SICK cat---HELP!

[LisaB356]

Hello there...My name is Lisa and last Wednesday I adopted a male (unaltered) cat that we named Patch. He's only about a year old and has white fur with tiger patches. Thus the name Patch!
However, Patch has been sneezing for most of the time now (very frequent). Then two days ago he started hiding under our bed and hasn't eaten or drank any water on his own since. I brought him to the vet yesterday and he presumed it was pneumonitis and Patch had a 104 degree fever. So he gave Patch antibiotics that I have to force into him. Today he still is the same and I'm supposed to go back to the vet tomorrow to do a follow up. I can't afford the high costs of a vet. I was going to get pet insurance but haven't even had time to do that since we just got Patch. I'm very sad and discouraged. I want to know if this sounds like more than just pneumonitis (basically a cold!) or if anyone else out there has dealt with something similar. I can barely even force feed him water. He absolutely refuses his food. I'm going to try sardines, baby food, and pedialyte as well and see if I have any luck. How long does this sort of things last and do I need to worry as much as I am? I'm a mess...In April we had one of our ferrets die due to cancer and I have no money saved up because of that (it cost almost $1000 after all was said and done). I wish vets weren't so outrageously expensive. It's very very discouraging.
I appreciate any info anyone else may have!
LisaB

[elizabeth]

WELL I THINK U SHOULD ALSO REPORT IT TO THE SHELTER WHERE U ADOPTED HIM SO THAT IF ANY OF THERE CATS ARE SICK U WILL KNOW WHERE HE COUGHT IT FROM. ALSO TRY TO SEE IF UR VET HAS A PAYMENT PLAN U CAN SET UP WITH HIM INCASE U DO HAVE TO PAY MORE MONEY FOR HIM.

[LisaB356]

I actually called the place I adopted him from today and the guy had no news to tell me and seemed unmoved that I was dealing with this problem. I got more sympathy and respect from the humane society's answering service worker! Patch actually just ate some sardines and some canned food. Not really into the water yet though. Possibly due to not being able to smell if it is indeed a URI. But he did come out of his spot to eat (and not just a bit or two...he ate for a few minutes which definitely made me feel hopeful!). However, after he ate he went back under the table (I had to close our bedroom door so he switched hiding spots).
I'm still looking for other people who have had a similar experience. I'm hoping that he's just dealing with a respiratory infection but I have no clue how long it takes to clear up and all the gory facts. Anyone's helpful input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

LisaB356

[elizabeth]

I WOULD SAY TRY TO FEED HIM SOME BABY FOOD. SEE IF HE'LL EAT THAT AND IF HE LIKES IT THEM U CAN FEED HIM THAT TILL HE GETS ALITTLE BETTER AND WILL EAT THE OTHER FOOD. I KNOW MY KITTEN LIKES BABY FOOD SHE ALSO LIKE FERRET FOOD.

[brandy pup]

ACME HOUSE OF CATS
http://members5.boardhost.com/AcmeHouseOfCats/

This board there are a few people going through it. You can get support and advice from them as well.

Your on the correct track with sardines. Make sure you rinse them well though cuz the extra salt on them isn't needed.

Wet food helps get the needed water in the cat. You can also add some diluted chicken broth (no salt) to it. Or just use the broth alone for him to drink. Baby food is another good option.

[lusciousdragon]

Giving the cats all those special foods like sardines, baby food, etc. won't give the cats diarrhea? Not saying you other people are wrong of course 8-), it is just when I give my cats canned catfood they have really stinky poo in their box. Is that just my cats??? I would like to give them sardines, sounds yummy.

[LisaB356]

Well, so far Patch has not had much to eat in the past couple of days so if it means he is going to have loose stool then so be it! I'd rather have him eat sardines and have stinky poo than not eat at all! Thankfully tonight he ate some regular canned cat food. He had used the litter pan earlier but it wasn't enough to really be stinky. Or at least not that I noticed since he'd buried it so well!

[brandy pup]

Yes for some cats it can cause the runs or stinky poop. Just do not giv a bunch at once, rather introduce it slowly.

In that fact of a sick kitty, you need to get kitty to eat and generally wet food, sardine and baby food is the choice. Also people who show their kitties use baby food to keep their attention and for rewards.

You really should include wet food in a kitties diet. Especially male kitties. The moisture in the food helps keep the urinary track flushed and helps the kidney flush out toxins.

Another thing that can help is to give a digestive enzyme. This helps the body break down and use more food. More food used the less that comes out. This is especially true of higher preiumim foods like Innova, Wellness, Solid Gold etc. SD and grocery store brands do not have quality ingredients to start with so there isn't too much els to absorb, but it wouldn't hurt. Just better with the better foods.

Some vitamins like Solid Gold Seal Meal and Nu Cat have the enzymes already in them.

I feed a raw diet. All natural no grains. My cats get sardines (packed in water only and rinsed) on the weekends.