Help

My male cat is 3 years old....for the last 2 days he's been just laying around.....not eating, not drinking....just seems to be trying to hide.  His sister was at the vet 2 weeks ago with a bladder infection but she's much better now.  I didn't know if it was the same thing so I took him in last night.....they pushed fluid and took xrays and checked him over but didn't see anything that would be causing this.  They told me to keep an eye on him for a few days and bring him back if he's not any better.  Frankly, I'm worried about him.....he's hissing and growling which is something he's never done. I'm putting water on my finger and rubbing it around his mouth to try to get some fluids in him.  I'm a loss as to what else to do.

If you can, make a soup using canned food and lots of water, and try to get him to eat it! Not eating for 2 days is not good! I've also heard that you can try baby food, or boil chicken breast, and give him the broth as well for fluids!

Has anything else changed in the house? New people visiting? New air freshener? etc.

They don't eat moist food even though I've tried to give it to them a few times....The vet tried last night and he just turned his nose at it.  Nothing in the house has changed and I haven't had anyone over lately.  I am making chicken soup so I'll try the broth idea.  

I am sorry your kitty is having problems.  If he does not eat for 2 days I would take him back to the vet.  It is very dangerous for cats not to eat for very long. Plus, his behavior indicates that he is sick.  Have you had blood tests/urine done?  He should have these at the least.  Hope he gets better soon!

Kastal said:

 
My male cat is 3 years old....for the last 2 days he's been just laying around.....not eating, not drinking....just seems to be trying to hide.  His sister was at the vet 2 weeks ago with a bladder infection but she's much better now.  I didn't know if it was the same thing so I took him in last night.....they pushed fluid and took xrays and checked him over but didn't see anything that would be causing this.  They told me to keep an eye on him for a few days and bring him back if he's not any better.  Frankly, I'm worried about him.....he's hissing and growling which is something he's never done. I'm putting water on my finger and rubbing it around his mouth to try to get some fluids in him.  I'm a loss as to what else to do.

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Hi @Kastal  and welcome!!

I'm sorry to hear your kitty is having a problem.

His behavior, the hissy, etc and trying to hide is a very clear indication of pain.

My first thought would be a urinary issue, whether blockage/partial blockage, crystals or a urinary/bladder infection.

These are very serious, especially in males, and can even cause death if left untreated. Their pee backs up and contains toxins that will make him very, very sick.

The help for this is simple, but time is critical in getting him help.

It sort of threw me when you mentioned the vet x-raying him.........what an odd choice. Anyway regardless, I am very surprised he wasn't at least given a urinalysis, suspecting crystals and/or uti.

Perhaps you can call the vet who saw him and request you be able to go pick up meds from an after hours vet. He can call that in without you having to take your kitty in for yet another visit likely.

Or maybe it's best if you did take him in today rather than calling, they will likely give you meds to help him get on the road to wellness.

Lots of cat owners are not aware of the greatly increased chance of urinary problems/infections/crystals by feeding a dry food only diet.

Cats systems require a great deal of water to dilute their urine properly, and often will not be able to consume enough water to accomplish this through a dry food diet. This doesn't mean you must feed only wet food, but canned food is about 78-80% water, dry is about 12%, so it will automatically be a good supplement for water intake if you fed canned for at least dinnertime, the more canned the better your chances are that your kitties will not be having issues like this.

In the long run, believe me, the small added daily cost is MUCH less than the vet costs later! 

You mentioned they won't eat canned, this can be fixed, it's just due to a lack of the offer.

Start off finding something they will eat, try tuna. Warmed chicken baby food, anything that is wet and they will try, go for it.

Fancy Feast fish flavors are pretty irresistible to cats, try a can of this and see how they take to it.

Try holding out on feeding dry food one morning, let them get good and hungry first and then offer a good smelling canned food and see if they can adapt to eating this better.

Good luck! Let us know.