Sweet 1-yo Boy Acting Odd and Dribbling

Hi

Took my cat Meeko to the vet today because of thread title.  His mouth is often opening a little since this dribbling business, tongue sometimes peeking out a little, and the mouth and "cheeks" seem a little bigger than usual?  He licks his lips and clacks his jaw a bit when fidgety.

Drool was bad yesterday night, and was back again this afternoon, he is not a drooler.  It was not foam.

No foreign objects or ulcers found, only slight gum discoloration? (Reddish?)  Everything else checked out at the vet.

Vet said come back if anything happens or if stays the same but thinks it is nothing.  Should I have pushed for tests or something?  Not sure what I'd be asking for.

I've looked around the house for anything strange but we don't keep any plants and chemicals are all sealed/secure.  We do have house centipedes sometimes and such.  Nothing is different except recent food change.  A foster kitten adopter donated food for my cats/ferals, Nature's Variety Instinct (Venison, Lamb, Rabbit) and Wild Calling (Rabbit and Buffalo).  The vet did not think it was food related.  My boys are both on grain free, usually Weruva Cats in the Kitchen (Goldie Lox, Splash Dance, Funk in Trunk) or By Nature (Stews, 95%)

This is an indoor only cat (although we have screen windows and a feral colony, plus possums and raccoons if that is significant) and I've posted threads about him before as he is sick quite often which the vet says is unusual for his young age.   One thread was about what looks to be recurring chin herpes and the other thread was about wobbly episodes which have not returned since I stopped feeding canned fish.   I think some bloodwork or scans need doing when I can afford it as none of my other cats ever go downhill like this.

It started last night and is still happening on and off.  He is sleeping, eating, cleaning, litter-boxing but does seem a little bit sleepier than usual and keeps jumping off/down to sit on the carpet looking complacent?

I am posting a before and after photo below.  We will take him to the vet again ASAP but I wonder has anyone ever encountered this as we are really worried about this little guy.  Is he in pain?

Thanks so much for any help or advice.  We really love this little guy, I'm worried something might be badly wrong.

Normal happy Meeko with his little "crook" nose.


Afternoon and Tonight  (click to enlarge)   

Ahh, poor Meeko. He doesn't look like he's enjoying life, liberty and pursuit of food right now.
It could be food (or anything else). But could you try feeding Meeko the chicken and rice diet for a few days to eliminate allergens. (Boil chicken, set aside chicken, keeping broth. Cook rice in the broth. Cool somewhat. Feed chicken NO BONES and rice with a little broth. If the recent symtoms disappear, then it could very well be allergies.
Good luck and keep us posted.

He has been to the vet today.  Today there is a change and the vet immediately spotted that he has the Calicivirus.  Taking him back in 5 days for check up and he's had blood work taken to be safe.

Despite being an indoor cat, he must have got it through the screen of the window as we have a colony of cats out around our house that I feed.

I hope he is going to be okay and blame myself for not being able to keep his shots up to date.   -___-  Vet says it doesn't always happen and is bad luck but I will never let this happen again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_calicivirus

I'm glad you got a diagnosis. Vibes for your kitty and you.