Strange Symptoms Hit Hard and Fast, Quickly Dissapeared

snipsnip!

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Wow! I'm usually not one to join a forum and ask a question on the same day, but I figured that some of you would be interested in this doozy! We had a crazy day today, to say the least.

Our young adult cat had a sudden attack of violent puking and simultaneous diarrhea - and when I say violent, I mean explosive and uncontrolled. She sounded like she may have been in pain because of the frantic meowing in between. This episode lasted about 20 minutes as she ran about the house, trying to hide - very scared - just eliminating her bowels and stomach all over.

It was EXTREMELY terrifying. I spent the whole episode on the phone with a local emergency veterinarian and explained the symptoms - he told me there was nothing we could do until it had been 24 hours. I freaked out, assuming that my cat was dying of poisoning. He told me to call him back in a few hours if I insisted on the emergency treatment.

Well, 20 minutes later our young cat settled down a bit, presenting symptoms of rapid breathing, confusion, and general weakness. Ten minutes after that she started moving around again, still weak and wobbly. In another ten minutes she actually took a few drinks of water. An hour goes by and she's back to her normal self, very affectionate and energetic - eating well.

What the heck could cause such a VIOLENT, EXTREME reaction like the one she had? And whats more, how could she bounce back so quickly after being so violently ill? I've owned cats my whole life and NEVER seen anything like it!

Her symptoms looked so much like poisoning, but the only thing that I found in her vomit was a large piece of dryer lint. Could the fabric softener residue on the lint have caused such a short-term poisoning?

Cat Facts: She is a 2 year old spayed female, exclusively indoors, and eats the same medium-grade dry kibble that she has eaten for about a year now. I am fairly positive that the incident was not related to food intolerance since she ate it fine after the puking and such. She is completely fine now, but I will take her in to the vet for her usual checkup anyways - but I doubt they'll be able to pinpoint the cause of the episode by then. I just thought I'd solicit the opinions and stories of thecatsite community to see if anybody is as flabbergasted as I am!
 

farleyv

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Oh my goodness how frightening!!

I will say I don't think much of the vet you spoke with. He is an "emergency" vet? What would he call an emergency???

I hope you get to the bottom of this. You do have a regular vet? IMO, I would still take her in to be checked.

I can imagine how awful that was for you all.
 

momto3boys

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Wow....that would have been so scary.

I'm glad she's acting normal again but I agree, I would take her to her regular vet for a check up.
 

stephanietx

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Your kitty could've ingested something that didn't sit well with her, but to rule out anything else, I'd recommend a trip to the vet for a good check up.
 

bastetservant

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I'd take her to your regular vet for a check up. AND, I'd research a different emergency vet "service" for possible future needs. What's the matter with that guy you talked to? Ridiculous! (among other things, but I try to be nice.)

Glad your kitty is OK now, and hope she stays that way. I'd search the house very carefully to see if she could have gotten into anything


Robin
 

ritz

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I'd hazard a guess--emphasis on guess-that the dryer fabric sheet could be the culprite, especially if scented. And I agree with you and all the other posters ("OP"), one take the cat to your regular vet for an examination and two, find another emergency vet. Let us know what if anything your normal vet finds. I'd be a *little* concerned about some type of obstruction.
 

auntie crazy

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Cats sometimes eliminate their bladder and/or bowels when they are extremely scared. It's possible that your pretty little girl had a reaction to ingesting the dryer lint that caused the violent vomiting, and the intense fear that reaction generated caused the pooping.

Like just about everyone else, I'm in total agreement that a visit to your regular vet at your earliest opportunity is in order, as well as obtaining a new emergency vet right after that.

<<<Hugs>>> for having to go through such an incredibly scary experience, especially with the total lack of veterinarian support. I can only imagine how desperate you were. I'm so glad you're kitty is feeling better and I hope you never see something like that again!

AC
 

mrblanche

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Keep in mind the active ingredient in a dryer sheet would be an oil, but I can't imagine your cat getting enough of it to cause those problems.
 

taterbug

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Yikes! If she vomited dryer lint, then I'd be worried about a blockage. I also agree with everyone else....a visit to the vet would be a good idea.
 

feralvr

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Welcome and WOW all in one
. It always shocks me at the items cats will try to eat
. This is definitely what caused this distress and pain for your kitty.
How terrifying for you and her and even more so that you were told by the emergency that you had to wait twenty four hours
isn't an emergency vet open all day and night. All I can say is thank God your kitty expelled that lint sheet on her own. I would find another emergency clinic and bring this up with my regular vet about what you were told. for your kitty to keep feeling better.
 
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