Help please..our sweet kitty is just not herself

Hello everyone! This is my first post, and I am very glad to have found this site. 

My kitten, KiKi, is three years old (turned three on the 27th).  We took her to the vet for her check up and vaccinations two weeks ago yesterday. All was well.

The last few days she has been acting a little "off" for lack of a better word.  She has been less energetic and eating less. She has still been eating and drinking (just less than normal) and using the litter box like normal for the last few days. Last night, when we got home she started meowing really loud (like something was wrong). My husband picked her up and she stopped. Then, she stood by the door and was like she was just frozen there for a minute or like she was off balance.  Then, went right in her room and started eating...acting totally normal after.  Today, she has literally been in my bed all day long. I've seen her up one time since 11:30 this morning (It is now 7:00 at night).  She got up one time for maybe 5 minutes, ate about two bites(very little) and drank water (only time she has eaten today), and went straight back to bed.  She is still grooming herself, and at times, acts totally normal and like herself.  She ate the rest of her food sometime overnight last night, so she did eat sometime last night or early this morning...but she has barely eaten all day today.

I do need to add to this that we (my family of four) have been off from work/school for over a week.  So, I don't know if we just have her totally off her schedule, and she is just stressed out and tired, or if something could be wrong.  Of course, there are no vets available around me on this holiday weekend.  I don't know if I should call her vet tomorrow, or just try to wait until he is back in the office Tuesday.  I just don't want to let something go if she needs medical attention, and I don't want to call in a vet as an emergency if she is just off schedule.  She has just never acted like this before, and of course now, I am watching her like a hawk...so, I'm not worried that I'm overreacting and noticing too much.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I'd sure appreciate it. She is our baby.

The last part should say: I'm now worried that I'm overreacting and noticing too much....instead of not worried.

Hi,

Is your Kiki going to the bathroom okay, can she be constipated, can she have a urinary tract infection, do you notice anything different with her routine as far as that goes, did you change her food to some other food? Can you pick her up, if you can pick her up does she cry out in pain? Maybe she is just caught off guard that all of you are home and she is wondering why that is. Cats are very sensitive, did you change her surroundings, did you get new furniture, any changes in the house?

Watch her closely, if things get worse take her in on Tuesday, hope she feels better, I hate it when my kitty is not feeling well.

Chris M said:

 
Hi,

Is your Kiki going to the bathroom okay, can she be constipated, can she have a urinary tract infection, do you notice anything different with her routine as far as that goes, did you change her food to some other food? Can you pick her up, if you can pick her up does she cry out in pain? Maybe she is just caught off guard that all of you are home and she is wondering why that is. Cats are very sensitive, did you change her surroundings, did you get new furniture, any changes in the house?

Watch her closely, if things get worse take her in on Tuesday, hope she feels better, I hate it when my kitty is not feeling well.

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Thank you for your reply Chris.  She is going to the bathroom okay...Well, she hasn't gone today because she's been in bed for most of the day. She has the same food. I have given her three treats today (just to make sure she would eat), and she gobbles them right up. I can pick her up...she just doesn't like it..ever though..not just now.... The only change that I can think of is we took the Christmas tree down, and she absolutely loved hiding under it. Maybe that and all four of us being home has thrown her off. Her feeding schedule has definitely been off because we have slept in more than normal.

Cats are very good at hiding illnesses. It sounds as if she isn't feeling quiet right but it could be just feeling off because of the vaccines. It could also be a kitty cold that came on after the vaccines when her immune system was a little over taxed.

As to urgency.... its debatable. I'd say that as long as she is eating, drinking and using the litter box you would be fine waiting until Tuesday for your normal vet to be open.

You can check for dehyration by pinching the skin between her shoulder blades and seeing how quickly the skin goes down. If it is more than a 2 count then you can give her some unflavored Pedialyte mixed with water or some homemade unseasoned bone or chicken broth (easy way is throw a chicken breast with some water in a crock pot for a few hours and you have plain chicken broth and boiled chicken). If she is not eating you can try to up her calorie count with meat human baby food with no garlic or onion or the plain chicken with plain white rice or get the really fishy smelling canned cat foods with lots of liquid (Fancy Feast Broth Lovers for example).

It becomes an emergency if you notice any blood in her stool, diarrhea, vomiting, refusal to eat or drink. Also, feel her body especially where she got shots to see if you can find any lumps that would indicate shot reaction and point them out to the vet.

And I would take her in on Tuesday from what you have said so far. I tend to mointor my cats behavior and react quickly because I know how quickly they can go downhill and how good they hid symptoms. My caution is born out of experiences in the past where I have caught things early because I am hyper aware. Most recently I caught that my cats pin was failing in his broken leg before it broke through the skin. Saving him from possible infection and serious complications.

Don't think you sound paranoid for catching the little signs of illness.

Kieka said:

Cats are very good at hiding illnesses. It sounds as if she isn't feeling quiet right but it could be just feeling off because of the vaccines. It could also be a kitty cold that came on after the vaccines when her immune system was a little over taxed.

As to urgency.... its debatable. I'd say that as long as she is eating, drinking and using the litter box you would be fine waiting until Tuesday for your normal vet to be open.

You can check for dehyration by pinching the skin between her shoulder blades and seeing how quickly the skin goes down. If it is more than a 2 count then you can give her some unflavored Pedialyte mixed with water or some homemade unseasoned bone or chicken broth (easy way is throw a chicken breast with some water in a crock pot for a few hours and you have plain chicken broth and boiled chicken). If she is not eating you can try to up her calorie count with meat human baby food with no garlic or onion or the plain chicken with plain white rice or get the really fishy smelling canned cat foods with lots of liquid (Fancy Feast Broth Lovers for example).

It becomes an emergency if you notice any blood in her stool, diarrhea, vomiting, refusal to eat or drink. Also, feel her body especially where she got shots to see if you can find any lumps that would indicate shot reaction and point them out to the vet.

And I would take her in on Tuesday from what you have said so far. I tend to mointor my cats behavior and react quickly because I know how quickly they can go downhill and how good they hid symptoms. My caution is born out of experiences in the past where I have caught things early because I am hyper aware. Most recently I caught that my cats pin was failing in his broken leg before it broke through the skin. Saving him from possible infection and serious complications.

Don't think you sound paranoid for catching the little signs of illness.

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Thank you so much for all of your wonderful advice! I really appreciate you taking the time to help me!

I've taken my Rocket in twice for "something is off" both times the vet listens, nods and says she looks fine. One of the times she got an antibiotic and subQ fluid because she was slightly dehydrated just to ensure it wasn't something and because she was young at the time. That peace of mind is worth it to me. And if she got worse I know with the recent exam my vet would get her in quicker if I went back saying she was worse.

Never feel like you are overreacting. That time that you aren't hypervigilant will be the time you regret it.

Kieka said:

I've taken my Rocket in twice for "something is off" both times the vet listens, nods and says she looks fine. One of the times she got an antibiotic and subQ fluid because she was slightly dehydrated just to ensure it wasn't something and because she was young at the time. That peace of mind is worth it to me. And if she got worse I know with the recent exam my vet would get her in quicker if I went back saying she was worse.

Never feel like you are overreacting. That time that you aren't hypervigilant will be the time you regret it.

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Thank you! It's just difficult with the holiday and nothing being open. ugh

teacherdl said:

Thank you! It's just difficult with the holiday and nothing being open. ugh

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I know what you mean.