Zil is ill

[woolymonkey]

Edited Sunday morning:
It's all over. Zil was put down this morning--see next post. Thanks for all the comments. I'll try to reply later.


I was out at work most of today and didn't notice until bedtime that she'd been oddly quiet and unsociable. (It's not that odd for her to keep to herself upstairs for an evening now and again, but then I realised she'd been downstairs in the next room and had never come to sit on me--for Zil, that's odd.)

When I gave them their bedtime feed, she was walking oddly--back legs weak--and wouldn't eat anything, not even wet food, though she did drink a bit of cat milk and lots of water. All she wants to do is curl up on the bed (she can JUST climb onto it). I put out a litter tray, which she went straight to, and produced a drop of wee. I'm going to sleep in the spare room with her and see how she is in the morning. If she's managing to get a bit of stuff in and out of her system and isn't distressed, I'd prefer to wait until Monday and when the lovely vet who knows her is open, but if she's worse tomorrow I'll take her to the 24 hour vet at Milton. For what it's worth, she doesn't mind having her tummy examined and seems relaxed in a want to be alone kind of way. She's got a big belly but is skinny round the hips--perhaps more so in the last few days though heaven knows she was eating well until today. My strong hunch is that this is it and I'd rather take the last few days gently and take her to vet she knows and can be carried to than upset both of us with a panicky trip to Milton. The walking is actually better now than it was 30 minutes ago.

If anyone has cat nursing/diagnostic tips or knows a Cambridge vet that's open on Sundays, or has experience of the 24 hour vet (I've just phoned them and did not get a good impression, but hey, I'm not at my best)... Going to bed now, but will check for advice tomorrow.

Comments

[hippediva.livejournal.com]

This sounds like she's having either a kidney or bladder blockage. Get her to the vet---any vet---as soon as you can. A blockage can really be serious in a very short time. *hugs and best thoughts for Zil*

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I was just going to say this, too. Especially if she's having trouble moving and isn't producing much urine. You can't wait until Monday for this sort of thing - it happened to my Sylvester last year and he went 36 hours and was in great distress by the time I got him to the vet to have his urethra unblocked. And there was blood in it. BUT, after a couple of days' recovery he was right as rain.

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

I'd second that - good or bad impression, get her to the vets. You can always take her to your own vet afterwards.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh no. I'm sorry she's ill. It's hard with cats as they don't tell you until it's pretty serious. I hope the vet can help her, whichever one you take her to.

*big hugs*

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Go to Milton. Seriously, they are excellent: we've taken Horus there twice with acute bladder problems and they were wonderful with him.
And all best wishes.
K xx

[ms-cataclysm.livejournal.com]

Dear Gaby, I am so sorry to hear this.

best wishes

Naomi