Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female cat who has been sick for the past 2 1/2 wks with an URI. Ive had her on 2 different antibiotics for ten days now, one is amoxycillin, the other is orbax.
a week after we saw the vet and got the meds we went back because she was showing no improvement and her 3rd eyelid was out and inflamed. At the vet they discovered she was severely dehydrated. They did a camel back to keep her hydrated. I of course felt terrible, I saw her drinking water and figured she was getting enough. she had also lost over a lb in one week, she is a fat cat so its not as bad as it could be, but definately not good. The vet said she could have suffered liver damage from the dehydration and hunger. So ive been force feeding her Hills A/D and forcing water. She still isnt interested in food whatsoever. Ive tried tuna, tuna juice, ive heated it up, ive tried chicken broth, chicken, lunch meat, nothing is working. What could it be? any suggestions? I have another vet checkup tomorrow for her and would like to mention anything you guys come up with for her. I have had her since she was a kitten, 7 yrs ago, and this is her first time being sick. Im so worried
Thank you all very much,
Heather

Hi Heather,

This may have started with a URI, but right now it sounds much more serious.

First, I would highly recommend that a full blood panel be done, as well as a urinalysis, and possibly full body x-rays. The blood and urinalysis will help the vet to determine how her organs are functioning, and x-rays are always a good idea whenever a cat has GI symptoms lasting longer than a day or two.

You might try offering your baby strained meat baby foods (with no onion added) to see if she will eat some willingly. You are doing the right thing in force feeding her. Hopefully it will prevent at least a severe case of hepatic lipidosis. I would be very surprised if her liver values are normal, however.

There is a possibility that the antibiotics have affected your kitty's appetite, but for some reason I get the feeling that something else is going on. If your cat is still dehydrated, you might want to consider giving her fluids at home subcutaneously. This will help her if her liver isn't functioning well, as it will help to flush the toxins out of her body.

Sometimes, a feeding tube is placed if a kitty refuses to eat for a long period of time. This may sound drastic, but it is usually much easier to feed a cat through a tube than with a syringe.

Please let us know what the vet says.

Regards,
PHKitkat

Thank You!
Im so nervous.
She is acting alot more like herself lately. She comes out and rubs all over for lots of lovins, shes starting to meow more. When i put dry food in a bowl she comes running, but then looks at it and walks away. and ive tried all theother things like i said. I havent tried baby food yet, i will! Thanks!
The vet said that her skin color looked good, so thats a good sign that her liver is working ok. She still has a snotty nose.
Do you still feel the way you do? I realy hope its nothing serious. I cant imagine losing her, shes my only girl!
Thanks, and i would love any other info from anyone else out there!
-Heather

I would recommend taking the cat to the vet ASAP for a follow up. Ask the vet to check her teeth and gums along with everything else that Kitkat recommended.

I'll keep your baby in my thoughts and prayers.
-----
Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Hi Heather,

Yes, I still think this may be serious and my recommendations still stand. A loss of one pound in just a week's time is quite a bit.

I know how scared you are, and I can relate. Chances are that whatever is ailing your kitty is treatable, since she is only 7. Even though your baby's skin isn't yellow, she could still be having liver problems. I personally would still have a blood panel and urinalysis done.

Take care, and I'll remember your baby in my prayers.

PHKitkat

Thank you both very much!
I brought her in on friday morning and the vet looked her over and weighed her. She was 11lbs12ozs (yes on the heavy side) and she is now 10.07 lbs. The vet explained that there probably was liver damage done from the not eating and drinking, she explained that when that happens the liver starts collecting fat from her body, something like that, which can also decrease her appetite, which is why she said i have to force feed her and keep her hydrated because that will kick her liver back into gear and it will stop collecting fat. im really bad about explaining things so im sorry if this doesnt make sense. I can never fully understand these kinds of things. Anyway, she told me to go buy a different wet food and a different dry food. And to force feed the wet food to her atleast a can a day. She said when they get sick, then get better, they generally dont want any of the food they use to have or that they were force fed. which i knew and thats why i tried the things like the broth, chicken, and lunchmeat. So when we got home i put the dry food and wet food in the bathroom while i was doing her steam treatment, when i came in to turn the water off, the food was all gone!! She ate it all by herself!! I cried with relief, lol. ever since friday her appetite has been back, she still has some congestion, but its almost gone. So i finally almost have my cat completely back!! and the vet said her liver should return to normal and not shorten her lifespan. We didnt do a blood culture or urinalysis, ive spent 300$ this month on both the cats and just couldnt afford it.
Thank you again,
Heather

Hi Heather,

Great news about your baby eating on her own! If she continues, she is well on the road to recovering from her probably fatty liver disease.

One good thing about liver problems is that the liver will almost always regenerate and heal itself. Hepatic lipidosis can be fatal, but with treatment and/or supportive care, most cats will recover.

Regards,
PHKitkat