Good vibes for my beloved kitty Silver, please

[Flaxbee]

Silver - a beautiful long haired Silver tabby (part Maine Coon) is my baby girl; I have five cats but she's my shadow and my soul-kitty.

She's been healthy her whole life (8 years so far) but always has had sort of iffy teeth; they've never bothered her, though, and her weight and appetite have always been good.

About 4 days ago she started acting like it wasn't any fun to eat - one of our other cats (Ivan) had a similar issue a few days earlier that cleared up with some antibiotics (I have Clavamox on hand from the days when I was caring for a few sick ferals). Ivan started out drooling profusely and not eating, now Silver is, too (though her drooling has definitely slowed) and both were / are acting like their jaws were sort of stuck sometimes, and like food didn't taste or smell good.

Silver is having a harder time with this. Ivan kicked it fast. Her breath smells fine. I have poked around gently in her mouth and there seems to be no particularly sore area. But she isn't feeling her usual self, isn't drinking and is barely eating. She's also not grooming. Something funky is definitely going on with her mouth.

I've had her on antibiotics for about 4 days now, and we've been giving her water and some fish oil through a little syringe-squirter for calories and fluids. She has licked Fancy Feast gravy but not a lot.

Why haven't I taken her to the vet yet? One, to see if her issue will clear up the way Ivan's did, and two, I have been perpetually short of funds for so long I can barely remember when I wasn't. I'm terrified that there will be the verdict of a gigantic dental bill / tooth removal, and I don't have a regular vet here (having just taken our kitties to the vaccination clinic put on by PetCo for the last 4 years).

So, vibes, please, that she gets better very soon with the antibiotics. Or, vibes that I can find a vet who will work out a payment plan with me.

I love all of my cats, but Silver is just ... my girl. Please help her feel better.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Good luck and good vibes....

[Flaxbee]

4. Thank you, NYC_SKP

I'm giving her until Wednesday, then I'm finding a vet and getting Silver in there.

[angstlessk]

2. I also have..if not a Main Coon...a mix...he is our love

The best of vibes to your Silver...may she eat again...

[Flaxbee]

5. I'm giving her another day on the meds, and if there is no noticeable improvement,

I'm taking her to the vet.

[angstlessk]

8. I avoid vets too...they seem too easy to put a pet down...n/t

[Agschmid]

3. .... VIBES ....

[Flaxbee]

6. thanks, Agschmid

I'm on the verge of panic, here. Trying to stay calm.

[herding cats]

7. Healing vibes for your kitty.

I know how it is to have a favorite furry baby. Wishing her a speedy and full recovery!

[TuxedoKat]

9. Good thoughts

and prayers for Silver. I hope her appetite perks up with the antibiotics. You are doing the right thing keeping her hydrated. Keep us posted.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

10. Get well Silver

Hope everything works out very soon. I've been stuck in that position before too and its heart wrenching.

[onestepforward]

11. Best wishes for Silver!

I hope she's feeling better soon.

[PoliticAverse]

12. Best wishes to her! n/t

[LoveMyCali]

13. Vibes coming Silver's way!

Here's hoping she will be back to her old self very soon.

Oh, and a hug for you I know how it feels when you can't put your finger on what's wrong with your furbaby, you just know something's not right.

[magical thyme]

14. more good vibes headed your way...

With birds, at 4 days on antibiotics you either see signficant improvement or they start heading down. I think it's pretty much the same with larger animals.

I'd start looking for a vet today to get an appointment. If she suddenly improves today, you can always cancel the appointment.

[Baitball Blogger]

15. Hang in there Silver.

May the magic of antibiotics heal you.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

16. ~*~*~Sending healthy vibes and healing energy for Silver ~*~*~

[TrogL]

17. I've got a cat going through the same thing, except his mouth stinks

He's already been to the vet, had antibiotics and it cleared up, but I guess it's back.

The vet wanted to sign him up for $1500 of dental surgery, but I think that's excessive.

[Flaxbee]

18. Thanks, everyone. She's better today - eating a lot, actually. Still acts like

something is a little off, but isn't seeming to struggle nearly as much.

I'm just sooo glad she's eating! Hasn't been much litter box action in the last 4-5 days and I was starting to worry about her kidneys.

She's had 4 days of antibiotics, and my husband gave her some 100% salmon oil last night a few times - kicked her into grooming herself, and today she's ravenous.

Send more vibes! Thanks so much! Everything seems to be working and I can scale back my panic attack!

[LiberalEsto]

19. Best wishes to Silver for a quick recovery

[In_The_Wind]

20. Thanks for the update! I know how happy you must be now.

Perhaps picking up a good supplement will help her and keep her eating.

I've used something like this with miss Billie many years ago. It gave her calories to keep her energy level up and also made her hungry.

[Flaxbee]

25. great idea! thanks, In_The_Wind

I will check out our pet stores and/or order online. I have 5 cats so just having this on hand would be good, I think.

[In_The_Wind]

26. It helped me back when I had Persian cats.

It's a thick fishy paste.
Your cat will lick it off of your finger or you can rub it on their ruff upper pallet.

[LoveMyCali]

21. Thank goodness!

I was worried about your poor girl!

Extra vibes still going out to keep her on the right path.

[nomorenomore08]

22. I love Maine Coon tabbies. So cute and fat and fluffy.

Hope she gets better!

[shenmue]

23. Sending love

[Flaxbee]

24. Still improving -- Silver's not 100% but maybe at 75%. Thank you all so much

for your vibes and love. It always helps!

[hamsterjill]

27. Could it be stomatitis?

First - serious vibes coming for Silver. I hope this passes quickly for her.

I work with a local rescue and we have several kitties with stomatitis. The majority of ours are handled with monthly steroid injections, which aren't cheap, but aren't terribly expensive either. I urge you to take her to the vet at your earliest opportunity, and I do understand about being short of funds.

My best to you and Silver.

[grasswire]

28. I second the recommendation for nutri-cal

I'm about to get some for my petite tabby Zelda, who seems to be off her feed the last week or so. I've been feeding her baby food meat, and bits of cheese, and half and half. She will eat all of those.

[Flaxbee]

29. All better!

Silver is back to her sweet self, now giving me the stink eye because I'm in the computer chair (her current favorite place to sleep).

Eating, grooming, and just generally acting like she feels good - phew!

Combination of time, love, antibiotics and salmon oil - not sure what helped the most, but she kicked whatever bug she had. I'm just so thankful it wasn't anything awful with her teeth/gums/mouth. Her breath smells fine and there's no tenderness anywhere when I probe her teeth, so I'm pretty confident she's OK. She's 8 years old, though, so I'll get her teeth checked before too much more time passes.

Anyway - thank you all for your vibes and love!

[libodem]

30. Don't forget tuna water

I seriously believe it brought Ralphie back from death's doorstep. After I medicated her food she quit eating her old brand. Wet and dry. She curled up in the bathroom sink base, and prepared for hospice. One of my friends suggested trying tuna. And what'd ya know... she's alive and on Fancy Feast and Organic Chicken dry food. (had to change everything)

I was crying in her fur at the vet, his advice was either a $600.00 operation or $1100.00 for chemo, plus twice a day medication. I'm not doing any of it! And she is back to her old self for now.

[earthbot1]

31. good vibes to your cat!

Hope she gets better soon!