| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 776.1 | | HELIX::SKALTSIS | Deb | Mon Jul 11 1994 06:59 | 3 |
| He sounds ill; Is he running a fevor?
Deb
|
| 776.2 | | TOOK::GASKELL | | Mon Jul 11 1994 09:10 | 13 |
| He also sounds depressed. Like humans, cats can become depressed
after an injury or illness. Also, there could be some minor brain
damage after anesthetic (rare but not impossible). If it's depression
it could be months before he is out of it. Keep up the TLC, it can
only help, and consult with the vet.
My Lady Elizabeth came within half a night of dying in the cold. She
was only a pound or so away from starving to death. She was depressed
for over a year. She's out of it now and as happy as any cat we have
ever had.
Best of luck to you both.
|
| 776.3 | kitty with a short tail | WRKSYS::RICHARDSON | | Mon Jul 11 1994 10:11 | 12 |
| Poor little fellow! My old kitty JFCL got the tip of her tail caught
in a door many years ago, and I had to have the last inch or so of it
removed. She hated the bandage, but once that was off and the fur grew
back, she was fine. She had a very long tail to begin with, so it
isn't really noticeable that it is now an inch shorter, and she carries
it normally, even bending it over her back at the tip when she is being
friendly. I don't think she knows anymore that it used to be longer -
it was nine years ago now. I expect the poor little fellow will get
over it, if he checks out healthy otherwise, just be affectionate to
him as usual.
/Charlotte
|
| 776.4 | Maybe phantom-pain? | BPSOF::EGYED | Per aspera ad astra | Wed Jul 13 1994 00:46 | 10 |
| There is a thing called 'phantom pain' in humans (My dad was an
accident-surgeon, I know a lot of amputated people, who complain about
aching of the amputed so nonexistent limb). Maybe there is something
like that? Consult the vet also from this point of view. Another thing,
if it is possible, do not take the cat to the vet, let the vet make a
house call. ( I always do that, and Smokey appreciates this). Just love
the poor thing more than ever... We cross our paws to help him over
this.
Nat
|
| 776.5 | REACTION TO ANESTHESIA? | MROA::BOISVERT | | Wed Jul 13 1994 05:42 | 13 |
| It could be just a lingering reaction to the anesthesia also... I
brought my cat in a few months ago to have his teeth cleaned. He was a
stray I'd found and have horrendous teeth. They ended up pulling about
4 including his 2 upper canine.
In any event, it took a good 3 weeks before he was himself, maybe even
closer to a month. He wasn't sleeping in his litterbox or anything but
like yours, acted very depressed and distant. When I called the vet to
question it, she said some cats can have a strong lingering reaction to
being put under and this was probably one of those cases. (She did
give me a prescription for antibiotics also though.)
Maybe this is what your kitty is going through now...
|
| 776.6 | Do not let them lie there... | BPSOF::EGYED | Per aspera ad astra | Fri Jul 15 1994 05:58 | 45 |
| First, we wish all the best to your kitty.
Second, my sister-in-law's cat was hit by a car (they heard it
acutally!) but seems to get on with it: no seeable injurings. Cat is
very slow, sleeps a lot and is kinda depressive, but vet told she might
good come out OK with that all then.
And third, this might go also to 'whine', but you'll see why not,
anyway: I again found a little body middle on the road. Black and
white... Thoughts came in my mind, words my vet once told me - see
later.
I stopped, turned around (many doodling, hornblows etc...) and examined
it. It seemed whole. It also seemed 'not to work' any more...sniff. I
took an AIDS-glove (those nylon thingies) and carefully took the body
and set it aside, a bit more far off the road, amidst the trees, and
put it down on the side, head a bit down, caring for the half-open eyes
not to touch the ground. I just could not leave it there on the road to
be smashed apart... I back to car, shrugged as some people cursed me
and blamed me for hitting the cat, and drove away.
As I from my vet already knew, if a cat is hit, it may collapse in
shock, without severely injured, or also if totally unhurt! It falls
over like dead, but actually is not badly or not at all hurt! It would
come again in a few minutes or half an hour if... if the next car would
not come. But it comes, the next car, whose driver does not care... And
it kills kitty then, kitty lying helpless there... That's why if I see
an animal lying on the road which seems not exactly dead, I always stop
and look, and put it aside even if dead, the poor creature. Just can't
let it...
And now it comes: a guy I know happened to drive the same way without
me noticing him. He just missed me as I drove away. He started too,
then in the mirror he saw something black&white *moving* in the
woods... He (the same unnormal type as me) stopped, turned (horns
etc...) drove back, got out the car, went up to the tree, just to look
for the black&white RUNNING AWAY LIKE HELL, as totally unhurt!!!!! He
then phoned me later to tell me abot all. Folks I got tears! I thought
kitty was dead... and was not! Wow!
So I ask you: if you just can arrange, stop carefully and put the body
aside: who knows perhaps you rescue a furry life...
Nat
|
| 776.7 | | SUBURB::ODONNELLJ | Julie O'Donnell | Fri Jul 15 1994 08:20 | 6 |
| This was the case with a cat we saw once. We were walking home late at
night when a cat was hit by a car. When we went over, he was just lying
there and we thought he was dead. My friend just lifted him up and he
was very limp, but after a minute or two he just came to life, leapt
out of her arms and shot off into the bushes. Gave her the shock of her
life!
|
| 776.8 | | USCTR1::WOOLNER | Your dinner is in the supermarket | Fri Jul 15 1994 09:15 | 3 |
| THANK you, Nat. Required reading for all of us!
Leslie
|
| 776.9 | A point of light in the dark | TURRIS::EASI::GEENEN | Illud cape et ei fibulam adfige! | Fri Jul 15 1994 10:01 | 7 |
| Wonderful, Nat. Just what I needed to lift my spirits. Thank you
not only for telling us the story, but also for you being so kind
and caring to save the life of a little kitty. You've made my day
and restored my faith. There may be hope for the human race yet.
God bless you,
Carl
|
| 776.10 | Sure. And thanks. | BPSOF::EGYED | Per aspera ad astra | Sun Jul 17 1994 23:39 | 5 |
| I did, do and shall do. And I hope 'the human race' too...!
Thank you for your kind words. And I wish all good to furred and
unfurred.
Nat
|
| 776.11 | Still sad. | GVPROD::FITZGERALD | Something in software | Mon Jul 18 1994 00:04 | 10 |
| Back to .0... The poor cat is getting worse. The vet's latest reaction
is "The cat has always been insane. Have him put to sleep." (Helpful,
eh?)
He now refuses to leave his litter box at all, sleeps 23 hours per day,
and has gone from 2 meals to 1.
I think I will put him out of his misery.
Maurice
|
| 776.12 | Perhaps we can Help by talking to our vets! | ELYSEE::ZIMAN | | Mon Jul 18 1994 06:10 | 14 |
|
I sent a note to the author asking if he could get a second opinion.
I believe he may be in Geneva. Also, would one of the noters who
has a kind, cat oriented vet, be willing to explain the situation
and see if they have ideas. My husband and I have 2 cats here in
Geneva area, and I know it isn't easy to find cat specialists who take
an interest in a 10 year old cat.
The author really sounds desperate, (as does his cat) and I'm
hoping we can use the power of this network to get him some ideas
from other vets on what could be wrong and what to do.
|
| 776.13 | | MAGEE::MERRITT | Kitty City | Mon Jul 18 1994 08:07 | 10 |
| Maurice....your kitty probably has an infection and that is why he
is acting that way. PLEASE get a second opinion.....your first vet
should be "put to sleep" for providing you with his opinion!!
Believe me...the cat has a problem and it's not just depression.
Please keep us posted...
Sandy
|
| 776.14 | OD on love after 2nd opinion | ISLNDS::WHITMORE | | Mon Jul 18 1994 08:28 | 21 |
| Hi Maurice - Good to see you're still around.
try to get another opinion. My old cat Sherry had severe depression for
months after an unfortunate episode. Same type of symtoms - not
eating, not grooming, wierd litterbox tolerances.
Your cat may still also be in
pain from the tail injury - there may be nerve complications or even
spinal pain. Have him checked out thoroughly - there may be other
things going on besides the initial tail injury.
If there's still no physical reason, try to spend as much time with him
as you can. Take some time off, brush him, feed him whatever he'll
eat, whether its good for him or not, hold him on your lap, play with
him, and talk happy talk. Sounds silly, but overdose him on love and
don't let him sleep in the litterbox 23 hours a day, and he may decide
he likes life a little more.
Good luck - keep us posted.
Dana
|
| 776.15 | More than just depression; I've been there | JUPITR::KAGNO | | Mon Jul 18 1994 10:47 | 10 |
| I agree that a second opinion is warranted. It definitely sounds like
pain, not depression. When any of my cats exhibits symptoms of
withdrawal and goes into hiding it's a signal that something is
physically wrong and needs medical attention.
Please, please, please listen to us. Each day that goes by could be
more painful for him than the next.
-Roberta
|
| 776.16 | Opinion of 2 vets | TURRIS::EASI::GEENEN | Illud cape et ei fibulam adfige! | Mon Jul 18 1994 10:55 | 30 |
| I just spoke with 2 different vets about unrelated issues, but told
them about the incident in the base note to both of them (the vets are
from different practices).
Each vet independently came up with the same conclusion: this kitty is
traumatized and is possibly in pain. Both were quick to point out
that they would need to see and examine the kitty before they would
make an "official" diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.
Both recommended that a second opinion be obtained right away and that
putting the kitty to sleep right now is premature.
One of the vets does most of her business with breeders of purebred
cats and catteries. She says that the litter box, once used, might be
providing a place of familiar smells and therefore a sense of security
during a time of distress. Whatever the reason, it is almost always a
sign of a condition that needs treatment. She also says that, in her
experience, conditions causing this kind of behavior are very treatable,
and needs immediate attention.
The other vet I spoke with thinks that the kitty's tail might either
be causing pain or remind the kitty of a painful experience and the
kitty is trying to run from it.
Please don't give up on your kitty just yet. With treatment and lots
of love odds are that your kitty can get over this and both of you can
have many more wonderful years together.
Hope this helps. Please keep us informed.
Carl
|
| 776.17 | | VLNVAX::PGLADDING | Noters do it with a 8-) | Mon Jul 18 1994 12:07 | 13 |
|
Geez - some wonderful vet you've got there - I agree with Sandy -
have that insensitive brute put to sleep!
PLEASE, don't jump the gun and have the poor kitty put to sleep
without a second opinion. It really sounds like something else
is wrong, and this current vet is too lazy to do anything about
it.
Please keep us posted - we all have our fingers crossed that
he overcomes this problem...
Pam
|
| 776.18 | catspeak for "leave me alone, I'm in pain" | LEZAH::BROWN | On [real]time or else... | Mon Jul 18 1994 12:18 | 17 |
|
The cat's behavior sounds like that of one of our cats when we
first got him. Bailey had been a stray and wound up on someone's
porch. The people tried to take him in, but their cats objected
strenuously. So we took him in. He had been in some tussles and
we found puncture wounds on his tail. It was swollen, painful, and
hot to the touch. Bailey went to the vets and got the abcesses
taken care of. But, there were probably a few punctures that
had already partially healed. Later on that week we noticed
that Bailey was withdrawn, preferring to sit in a corner with
his fur puffed up. Back to the vet, who discovered some additional
abcesses. The point of all this is that the first sign of his
pain we had was his change in behavior, the withdrawal. It seems
that this is common with most of our cats when sick or hurt.
I agree that a second opinion is in order. Good luck, Maurice!
Ron
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| 776.19 | To a *vet*, quick! | BPSOF::EGYED | Per aspera ad astra | Tue Jul 19 1994 04:59 | 9 |
| Iam queueing up: don't let the cat down, ask a vet. (The vet you asked
first is none). Overwhelme the cat with love and affection, without
causing more pain. Take the cat immediately to a *real* vet and forget
the first one totally. Better, a vet can come to you to see the cat.
We keep everything crossed for you. DO not hesitate, every day is
waste. Please stroke the cat on my behalf, too. I send soft meows and
purrs.
Nat
|
| 776.20 | Update... | GVPROD::FITZGERALD | Something in software | Thu Jul 21 1994 03:58 | 4 |
| We are getting a different vet to come over to the house. L&A still not
helping. No fever or other signs of physical illness.
Maurice
|
| 776.21 | | ELYSEE::ZIMAN | | Thu Jul 21 1994 04:23 | 5 |
| thanks for the update on your kitty, I've been thinking
about you both.
good luck with the second opinion
z
|
| 776.22 | I kepp things crossed | BPSOF::EGYED | Per aspera ad astra | Fri Jul 22 1994 07:34 | 5 |
| I go on holiday for 10 days now, I keep crossing everything I have for
your cat. I hope I'll see a lot of good notes here if I come back on
the 2nd Aug.
Meow, Nat
|
| 776.23 | sad story | ASDG::CALL | | Mon Aug 01 1994 12:31 | 9 |
| On friday night we saw a kitten in the road. Someone had hit the kitten
and it was moving. My friend pulled over and ran over to the kitten.
We took it to the house and the people came out and said it was their
kitten. The kitten was in shock - it didn't look like it was seriously
injured. It needed to go to the vet to be checked.
Well we found out the next day that the people broke the kittens neck.
We are very upset...
|
| 776.24 | once again, nothing surprises me anymore... | PCBUO1::FALLON | Moonsta Cattery | Mon Aug 01 1994 12:44 | 12 |
| I had to read that one a couple of times. The people that owned the
kitten, broke it's neck after the accident? I assume because they
couldn't afford the vet/put it out of it's misery? That is not a
humane way to put an animal down. I would report the people to the
humane society, but, how do youknow they did this? Did they tell you?
I'm afraid not much can be done. I have had to put a kitten to sleep
on two occasions and it only cost around $15. That is worth it to me
rather than try to do it myself (god, I couldn't) no matter what the
means. I can't understand people like that, but they exist.
That is a terribly sad story.....
Karen
|
| 776.25 | | GOOEY::JUDY | Trip the firelight | Mon Aug 01 1994 12:54 | 6 |
|
SSSSSSSSSCCCCCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMM
|
| 776.26 | Me neither | TURRIS::EASI::GEENEN | Illud cape et ei fibulam adfige! | Mon Aug 01 1994 13:00 | 10 |
| Not much surprises me either anymore. How would they like it if they
were run over by a car and then had *their* necks broken? I'm not a
mean or vindictive person generally, but when I hear about this kind
of thing, I think that hell's fires will be especially hot and painful
for people such as these.
BTW, how is the kitty of the base note doing? The last I read there
was to be a second opinion.
Carl
|
| 776.27 | still sad | ASDG::CALL | | Mon Aug 01 1994 13:17 | 13 |
| I know that they did this because the girl that lives upstairs is a
friends with the people. When I told her what happened she called them.
She told me yesterday that she saw the kitty with a broken neck. The
kitten definately did not have a broken neck when we handed it to them.
It's kind of weird but I told my friend when we were driving away that
I had a funny feeling that they weren't going to take that cat to the
vets. They had about 15 cats running around and it didn't seem to me
that they valued a kitten. Maybe I will put in a call just so that the
other kittens in their care can be placed in homes. Maybe it'll be a
little reminder to them that they can't or shouldn't do things like
that. I guess we live in different times and some of us have different
values. It still doesn't take away the upset feelings I have.
|
| 776.28 | | USCTR1::MERRITT_S | | Mon Aug 01 1994 13:21 | 6 |
| Please do call the authorities so they can atleast visit these
people and they will know someone is watching.
What a sick sick world....
Sandy
|
| 776.29 | Mixed progress | GVPROD::FITZGERALD | Something in software | Tue Aug 02 1994 01:45 | 13 |
| The base note kitty is making mixed progress. Second opinion can be
summarised by "Wait and see". No illness, just mentally disturbed.
Suggestion that 3 total anaesthetics in 2 weeks may have damaged the
brain.
He has been improving somewhat, at least until last night. He has
started spending some time outside, and almost socialising with the
neigbours' cats. However, last night was fireworks night here in
Switzerland (the equivalent of the 4th of July in the USA) and poor
Romulus was absolutely terrified for an hour and a half. He ate well
this morning though.
Maurice
|
| 776.30 | Lots a' lovin' ;-) | SALEM::SHAW | | Tue Aug 02 1994 05:37 | 8 |
|
Maurice,
That is wonderful news. It seems that the kitty will enventually
come around. Just give him a lot of love and assurance that
he is still a pretty cat.
Shaw
|
| 776.31 | | MIMS::MCFARLAND_D | m o o n...that spells turbo 3 | Tue Aug 02 1994 09:42 | 7 |
| re: last...bravo for romulus!
re: a few back... carl, i *hope* the hell fires burn especially hot
for that kind of person...
diane
|
| 776.32 | Sometimes I hate my kin... | BPSOF::EGYED | Per aspera ad astra | Tue Aug 02 1994 23:45 | 3 |
| re. hell's fire: If hell needs a stoker, count me in for such people.
Nat
|
| 776.33 | good luck | AIMHI::OFFEN | | Thu Aug 04 1994 09:26 | 19 |
| I am not going to say what I want to say here about those *owners* of
the kitten. Suffice it to say, it took me a few minutes to go on to
the next reply.
As to the base-note kitty. I'm glad to see he is doing better. My
prayers are with you and I hope you have now changed vets.
I didn't know until know that anesthesia could cause brain-damage in
a cat. My Thunder had 3 surgerys in a short time-span which all
required having her put under. Now I understand why her personality
and moods changed so much. It's been 5 years and she has never
returned to being the wonderful, loving, sweet kitten that she was.
I still love her though. I have such a special bond with her that I
don't mind putting up with her *little* problems.
You learn something new each and every day....
Sandi, mom to 6 wonderful kittys
|