LIfeless cat

[terri315]

My cat came home yesturday and has not eaten, drank nor used the washroom. He is lifeles and just laying behind my dresser. He is only a year old and looks loke he is dying. He is not meowing and does not appear to be hurt. I do not have any money and have tried every where to get help, What can I do at home to make better for him?Please help!

[ireneo]

Writing a "laid back" response is no indicator of the urgency we feel. But the cat owner is already upset. Adding strong admonitions won't help. I deal with upset people at work all the time and it takes a calm voice and a voice of reason to talk them through the problem.

Neither of us recommended home care for her cat. I laid out possible problems that were serious and needed vet care. The rest is up to Terri.

[katydid57]

I am frankly a bit surprised at the fact that all of the prior respondents are fairly laid back about the need to have your cat seen by a vet. Although I know money is an issue-I, too,  have serious financial problems  your kitty should be seen immediately!   I lost a cat last year to renal failure which I learned at the time had been affecting him on a sub-acute level for a very long time. He never looked or acted sick, and right up until the day I took him in he appeared fine.  The only indication that something was wrong was that he was lethargic, wouldn't eat and DID NOT URINATE for 24 hours.  

He died two days after being admitted to the hospital. I cannot tell you how heartbroken I was. The vet told me that in his case there was probably little I could have done that would have changed the outcome, however, he said that in the future I needed to be aware that no urine output for 12-24 hours is an emergency. If my cat had normal kidneys AND I brought him in after 12 hours of no intake or output he probably would have made it.

So please, bring your cat to an emergerency vet now if you haven't already. He's too young to die because you had no money. Any decent vet will work out a payment plan rather than watch your cat die on his doorstep.

Good luck to you and your baby.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I think that Ireneo and catcaretaker have answered this question.

[catcaretaker]

terri,

Your message was posted on Friday, correction, so there should be some improvement in the kity cat, by Sunday morning.  If not, please take him to local animal shelter, if you cannot afford treatment, or call your local emergency vet clinic open on Sunday,  they can help out... or take the kitty cat to help, even if you cannot afford to pay, they will do something...

Cat care taker

[catcaretaker]

teri,

Cats usually hide if they are injured, he did find his way home and now resting, If u cannot afford vet services, I would advise to take the kitty to animal shelter, and let them take care of him.  It sounds serious,  if nothing visible, I would assume it is internal, and the kitty needs at least water in the next day or so, and the food can wait, but perhaps the kitty got into some kind of poison, or got injured.  You posted message on Thursday,  if kitty not eating or drinking by Saturday, take him to local county animal shelter, and let them take care of him.  

Good luck,

Cat care taker

[ireneo]

It sounds like he needs to be seen by a vet. He could have internal injuries that you may not be able to palpate (unless you're familiar with his internal organs) or he may have ingested something toxic. A vet can do an exam, blood work and at the least, start some IV fluids until s/he finds the problem. Is it possible that he was shot? That's another thought. I've seen many birds come in with such symptoms only to find after an x-ray that they have several pellets in their bodies. Too often the pellet pushed right in and the skin closes up after it leaving little bleeding and an almost invisible wound.

Check with your local vets or emergency animal clinics. See if they'll help you out and possibly set up a payment schedule for you.