Help! What is wrong?

Hello all, this is my first time here at the catsite. I am posting in regards with a problem that i think my cat has. Originally this cat was my older brothers cat, but because of his incoming baby, he cannot take care of her anymore. She is staying at our place for now. Ive "cat"-sitted her before and I have noticed she likes to take time alone, mostly hiding underneath a couch. She is not very active and/or social with other humans, and shes a complete indoor cat. My brother adopted the cat a while ago and suspects that she is quite an old cat. But anyway, just recently the cat seens to have been hiccuping a lot and a few moments ago, she was whining underneath the couch, breathing very fast, with her tongue sticking out. I am quite worried for her. Can anyone give me any advice, or tell me what is happening, in regards to her breathing/tongue and her anti-socialness?

Thanks in advance.

Could you please get her a vet? Those sound like worrisome signs UNLESS you just had her engaged in a heavy session of interactive play, or your home is way to overheated. Or she hasn't eaten or drank anything since she arrived- how long have you had her? Since your brother gave up on her?

Hmm, i will try. I am going to see if i can find any clinics around my area. She really does not interact much with us. So I really doubt that she was tired from activities. She drinks and eats when she wants and I've seen her do so, so that should not be a problem as well, and its not very hot in my house. My parents want to find a friend to give her to (they are not very fond of pets, im guessing.) When my brother adopted her from the humane society, she noted as an anti-social cat, and he says he is around 8 or 9 years old. Does anyone know how much a check up at the clinic or vet would be?

This sounds like one very unhappy, and possibly sick, kitty.

Vet check-ups will vary in cost according to the part of the country you're in, so it's not possible to tell you for sure. What I can tell you is that from your description, I think the primary concern should be how quickly you can get her in to a competent vet to be looked at. A tongue hanging out of the mouth with rapid breathing indicates panting, not a good thing for a cat to be doing. It could mean that she is sick and/or in pain.

BTW, 8 or 9 is not old for a cat. Many indoor-only cats who are given good care can live to 18 or older.

I hope you can keep this kitty permanently. It hasn't been good for her to be shuttled from one house to the next - she sounds sad and frightened from all the changes in her life. Not knowing her history, it's hard to say why she's "anti-social" but I don't doubt that all the upheaval has contributed to it. I suspect she will stay that way unless someone makes the effort to try to be her friend.

Please get her vet checked ASAP since the rapid breathing could indicate a serious condition.

Yea, I hope my parents let me keep the cat. She is absolutely beautiful and very friendly. I convinced my parents to have her get a checkup. We will be going tommorow. Hopefully it is nothing serious. I wish i knew more about the history of the cat as well. Hopefully we get to keep it.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Please let us know what the vet finds, whether it is a heart issue or?

yep, i will keep this updated, hopefully, it is nothing serious

Hey everyone, Unfortunately, i have some bad news about Lily. She has a terminal illness. The vet said she has a viral infection that infects her red blood cells. They estimated that she'll live from a week to about a month. As of now, she is staying at the vet overnite while they give her treatment to slow down the process and hopefully it'll ease the pain. The vet said one of the reasons for this might have been a household plant that she had taken a bite out of. Lily will be in my prayers and hopefully she will be in yours too.

Originally Posted by cchicken

Hey everyone, Unfortunately, i have some bad news about Lily. She has a terminal illness. The vet said she has a viral infection that infects her red blood cells. They estimated that she'll live from a week to about a month.

As of now, she is staying at the vet overnite while they give her treatment to slow down the process and hopefully it'll ease the pain. The vet said one of the reasons for this might have been a household plant that she had taken a bite out of. Lily will be in my prayers and hopefully she will be in yours too.

Click to expand...

I'm so sorry to hear about Lilly, Hopefully you will give her all the love she needs and deserves in this rough time. Would your brother consider taking the cat back while she is dying so she can feel more comfortable?I dont mean to sound harsh but, we are a rough group here and beleive that if you get an animal you should take care of it until the day it dies reguardless of wether or not you are having a baby.

Poor Lily. You have our prayers. As a tiny thread of encouragement, my co-worker's cat was diagnosed as having eaten a poisonus plant. The vet told him not to expect the cat to live the week. It's been 6 months and you'd never know that lucky kitty was sick. Here's hoping Lily has the same outcome.

OH CC I am so sorry. I'm glad that you took her to a vet and found out the cause. Lily is in my prayers.

sending lilly hugs

I am so sorry.

GOOD UPDATE : I got a call from the vet today (Lily stayed at the vet's to get more treatment and more diagnotic testing), and the Vet told me Lily does not have any of the 3 terminal illness that she was suspected in having. However, she still has something going on in her body that is causing her red blood cells to be destructing. But this is great news and hopefully she can be cured with her medications over time. Thank you for everyone's prayers and words of encouragement!

this is great news! let us know how she's doing, ok

good luck!

That's good news!
I remember Tucker panting one time. My ex & I were leaving California for good-we had had a hell of a day packing & getting on the road before the rain came. We were stressed out & snapping at each other near the end, & finally on the first main road out of there, Tucker was in my lap, & panting. I'm sure it was stress.