Lip licking cat

nevroth

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Dec 11, 2013
Messages
148
Purraise
78
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Many hugs for you after sharing how you lost your first kitty /


I'm glad that Asti is feeling better. I know exactly how you feel regarding his lack of playing. Are you trying to play with him? I find I feel better if I can get Meph to at least follow the mouse toy/feather/shoelace/laser with her eyes. She'll lift her head and maybe  rearrange herself to get a a better look but she's not playing either. A few times she'll bat at whatever if I bring it right up to her. My vet also told me that when she's feeling better she'll want to play again.

Having Asti sleep on you must feel so good! A warm kitty on you is the best. Release that feel-good hormone! I wonder if cat's have the equivalent. Is he purring a lot? I've read that cats purr at a particular frequency and it helps heal them. I don't know if it'll dissolve those stones but purring means he's relaxed and happy at least! 

How fast is fast breathing? Maybe you can keep track of his respiratory rate for the next few days. Including what Asti was doing just before you noticed it. This page says "A normal cat   between 20 to 30 breaths per minute..." but even my Meph's rate will increase if she's particularly purr-happy. As long as your vet has checked his heart and lungs then just be mindful of it, but try not to stress yourself out too much too. I find the best thing to do is write EVERYTHING down. I think it'll help you feel like you are doing something productive to Asti's health.

http://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/check-your-cats-vital-signs-at-home
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #42

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
Hello everyone. I took Asti to the vet today because this morning he was breathing about 30ish bpm, which isn't normal for him. By the time I took him to the vet, his breathing had slowed down a bit. She checked his lungs & heart & said they sounded good. The vet did a chest xray & abdominal xray.his heart was a normal size & his lungs looked good. There wasn't any fluid anywhere that there wasn't supposed to be. He hasn't had a bm in 24 hrs but he doesn't look impacted. His stones are still present so he'll most likely have to have surgery.

I asked about food allergies & she said that if he had them, they were very mild. The only food they have for what he needs is the cd & we can't change it. I also mentioned the possibility of kidney problems & she said it was unlikely due to his blood work. She didn't give me a definitive answer as to why he might be breathing quickly or nauseous, but she did say that it could be due to the gas in his system. It could be causing him pain. She did however bring up the proBNP heart test to make sure his heart was in good shape but Asti was verrrry mean to the vets today lol. I didn't want to have them draw his blood.

So does anyone think that I should get the test done sometime?? I'm afraid of it being elevated.. but if I did find out that it was, he would only be in the beginning stages of heart disease & he'd be able to be treated well. I don't think his breathing is due to any heart problems though, considering he has episodes of this every so often since he started having all of these problems. He was breathing normally for quite a while.
 

arouetta

Slave of Bastet's acolytes
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 31, 2016
Messages
2,117
Purraise
2,891
I am sorry about the death of your other cat.  I can understand why you are so worried.  You are doing very, very good when it comes to Asti's physical health.  Something to consider though is the emotional health.  Going to the vet is not a happy experience for a cat, so if he's continuing to get a clean bill of health you may want to consider less vet visits for his emotional comfort.  Obviously if he was ill then vet visits would be a requirement, but other than the stones it sounds like he's in great shape.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #44

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
I am sorry about the death of your other cat.  I can understand why you are so worried.  You are doing very, very good when it comes to Asti's physical health.  Something to consider though is the emotional health.  Going to the vet is not a happy experience for a cat, so if he's continuing to get a clean bill of health you may want to consider less vet visits for his emotional comfort.  Obviously if he was ill then vet visits would be a requirement, but other than the stones it sounds like he's in great shape.
You're completely right. I feel like I'm being very selfish by always taking him. Sometimes I feel like I just want the reassurance that he is okay. I just got really scared when I saw him breathing that quickly this time because it reminded me or Merlot. I wish I wouldn't worry so much.
 

nevroth

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Dec 11, 2013
Messages
148
Purraise
78
Location
Los Angeles, CA
 
I am sorry about the death of your other cat.  I can understand why you are so worried.  You are doing very, very good when it comes to Asti's physical health.  Something to consider though is the emotional health.  Going to the vet is not a happy experience for a cat, so if he's continuing to get a clean bill of health you may want to consider less vet visits for his emotional comfort.  Obviously if he was ill then vet visits would be a requirement, but other than the stones it sounds like he's in great shape.
I agree. Even my vet told me literally, "take a step back and just observe."  I'm sorry I didn't intend my previous comment to worry you further. I was hoping you'd take notes for a day or two and then hopefully it'd just be fluctuations and you could see that. I was worried about my kitties breathing, but like you, the vets gave her a clean bill of health (and it was quite expensive too) and told me that constantly bringing her to the vet was not helping and maybe even preventing her from healing.

That's why I waited. With tenuous patience, I waited, and documented everything for a week. Ounces of food given and eaten, water syringed with the meds, timestamped photos of bowel movements, mood and receptiveness to being pet, even her physical location (haha north, west, or south under the bed). Give it a week. It'll be hard. Tell us everything, let it out. It's ok. 

Compare your notes in a few days. Then in a week. It took a week for me to realize that even with NEW medication, Meph was exactly the same as the prior 2 weeks. Actually worse since she was experiencing a bit of diarrhea- THEN, armed with that knowledge, I contacted a NEW vet. We're treating her based on blood work and xrays and symptoms. Not things I was worried about but had no evidence  (I was convinced for a while I had given her pneumonia because at first when I was learning to syringe her water a little would go down the wrong tube).

So don't worry about the test for now.

 I know you're worried. I'm worried too. Sending you both good vibes 
 Merlot is looking out for both of you 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #46

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
I agree. Even my vet told me literally, "take a step back and just observe."  I'm sorry I didn't intend my previous comment to worry you further. I was hoping you'd take notes for a day or two and then hopefully it'd just be fluctuations and you could see that. I was worried about my kitties breathing, but like you, the vets gave her a clean bill of health (and it was quite expensive too) and told me that constantly bringing her to the vet was not helping and maybe even preventing her from healing.

That's why I waited. With tenuous patience, I waited, and documented everything for a week. Ounces of food given and eaten, water syringed with the meds, timestamped photos of bowel movements, mood and receptiveness to being pet, even her physical location (haha north, west, or south under the bed). Give it a week. It'll be hard. Tell us everything, let it out. It's ok. 

Compare your notes in a few days. Then in a week. It took a week for me to realize that even with NEW medication, Meph was exactly the same as the prior 2 weeks. Actually worse since she was experiencing a bit of diarrhea- THEN, armed with that knowledge, I contacted a NEW vet. We're treating her based on blood work and xrays and symptoms. Not things I was worried about but had no evidence  (I was convinced for a while I had given her pneumonia because at first when I was learning to syringe her water a little would go down the wrong tube).

So don't worry about the test for now.

:alright:  I know you're worried. I'm worried too. Sending you both good vibes :vibes: :heart3: :heart3:  Merlot is looking out for both of you :angel:
Your comment didn't scare me or anything. Merlot just had breathing problems & went downhill very quickly so I guess I'm really on edge about the breathing. He actually ended up going #2 as soon as we got back from the vet. I feel like he's okay. Now that I've ACTUALLY SEEN that his heart & lungs are okay, I won't be freaking out about a little bit of fast breathing. He's been doing well, but I just work myself up a lot. I'm going to continue to monitor him. I brought up every thing I wrote down to the vet & she confirmed that everything going on was pretty normal. I feel like he's going to be fine. When Merlot was sick, I had this pain in my chest all the time because I had a feeling that he was leaving me. This doesn't feel like that time at all, so I think everything will turn out fine. The vet told me what to look for & when I should bring him back. Thank you so much again for all of your advice & kind words.
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
You are more than welcome.  That's why sites like this exist (although I'm biased and think this is the best one of all!).  We are a support group, a cheering section, a family by choice for many (I'm one of those), and a place where you know your silly cat story will actually be enjoyed!  I'm so glad you found us!
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
I just reread that post, and I phrased it badly!  I did NOT mean that this was a silly story, but rather, that if you were to share a silly story, we would enjoy that.  Dunno where my mind was yesterday!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #49

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
I just reread that post, and I phrased it badly!  I did NOT mean that this was a silly story, but rather, that if you were to share a silly story, we would enjoy that.  Dunno where my mind was yesterday!
I didn't take it that way at all!! I know that everyone on here is supporting me. To be honest, a lot of my posts are actually pretty silly. I worry about things that most people don't even blink an eye over. I was actually panicking last night after I read a post about someone's cat suddenly dying for no reason, even though his blood tests & xrays came out perfectly. But one of my good friends reassured me that it was going to be okay & that cat might've gotten into a toxin or something.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #50

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
I would like to bring something up on here that is rather strange. This has happened a couple of times over the years to Asti. He gags but in a really wierd way. His tongue comes out of his mouth & goes kind of weird & he starts pawing at his mouth. Kind of like something is stuck in there & he wants it out. This time it happened right after he used the litterbox but it usually happens while he is eating. Has anyone ever seen this?
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
They can have stuff try to "go down the wrong way" just like we can, and if he's a fast eater, it would be more likely to happen.  So long as he gets over it quickly, no harm done.

HOWEVER, and just to ease your mind, I'm posting a link that I just found and posted on another thread about the Heimlich Maneuver for cats:

http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/common-emergencies/e_ct_choking_and_heimlich_maneuver

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #52

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
They can have stuff try to "go down the wrong way" just like we can, and if he's a fast eater, it would be more likely to happen.  So long as he gets over it quickly, no harm done.

HOWEVER, and just to ease your mind, I'm posting a link that I just found and posted on another thread about the Heimlich Maneuver for cats:

http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/common-emergencies/e_ct_choking_and_heimlich_maneuver

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
Yes he gets over it in a few seconds. It makes me think he has some sort of dental issue sometimes. But thank you for the info!! I've always wondered how to do that on a cat. It's very useful information.
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
I keep finding the most interesting stuff while researching things for our members!  I've finally gotten smart, and started a "Cat Information" board on Pinterest.  Let's me keep up with it all!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #54

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
That's a good idea! Soon enough you'll be a cat expert [emoji]128518[/emoji]
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #55

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
I just thought I'd let everyone know, Asti is scheduled to have surgery to remove his stones on Monday. The doctor said that the stones aren't shrinking. If you're religious, prayers are most definitely welcomed & needed. I'm so nervous. I've read lots of good stories & bad stories about bladder stone surgeries. But I know that God will take care of him. If anyone has any experiences or advice, I'd like to hear about them.
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Good thoughts and prayers coming your way!  I know it will be rough for both of you, but he will be a much happier cat when it is done!  Be sure to keep us posted on this!  We'll be waiting and worrying till we get word from you!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #57

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
 :vibes:  :vibes:   :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes: :vibes:  :vibes:  :vibes: Good thoughts and prayers coming your way!  I know it will be rough for both of you, but he will be a much happier cat when it is done!  Be sure to keep us posted on this!  We'll be waiting and worrying till we get word from you!
Thank you so much. I really appriciate it. I'll keep everyone updated. I really really hope that he'll feel better after all of this.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #59

merlotandasti

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
201
Purraise
75
Does anyone know how to tell if there is blood in a cat's urine?? I check his urine regularly but don't know how to tell. The litter itself has an orangish tint & if you look hard enough, there are a few red pieces throughout.
 

arouetta

Slave of Bastet's acolytes
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 31, 2016
Messages
2,117
Purraise
2,891
Blood in urine usually turns the urine brown.  There are also UTI home tests that detect white blood cells, you dip a test strip in urine.

Nasty as it sounds, you'd probably have to empty the litter box of litter, clean it out really good, and leave it empty until the cat pees in it.  Check the color, dip the test strip and then put litter in.
 
Top