Crap, I think my cat's dying...

[JeffreyWilliamson]

...and all the vet clinics are closed.

He threw up this morning but I thought it was just a hairball issue. I didn't really worry about it, but after getting in from running a few errands I thought it was strange that I hadn't seen him. I found him sleeping in the kitchen cabinets. He just came out and acted like just walking around is taking every ounce of energy he has.

Update: After I typed that last line I heard him make a weird noise and found him lying down on the floor in front of his litter box. When I walked over to him he got up and walked away.

What could be the problem here, he's only 8 years old. Vomiting, lethargic, wanting to be left alone in some dark place, that weird scene just now. Anyone got any ideas what I should do?

[auntAgonist]

1. I'm sorry I have no idea ...

I hope he's alright.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

2. Okay I just went to look for him...

He's in the bathroom lying on the rug in front of the toilet. He wouldn't let me touch him. He's acting like he's drugged up and out of it.

[auntAgonist]

21. please let us know how your cat and you are doing .. n/t

[undeterred]

3. Find an emergency vet clinic NOW.

Most vets leave an emergency number on their voice mail message- either their own or a vet clinic. Google should be a help in finding one.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

5. I'm already on it...

There is an emergency clinic that's helped me before about 45 minutes north of here towards Houston. I have the number somewhere here.

[undeterred]

8. Here's one in League City.

http://www.vcacalderroad.com/

Call first so they know you're coming. My dog's life was saved on 2 occasions by an emergency clinic- he had bloat.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

9. That's the one and I just spoke with them...

I got their number just now off our regular vet's voice mail. I'm putting the pet carrier together now. Wish us luck.

[undeterred]

10. Great. I'll be thinking of you and your cat.

All the best. :hug:

[boilerbabe]

40. Good luck and best wishes to you and your kitty!!!! n/t

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Ditto!

Don't second guess it.

He's acting sick, shows he sick.
Make a call.

[Blue Diadem]

4. Do you have a regular vet you could call for an emergency?

If not, there are emergency vet clinics that stay open 24/7. Just FYI, they do tend to be more expensive.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Cats often hide if they're not feeling well.

Is there an emergency clinic you could call? Here's the number for mine. I know it's in NY, but they are very good and will help if you explain the situation. I've had to do that several times. They're open all weekend. Let me know... 518 761-2602.

Rhiannon :hug:

[lizerdbits]

11. That's similar to what Max did when his urethra was blocked

but no vomiting. Might not be what it is (as I'm not a vet), but if he's blocked he needs attention NOW. Sounds like he needs attention now whatever it is. Good luck!

[boilerbabe]

39. I guessed the same thing

Male cats that have been neutered have a tendency towards urine crystallization. I have heard that they need to eat "wet food" more often to help prevent this. Hope his kitty is OK...

[DeepBlueC]

12. If he is vomiting at the very least he can be dehydrated

plus if he has not been eating that can be serious. Cats who can't eat can then lose their appetite and refuse to eat and that can lead to liver failure and then complete organ failure. It can start with some kind of intestinal bug or something mundane and easily treated, but the vomiting itself and the refusal to eat are become very serious for a kitty on their own and have to be addressed. Good luck to you. I will pray for you both. What you are describing looks like what I have seen in a cat who became dehydrated from vomiting. I was really scared. And wouldn't you know it it was EXACTLY at this time of year (my vet in the hospital, most of the other clinics closed. But I got a Christmas miracle and I hope you get one too. I hope you have an Urgent Care Clinic near you.

[Skittles]

13. to see if he is dehydrated, pick the skin off his back

see how long it takes to settle down - should go down right away. Is he peeing? If not it could be urinary blockage.

[Rhiannon12866]

14. And a blockage is extremely serious, must be treated immediately. n/t

[Skittles]

16. absolutely

not only is it very painful, it can poison them

[DeepBlueC]

15. oh man, I really want to hear some good news later

been dealing with cat sadness here tonight..missing boy..blizzard...bad.

[XemaSab]

17. If the cat is dying

PLEASE take him to be put down.

Out kitty was acting oddly for a few days before we finally took her to the vet. :cry:

[wartrace]

18. Good link I found for pet health questions in this thread;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=8342067&mesg_id=8342067

[Suich]

19. Kick.....

in case JeffreyWilliamson checks in with some news.

[emilyg]

20. Hope he lets us know.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

24. Don't worry I will post that update...

It's been a long night. A half hour to the emergency clinic and a four-hour wait. Then, another hour on top of that for the results of the exam. I'm wiped out emotionally and monetarily. Will post an update in the morning, but for anyone interested, he'll be fine.

Nite...

[Eurobabe]

26. Glad you were able to get him to the emergency clinic

Sending vibes for the kitty, and for you. :hug:

[undeterred]

28. Glad to hear he will be ok.

:hug:

[Blue Diadem]

29. I'm glad he'll be ok. Hope you both are getting some

much needed sleep.

[LisaL]

32. What was wrong with the cat?

[DeepBlueC]

33. oh very interested, very relieved

I'm looking forward to that update, but for now "he'll be fine" are some of the sweetest words in the English language. I was really afraid for you and your furry.

[emilyg]

37. Thanks for letting us know he'll be fine.

[pinstikfartherin]

22. Oh no! Poor kitty! I hope we get an update soon..

My dog was vomiting, wouldn't eat, had no energy, and eventually had seizures. We took him to the vet twice and the emergency vet twice. The second time we took him to the vet he was continuously seizuring. They thought he had epilepsy, or at least that's what they told us. I think they just didn't know.

He died that night.

I still miss him to this day. The scene that always pops into my head first is of him having seizures. :(

RIP Trevor Doodle! I miss you so much baby boy.

The thing is I'm torn on that night... my baby was dying and my boyfriend first told me he loved me. It was both a good and bad night.

[Writer]

23. When Gandalf the Grey was only 1 year old, he had the same problems...

One morning, he kept vomiting, and I realized that he was vomiting stomach acid. He seemed lethargic and dehydrated from the vomiting. He was too young and too healthy to have any acute health issues, so I took him to the emergency vet.

X-rays showed that he had swallowed a tiny plastic tube that got caught in the sphincter between his stomach and his intestines. $1500 later (we luckily had insurance that covered the entire bill) they removed it and he was right as rain after a couple of weeks.

I truly hope that it's something as simple as that, otherwise you and your little friend are very much in my thoughts.

:hug:

~Writer~

[JeffreyWilliamson]

25. See reply #24...

See you all in the morning.

[Quantess]

27. Chuck, the cat, needs 2 insulin shots daily.

We have a diabetic cat. I hope you don't.

[Maine-ah]

31. I had a diabetic cat

do you do home testing? We did, and I managed to regulate my kitty using natural food and the occasional insulin shot.

www.felinediabetes.com

these folks were a great help.

[Quantess]

38. Thanks for the link!

No, we don't know the first thing about home testing. I will look for it on the link you provided, so that we don't have to rely on the vet to tell us. The people at the vet office praise Chuck highly, and they are really nice to us and remember our cat's name and everything. My boyfriend jokes, that's because "he's their cash cow". LOL.

[Callalily]

30. Glad to hear that your

cat is doing fine, and I'm hoping that the two of you are resting.

Will stay tuned for details.

:hug:

[applegrove]

34. Vibes.

[DeepBlueC]

35. Where's our update?

Hope everything that was supposed to go okay DID in fact go okay. Need to hear some happy cat news. :hi:

[boilerbabe]

41. He said to check reply #24 for update...

It looks like the kitty is going to be ok from what he said. XXXOOO

[DeepBlueC]

42. I did see that

He also said there he'd post further in the morning and that has not happened, so I had to ask. Things can change quickly with kitties.

[Blue Diadem]

43. He updated with a new post. Here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8347746

[DeepBlueC]

44. thanks

[Dangerously Amused]

36. Glad things seemed to turn out well. Looking forward to the update...