A Cat Question

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:48 pm

I have a question about my cat.

One of my cats, Codi, who is 1 year old, has been coughing every time he moves for the last 3 days. He seems ok in himself, he is still eating, drinking and pooping. He is still having play fights with his sister and the dogs, and still comes to us for his cuddles.

Anyway, I have two questions...

We took him to the vets to see what was wrong. Firstly the vet said he was very concerned about how stressed Codi was. He had labored breathing and rapid heart. The vet said that stress in cats was like in birds, if it becomes too much they just die. :-1 He is very relaxed, playful and loving at home and shows no sign of stress. He is an indoor cat (cos our neighbours shoot cats

), so I guess with the stress of going outside, the car journey and the vet visit was just too much for him. First question, is this true, could he get that stressed if I have to take him to the vets again, that he could die?

The vet said he thinks Codi has a fur-ball (I have never had a cat with a fur-ball before). He gave him some stuff to eat which will hopefully move the fur-ball and as a precaution gave him 4 days worth of steroids. My second question is, we have had him on this stuff for 24 hours and nothing has changed, so how long in your experience does it take to shift a fur-ball and which end will it come out from.

It upsets me so much, to see him coughing like this. How long should I give this to work and what do I do if this does not work. I don't want him get so stressed again :-1

Snooze · Post by **Snooze** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:54 pm

Wow, I've had cats for years and I've never heard about a cat dying from stress. I guess if it's got a heart problem, it's possible.

As for hairballs, my girls usually bring them right up without too much trouble. And I've never heard of steroid use to help with that.

Your kitty could be coughing from a few different things like allergies or maybe a cold. Or it could be something more serious, like fluid accumulating in the lungs.

Keep in mind that I'm just some online idiot that's just guessing at this, but if you're concerned, I think I'd take kitty to another vet if you can afford it. A second opinion certainly can't hurt.

Good luck.

guppy · Post by **guppy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:58 pm

my kitty was hacking like that.i started her on indoor cat food for hairballs..it took awhile but she finally stopped..

has your kitty had her shots ? i am like snooze..i think you should probably take kitty to another vet...

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:02 pm

The vet did not say he has a heart problem, just that he was dangerously stressed and that can kill a cat.

He has had all his shots, except for feline leukemia (he was tested as a kitten and was shown to be free of feline leukemia, so the vet said that as he is an indoor cat it was better not to give him the shot against it, as the shot can cause cancer).

Snooze · Post by **Snooze** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:03 pm

I just googled some info for you, this is in reference to feline bronchitis:

Treatment includes inhaler systems similar to those used by humans -- bronchodilators, steroids and other anti-inflammatories. Bronchodilators help open the airways during an attack. Common side effects of these medications can include gastrointestinal upset, restlessness and lethargy. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, decrease the inflammation and swelling of the airway walls.

Maybe that's what the steroids were for?

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:17 pm

Snooze;731591 wrote: I just googled some info for you, this is in reference to feline bronchitis:

Maybe that's what the steroids were for?

Thanks Snooze.

When your cats get fur-balls do they only cough when they move, he only does it when he jumps up or down, or start to do a lot of movement.

With the stress, the vet was so worried he said he did not want us to even pay for the visit just take him home, and come back another time to pay - which is unheard of at our vets they normally insist on payment at time of visit.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:30 pm

I've never heard that about cat stress either but it's upsetting. You can get tranquilizers for cats to get him back to the vet but I don't think I'd even do that. I would try hard to find a vet who will come to your house after you explain the situation to them. Tell them you'll pay extra if you have to. And you probably will have to if you can even find one who will come out to your home. Some vets are reasonable and will do that though.

I really have no idea about the movement induced coughing. No idea at all. But I second the other members' suggestion at getting a second opinion. Not because your vet isn't a good one, just because they don't all know everything and someone else may have the answer you need.

guppy · Post by **guppy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:35 pm

here is an off the wall question..could she have soemting stuck in her windpipe? i had a toy poodle that got an ornament of the tree one time and destroyed it..a little while later he was coughing and wheezing..i thought he was dieing..he had the top to the ornament stuck in his windpipe...:-3

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:39 pm

RedGlitter;731613 wrote: I've never heard that about cat stress either but it's upsetting. You can get tranquilizers for cats to get him back to the vet but I don't think I'd even do that. I would try hard to find a vet who will come to your house after you explain the situation to them. Tell them you'll pay extra if you have to. And you probably will have to if you can even find one who will come out to your home. Some vets are reasonable and will do that though.

I really have no idea about the movement induced coughing. No idea at all. But I second the other members' suggestion at getting a second opinion. Not because your vet isn't a good one, just because they don't all know everything and someone else may have the answer you need.

Thanks Red. I too have never heard of this stress thing in cats. It just scared me to think that a perfectly healthy cat could get so stressed they just die. :-1

I am going to give it the 3 more days the vet said, as Codi does not seem unhealthy or in any danger. But if he starts to seem unhealthy then I will get another opinion, just need to find a vet that will come to the house as I cannot risk his stress thing.

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:45 pm

guppy;731619 wrote: here is an off the wall question..could she have soemting stuck in her windpipe? i had a toy poodle that got an ornament of the tree one time and destroyed it..a little while later he was coughing and wheezing..i thought he was dieing..he had the top to the ornament stuck in his windpipe...:-3

You could be right Gups .. the vet did not think he had anything stuck.

I just took this picture ... he does not look amused at his sister in our Christmas tree (which looks trashed :-5 cos the cats keep trashing it!)...

Snooze · Post by **Snooze** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:45 pm

I've been googling my little fingers to the bone about 'feline stress' or anything similar and I can't find a thing that suggests it could be fatal.

That's part of the reason I thought a second opinion might be a good idea.

guppy · Post by **guppy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:48 pm

ThePheasant;731629 wrote: You could be right Gups .. the vet did not think he had anything stuck.

I just took this picture ... he does not look amused at his sister in our Christmas tree (which looks trashed :-5 cos the cats keep trashing it!)...
lol..i see his sister in the tree!!!!!! yep i would look and see if he has something off the tree..even a needle could be in his mouth or throat..no telling..

Snooze · Post by **Snooze** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:49 pm

ThePheasant;731629 wrote: You could be right Gups .. the vet did not think he had anything stuck.

I just took this picture ... he does not look amused at his sister in our Christmas tree (which looks trashed :-5 cos the cats keep trashing it!)...

Ah, they're both gorgeous! Lovely coats, they look nice and healthy.

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:55 pm

Snooze;731630 wrote: I've been googling my little fingers to the bone about 'feline stress' or anything similar and I can't find a thing that suggests it could be fatal.

That's part of the reason I thought a second opinion might be a good idea.

Thanks Snooze ... I should of googled it. Why did the vet say this, it scared the cr4p out of me ... I kept stopping on the way home to check his carrier and make sure he had not died of a heart-attack

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:56 pm

I dont know.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:43 pm

ThePheasant I don't want to alarm you but "Feline Leukemia" is the leading killer of kittens, sneezing and wheezing is the first signs. I have had many cats in my life and have alway had them vacinated for it.

Please keep watch if your kitty if drops his head and stops eating you may have a very ill kitty that could infect the others.

I may be wrong and I hope I am but a cats doesn't wheeze in general, and a furball is usually easily brough up by cats.

I like Snooze suggest you get a second opinion.

[QUOTE]except for feline leukemia (he was tested as a kitten and was shown to be free of feline leukemia, so the vet said that as he is an indoor cat it was better not to give him the shot against it, as the shot can cause cancer).[/QUOTE]

Snooze · Post by **Snooze** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:42 pm

How's your kitty doing, Pheasy?

moonpie · Post by **moonpie** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:53 pm

Pheasant, I have had cats all my life, normally though I have never seen such young cats bring up fur balls until they are older kitties. I think too, keep an eye on him and then take him for a 2nd opinion since he seems to be doing okay for now. Keep letting us know how Codi is doing. Take care.

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:08 pm

What are the characteristics of the cough? Is it dry, hacking or does it

sound/look "productive"?

If you have it handy and he's up for it, try something like Petromalt,

it's a hairball remedy. Or even put some butter on his paws and

let him lick it off.

I second/third/fourth the try another vet opinion...

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:02 pm

Thanks for your advice everyone. Codi is finally back to normal, I don't know if it was the steriods or he finally coughed up the fur-ball. He's running Bradley, Bonnie and Pichu ragged again :wah:

I think i will have to look at getting a home visit if he needs another vet visit. The vet said if he were to have to go in again they would have to put him in an oxygen tank while they worked on him

I just can't believe it .... he is so relaxed and happy at home. He's soooo loving too.

He scared me!

Snooze · Post by **Snooze** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:15 pm

I'm glad he's feeling better. *thumbs up*

911 · Post by **911** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:11 pm

Glad to hear your baby is better.

A routine dose of mineral oil will help with the furballs. They're not really balls at all. When mine would chuck them up, they looked like a (forgive me here) turd. One of my cats loved the oil another would fight me as I put it on her whiskers. That helps the hair go through the system smoothly and out the other end and you don't have to pick them up. UGH! They would make sounds like they were throwing up, not wheezing.

Cats do get stressed but not like that. At least not that I've ever heard. When we moved, my female started tinkling on the floor. I took her to the vet and she had an infection that he said came from the stress of the move. Popped some pills and, viola! Gone, gone.

My vet could never understand why I had such trouble getting a pill down my cat. He would just pop it in and away it went. But once we got home and I tried, I was the one who walked away bloddy! I could never make him understand that she would do anything he wanted if it meant that she could leave! :-5

moonpie · Post by **moonpie** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:35 pm

Glad to hear Codi is doing better, Yeh!

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:12 pm

Thank is excellent new Codi sound like a great Cat..

[QUOTE]Thanks for your advice everyone. Codi is finally back to normal, I don't know if it was the steriods or he finally coughed up the fur-ball. He's running Bradley, Bonnie and Pichu ragged again

I think i will have to look at getting a home visit if he needs another vet visit. The vet said if he were to have to go in again they would have to put him in an oxygen tank while they worked on him I just can't believe it .... he is so relaxed and happy at home. He's soooo loving too.

He scared me![/QUOTE]