I took the cat to the vet yesterday. I am glad I did! It was the strangest thing. I told him that she has been gagging and having trouble breathing and the first thing he did was look down her throat, and sure enough there was something in there! A big abscess!
So they put her to sleep and took a look and she had a big hole about the size of a dime in the back of her throat where she must have punctured something through it. It had become infected, and was really raw, swollen, and had made an abscess.
So on Thursday she probably couldnt breath and just passed out in the yard, then had the heat stroke due to laying out in the sun too long.
They cleaned it out, gave her iv fluids, and gave me an antibiotic. They wanted to put a feeding tube in, but it was going to be a few hundred dollars so I told them no. I did feel like they kind of made me feel guilty, because I told him I had a low budget, and they kept saying things like Well she should probably have a blood test, but since we are so limited on budget I guess I wont. etc.
Anyway. That is why she is not eating or drinking because it hurts! The fluids will keep her alive for a couple more days, but if she doesnt start drinking by then I will have to bring her back in for more fluids. I keep trying to force feed her, but she bites, claws, and spits. Everyday she is making me bleed, and I am to the point where I just want to shake her and give up.
Now its just a waiting game until her throat heals up, and I will keep praying that she starts eating on her own. I spent $150 at the vet. Which kind of stinks, but it had to be done.
Update on Cat
June 24th, 2014 at 02:20 pm
June 24th, 2014 at 02:25 pm 1403619937
June 24th, 2014 at 03:08 pm 1403622490
June 24th, 2014 at 04:25 pm 1403627121
June 24th, 2014 at 04:39 pm 1403627960
June 24th, 2014 at 04:41 pm 1403628089
June 24th, 2014 at 05:05 pm 1403629557
June 24th, 2014 at 07:17 pm 1403637439
She is not mean, she is wild (feral). She has not been socialized with people. The "burrito wrap" with two people sometimes works with the ferals. Check her hydration by seeing if the skin along her back near her shoulders "tents," that is, does not snap back when pulled up. If she tents, she needs more fluids ASAP.
Good luck!
June 24th, 2014 at 07:41 pm 1403638917
June 24th, 2014 at 07:57 pm 1403639857
The $30 is for them to put an iv in and give her fluids. The local vet wont sell us the bag and needles. I would have to drive an hour to a different vet that will sell us the supplies at cost.
And no, she is mean, not feral. She has been socialized. I got her as a 6 week old kitten, and she was like that from the start. Ive never seen an animal that was mean just for no reason besides her. She is a beautiful cat too, but she loves to bite. And will attack you as you walk past her. I have another cat that showed up as a stray and he is the sweetest thing ever. He loves belly rubs.
We are doing the "burrito wrap." She can still manage to squeeze out and claw and run. She is very nimble and quick. I have been checking her with tenting.
Thanks for all the concern and suggestions guys!
June 25th, 2014 at 12:01 am 1403654515
June 25th, 2014 at 02:33 am 1403663611
Hope she heals soon...
June 25th, 2014 at 07:02 am 1403679732
She's on antibiotics right? Those and sub-Q fluids would go a long way.
Hope she feels better soon.
June 25th, 2014 at 03:59 pm 1403711989
I have a 20 year old horse with maybe a (untested) thyroid problem. Surgery is advised, but at the cost of several thousand. I just see no need to spend that on a retired horse, who is just a big pet now. He looses weight easily, so I just feed him extra and he continues to live a long and happy life, enjoying his retirement.
And yes the cat is on antibiotics.
June 26th, 2014 at 01:29 am 1403746173