force down her throat. Here's my question for you all though: She seems to be doing just fine now - should I keep giving her the antibiotics (I've tried with three of them, haven't been able to get any down)?

Originally Posted by Subblue586

Her ear issue seems to have went away as well.

Well, I went ahead and bought some of the pill pockets but they are both too small to hold the chewable and to big to force down her throat. Here's my question for you all though: She seems to be doing just fine now - should I keep giving her the antibiotics (I've tried with three of them, haven't been able to get any down)?

Click to expand...

Yes, the pill pockets seems this but it is not really the case... It is pliable, you can mold it around the pill. I know the one you have is a big pill - mine was too... (the chewable flavored metronidazole) Flaten the pill pockets down in between your fingers, put the pill on the top of it, then mold it around it.
Then you pill her - I thought it was big too, until I saw my vet doing it... They can take big pills too. get a water syringe and squirt some water on her mouth immediately after so it is easier to go down.
If you are afraid of doing that, go back to your vet and get regular sized pills, not chewable.
Yes, you need to give her the antibiotics.