Dog came to visit. Now my cat isn't himself

mingking

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Hi everyone! It's been a while since I've been on the forum! Up until now, everything with my cat, Ming, has been amazing. He eats 3 - 4 times a day, is active (as active as a big lazy cat is), and became more confident than he already was in the beginning (he used to only follow me around but now he's friends with all family members and will sleep wherever he wants).

Anyway, aside from the good news, today and last night, Ming hasn't been himself. My sister brought over her boyfriend's puppy, Tucker, to our house since she was dog sitting. Ming has seen the dog before but only a few months ago when Tucker was still smaller than him.

When Tucker arrived, Ming was in my room, safe and high up on his window bed. He knew something was up because Tucker barked a couple of times. I went downstairs. Ming didn't follow. An hour or so after, I thought I'd bring Ming down to show him that Tucker is here. I held him in my arms and entered the living room. Ming was very alert and obviously freaked out so I brought him back to my room and he went back to his window.

Tucker stayed for the whole afternoon from 1pm to around 5 pm. At one point, Tucker went into my room and sniffed around. The moment he barked at Ming, I shooed the dog away. Ming was again, very alert. When Tucker was leaving, I again took Ming in my arms and let him watch Tucker go out the door. And then let Ming walk around the living room. He went into his box near the fireplace and stayed there for the majority of the evening.

I put down his dinner but he didn't eat it. I didn't think too much about it because sometimes he takes a while to go eat. My dad told me he puked some liquid out as well. I didn't see what it was but I assumed maybe he was trying to hack out a hairball. I left to go to the grocery store and came back at 11pm. He still hadn't eaten and now he was in my room again. I opened another new can because I thought maybe he was being picky about old food but he still didn't eat!

This morning, I heard him use the litter box. He also did not come down for breakfast as usual. I bought him down to the kitchen but he's unusually dazed and sad looking. He wasn't interested in the food I gave him or any treats. And he went back upstairs to his window bed.

I managed to entice him with some food this morning eventually but he only ate about 1/3 of his meal (1 primal venison freeze dried nugget and half a can of Sheba turkey pate). Right now, he's sleeping on his window bed.

He's usually active during this time. Walking around and finding different places to sleep. Or staring at my fish tanks.

Should I be worried? When should I go to the vet?

Thank you all for your time and advice!

Here's what he looks like right now
 
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Kieka

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If he doesn't eat anything for 24 hours then you would need to see the vet. Just for fluids, possible syringe feeding, and to make sure something else isn't in play. But I would guess that given a day or two to settle he should be back to normal soon. 

You have to look at it from his perspective. His territory, his whole world, is the house and his sanctuary is the room. The dog, a creature larger, louder and not remembered or linked to the puppy, invaded his space and he doesn't know why or how. He will feel secure again but for now there is the question of how it got in and if it will be back, at least in his mind. My sister-in-law brought over her dog (which is not allowed and she got in big trouble for) the other day and it took 48 hours for the smells to stop being interesting and about a week before Rocket stopped smelling the place where the dog peed.

Unless the dog is going to be a long term resident of the home or frequent visitor I would make all future visits either outdoor only or limit Tucker to one room without access to the rest of the house. Ideally, you would keep a closed door between the cat and dog at all times and not allow the dog access to the safety spot Ming has claimed as his (your room).  If Tucker is going to at your home frequently you can take the time to introduce them and develop a relationship but we are talking at least weekly visits at the least; which it doesn't sound like has been the situation in the past. 
 
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mingking

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If he doesn't eat anything for 24 hours then you would need to see the vet. Just for fluids, possible syringe feeding, and to make sure something else isn't in play. But I would guess that given a day or two to settle he should be back to normal soon. 

You have to look at it from his perspective. His territory, his whole world, is the house and his sanctuary is the room. The dog, a creature larger, louder and not remembered or linked to the puppy, invaded his space and he doesn't know why or how. He will feel secure again but for now there is the question of how it got in and if it will be back, at least in his mind. My sister-in-law brought over her dog (which is not allowed and she got in big trouble for) the other day and it took 48 hours for the smells to stop being interesting and about a week before Rocket stopped smelling the place where the dog peed.

Unless the dog is going to be a long term resident of the home or frequent visitor I would make all future visits either outdoor only or limit Tucker to one room without access to the rest of the house. Ideally, you would keep a closed door between the cat and dog at all times and not allow the dog access to the safety spot Ming has claimed as his (your room).  If Tucker is going to at your home frequently you can take the time to introduce them and develop a relationship but we are talking at least weekly visits at the least; which it doesn't sound like has been the situation in the past. 
Thank you! It's comforting to know your cat took a bit to settle down again. Not that it's good it took that long, of course.

Yes, I don't believe Tucker will come over too often and next time, I'll make sure doors are closed. Ming will have to be in my sister's room however since my room doesn't have a door... My room is actually the attic haha.

I guess I overestimated my cat's confidence. We've had dogs and twice, cats, over before but they were always smaller than Ming. This is the first time a bigger dog has come over. Thank you for the reminder :)

As of right now... he's still in the same spot but I managed to make him eat a bit more. He's not responding much to any stimuli.
 

Kieka

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If he is anything like my cats, he will take a little more groveling and pampering to forgive you. 


The longest I have heard it taking a cat to settle after a one time scare was about a week. So just let him know he is safe and loved and he will get them again. As long as he is taking some food that is a sign that he just needs time and not the vet.  
 
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mingking

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If he is anything like my cats, he will take a little more groveling and pampering to forgive you. :catguy:

The longest I have heard it taking a cat to settle after a one time scare was about a week. So just let him know he is safe and loved and he will get them again. As long as he is taking some food that is a sign that he just needs time and not the vet.  
Ok. I hope he forgives me soon and not take a whole week! *wipes away lone tear* my whole family is super concerned. It was quite funny: we all gather around Ming and frowned and decided together "No More Dogs!" In Chinese, we call him our Precious Present and I imagined my whole family as Smeagle from Lord of the Rings and Ming as our precioussssssss.

Anyway, not much changed. I hand fed him some freeze dried raw food and made a little fort blanket on my bed for him. He's getting the King treatment!
 
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mingking

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I made a vet appointment for tomorrow (Sunday). Today is Saturday and this started late Thursday. Ming is pretty much the same: lethargic, little appetite, and not responsive to much and only pees once a day and no poop since Wednesday. Today though, he was walking around in the living room and wanted to look out to the backyard and meowed at me. But he still isn't really eating and drinking. He ate a few treats here and there and about 1/4 of a can today. It was the same yesterday.

I'm quite worried and would've liked to see the vet today but they couldn't fit me in. I'm also thinking about the liquid vomit.

Is there anything I can do for the time being? Perhaps go and buy something that could help from the pet store?
 
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Kieka

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That isn't good. My girl made herself sick from stress one time; hopefully that is all you are seeing.

Try human meat baby food (chicken or turkey). Just make sure it doesn't have onions or garlic in it. Gerber stage 2 is pretty good. It is easy on the tummy and soupy so it will help with hydration and get some food in.
 
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dustydiamond1

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Ok. I hope he forgives me soon and not take a whole week! *wipes away lone tear* my whole family is super concerned. It was quite funny: we all gather around Ming and frowned and decided together "No More Dogs!" In Chinese, we call him our Precious Present and I imagined my whole family as Smeagle from Lord of the Rings and Ming as our precioussssssss.

Anyway, not much changed. I hand fed him some freeze dried raw food and made a little fort blanket on my bed for him. He's getting the King treatment!
:clap: :clap2: :grouphug2: :crackup:
 
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