Sudden Lethargy Not Eating

When I got home from work today one of my ferels is suddenly sick. He is just laying in the neighbors yard. Normally he is super playful and runs for dinner. (This is a differnt one then my last post of decreased appitite). I would have to hop the fence to get a closer look at him for more details. I saw him move a little and he is walking very slow. Seems like that takes a lot of energy out of him. He did not even try to come for dinner.

This morning he was fine, ate breakfast, was running around and playing. How could he so quickly turn like this.

Since it hasnt been 24 hours I am not rushing to trap him but really worried he has never done this before. Any advice?

With your previous experience, I think I'd trap him as soon as you can and get him vetted.  He may have been poisoned.  I hope not but it is worth getting him to the vet to make sure.

He just threw up twice not a good sign. I am not sure how to trap him since he isnt going for food. I just hoped the fence and he keeps running away from me. I tried to get him at least in my yard but he wont go. He normally does not let me pick up or pet.

Any advice how to trap him?

I just went to go by him again see if I could get him in my yard so I could work on trapping him, but now I scared him to a yard I am unable to get to or see him in.

Ughh really not sure what to do now.

You may need to fix a drop trap of some kind. if you could put a cat carrier lined with some straw/grass or leaves and fix the door in such a way that if you pulled on a string the door would shut, ideally, you'd be within ten feet of it so he would not be able to rush out of it.

I am leaning with the previous poster that he must have gotten into some poison. Time is of the essence, try to keep a watch for him. 

Ughh I am so upset he went into this yard I cant get at. If he would come back to mine I would think of something.

Now I am helpless. I would rush him to the vet now if i could.

Ok so Ive been staring out the window like a crazy person. He just made his way back. I threw a food bowel out quickly to see if he would take it but he didnt. He went on a chair in my yard and is sleeping now.

How can I catch this cat? I have a trap but there is no way he is going to go in without food luring him in. Hes already been trapped to get fixed so the trap Im sure wont be something he wants to do. I dont have a drop trap just a regular trigger one.

I have a carrier which i stuck out there with some comfy stuff in. He likes towels and stuff so if he goes in ill quickly close the door. I dont want to do too many things and scare him off again. Then I am totally helpless. At least right now I am happy he is in my yard so I can monitor.

You can rig a crate or large carrier as a "drop" trap.  Open the door and put something in the crate or carrier that will attract him (KFC chicken, tuna, something smelly).

Tie a length of twine to the door and loop it through the top of the carrier/crate.  Walk away with the other end of the twine.

When the cat goes in, gently pull the twine so the door closes.  You may need someone else to rush and secure the door as you pull on the twine.  Otherwise the cat may be able to push out of the crate/carrier before you get there.

Good luck.  Poor thing ...

I had a very sleepless night. Kept getting up to check on him. Make sure he was breathing. He slept in my yard most of the night and then went into the shed early this morning. He came for breakfast and seems to be better. He ate not his normal amount but was up and about not just laying there. I am going to keep watch , since his appetite is back.

They must be getting into something bc this happend to the other one out there just not as extreme. The other one just loss his appetite but was still very active. It keeps happening too every couple of weeks. A few days he loses his appetite and then its back.

The one thing that pops in my mind is that the neighbors have a bee hive they built for honey. I see the cats sitting outside of these boxes and chasing the bees. I wonder if they are eating them and getting stung. Or they are eating mice or something that arnt agreeing with them or have poison. It doesnt seem normal that this would be something that happens so often.

There have been a string of poisonings but it is about 10 blocks higher up. I would think they would just die if they did get into it. The person is using anti freeze. It seems pretty quick from what I read.

I have had my ferals do something very similar.  It appeared that they hunted and ate something that didn't agree with them.  I would often find vomit and the cat would be fine in the morning and then just lethargic later.  Keep an eye on him.  It's so hard when we cannot control where they go and what they might get into.  Hopefully he is on the mend.

A friend had several of her colony die after they ate mice that had eaten rat poison, so maybe that's it.  Fingers crossed you solve the mystery soon and before someone gets really sick.

If it was poison, they'd be dead already. Maybe he'd eaten something and got a tummy ache. I'm glad he's eating, do keep a good watch on him.

My little man is back to his normal self today. Playing climbing ate a lot this morning. Hope this doesnt happen again. Thanks for all the support and advise! Love this site.