Is this starving stray pregnant, or has she had her kittens?/ Thomas

[Norachan]

Oh, I'm so glad the little ones all went to new homes already. It's great that they were adopted that fast, no need to worry about them sitting in the shelter all alone and confused. (I know the shelter you took them to wasn't really like that, but a nice new family home is certainly much better.)

Thomas is so sweet. One of my cats was quite bald and scabby when I first took him in. He's been living as a feral for a long time and had been in a few fights. It took about a year before he was back to his former fluffy glory.

My parents use to have a pair of Burmese cats. They were the same colour as Thomas but had very short, silky coats. Maybe he has got some Persian in him and that's where is slightly longer fur comes from?

Hope he gets to stay with you for a while, he looks like he could use some TLC.

 

[checkers]

 Wouldn't you like to keep him to see how well you can make him. He's not giving any problems. Where does he sleep?

@Stewball  I did even think about that, but I don't think I can give him the time he deserves.  I work full-time and care for a very elderly mum with high-care needs.  I only took on the kittens because they came into my life through their stray mother who wandered in, and you know the rest of the long story!  I'm also coming up for 2 lots of surgery (to repair an injured knee and an injured shoulder from my fall over a retaining wall while I was looking for the kittens in a stranger's back yard in the dark  

).  

Thomas sleeps most of the time on one of two sofas, which I have covered in old fabric due to his skin weeping.  If he hears a noise or gets frightened for some reason, he hides behind the lounge  This morning he has retreated again to the narrow space behind my mother's bedhead.  (I raised my voice and said 'no' to him when he started using the lounge chair as a scratching post, and he took fright.  He did emerge after that before hiding again, but I must be careful to treat him even more gently and warn the rescue people of his fears.)

Certainly, if my circumstances were different, I would take on the challenge to rehabilitate him.  

 

[checkers]

 
 One of my cats was quite bald and scabby when I first took him in. He's been living as a feral for a long time and had been in a few fights. It took about a year before he was back to his former fluffy glory.

My parents use to have a pair of Burmese cats. They were the same colour as Thomas but had very short, silky coats. Maybe he has got some Persian in him and that's where is slightly longer fur comes from?

@Norachan  , your post is very encouraging. Did you have to treat the feral cat's skin or give him medication to restore his coat?

I've noticed on the internet that Persians also come in that deep brown-black colour, so he could be part of one, or the other, or both, I guess.  A Burper?

 

[Norachan]

 
@Norachan  , your post is very encouraging. Did you have to treat the feral cat's skin or give him medication to restore his coat?

I've noticed on the internet that Persians also come in that deep brown-black colour, so he could be part of one, or the other, or both, I guess.  A Burper?

He had to have several doses of Profender for a round worm infestation. He also had to have a few teeth removed, be treated for gingivitis, have antibiotics and stitches for a big gash on his head and, of course, be neutered. This was all done over a period of about three months, the vet didn't want to give him all the medication at once. 

I think his bald patches were mainly caused by poor diet, he was very skinny when he first turned up. Once he'd been treated for worms and had his teeth fixed he was able to eat a lot more and so his coat improved.

Obviously quite different from Thomas's problems, but with time these things get better.

Burper! That's a good one!

 

[checkers]

 He had to have several doses of Profender for a round worm infestation. He also had to have a few teeth removed, be treated for gingivitis, have antibiotics and stitches for a big gash on his head and, of course, be neutered. This was all done over a period of about three months, the vet didn't want to give him all the medication at once. 

Oh @Norachan, that poor cat.  How wonderful you saved him. What a transformation.  Thomas is on a worming program. I suspect he may have something wrong with his teeth too, as you can hear them clunking when he closes his mouth after a yawn.  

Again, your post is very encouraging. 

 

[checkers]

 Re Thomas:  "Wouldn't you like to keep him to see how well you can make him. He's not giving any problems. Where does he sleep?"

@Stewball  , I answered your post yesterday and have just noticed my answer isn't there. I did it on my laptop, which often loses its wireless connection, so I guess it disintegrated in cyberspace.

Yes, I would love to keep Thomas, as I would have the kittens. But he really needs specialist care I can't provide, and as I work full time, and am the sole carer for my invalid mother, I just don't have the hours in the day and he needs more love and attention than I can provide.  

Very soon after I got home last night, I gave Thomas a pat then went to the kitchen to get dinner.  Then there was this almighty crash and I dashed out to see what had happened, thinking Mum may have fallen or Thomas may have jumped up on some furniture and knocked things over.  Even Mum, who is almost deaf, called out from her room and asked what had happened.

There was Thomas dashing around the lounge and dining rooms like a kitten, jumping up, spinning around and clumsily thudding back onto the floor in this really awkward-looking play. On the timber floors, with his large size, big feet and very long claws, it was so loud.  It was so exciting to see.  He had another couple of playful episodes soon afterwards. (I wish I'd had my camera at the ready.)  It was like he was happy to see me home. (I like to think that’s the case anyway.)

I noticed last night too, when he yawned, that he has very long canine teeth.  They actually show when his mouth is closed, and you can often hear his teeth when he's eating or when he closes his mouth after a yawn.  Makes him look even more scary!  

Thomas close-up 23 05 15.jpg

• checkers
• May 25, 2015

 

[mani]

That's lovely.. A Happy Thomas..

 

[segelkatt]

He sounds as if he had gotten into catnip or valerian. The picture is wonderful and I don't think it is scary at all. My Panthera also has teeth that show when his mouth is closed, I've had a few other cats that had them too so I don't think that is unusual. Somewhere I have a pic of a now deceased cat who looked like a little vampire with his teeth hanging out, lol!

 

[checkers]

 ...The picture is wonderful and I don't think it is scary at all. My Panthera also has teeth that show when his mouth is closed, I've had a few other cats that had them too so I don't think that is unusual. Somewhere I have a pic of a now deceased cat who looked like a little vampire with his teeth hanging out, lol!

Ha, @segelkatt, that photo's not scary, but you should have seen him mid-yawn! 

I hadn't seen those kinds of 'external' canines  in domestic cats before, but clearly I've just missed the experience. They're probably more obvious on a black cat too.

I feel better now!  Thank you!

 

[stewball]

@Stewball
 , I answered your post yesterday and have just noticed my answer isn't there. I did it on my laptop, which often loses its wireless connection, so I guess it disintegrated in cyberspace.

Yes, I would love to keep Thomas, as I would have the kittens. But he really needs specialist care I can't provide, and as I work full time, and am the sole carer for my invalid mother, I just don't have the hours in the day and he needs more love and attention than I can provide.  


Very soon after I got home last night, I gave Thomas a pat then went to the kitchen to get dinner.  Then there was this almighty crash and I dashed out to see what had happened, thinking Mum may have fallen or Thomas may have jumped up on some furniture and knocked things over.  Even Mum, who is almost deaf, called out from her room and asked what had happened.





There was Thomas dashing around the lounge and dining rooms like a kitten, jumping up, spinning around and clumsily thudding back onto the floor in this really awkward-looking play. On the timber floors, with his large size, big feet and very long claws, it was so loud.  It was so exciting to see.  He had another couple of playful episodes soon afterwards. (I wish I'd had my camera at the ready.)  It was like he was happy to see me home. (I like to think that’s the case anyway.)





I noticed last night too, when he yawned, that he has very long canine teeth.  They actually show when his mouth is closed, and you can often hear his teeth when he's eating or when he closes his mouth after a yawn.  Makes him look even more scary!  :jaw:

Thomas close-up 23 05 15.jpg

• checkers
• May 25, 2015

Poor Thomas. He's so happy with you.
It's a lovely picture.

 

[checkers]

Quote:

Poor Thomas. He's so happy with you....

I'm not so sure now, @Stewball  .  He's gone off his food.  I bought him some gourmet food as a treat, and have tried other good quality food, but he won't eat.  His last meal was yesterday morning, so that's 3 meals he's refused - last night's dinner, this morning's breakfast, and tonight's dinner.

He's still purring and enjoying a pat, but just wants to sleep.

If he hasn't eaten by tomorrow morning (9 hours away), I'll call the foster people for help.  It could be because I was hiding his tablets in his food, and it turned him off.  I didn't do that tonight, but still no luck.

When he wouldn't have his dinner last night, I  crushed his tablets and mixed them in butter, then spread it on his leg.  He licked it all off so at least he got his meds.

 

[stewball]

Quote

I'm not so sure now, @Stewball
 .  He's gone off his food.  I bought him some gourmet food as a treat, and have tried other good quality food, but he won't eat.  His last meal was yesterday morning, so that's 3 meals he's refused - last night's dinner, this morning's breakfast, and tonight's dinner.

He's still purring and enjoying a pat, but just wants to sleep.

If he hasn't eaten by tomorrow morning (9 hours away), I'll call the foster people for help.  It could be because I was hiding his tablets in his food, and it turned him off.  I didn't do that tonight, but still no luck.

When he wouldn't have his dinner last night, I  crushed his tablets and mixed them in butter, then spread it on his leg.  He licked it all off so at least he got his meds.

Have you tried feeding him by hand!

 

[handsome kitty]

Checkers, What does your mom think of Thomas?  Do they get along?

 

[segelkatt]

 
Quote:

I'm not so sure now, @Stewball  .  He's gone off his food.  I bought him some gourmet food as a treat, and have tried other good quality food, but he won't eat.  His last meal was yesterday morning, so that's 3 meals he's refused - last night's dinner, this morning's breakfast, and tonight's dinner.

He's still purring and enjoying a pat, but just wants to sleep.

If he hasn't eaten by tomorrow morning (9 hours away), I'll call the foster people for help.  It could be because I was hiding his tablets in his food, and it turned him off.  I didn't do that tonight, but still no luck.

When he wouldn't have his dinner last night, I  crushed his tablets and mixed them in butter, then spread it on his leg.  He licked it all off so at least he got his meds.

You do know that purring is not always a sign of happiness, don't you? Cats also purr when in distress and even when they are dying. This cat needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible, not eating for this long is a sign of trouble.

 

[checkers]

Have you tried feeding him by hand!

@Stewball, no, I haven't tried that.  I'll give it a go.  Thank you.

I ended up ringing the vet just before midnight (it's now almost 2am here) because he started to heave with a high-pitched sort of sound. I thought he was going to vomit, but nothing came. (Well, I guess there was nothing in there to come.)  Putting that together with the lack of food, I didn't want to take any chances.

The vet said the high-pitched heaving sounded like asthma (and he is an asthmatic). I told him I'd hidden his tablets in his food up until tonigt, and she concluded that would be why he wouldn't eat it anymore.  And while I was talking to the vet, Thomas got up and walked across to his dry-food bowl, and started to eat!  He only had about 3 or 4 goes at it, but I told the vet and that made her more sure it was the hidden tablets that had turned him off the wet food. She told me if I was worred  I could bring him straight away, or if I became concerned over night I could take him in any time.  (They are open 24 hours.)

He's been curled up on the lounge, so I took a fresh bowl of dry cat food to him (on the lounge, mind you) a short time ago and he got stuck into it.  He didn't eat a full meal of it, but made an impression, so I was very pleased.  I'll keep an ear open overnight and if he changes for the worst, I'll take him straight to the vet.

I'll need some toothpicks for my eyelids at work tomorrow.

 

[stewball]

checkers

we use matchsticks ;-)

 

[checkers]

You do know that purring is not always a sign of happiness, don't you? Cats also purr when in distress and even when they are dying. This cat needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible, not eating for this long is a sign of trouble.

@segelkatt, thank you.  I have just seen your post, after responding to Stewball. You'll see in my explanation to Stewball that he has started eating, and that I did ring the vet and discuss it at length over the phone. You'll see the vet's views in my last post.

I did know purring was not always a sign of happiness, but he was purring just in response to my pats so I assumed it was contentedness.

But thank you for the warning. I will sleep near him tonight (heading off to bed shortly; it's after 2am and I've been watching him since I got home from work) and take him to the vet if I think shows any worsening signs.

I really appreciate your advice.

 

[kntrygrl256]

@Checkers  I hope everything will be alright with Thomas. I will send positive vibes your way

 

[checkers]

we use matchsticks ;-)

Thanks @Stewball  .  We don't like the phosphorus match heads here in Australia. Too dangerous. 

 

[checkers]

Thomas update

I've just set Thomas up on the end of my bed for the night.  He was purring loudly and headbutting me strongly, so I think he's rather pleased.  I hope it's a good sign for his recovery, but now he's right at my side, I can bundle him off to the vet if he worsens.