Tuesday 11/5/2013 8:00AM My cat isn't eating or going to the bathroom and is laying around crying

I woke up this morning to find throw up all over the floor.  My cat tried to use the bathroom but couldn't.  Then, I fed him and the other cats and he wouldn't eat.. he just layed there and cried.

My Fiance says that he's just sick like a kid, that he will be ok, just to give him 24 hours and he will be fine.

I don't know how to convince him we need to take Sammy to the Vet.  He refuses to listen to me.

Can you take him to the vet yourself? 


If he can't use the bathroom (when he tries), it might be some UTI-related. Sounds like you need to take him to the vet now!
Cat's are very good about hiding pain... When they actually start to show that they are in pain, it's a pretty big deal!

Why do you need to convince your fiance to take him to the vet? Does he pay for most vet bills? Or is the primary driver? I'm on my way to work right now so I can't say too much but do look up "urinary tract infection in cats." If he is in fact having a UTI, left untreated he can get blocked. The longer you wait, the more expensive the vet bill will be. Do call the vet now, see what your vet says.

Your cat being a male + not being able to go to the bathroom = very concerning.

Personally, l would have been straight  to the vet to get him checked over.   No disrespect to your fiance, but like us he's no expert

Hopefully it's nothing, but something is obviously wrong, so the sooner you get him looked at to have peace of mind the better

Sounds like your cat is sick and needs to be seen by your vet today! laying there crying means the poor cat must be in pain and is sick..

I called and made an appt at 2:30 today.  The problem is that I cannot get off work to take him and my Fiance can but won't.  I told him I made the appt because they said we should bring him in and he said:

"Of course they say that. He can have a chance to get better first. I'm not treating my cat better than I would my kid and drop 200 + for nothing. And we NEED the money"

We have the money, I can use my care credit account.  We are moving in less than 10 days and are trying to save money to lease a house.  We need first and last months rent.  It's not an issue though because we both work and can afford it.

He also said:  What kind of serious could it be? Because if it is wee really can't afford it and he will have to be put down.

I cannot believe he said that!!!!!!!  We can afford to have him checked out.  If we don't have the money then we shouldn't have animals.

This actually sounds like it could be life threatening.  I'd take off work and take the cat to the vet and get rid of the boyfriend.

I agree that he needs to be seen by the vet, when a cat stops eating, drinking and using the litter box it is an issue that needs to be taken care of right away. As said cats are really good about hiding pain, when they are expressing they are in pain it is serious. If your boyfriend still refuses to take the cat in, is there any chance you can get off of work early? I know some employers are better than others about working with their employees with situations. If you are not able to do you have any family nearby or a friend that can help you get your cat to the vet appointment, if not is it possible to reschedule for a latter appointment that you might be able to make it to?

I 100% agree you need to get your cat to the vet today. I had a cat that was acting identical to yours, took him to the vet, and it was a life threatening urinary tract infection. He was a day or two off dying without medical treatment. If the cat can't pass urine, toxins build up in the bloodstream, and it is fatal. It is also treatable and preventable.

Don't listen to your boyfriend. He is thinking like a man would think about a car engine problem (sorry guys ). But you know in your heart and gut that your cat is sick. Trust yourself. I hope you find a way to get kitty to the vet.

to you and your kitty.

I hope I don't get in trouble for what I'm about to say... but if he is saying this about a cat, what would he say about a child? Cats are more fragile!

Only going there because my brother and his wife got a dog to get a feel for how they would each handle it when things went wrong (kind of a practice run with a surrogate child). Only after each was satisfied did they get married.

Now what I mean by fragile is that cats can get seriously ill if they do not eat, unlike humans. We draw on fat reserves, a cat does not do that, and so it can damage the liver fairly quickly.

The comments about toxins is important, and the comments regarding that by the time a cat is acting in pain, it is likely quite serious (they instinctually hide pain because it would make them vulnerable to predators - so.....).

So glad you could get an appointment today. I agree that it is probably an emergency (though I pray it isn't and that your fiance is acting out of intuition instead of being just a guy... intellect). Please let us know how it turns out.

This sounds very, very serious and your cat may have an obstruction either in the bowel or the urinary tract. That would cause extreme pain, for the cat to go off food, and is potentially life threatening. I would not hesitate one minute longer to get that cat to the vet. I hope your boss will understand that you need to leave early or at least be gone for a hour or two to drop your cat off at the vet to be checked out. Since your fiancé is unwilling to help (a characteristic/personality trait you may want to consider and take note for problems down the road) and seemingly uneducated on cat health, then you will have to step in on behalf of your cat and take responsibility. for your cat.

Please please take your cat to the Vet . I have seen cats just die within hours just like that. The fact that he is not eating nor able to use the litter box is a serious sign

Please please take him

This could definitely be serious. A cat who can't eliminate is a bad, bad sign. Rupture of the bladder can happen quickly and cause death. Persistent vomiting and anorexia can very quickly turn into a serious liver problem. Your kitty absolutely needs to see a vet immediately.

I am bewildered by what your fiance said. Like others said, I don't really want to hurt your feelings or anything, but that is an extremely callous and uncaring attitude for him to have towards another living creature, and that's a personality trait you might want to give some thought to. If the cat requires care, he will simply have him killed, even though you can afford to treat him? Wow. I would be very seriously upset about that attitude.

Trust your instincts. Please take him to the vet. Hopefully your employer will understand. Alternatively, is there a friend who can take him? This is a life-threatening emergency, and our animals are part of our family.

I totally agree. But it depends on how some people care for their pets as part of the family or just a <<pet<<

I know the smallest thing I see for Princess it is addressed immediately I went through 2 1/2 monts of 3 bouts of antbiotics waking early 5.30 am  to make sure she ate before, making sure she was drinking etc and though i know she hated it I dragged her to the Vet and did all those unnecessary tests, xrays, blood work, ultra sound when all that was wrong was she had 3 more bad teeth, I have no regrets and my peace of mind and the 4000.00$ that we spent was worth it even though hubby said we would have to get a loan

When she is ill so am I . If it is something that will make her suffer then I may take a different approach but she is part of family so.....

I hope that the poor cat is taken to the Vet rush

That is pretty mean that your boyfriend can, but won't take your cat to the vet... my neighbors whom I didn't know very well rushed me and my cat to the vet during the week she wasted away to her death. I went to the vet and the vet scared me, but I still went... and yes, my cat hid her pain until it was too late for me to understand what to do. I got on this site after this happened, I so wish I had been on it before to have the advice and support offered to you. Also, during this week, my employer was so understanding, I got time off, many people care about animals, and you might be surprised to get time off for your cat! Hope your cat can recover... I still don't understand if my cat's time was up, or that I could have done more. Do everything you can, now!

Just to reiterate too, your fiance is a Jerk!

Did you get your kitty to the vet?  What was the diagnosis?

Ditch the boyfriend, keep the cat. Take him to the vet!

I hope your kitty is OK, and you were able to get him to the vet. :heart2:

I'm really sorry about your boyfriend. I know it seems complicated, but please think long and hard about what's happened and his attitude about this - and if you want that in your life. Maybe this happened so you won't sign a lease on a house with this man. Many of us have been there, and been through it, and can only advise you based on our experiences. Learn life's lessons when they are offered, not after you need to regret decisions. :heart2:

Hoping your kitty is doing better and that you can update us.

I agree the fiancées attitude was unhelpful and unsympathetic. But I think it's a bit harsh to tell the OP to ditch him when she came here looking for help with her sick cat. Hopefully the fiancée can take a look at how he reacted and learn from this experience. It's a red flag but I'd rather look at his patterns than this one incident before giving relationship advice.

I was just being short, I wasn't trying to be mean. But if my boyfriend wasn't supportive and was dismissive about my cats medical needs, then he'd be out the door. Any person who treats animals unkindly is not a friend in my book.

molldee said:

I was just being short, I wasn't trying to be mean. But if my boyfriend wasn't supportive and was dismissive about my cats medical needs, then he'd be out the door. Any person who treats animals unkindly is not a friend in my book.

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I know you weren't being mean and I didn't mean to direct my post at you specifically. I totally agree with you. I just don't think we know enough about her fiancée to make conclusions. Like I said, I think it's a red flag and one I hope the OP pays attention to. But I'd give him a chance to reflect and learn more about cats and how he can be more supportive. It's entirely possible he was being ignorant, not nasty. I just want the OP to feel welcome to come back if she needs to.