Cat people, please help!

[Flaxbee]

One of my cats - who came to us as a stray - is indoor/outdoor. It's been beautiful here (in the 70s) so I let her out today; she didn't come back in for almost 10 hours (very unusual for her) and now she's acting very very weird and I'm worried.

Behavior: crouching, slinking along. Seems to be uncomfortable when I pick her up (belly may be tender), eyes dilated. Yowling and crying if I pick her up. I put her in the bathroom away from the other cats and she went to curl up in the litter box (waited, though, until I cleaned it out). She isn't eating or drinking, though she took a lick at the tuna, and continues to sniff it as if she isn't repelled just isn't interested.

She won't lift her tail when I scratch her hindquarters - well, she didn't/wouldn't, and I persisted and she broke out in a purr and lifted her tail/rear as she should - reflex. Then all of a sudden she got mad again, quit purring, and sat down. I've had a cat suffer a broken tail before and this is not even close to those symptoms.

She's had all her shots, been spayed, etc. Does not appear to have been in a fight - no scratches or wounds I can see, no cat-fight-slobber from bite marks anywhere on her. Not dirty, so it doesn't seem like she was rolled by a dog or a car. I checked poison symptoms online and it seems she'd be drinking a LOT and peeing if she'd had antifreeze or something. Doesn't appear to be woozy or off-balance - I saw her walk across the room and she slunk but didn't wobble - but she's just VERY upset. And sitting in the litter box. I am baffled.

There are several new strays around - coming here no doubt for the dry kibble that I set out during the day. And right before she came in (I was calling like a banshee for hours) there was a stray, big cat on the downstairs deck.

Any advice? Thoughts? Help? None of our local vets have emergency clinics, so I think I'll just have to watch her tonight.

[crim son]

1. She could have had a fall

or been hit by something that did no obvious damage. I'm sorry there is no emergency vet for you to take her to tonight, but you really need to get her checked out tomorrow. Poor baby!

[Flaxbee]

4. yes, I'm going to watch her closely and call first thing a.m...

thanks for your concern..

[mike_c]

2. take her to the vet immediately-- one possibility that comes to mind...

...is potassium depletion due to kidney disease. One of my cats has kidney disease and she initially exhibited symptoms similar to the ones you describe. It's likely manageable. There are lots of other possibilities though, including abdominal tumors. Cats are really good at hiding symptoms, so when they appear you need to get them attention immediately. Seriously, call the vet first thing in the AM. Keep her in tonight, keep her warm and comfortable, but get her to the vet soonest!

[Flaxbee]

5. she just licked tuna off my fingers, and purred a lot

still seems very uncomfortable but the eating is encouraging, as is the purring.

will watch her like a hawk, and call the vet first thing in the a.m. My oldest sister is a vet, and I can usually call her, but she's a research vet (now) and is in the field, away from phones...

how long did your cat's symptoms present? MiniMe (my baby girl) was fine this morning - perky, happy, purring, wanting out out out out OUT!

[mike_c]

7. very quickly, like within 12 hrs....

She was *apparently* fine when I went to bed, but could not straighten out of a weird crab walk in the morning when I got up. Potassium depletion disrupts muscle function, cause cramps. In her case it was the first visible symptom of chronic kidney disease. She's been fine for the last year, with some dietary changes, occasional subcutaneous fluids, and potassium supplements. She'll eventually die of kidney disease, though.

[Flaxbee]

10. I'm sorry about your cat, poor thing.

How old was she when it first came on? My girl is quite young - not yet two...

[mike_c]

12. mine is about six-- kidney disease can affect cats anytime....

I lost a fine young Burmese male at 18 months some years ago. He died of kidney failure.

[applegrove]

8. Cats will purr even if they are sick. It is a sign they are doing okay to

mom, but sick adult cats will purr even if they are ill.

[Lex]

20. Yes---cats will purr when in distress.

It's *not* just a thing they do when they are comfortable.

[Flaxbee]

23. yeah, I know -- it comforts them too, I know.

I'm not taking it as an entirely positive sign, but at least after staring at me with dilated eyes and being pissed off, she seemed to relax when I stroked her and then she purred some, closed her eyes, and moved her chin/head into my hand so I could scratch her where she likes it...

[pokerfan]

32. Cats will also purr when they are in great pain

perhaps to comfort themselves. We don't know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purr#Why_felines_purr

[hickman]

3. She may have been poisoned.

Take her to a vet as soon as you can. My best to her and to you.

on edit, she sounds scared. I don't have any outside cats though. My area is way to congested.

[Flaxbee]

6. she doesn't seem to have the symptoms I've found on

online pet sites -- and she's been in now about two hours, and is a little better (ate some tuna and purred when I stroked her back, scratched her chin) -- poison symptoms seem to progress.

One site I checked said sometimes if cats are out a long time and prowling and get scared or emotionally traumatized, they can do this, too.

I think she may have been kicked, or rolled - and terribly frightened. I'm checking on her every 10 minutes....

[hickman]

14. My gut feeling and I AM NOT A VET,

she got scared and possibly abused. Sounds to me like you are doing all the best things for her Flaxbee. Sometimes comfort is the best medicine.

[Flaxbee]

17. yes - there are some big (new) dogs in the neighborhood...

and new people moved in a few houses down (in her roaming territory). I think she's not going to be an indoor/outdoor girl anymore, and will be strictly indoor from now on.

I'm just watching very closely. Need to make sure my baby is OK.

[Beausoir]

22. My out door cat was poisoned...possibly from a poisoned mouse.

That was 20 years ago and that is why I NEVER let my cats outdoors any more.

Take her to the vet and let them do the bloodwork. Could be any number of things.

And...keep the cat inside from now on.

[Dangerously Amused]

9. Even if you can't take her to an emergency vet tonight, call them.

This sounds very serious and I think it would qualify as an emergency. Heck, I would even call my regular vet and have his answering service get ahold of him. Hopefully they will likely be able to give you better information and suggestions than we can. Maybe be able to rule some things out over the phone, at least help you to make more informed decisions in the moment and maybe help to ease your mind about some things.


It's worth a try.

Good luck.

[Flaxbee]

11. thanks... I'll probably call in a bit and see if I can get a return

from the answering service / on call vet or vet tech...

[Dangerously Amused]

16. Oh good. Let us know what s/he says.

I'm one of those fools who will worry even when other people's pets are sick.


Poor kittie.

[Flaxbee]

18. I'll update everyone later tonight or tomorrow, for sure.

I like to have follow-ups, too...

[LibraLiz1973]

13. I'm wondering

If maybe someone managed to grab her and hold on to her for a while. She would still have been in Fright or Flight mode when she came home.


Something definately seems off with kitty- she is definately fragile right now from what your saying.

I'd go lay on the bathroom floor with her for about 1/2 hour, or take her in the bedroom and lay on the floor with her.
She probably needs calm.

Definately call the vet, just in case.

[Flaxbee]

15. yes - one of the sites I visited said that if traumatized,

cats will sort of turn inward, eyes dilated, act frightened and unhappy -- all of my girl's (MiniMe) current behaviors. I've sat in with her a bit, then let her have some space, and will go back in with her in a bit. Am going to keep her in the bathroom all night so she doesn't hide under a bed or somewhere impossible to reach her in the morning. I am a very very late night person and will probably be with her awake for at least 2-3 more hours (midnight here).

I brought her bed upstairs, and she left the litterbox for her bed.

[hickman]

19. I may be being stupid here but

Maybe it would comfort her to hide for a little while. Not hide so you can't find her, but maybe in your bedroom with the door closed. Maybe this is a stupid suggestion though.

[Flaxbee]

21. not stupid at all -- she'll be in the adjoining bathroom all night, with her bed

and there are several nooks in cabinets she can go into... I'm trying to let her regroup without being invasive. If she were going to go into shock, or convulse or something awful, I think she'd have done it by now - inside three hours and still just grumpy and withdrawn.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. Poor kitty...

Does she seem to have a fever? I wonder if she could have gotten into somebody's garbage.
I hope she wasn't abused... :hug::hug:

[Flaxbee]

25. HUGE improvement in the last hour....

perkier, kneading as she purrs, interested in kibble (as opposed to the almost irresistible tuna), didn't cry when I picked her up, etc. I think she was scared and perhaps kicked or rolled by a dog. Am still calling the vet first thing in the a.m., but she seems to be recovering from whatever fright/hurt she experienced.

Thanks to all who replied. :grouphug:

I'll post an update in the morning.

[grasswire]

26. did she pee?

That would be pretty important to know.

And did you check her mouth for anything foreign?

And if you had any inclination that she might be hypokalemic (potassium deficient) you can give a cat Pedialyte with an eyedropper into the corner of its mouth to get it to take some electrolytes.

[Flaxbee]

29. not that I can see yet...

but she ate a fair amount of kibble, and is now grooming and roaming around the bathroom, purring, and seeming to be back to her usual self, though perhaps still a bit spooked / sore. Her sister snuck in there earlier and I think was the one who peed - can't tell, though. I meant to keep them all separated tonight so I could observe her urine/bowel functions, but as I said, a sister kitty snuck in (and gave her a grooming/kiss, too - so sweet).

[Lisa0825]

27. I hope she is OK

and that you might consider keeping her indoors. There are just too many dangers out there for kitties.... natural and man-made.

[Flaxbee]

30. yeah, she'll cry for a few weeks or a month or so, but she's not

going back out... I have 7, three could go out (but always back before dark) and 4 in. Now 5 in, and 2 in/out. We have one big honking male cat (another stray - they're all strays) who attacks the other kitties if he's not allowed out. If he goes out even an hour a day, he's an entirely different creature - docile, sweet, snuggly; if he's kept in, he's 20lbs of muscle that is cranky and vicious. I do know it's dangerous for kitties to be out, and while I'd never forgive myself if any of them were hurt, we're pretty rural and he's got an acre here to roam. Sigh. It's a hard thing to decide about, because while Ivan (big guy) has only brought us moles, I know that cats are a threat to bird populations.

[AlienAvatar]

28. You've gotten a lot of good advice here

I'm sorry I can't add anything to help. I'm really hoping she's okay. I have cats too and I can relate to your distress.
I'm glad she has a loving and responsible owner like you.
Best wishes and please let us know how she makes out at the vet's.

[Flaxbee]

31. thanks -- she's soooo much better now

... and it's been 5 hours since I got her in. Much, much, much better. Will update everyone after the vet has his say...

[Chomskyite]

33. Most likely an anxiety reaction

. . . possibly from seeing or from being chased by another animal. She most likely ran up a tree or in some other fashion escaped the animal's clutches, but the anxiety reaction can sometimes go on for a day or two.

[Duer 157099]

34. First thought: alien abduction

now c'mon, don't dismiss it just cuz it sounds kooky

second thought: maybe she ate a hallucinogenic/psychoactive plant of some sort

third thought: ate poisen of some sort

fourth thought: perhaps she was feeling badly before she disappeared, and that's why she was gone so long

BUT -- glad to hear she's doing better! I don't think I could ever have an outdoor cat (or in/out even).

[Patiod]

37. Oh please

They ARE the aliens who are abducting us.

Why do you think all of those pictures of aliens have giant cat eyes? Think of the "symptoms" of alien abduction: pressure on your chest, something with big eyes in a big head staring at you - what does that sound like?

If you were an alien species, how great would it be to land on a planet and not have to worry about providing yourself with food, water, health care - NOTHING. Just let your potential victims take you in and treat you like royalty, and voila! You're soon running their world.

Plus think how often you see your cat listening in on messages from the Mother Ship....

[Duer 157099]

40. Makes perfect sense

Sneaky critters

[Rosemary2205]

35. My cat acted a lot like this when

the glands in her anus got backed up and had to be expressed by the vet.

I'm late the the discussion but I hope the kitty comes out just fine.

[Flaxbee]

36. UPDATE: She's fine!

Thanks to all who posted.... she's hopping around this morning, her perky self. Talked to the vet and he said if she's eating, acting normal, etc., then just watch her for a bit but it sounds like anxiety/fear at being chased or grabbed by a dog or something. She's normally a very "scaredy" cat - only comes to me, won't even come to my husband who has been around her at least as much as I have... she avoids other people, etc. So perhaps it was an animal that frightened her.

But MiniMe is just fine, so that's all I care about! She thinks she's going to convince me to let her out, but I don't think that'll be happening anytime soon (if ever).

Again, thanks for all the advice/support. :grouphug:

[BikeWriter]

38. I hope you're serious about keeping your cat in...

Should you be tempted, please remember that scared feeling.

[Dangerously Amused]

39. Thanks for the update, I'm so glad she's doing well.

Yay kittie!


:)