I think Bruce is sick

It's been a little more than 10 days since Bruce is home with us. He always sneezed here and there but my vet friend (his godmother) calmed me, saying that if he doesn't have discharge and it it's only once in a while, and if he's breathing normally, then I shouldn't worry. Cats do sneezee, just as we do, if they get something up their nose, and Bruce is the nosy kind. He gets into everything.

Well yesterday I thought I heard him coffing and I caught him doing it this morning. Also yesterday he had a bit of clear discharge in one of his eyes, after waking up from a nap.

I don't know if it is allergies or a respiratory infection but I'm worried. I'm waiting for my vet friend to call back to see if she feels he needs to be checked out.

He is otherwise active and allert, full of mischieve as always. He's eating very well (much more than the first week), drinking normally, and his toilet habits have been regular. Hist coat his shinning as ever. And his eyes and nose don't look inflamated.

Maybe I'm just being an anxious mom, he does find every dusty whole in the house and his favorite napping place is under the bed (as much as I clean it, it gathers dust). I don't want my Bruce to be sick.

Is he still having normal BMs? At one point my cat had an upper respiratory with matching symptoms of your boy, but she was having very loose BM's. It could be allergies, too!! Do tell what your vet friend ends up saying, hopefully it's nothing or just a tiny kitty cold

I wouldn't panic just yet.  And try to relax!  I'm no expert but I reckon that any illness picked up in the shelter would have presented itself way before the 10 days spent in your home.  

Cats get 'sleep' in their eyes, the same as humans.  Just gently wipe it away.

He might have a hairball, seeing as he's so fastidious about grooming, or an allergy to dust mites.  Dudley coughs for about 10 seconds, once a week, and I know then to get on the case with brushing him.  I try to brush him at least once a week but then he does have long, stupidly fluffy fur.  Why not give Bruce a wee comb through or a quick rub down with a very slightly damp cloth, seeing as he's got short, glossy hair.  

As to possible dust mite allergies, I really can't imagine your house as being terribly dusty and so I wouldn't go around over-sterilising, if I were you.  He might just be adjusting to your particular dust mites and once his system gets used to them, he won't be particularly bothered by them.

Did he get wormed when he was at the shelter, as worms cause coughs?

Do you smoke or wear perfume, as these can cause allergic asthmatic type coughs?  

Is his litter dusty?  

Whereas coughing can definitely be indicative of a serious condition, e.g., heart & lungs, I really wouldn't be too concerned if it has only happen twice.  If it happens again then ask his godmother to listen to his chest and take it from there.  You are being overprotective but we all are when it comes to our furbabies. Hopefully you'll learn Bruce's particular ways & what they mean over the coming weeks, and so know when it's time to panic and when it's time to do some home tweaking.  

Bruce is ever so lucky to have you looking out for him and having a vet godmother is super ace.  

Thank you for your kind email @Brian007.

Here is Bruce yesterday, resting in the middle of his crazy play session. He doesn't look like a sick cat, does he?


To be on the safe side, he's going to visit his Godmother on Saturday. And I will see about brushing him today too. Thanks for the tip.

He is fully vacinated and dewormed. The caretaker at the shelter actually gave him the pill in front of us, so I know it's true. And nothing showed on his poop, so I'm not worried about worms.

No smoking and no perfumes (I'm allergic to most).

His litter is not dusty, but it is different from the one he used in the shelter. 

I know I'm being crazy, and I know I'm projecting my late Zoya into Bruce. She was fine one day and very sick the next. So I worry... I really love the little guy so much.

Oh wow, cool stormtrooper!!!  Your home looks ace!  And extremely clean to boot.  Oh, and Bruce looks supremely at ease and adds an extra touch of sophistication to the scene.

My living room is a Star Wars scene, lol! Thanks.

His Godmother called and she agrees that it can wait. But she will check him up on Saturday, even if it's just to quiet my panicky mind.

My house is a Star Wars, Lego, toy filled playground too   I never grew up.  That's what you get for growing to 42 years old and not having any children other than furry ones.  It could be worse!  

Reading all the threads since joining the Catsite in January has made me feel ever so grateful that Dudley is a reasonably well-adjusted and healthy teenager.  I'm a bit like you though, and worry that something might go wrong just thinking about how lucky I am.  Fingers crossed.  

Brian was my dream friend, the once in a lifetime kind.  I'm no where near to dealing with his death & can't bring myself to look at any rainbow bridge posts.  But I plan to write something about antifreeze poisoning around the 1st anniversary mark, as I desperately want people to be aware that there are purposeful poisoners in our midst (in England at any rate).  Other than that, I hope and pray to only feel the need to give advice, encouragement, and friendship on this site.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's all right to panic and it's brilliant that you have this site to turn to.  And I hope that the most troubling thing for you and Bruce is deciding whose turn it is to be Obi-Wan Kenobi   

I'm very sorry for your loss. I know exacty how you feel, although my special friend was a dog, a doberman no less. I loved all my pets dearly, but she was special, we had an exceptional bond.

I actually got my first cat Zoya to keep her company. I didn't worry half as much with Zoya, because Braika, my dog, just took care of her. Zoya was my pet who lived the longest though, and she was a fiesty thing till the end. 

I thought I was over her passing when I decided to get Bruce. After all it had been six months, she was 16 and we did everything humanly and medicaly possible to save her. She had a great life, hunted too many birds and mice (she was indoor/outdoor), got all the cuddles and attentions, had lots of furry and human friends... I was at peace with her leaving us, so I though.

Now I see that that last month was still in the back of my mind. The fact that we couldn't find what she had, did all the tests possible, tryed several diferent medications, but could not revert her situation, still haunts me. It left me scarred that it could happen again. I know rationally that she was old and that her body probably just shut down, but it would have been great to know what killed her. And I now feel very afraid it could happen to Bruce too.

And if, in one hand, this site is amaizing and has wonderfull people like you, some stories I read scare the crap out of me. Just need to keep positive and as you said get to know Bruce better so I can avaliate when to panic or not.

Madzoya said:

Thank you for your kind email @Brian007
.

Here is Bruce yesterday, resting in the middle of his crazy play session. He doesn't look like a sick cat, does he?

IMG_1670.JPG

• madzoya
• Feb 9, 2017

To be on the safe side, he's going to visit his Godmother on Saturday. And I will see about brushing him today too. Thanks for the tip.

He is fully vacinated and dewormed. The caretaker at the shelter actually gave him the pill in front of us, so I know it's true. And nothing showed on his poop, so I'm not worried about worms.

No smoking and no perfumes (I'm allergic to most).

His litter is not dusty, but it is different from the one he used in the shelter. 

I know I'm being crazy, and I know I'm projecting my late Zoya into Bruce. She was fine one day and very sick the next. So I worry... I really love the little guy so much.

Click to expand...

Bruce looks so happy and at home...he's adjusted so well [emoji]10084[/emoji]️ I love seeing how confident he looks!!

I agree with all that Brian007 said above. You are still getting to know Bruce and his habits and as his guardian, it's your job to monitor him for changes but until you know what is his norm, there's no way you know what is normal Bruce and sick Bruce. Plus, it's not easy to not worry after the loss of your beloved Zoya....that is only normal [emoji]10084[/emoji]️
I'm glad Bruce's godmother can give him a check just to make sure all is well. Please keep us posted on how Bruce is doing.