Cat Chat Feline Forum

Last week Rufus got ill. He sicked up some grass, and within twelve hours sicked up food. The next day he wasn't at all well, just sitting in a sheltered spot with his paws tucked under him - just like Blake used to do when he was dying. I whisked him off to the vet of course, who couldn't find anything wrong with him so didn't treat him. He didn't eat at all for four days, then started again on a little chicken, and he'd now back to normal, glory be! Oh it's so heartbreaking when an animal is so obviously unwell and can't tell you what's wrong... He's about six, and normally perfectly fine. It's really given me a scare. I wondered whether the heat, or rather the humidity had got to him, but he's fine now and it's still very humid (on fact, I'm struggling with it).

Wonder whether he had mild pancreatitis? Tilly behaved just like that just before Christmas and vet couldn't find anything wrong. She got over it but had a relapse just before New Year and was much worse, so best keep an eye on him. Life would be so much easier if they could tell us what is wrong!

Poor Rufus, I'm glad he's better. I've had the odd 'mystery illness' over the years, they do give you a fright! xx

I'm so glad Rufus is feeling better

Rosie has had a few very similar episodes over the past few years. The vet has never gotten to the bottom of the problem and she always bounces back after a few days. But it's always a worry.

Really pleased your boy is fine now, what a relief it is when they are well again.

I was thinking pancreatitis too. Tango was like that for a few days and gradually returned to her normal self after about 2 weeks.

My thought would be along the lines of a stomach bug or something he found outside and ate (I am assuming as he has access to grass he has access to outside) Often with a bad stomach you don't want to eat anything.

It is BBQ season at the moment, and so many people will toss any waste bit into the garden undergrowth not realising that cats will find it and while they normally won't eat bad meat, they might have had enough to pick up a bit of a bug. One of ours has brought back part cooked chicken wings or drumsticks several times (I think she wanted me to finish cooking them for her).

Glad to hear he is feeling better and hopefully there won't be a re-occurrence.

Poor old chap, I'm not surprised you were scared. So very glad he's well again, and hope there's no re-occurrence, give him a big love from me

Thank you all for your responses. Rufus was sick twice yesterday, but the second time he threw up a hair ball. Then he seemed fine. But this afternoon he was in the front garden eating grass... If that made him sick he must have done it outside (thank goodness - he tends to come in to be sick, and it's always on my new carpet, never on the vinyl kitchen or bathroom floors. Fortunately the carpet is very cleanable) and again he didn't seem quite right this afternoon and this evening. But now he's eating again, he's been out for a while and is curled up on a chair right beside me. He often walks all over my keyboard when I'm online, and rubs his face against the corner of my screen. A spot of attention seeking I reckon! I do wonder if the persistent hot and very humid weather has been affecting him.
A number of you have cats with health issues and I admire you all for dealing with them. It's so, so hard to see an animal suffer. My consultant used to want to be a vet but realised that although he was quite happy to make ME suffer, he could never inflict suffering on an animal. I love that consultant, I really do!

Our Willow 'self medicates' with grass (and Iris leaves!) from time to time. We can't find anything wrong and she is fine otherwise. I once caught her chomping on an aspidistra - which although is not the biggest in the world does now have a very interesting pattern down the length of it's leaves. I thought it might be that she knows she is lacking something in her diet. But we (and the vets) are flumoxed.

I've caught my lot chomping on artificial foliage - and sicking it up too!

I always feel so guilty when they bring up a furball (yessss, and ALWAYS on the newest rug!) but what do cats in the wild do? They don't get brushed. No, they accumulate a furball, eat grass and regurgitate, a bit like owl pellets.

Sorry if I've made this joke before but imagine striding over the veldt and tripping up over a lion's furball - when a lion barfs, must bring up something the size of a draught-excluder!

Now stop it Lilith! I have just had to clean coffee off my keyboard.

I think it must be the furball season - Tilly threw up a gigantic one yesterday, in spite of my grooming her every day and giving her anti furball treats! At least she dumped it in the sink, which saved a lot of effort cleaning it up.