Sick Cat.

[Mosha]

Last night I noticed her shivering, and this morning she is staggering about like a drunk. One of her eyes is running, are these flu symptoms? The vet won't be open until late afternoon, but I will be taking her. At the moment her appetite seems ok, and she is purring.

[Rimmer]

Possible causes:

Poisoning Has the cat ingested poison?

Shock Has the cat been in an accident?

Disease or injury to the nervous system, inner ear or muscular system

Cats often purr if they are in distress

There is little you can do before the vets examination. Don't delay take puss down there as soon as they are open.

[bina]

was thinking poison also: staggering, shivering.... is she salivating more then usual, etc? ...

and yes, cats purr when they are ill upset stressed.

bina

oops just noticed eyes tearing... definately sounds very much like like poison (organic phosphates)... in which case the treatment is valium, liquids, something to lower fever, ... not sure for cats actually: that is the treatment for dogs...

looking at time zone, maybe u already got to vets? if not, point out possibilty of poisons

any one weeding? spraying? if she hunts and eats her prey or eats 'roadkill', maybe the prey ate something and so she got poisoned also. it happens often here where i live.

hope its just a treatable disease.

bina

[Mosha]

I took her down to the vet yesterday. She was playing with the other cats, her younger siblings. She was the sole survivor from her mum's last batch, so Bonny went off to see the boyfriend as soon as this ones eyes were open. The vet has some English, and I am now favouring she got a slight knock from a vehicle. Although there is no damage, she is jumpy. Clap your hands and she starts to tremble. He took her temperature, and gave her an injection. She certainly let me know what she thought of that treatment. She seems to be ok this morning, if still a little nervous. I'll just try to keep an eye on her and see how she goes.

[Rimmer]

Very happy for you that she will be OK

[monty]

Cats are generally extremely strong animals!

One of mine got driven over by a car (couple of broken legs and a lot of road rash, healed 100%), another got hit by a person, making her fly for 20 meters and shattering her hind leg. Didn't heal 100% bone/joint wise, but she still manages to get in places none of my other cats can get

You do need to help them when they are hurt (with broken hind legs the major problem is defecating, the pain tends to make them lock up, some saline solution and a syringe helps to solve that problem), and both cats seemed to realize what you are doing for them, both ended up more affectionate as before their accidents!

One thing cats are not good at, and that is getting poisons out of their systems! Even seemingly harmless stuff can really knock a cat out, chocolate comes to mind!

[Priceless]

Cats are generally extremely strong animals!

One of mine got driven over by a car (couple of broken legs and a lot of road rash, healed 100%), another got hit by a person, making her fly for 20 meters and shattering her hind leg. Didn't heal 100% bone/joint wise, but she still manages to get in places none of my other cats can get

You do need to help them when they are hurt (with broken hind legs the major problem is defecating, the pain tends to make them lock up, some saline solution and a syringe helps to solve that problem), and both cats seemed to realize what you are doing for them, both ended up more affectionate as before their accidents!

One thing cats are not good at, and that is getting poisons out of their systems! Even seemingly harmless stuff can really knock a cat out, chocolate comes to mind!

Paracetamol (Tylenol etc.) is another "harmless" thing that will in all probability kill your cat. Be very, very careful of what you let your cat eat.

/ Priceless

[monty]

Yep, extremely important!

Do not play vet, I've seen people give aspirin to cats, even when the dose is calculated weight wise, it remains a bad idea.

The liver of cats lacks certain enzymes (which both humans and dogs have) to break down certain chemicals. In general all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication is a no-no. Aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen and the likes belong to that class.

For cats vets will use opioid based painkillers (basically morphine related), with in proper doses very little side effects. Dosage has to be controlled mainly for keeping behavioral side effects low!

[Mosha]

Well thanks for all the info etc.. She looks generally to be ok now. A little nevous when cars go past even a safe distance of several yards/metres. That to the point of distracting her from eating, while the rest of the gang have their heads in the proverbial trough. She may have had a close call with a car.

[Patsycat]

Perhaps, in a good way, it is good that she is frightened of cars now and, hopefuly, won't go near them.