Upset over Runt (cat)

[sfreeman8]

That's her in my profile picture.
When she came in last night, she was fine. She jumped up on the sofa with me, laid there a bit, then slowly got down and laid on the floor. Then she went to the doorway of the hallway and let out a couple loud meows and just sat there. Her eyes weren't open. it was as if she was sleeping sitting up. After an hour of that, I picked her up and placed her on the chair she likes. No response with eye opening, or anything. She laid there for an hour or two then very slowly and gingerly, got down off the chair, never opening her eyes. She moved over to the carpet by the door and there she stayed for the rest of the night. I finally fell asleep around 4 a.m. and when I woke up at 6 a.m., she had messed a bit on that carpet, but she was still in the same spot. She then went under the chair in the living room.

We have a large dog carrier on the porch, so when I got her out from the chair, I put her in the carrier with a small litter box and covered the carrier with a blanket in case she would rather be in the dark. She's been moving around a little but not much. I check on her every hour. One time I really thought she was dead, her breathing was that shallow and slow.

I'm so worried about her. i don't know what happened to her.  She had changed in a snap. I could cry. I called a vet and they want $50 just to take her there. We don't have the money. Momma cat is okay. She was here this morning for her food. (Cats are feral, but Runt spends the nights in the house). I have her socialized to a point, but when daylight comes, she wants out.  She has become a big part of me and I'll just don't know what to do.

[ghunter]

I don't know what to said about that

[aflyingmonkey]

I don't know if this is a similar situation as yours but once my cat, when it was younger, just quit life - curled up in a ball in the sink, wouldn't raise his head or eat or nothing... I was about to take him to the vet on the 2nd day, because cats need to drink water or they have damage (says the internet) but then he slowly started to get better, 3rd day he recovered.   I was feeding him some pet chicken treats from China & it turns out that other pet owners were having pets die/ become sick while eating them.

So I put the pet treats to the side to bring it up to the vet, & like a week or so later, someone in my home fed the cat a small portion of the treat & the cat got sick again, not as bad as the first time.   "Treats" went in the trash..  Cat has never been sick since.

Could be the pet food?  Or something she ate....   IDK, but I am so sorry your pet is sick & so sorry you can't get her to the vet.  Seems there should be a cat charity to help out feral animals.

[Nancy5]

I honestly font know how to help you.  Can you try calling another vet, maybe you can find someone less expensive.  Cats will hid if they are sick, but she doesn't seen to be hiding.  Good luck and let us know what happens.

[countrygirl12]

That's her in my profile picture.
When she came in last night, she was fine. She jumped up on the sofa with me, laid there a bit, then slowly got down and laid on the floor. Then she went to the doorway of the hallway and let out a couple loud meows and just sat there. Her eyes weren't open. it was as if she was sleeping sitting up. After an hour of that, I picked her up and placed her on the chair she likes. No response with eye opening, or anything. She laid there for an hour or two then very slowly and gingerly, got down off the chair, never opening her eyes. She moved over to the carpet by the door and there she stayed for the rest of the night. I finally fell asleep around 4 a.m. and when I woke up at 6 a.m., she had messed a bit on that carpet, but she was still in the same spot. She then went under the chair in the living room.

We have a large dog carrier on the porch, so when I got her out from the chair, I put her in the carrier with a small litter box and covered the carrier with a blanket in case she would rather be in the dark. She's been moving around a little but not much. I check on her every hour. One time I really thought she was dead, her breathing was that shallow and slow.

I'm so worried about her. i don't know what happened to her.  She had changed in a snap. I could cry. I called a vet and they want $50 just to take her there. We don't have the money. Momma cat is okay. She was here this morning for her food. (Cats are feral, but Runt spends the nights in the house). I have her socialized to a point, but when daylight comes, she wants out.  She has become a big part of me and I'll just don't know what to do.

She needs to see a vet.  $50 is not that much. Most charge more. But then they will likely give her meds. And have to do some sort of testing. Idk. It does not sound good. Sounds like she may be dying. Not being mean. Stating the truth. I have seen that type of behavior before. :-(   I hope things turn around and she is okay. I would not suggest keeping her in the dark all the time. Or even confined. But if she is really sick you don't want her to go off and not be able to come back home.

[davissy]

Oh no, that doesn't sound good.  Is there an animal shelter you can call?  Maybe their vets would charge you less.  Can you maybe work out a payment plan with the vet?  It's so harsh for them to straight up ask for $50 when a life could be in danger.

[MichelleHW101]

She needs to be checked out that is for sure.  Anytime an animal exhibits behavior that is not normal for them, there is something going on and since they are animals they just simply can't tell you.  Find a different vet.  Find one that you can afford, or at least one that doesn't charge a fee to just walk in.  As friends who have pets where they take their pets.  Maybe one can help you out but the cat does need help. 

[countrygirl12]

Oh no, that doesn't sound good.  Is there an animal shelter you can call?  Maybe their vets would charge you less.  Can you maybe work out a payment plan with the vet?  It's so harsh for them to straight up ask for $50 when a life could be in danger.

Most animal shelters do not have their own personal vet.  The vets need to make money.  I doubt they will work out a payment plan.  If you cannot afford $50 for the initial visit then you aren't going to be able to afford the medicine the cat most likely needs.  It is NOT harsh of them to ask for payment for the visit.  They are in business to make money.

My vet has let me make payments.  BUT I have spent over $20,000 with them over the years with all our pets. They know I will pay.  I have seen them tell others they have to pay at least half up front before they would start a treatment.  That is not being mean nor harsh.  It is a business.  People seek treatment (a lot like the ERs) and then after they get what they want they never pay.  And they don't have time nor would it be worth while to take them to court to try to get the money.  Then the judge says well they can pay $10 a month.

Our local family practice center has big signs up when you walk in that says "PAYMENT IS EXPECTED WHEN SERVICES ARE RENDERED".  And you pay up front or you do not see a doctor.  If you say you are paying with a credit card then they hold your credit card at the front so you can't leave without paying anything.

So it is not really their fault.  Too many people skip out without paying.

[sfreeman8]

I was really venting yesterday because I was so upset over Runt.

1. Pet treats. She doesn't get them. She does get canned food mixed with dry. Momma cat is well and eats the same stuff, but I will check the canned food to see where it comes from.

2. $50 is a lot when you don't have a job and rely on Social Security. We live on $900 a month. i don't even see my check. It stays to pay insurances and utilities and it's in the hole every month.

3. I had put her in a carrier that's outside because she was too weak and I didn't want a predator to get her. The nights get very cool so I put the blanket over it to keep the warmth from her body in the carrier, because it is very large.  I couldn't bring the carrier in because of it's size and I didn't want her to have free rein of the house because of her trying to hide somewhere in the dark.

4. She is still living this morning. Her eyes are now open which they weren't yesterday and she has her head raised now, but she doesn't respond to us. I put her bed in with her and a small litter box yesterday. She used both. It's promising. Yesterday, when I checked on her, she had was sleeping in the litter box and later, she was sleeping with her head in the litter box, which I promptly took out.

Lastly, hubby came in yesterday and said he found a half eaten rabbit in the driveway. That could be the culprit. One thing I noticed today, she is "mouthing" like there may be something stuck to the roof of her mouth. I will check when she's awake again.

Thank you, everyone, for your concern.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be the lucky day.

[aflyingmonkey]

What's the status of your cat?  Is she getting better... I hope she recovered or is recovering!!!   

[snuggleycutejc]

Oh I love cats. You just can't help it sometimes  Hope it comes around.

[jkhanson]

I hope Runt is better.  I know how attached people can be to their pets.

[dreamyxo]

How do you afford food for a cat if you don't have $50 for a vet?  Pets are expensive.  Can you borrow the money from someone?

[dogsleash]

hugs an dprayers.

[JediJohnnie]

I would most definitely make every effort to take her to the vet, but it sounds to me like she may have eaten something bad. It might simply pass in a few days. The only other thing could be some emotional distress. Some of my cats are timid, and simply stay in the same location, responsive, but scarcely moving.