I’m posting here because my cat has been acting strangely tonight, and I’m getting a bit worried...
The kitten is about 5 months old; I rescued her, along with her two siblings and her mum, 3 months ago.
Earlier this evening, she was trying to swallow something (which I tried to get off her, but failed) that ended up making a "crunching" sound. I immediately thought it was a milk tooth, and knowing that's quite common, I didn't worry at first.
Shortly after, she started swallowing constantly and flicking her tongue out frantically as if she was licking her chops. I gave her some cat grass, and while she was nibbling it, she started pawing at her mouth violently with her front paws (the tips of which ended up pinkish, as if she’d been bleeding).
She’s also letting the tip of her tongue poke out of her mouth, which she never used to do, and she started kneading three times in a row, all by herself in a corner.
She is eating, and she hasn't been to her litter tray yet.
Could it just be a hairball? What can I do to help her?
If any of you have any thoughts, advice, or suggestions, I’d be more than grateful! Thanks in advance.
Translated from French
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Hi everyone,
I really need some help please.
I picked up a stray cat from the street this morning; I’d say he’s about 7 or 8 months old.
When he meows, he makes a strange noise, and every now and then it’s like he’s gagging or trying to be sick! It feels like he’s got something stuck in his throat. When I opened his mouth to check, there was nothing there, but his breath smelled really bad—honestly, it stank.
Any advice, please?
Thanks in advance.
Good evening, get to the vet as quickly as you can – if you haven't already, like @chouette81 suggested. My cousin’s cat is a recent example; he chewed and swallowed part of a little foam ball and she didn’t realise straight away. Her cat hadn’t eaten for quite a few days and the damage was very serious. He needed an MRI scan to see the pieces of the ball lodged in the duodenum, as an ultrasound can’t pick up that material. He had to have surgery. I hope it’s not as serious for your cat, but he must be suffering. Please keep us posted.
Please, can someone get back to me as soon as possible? My cat hasn't eaten for a week. When we try to feed him, he doesn't spit it out but he makes these gagging, choking noises. He’s still breathing, but he only drinks once every two days and is hiding away from everyone. I’d like to try and get it out myself, but I’m scared of causing even more of a problem. He was a gift for my daughter and I want to have him with us for a long time yet.
[Get to the vet immediately – your cat must have swallowed something. I’ve got a recent example: my cousin’s cat, Filou, has a bad habit of chewing his toys; he swallowed part of one and had the exact same symptoms. He ended up needing surgery. Nothing showed up on the ultrasound because it was a foam object, but on the MRI scan the pieces showed up in his duodenum. He’d had those pieces in his digestive tract for quite a while – she only realised because he’d stopped eating. I don’t want to scare you, but a trip to the vet will put your mind at rest. Good luck!]
Please, if anyone can get back to me as quickly as possible. My cat hasn’t eaten for a week. When we tried to feed him, he didn’t spit the food out but he started making these choking, gasping noises, even though he’s still breathing. He’s only drinking once every two days and is hiding away from pretty much everything. I’d like to try and get it out myself, but I’m scared of causing even more of a problem. He was a gift for my daughter and I want to keep him for a long time yet.
Hi everyone, I’m writing because I’m the owner of Mila, a 6-month-old kitten who has a cough (once a day maximum, and it’s quite a chesty cough). At first, I thought she had a hairball or something bothering her, so I took her to the vet who gave me some "Cat Malt" paste to give her for three days. The coughing didn't stop.
I took Mila back to the vet on the day she was due to be spayed, so I pointed out to the vet that she was still coughing. He took her temperature and there was no fever. He listened to her breathing and apparently everything was normal, and during her operation, he said he didn't see anything causing an obstruction. He gave her a 14-day antibiotic injection anyway.
Today is the 6th day and she’s still coughing.
Other than that, she’s eating, drinking, and playing. Her litter tray habits are normal and she’s still her usual happy, energetic self. For my part, I don’t smoke, the house isn’t old, and we have electric heating.
Hi there, I’m having pretty much the same problem with my cat: he comes over to eat and it looks like he’s got something stuck! There’s nothing in his mouth though, but he keeps trying to paw at something and there are these little clicking noises coming from his mouth, just like when he’s eating!
Even if they don't go out, bugs still get in.
Well, I can't see for sure, but her gums might be inflamed; have a look, if they’re red, she might have gingivitis.
Hi, she might have eaten an insect that's stung the inside of her mouth... if she's trying to be sick, it's because something is bothering her or causing her pain.
Is she drinking? Do you have any idea what she might have swallowed?