Outside Cat Coughing!!!

I merged your thread with your existing one, so people know what is going on. I would defer to your vet's judgement. Travis needs to eat and a feeding tube is the best way to accomplish this (unless you like getting bit and scratched as you syringe feed your cat? The vet is concerned and rightly so at the lack of nourishment this cat is taking in and trying to stop any liver damage before it occurs-

Originally Posted by hissy

I merged your thread with your existing one, so people know what is going on. I would defer to your vet's judgement. Travis needs to eat and a feeding tube is the best way to accomplish this (unless you like getting bit and scratched as you syringe feed your cat? The vet is concerned and rightly so at the lack of nourishment this cat is taking in and trying to stop any liver damage before it occurs-

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Hissy, I understand... but I wonder why he hasn't done this sooner!
Travis has been at the vets since Monday Night...
Please don't think of me as a bad Cat Mommy... I'm just worried about my cat... I just wonder why they haven't done this sooner.. Dr. Alburs told me he gave Travis a supliment monday night to help make Travis want to eat... So I mean.. I don't understand why they haven't been doing the feeding tube sooner.. :\\

Originally Posted by MyFirstRagdoll

I would ask why does he need the feeding tube. And he might be homesick is why he isn't eating... And another day wouldn't hurt him to stay there since he's been so sick.. Prayers are with you!

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Thanks Lisa.. *hugs* He does need the feeding tube... he won't eat on his own.. :\\ And I think he could be homesick too.. I was hoping by my visiting him yesterday would help him ...

No, I never even thought you were a bad cat mom- that never entered into it. A bad cat owner would be one who didn't take Travis to the vet, and just let him suffer and eventually pass on. The feeding tube is not something that vets do routinely, and perhaps your vet wanted to see if Travis could kick this on his own. Because Travis has been monitored, and been on subcu fluids? I am guessing because of his fever they put him on IV? Then the situation was being watched, when it became extreme, other measures (feeding tubes) were called for.

I know you are worried about Travis, but if you have faith in this vet, then he is in the best place possible. If he responds to your scent- put on an old pair of sneakers without socks, and go for a walk, or do housework and get your sneakers all sweaty. The pop them into a ziploc bag and take one sneaker to the vet's office and put one shoe in with travis, your scent will help keep him calm

Originally Posted by hissy

No, I never even thought you were a bad cat mom- that never entered into it. A bad cat owner would be one who didn't take Travis to the vet, and just let him suffer and eventually pass on.

The feeding tube is not something that vets do routinely, and perhaps your vet wanted to see if Travis could kick this on his own. Because Travis has been monitored, and been on subcu fluids? I am guessing because of his fever they put him on IV? Then the situation was being watched, when it became extreme, other measures (feeding tubes) were called for.

I know you are worried about Travis, but if you have faith in this vet, then he is in the best place possible. If he responds to your scent- put on an old pair of sneakers without socks, and go for a walk, or do housework and get your sneakers all sweaty. The pop them into a ziploc bag and take one sneaker to the vet's office and put one shoe in with travis, your scent will help keep him calm

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Oh Hissy! That's a great idea!!! I just might do that. I do know that he was happy in some way to see me yesterday. he looked up at me and his eyes looked alert. Travis has such deep soulfull eyes.. I know it sounds corny but he really does..

According to Dr. Alburs, Travis has been given the choice between dry and wet cat food since Monday. They gave him a supliment Monday evening in hopes Travis would eat..he did. But after that, he hasn't eatten.. and no IV has been put in yet... Nothing has happen yet.. They want to wait till tonight to see if Travis eats on his own. So as far as I know they haven't done any kind of fluid foods... But he is drinking. And he is using the litter box. .. His fever broke on Wednesday... I do know that a URI normally lasts 7 to 11 days and we are now working on the 7th day..
Of course I'm going to let them keep Travis another night.. and of course I'm going to let them do the Feeding Tube.. I just wish they had started it sooner.. like, yesterday or even today...
Travis is overweight so I also think that his weight is a factor in why he's not kicking this thing as fast as a normal size cat would.. His immune system isn't as good as it should be at fighting things off..

Today is Friday...
The Vet called me this morning and said TRavis is still not eating or drinking.. .They did an X-Ray on him to see ifthere were any other problems, and he came out all clear... and his lungs look great.... BUT They've decided to put the IV in him.....
I MIGHT be able to bring him home tomorrow..
I need some prayers..


When they put the IV in a kitty... does that normally work! Im so scared I'm going to lose Travis...

How long do you guys think it would take a cat to get better by being fed through an IV?

Travis is still at the Vet.
They have been feeding him fluids to help him get better and force feeding him.. *sighs* Dr. Alburs said that this morning Travis looks better and is responding better to things... but still has one heck of a virus... He's sneezing a lot and has a runny nose.. But he said he's on the road to recovery.. *sighs* I wish I could take him home today.. Travis has been there for 8 days now....

Originally Posted by stormy

Yes, I think it's a good idea to leave him at the vet, though I know it's hard on the nerves. He'll get the medicine down him wether he wants it or not

Stormy had to stay at the vet for 3 days when she was a kitten and had a bad URI.


Sending more good vibes to Travis.

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Thank you for the vibes and yes.. Travis is at the vet too.. he's been there for 8 days now...

Poor Travis! Sending more vibes his way!

Travis finally came home yesterday...

How is Travis doing? I'm sending him lots of get well vibes.

How is Travis? Poor baby, what an ordeal!

Originally Posted by babygirl

How is Travis doing? I'm sending him lots of get well vibes.

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Oooh Travis is doing Sooo much better! He's eating, drinking, playing.. purring.. He is one happy cat to be home!!! Thank you for the warm vibes.

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

How is Travis? Poor baby, what an ordeal!

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Whew.. you're tellin me. It was quite an ordeal. 9 days at the vet and I was one worried mama!!!
Travis is doing just fine now.. a little sniffly but way better. He has his pills to finish out and he should be completely better. He's happy tho. you can really tell. Thank you for the hug!

Keep your eye on him (not that you wouldn't) and try and give him a dark place where he can rest. For my kitties who are convalescing, I have an old steamer trunk, I turn sideways and pile it with soft bedding and drape a blanket over the top. They go in there and curl up and sleep and regenerate-

Originally Posted by hissy

Keep your eye on him (not that you wouldn't) and try and give him a dark place where he can rest. For my kitties who are convalescing, I have an old steamer trunk, I turn sideways and pile it with soft bedding and drape a blanket over the top. They go in there and curl up and sleep and regenerate-

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Since Travis is an out door cat, I've tried my best to keep him in the garage. The first few nights since he's been home he was more than happy to stay in the garage. I put a litter box in there left his carrier open with blankets, and I gave him a big bean bag pillow to sleep on if he didn't want to get into his carrier.
Travis did just fine for a while.. but he wanted fresh air and the outside world so we went out to the back yard and layed by the pool.. He is one happy cat.. Suning himself... taking naps.. eating..drinking... and a little bit of playing with some cat toys. We have 14 pills left to gve him .. twice a day.. and since he's eating just fine, we can put it in his food with no problem
We make sure he's in the garage every night.. So he never gets left outside in the chilly air.
I'll try and post a photo of Travis later this evening.
Thanks for the helpful tips Hissy!