very sick cat has gone missing

[Guest]

Yesterday I took my 2 year old neutered male cat to the vet because he was acting sick. Lately he had been acting strange, meowing a lot and he seemed to have lost weight. Then yesterday he couldn't jump up to where his food is and was acting like he was in pain so I took him to the vet. There was no obvious diagnosis based on a physical exam and the leukemia and AIDs tests were negative. Still waiting to hear the results of the rest of the bloodwork. They gave him some fluids, wormed him and sent us home with antibiotics, with instructions to take him to the emergency vet if he got worse.
He's been hiding under a dresser and didn't look to good when I pulled him out this morning to take his medicine. Then a few hours later when I went to check on him he was gone and searched the house from top to bottom (not hard- it's small). My oldest daughter had let the other cat in at some point and I don't know if the door was left open but I'm assuming he got out somehow. My daughter is upset and we wandered the neighborhood looking for him. Being in such bad shape I don't think he could have gotten far, I'm worried he crawled under a porch or bush somewhere to die. Do cats do this? I feel terrible and all we can do is hope he comes back OK... I guess depending on the results of the blood work we will have a better idea of what the chances of that are.

[Tambrey]

I pray that your cat comes home, or that you can find him. Is there a favourite place he likes to go when outside?

One of my cats got out a few years ago, and I never let my cats outside. But Gump escaped and even after we went to bed, I was sooo worried I could not sleep. I went to sit on the front porch, and softly began to call his name. After a short while, I saw this fluffy shadow bellying its way across the yard from the garage...Gump had been hiding in there and was so scared he did not want to come out! I did not get up and go to him, so as not to scare him more, but I just let him come until he made it to the porch and was beside me, then I picked him up and got him right inside!!

Maybe your cat is feeling the same way right now....terrified and in the safest place he knows...go out this evening after all is calm and quiet and begin to call his name...see if he will come to you...I pray he does...

Is there a treat he likes? Can you leave some of that out for him?

When he does come home, might I suggest that you not let the cats out? I have 8 and they never ever go outside...they sit at the window, and watch outside, but do not go outside...there are too many things they can get in to...
Best wishes that he is found safe and alive...

[Guest]

Thank you. Still no sign of him and the doctor called with inconclusive results from the blood and urine analyses. They'd like to x-ray him, if he comes back and I can bring him in. I've checked in the places I know about, like under the porch and under the neighbor's porch, in the tall grass in the alley etc. but he's been a roamer and I really have no clue where all of his haunts are. I know outdoor cats are succeptible to a lot of diseases and dangers but it was next to impossible to keep these cats indoors especially in the summer when we have everything open and kids are coming in and out.

Both cats usually show up in the evening for a meal so I'm hoping he'll come back soon.

[Guest]

Don't rule out that he is in the house. Do a systematic search of your home and look everywhere. Under recliners (inside the stool) under the couch, check your mattress in your bed, did he tear the liner of the bed and crawl up inside? Lay down in each room and look around carefully. Make a grid of each room and look everywhere. When cats are ill they go off to to a quiet place to try and regenerate. He could be in your home and you won't know it until you really look for him. Open cupboards, use a flashlight, make a careful methodical search. If you can't find him inside than please read this article. A friend and I wrote it to help people such as yourself who lost a cat-

http://www.thecatsite.com/content/view/54/28/

Good luck!

[Guest]

I found him. I suspect he was in the house all along, although I felt like I did a pretty thorough search, tearing everything out of the closets etc.
He was back behind the couch where I had previously looked several times! Anyway, I'm relieved. He has been eating a little bit of tuna fish but he still seems pretty out of it. His respiratory rate seemed a bit high last night and he just stares vacantly. I am calling the vet this morning, they may want to do x-rays since nothing unusual turned up in the lab results.

Thanks for the tips!

[Phoebe's human]

You might want to learn how to take your cat's temperature if you don't already know how.

And there's the skin turgor test, which I learned about in a pet first aid course I took. You lift the cat's skin up at the spine, gathering up a bunch of it and then letting it drop naturally. If the cat is not dehydrated, the skin bounces back very quickly.

If there is dehydration (a dangerous sign), the skin goes back much more slowly.

I've seen vets use this test on cats often.

[Tambrey]

What a relief to have found him Now to figure out what is wrong...
Prayers that all goes well and he is back to his odl self soon!

[luna and maeve]

(I just figured out that logging in before posting would show my username!)

Luna is spending the weekend at the vet. A second vet looked at him and they are perplexed as to what could be wrong. He has not had a temperature and yes, the skin-test showed moderate dehydration. The only thing that showed up in the bloodwork is slightly high globulin (?) levels which the vet said could indicate some kind of inflammation. They wanted to keep him over the long weekend to give him fluids and keep an eye on him.

I am hoping that he is feeling better tomorrow. We really can't afford to spend a ton of money on treatment of some kind of rare disorder. We sure miss him, but we couldn't force him to drink water- I feel good that he is getting fluids and rest.

[Bluburd]

I won't tell anyone yer user name if'n you don't!

Sure glad you found your cat. Please keep us informed as far as his health situation is concerned.

BTW, I'm ususally in Kevin's Room trying to clean it out some, but I also have eight cats (all indoor) along with the dogs, horses, and burros.

Just one husband, tho'!

[luna and maeve]

Luna is home today after his labor day weekend vacation at the vet. We are happy to see him and he seems likewise! He is acting perkier and he is eating, so I am hopeful that he is on the mend. The doctors didn't have any further info for us without doing more diagnostics (x-rays or what-have you) but for now we are watching and hoping he gets through whatever it is. Thanks for your concern! I am feeling much more positive after bringing him home today.