Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: Briony on November 06, 2015, 07:07:27 PM
-
I feel a bit stupid writing this, and I know there's not much anyone else can do to help, but am posting anyway!
Came home from work at 5pm to find that my partner has been called out to work this evening (he's on holiday but it was urgent). During the day he took our year old cat to the vets as he was sick in the night. He has been given medication as he has a slight temperature and upset tummy. Next dose due any moment... but I cant find the cat!
Trouble is, partner didnt lock the cat flap when he left and Mr has obviously gone out. Usually he comes in to say hello as soon as I get in (in fact, he usually chooses to be indoors about 50% of the daytime and always at night) so I am feeling increasingly uneasy. This is not helped by the fact there are fireworks going off (we kept them in from 4pm last night as both hate loud noises). I keep imagining him somewhere, frightened and feeling ill. Have called and called, and done a walkabout, but not a sign.
His more laid back brother has come in voluntarily and is here with me.
Any suggestions? I'm so worried. :-\
-
He is probably hiding somewhere he will feel safe and come in when it's quiet.
I won't tell you not to worry as I know I would but there is not much more you can do at the moment.
I'm sure he will be just fine.
My mother is complaining about fireworks frightening her dog.
The sooner they are banned for personal use the better.
Let us know.
Honeybun
X
-
Check under the bed; in the airing cupboard, anywhere that a poorly cat might crawl into. One of mine often curled up tightly where I wouldn't look …….. I would have to stand very still as she would be purring softly ……… ::) in the back of a kitchen drawer one time, fortunately I didn't pull it out sharply ! :o
It is a worry if they change their routines :-\
I would ban fireworks completely :(
-
Have you tried shaking a box of cat biscuits just outside the door? Always works for my cat. Hope she comes home soon - do let us know.
Ariadne xx
-
As HB says he might be to scared to move out of his safe place, he will probably come in when it goes quiet. My cat is only one, and is petrified of the fireworks.
-
Thanks so, so much for understanding. I have been beside myself with worry (and guilt). You were all absolutely right - he was hiding behind a big tree and, during a lull in the bangs, the biscuit box noise you suggested tempted him eventually.
He's now stuffing himself, soaking wet and dried leaves hanging off every part of his body (he's very long haired so they sort of cling on!).
Any tips on how to get a tablet and syringe down successfully? (He always spots it when hidden in food!). Usually have partner here to lend a hand.
Thanks again. Just knowing other people understood really helped - the neighbours just think I am a strange cat woman! ::)xxx
-
I wouldn't worry until much later. Let him have a sleep and then as he wakes get 1 or other down? Syringe is probably easier!
However, the less stress the better. If he's eating ;) sleep heals. When is your partner back, maybe do it together.
-
Really glad you have him back.....and thought this might make you smile
"How To Give Your Cat A Pill
Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and apply gentle pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.
Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of 10.
Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for glueing later.
Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
Retrieve cat from neighbour's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus jab. Throw away T-shirt and fetch new one from bedroom.
Ring Fire Brigade to retrieve cat from tree across road. Apologise to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to miss cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
Get spouse to drive you to Casualty, sit quietly while doctor stitches finger and forearm and removes remnants of pill from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
Call RSPCA to collect cat and ring pet shop to see if they have any hamsters."
Honeyb
x
-
:lol: haven't seen this for a while: written by a cat owner
-
Oh bother will the copyright police be after me again......I forgot the quote marks.....should I amend my post. ::)
Been a good girl and done it....whew I will sleep easier tonight.
Honeybun
X
-
:lol: .. there, there ;)
-
I'me glad the cat came back Briony.
Well done HB :medal:
-
Our vet suggested putting it in the middle of a small rolled ball of cheese.
-
Just seen this and was so pleased to read that your cat came back safely. My dog was missing once for about 45 minutes and it felt more like 45 hours!
I hope you got the pill sorted. Be interested to hear if the cheese trick works - I used to help a neighbour give her cat pills and eye cream - at least with the eye cream we knew when it had gone in (and I can confirm it was harmless to humans - the amount I ended up covered with, I should know!) but the pill was a nightmare...the cat would appear to swallow it, sit there innocently...and then spit it out five minutes later!
My old dog was a nightmare - we got some meaty 'tubes' from the vet that you were supposed to push the pill into and the dog swallowed the whole thing...mine used to carefully pick the meat off the outside and leave the pill behind or take the whole thing in her mouth and spit the pill out. My current dog is wonderful - I just hold out the pill on my hand and say 'treat' and she swallows it ;D
-
I've got a really good pill-giver from the vets - although you can buy them in pet shops I think. Only cost a £1 and works brilliantly if there are two of you. You put the pill in the slot at the end, put the pill giver over the tongue and just slide it up and the pill goes straight down the throat.
I can remember one of my cats was on long term antibiotics. I spent ages wrapping them carefully in little parcels of roast chicken each morning and night and then, one morning, I dropped the pill and he ate it off the floor just like that! Turned out he loved them!! I'd only been doing the wrapping up thing for around eight weeks..
Taz x ;D
-
;D HB ... sounds as if you had a camera in our lounge last night!
I initially tried hiding it in food. He stuffed the food but politely spat out the tablet each time. The more I tried single handedly to get it down, the more he objected (I swear he was grinning at one point). I didnt even attempt the syringe stuff until this morning when mum helped me.
He must be feeling better though as overnight, he stole a brand new loo roll from the bathroom, carried it downstairs and basically created a snow storm everywhere. The whole lot has been torn to shreds. I guess it was his way of getting revenge for the tablet!
-
Try wrapping your cat tightly in a big towel ( they Carnt struggle then) . The syringe should then be easy, just put it between his lips at the side and he should just lick it up.....likewise the tablet, because he Carnt struggle in the towel......open mouth gently and pop tablet at back of tongue..Keep his mouth closed and cover his nose.....he will swallow......good luck.
-
Dogs are so much easier, hide it in food and it's gone or just shove over the back of their throat. With cats you have the claw thing going on :o
Glad he is feeling better Briony....my daughters kittens did something similar with a loo roll last week ;D
Honeybun
X
-
We lost our cat once when she was about 3 years old. We were in a ground-floor rented flat until we could get another place of our own. I was out at work one day and Hubby (who was out of work) let our little moggie our of the glass doors in the lounge (which opened out on to a large communal garden) at just after lunch time. (She had never been outside there, before.) By the time I came back, at about 5.30pm, puss still hadn't come back in. By after tea time, she still hadn't come back and by bedtime likewise, so I went to bed convinced we'd never see her again. However, I got up to go to the loo at about 6am and then I thought I heard a faint mew from outside. I opened the bathroom window and called her name umpteen times (never mind waking the neighbours!) and then I saw her. She came hurtling across the car park in the direction of the bathroom, launched herself into mid-air and landed on the bathroom windowsill. I picked her up and she sat purring in my arms for the next half hour. One very happy moggie and one very relieved Me! (We worked out that she must have been outside, lost and probably rather scared, in the garden for 16 hours.)
-
;D
I tried wrapping the cat in a thick towel, she grew about 20 legs each with claws ;D - I decided that if she felt that well she didn't need to undergo the struggle.
As for the dog, when she needed daily chemo therapy I tired: cripsy sausages, cheese, melted chocolate buttons - all made her sick because she would sort the pill from it and needed more: eventually we found that thinly sliced ham worked, usually: except for the times when she sucked the ham and left the pill on the kitchen floor ::)
How is Puss 2-day?
-
I've got a really good pill-giver from the vets - although you can buy them in pet shops I think. Only cost a £1 and works brilliantly if there are two of you. You put the pill in the slot at the end, put the pill giver over the tongue and just slide it up and the pill goes straight down the throat.
I can remember one of my cats was on long term antibiotics. I spent ages wrapping them carefully in little parcels of roast chicken each morning and night and then, one morning, I dropped the pill and he ate it off the floor just like that! Turned out he loved them!! I'd only been doing the wrapping up thing for around eight weeks..
Taz x ;D
I had the same thing Taz with one of my cats. I had bought a syringe type pill dispenser from the vet to "fire" it down her throat because she was so difficult to medicate. I struggled all week with the thing and she still hated and it managed to avoid swallowing. One day I missed when I pressed the plunger and the tablet shot out onto the floor where she gobbled it up as if it was a treat! That's all I had to do after that little episode😁
Glad your little cat is back home safely and that the biscuit trick worked.
Ariadne xx
-
:lol: I'm glad I'm not the only one Ariadne.
Taz x
-
I find that this method always works....
While your cat is on the floor (preferably near its food - next meal) or on a raised surface if you don't like bending down, hold it firmly by the scruff of the neck (just above). (This is not painful as it is how their mother carried them as a kitten, and the loose skin is still there). In this position they don't usually struggle and especially if you're quick. Tip its head lightly backwards at an angle. With your other hand gently put finger in its jaw and lower the bottom jaw so that it's mouth is open. Then gently toss the tablet ( half or quarter at a time if it's big!) at the very back of the throat and then quickly let the jaw go and stroke their throat which causes a reflex swallowing action - and hey presto, the tablet has gone! It needs to be popped right at the back over the dome bit of the tongue.
If it's too big a tab or you don't chuck it far back enough then instead of swallowing our cats have done a sort of little flick with their jaw and the tab pops to the side (like they do with titbits of food that you give them) only to be ejected onto the floor! It needs to be popped right at the back over the dome bit of the tongue.
We've done it like this for years!
Over 30 years ago in a cottage we lived in very rural area, quite remote from other dwellings, we lost our dear cat ( a neutered female) for two weeks! I had given up hope and then one Sunday walked all over the whole farm and fields and woods whistling and calling for her - I was gone for an hour or so. When I got back she was just there sitting in the lane by the cottage as if nothing had happened - perfectly well and pleased to see me. No sign of illness or anything. She wouldn't tell us where she'd been ;D
Glad your cat came back safely Briony :)
Hurdity x
-
How is Puss 2-day?
Still not eating properly but more himself. Even had a purr today! Was sooo nice to sleep all through the night last night without him being sick (he did it in the bath each time and it stunk so much it woke me up - then I lay awake for hours ???). Each time he then jumped into our bed with sick all over his front (Maine Coon so fluffy bib) and tried to cuddle me .
... It made me realise maybe it's a good thing I've never had a baby - dont think I'd have coped with all that business! x
-
Give me a dog any time.
Take pill, open dogs mouth and push pill down the dogs throat....takes two minutes and that's it ::)
Honeybun
X
-
Cats are sooo wiley! They've got us sussed..................... ::)
-
Dogs have owners. Cats have Staff ;D
Oh I LOVE Maine Coons - but not if they are messy ;) but what a Good Cat to sick into the bath.
-
Ooo er :o
Guess it beats the carpet though ;D
Honeybun
X
-
Give me a dog any time.
Take pill, open dogs mouth and push pill down the dogs throat....takes two minutes and that's it ::)
Honeybun
X
You obviously never met my first dog...
-
So glad you found your cat. We've got 3. Got a pill crusher from the vet. Turns it into a fine powder. Put it in a small amount of something tasty - pilchard in tomato sauce or fish paste. worth a try. Our neighbour's cat disappeared Wednesday night came back Friday morning. Fireworks should be for organised displays only. Its so worrying when cats go missing. .
A previous cat of ours was on antibiotics. Very pleased I got them all down her by putting them in the back of her mouth. I'm not Mrs. clean and tidy. A couple of weeks later, hoovering behind the settee - you can guess it - a group of little tablets. Cat was fine - obviously didn't need the tablets. XX
-
When we lived near Chester situated between two farms. One of our cats went missing, I was convinced the resident cat, her sister was lonely so after 3 months I get a kitten from the RSPCA. Get the kitten home and resident cat tries to kill her :-\
I go out the back door to get something and missing cat is stood there, very much thinner but delighted to be back.
She came in and went to see her sister who snarled and stormed off to the bedroom, which she viewed as "hers". All might have been well except that the prodigal cat went to see her sister again, this seemed to really unbalance the resident cat. She didn't speak to anybody for about 3 or 4 years, the first thing she did do was to come into the room where we were sitting and sit with her back to us - letting us know we were being ignored! ::)
We took the kitten back to the RSPCA, as the prodigal cat wasn't too fussed on her either, the kitten would have had a very hard time of it.
-
Awww! I'm sure that was the best thing to do, Limpy.
-
Dulciana - It seemed the only option at the time ::)
-
Dogs have owners. Cats have Staff ;D
Oh I LOVE Maine Coons - but not if they are messy ;) but what a Good Cat to sick into the bath.
MCs love water, hence the fact he's obsessed with loo rolls and was sick in the bath every time he was ill. It's a strange experience having a cat try to catch the drops as you brush your teeth, catch the stream when you wee (well, when blokes do) and even - dare I admit this - try to steal your tampon. Both he and his brother have tried to join me in the bath too :o
Before you ask, if you lock the door, they howl.
-
;D
Turkish Vans love water ;)