My cat seems listless, her fur doesn't look as groomed ...

Hi..how old is your cat? Has she used the litter box? Is she eating? Drinking? Do you have a Vet?

She is 9 or 10 years old. I don't know if she has used the litter box today or not. She is lying near the water dish, but I don't if she has been drinking. Her saliva seems to be "cloudy" looking and her breath is really bad. No I don't have a Vet, and I don't have much money either. That is why I am looking for online help.

Is there any chance she ate something that was toxic. Has she eaten anything? Did you notice anything different about her before today?

Hi! I want you to listen to me very carefully. You cat must have liguids!! Can you buy some Pedialyte from the store? It not, you can use warm water with a pinch of salt and sugar. She has to have fluids now. Even if you use an eye dropper. After that..she needs watered down cat food..also like a cereal..that she can lap..can you do this..LIQUIDS first..

She was a little droopy yesterday, but I didn't notice the bad breath. We had the windows open and she was lying in a chair to catch the breeze so I thought that was all that going on. She stays in the house. We don't have houseplants or any toxic chemicals she could get into. She seems to be using the litterbox as usual. I haven't seen her eating, but that isn't unusual. She is a light nibbler, and doesn't eat a lot in the evenings. Her coat looks rough. I brushed her thoroughly and she seemed to perk up a bit. Her nose is cool and feels normal. Her eyes don't look dull. The main thing is the drooling. Her saliva seems a little thick and the smell is very bad. Her gums look a little pinker than normal. I have 4 cats and the others seem okay.

Your reply came before I finished sending my information. Do you think she is dehydrated?

Okay, I'm not ruling out kidney, or liver, or what ever,then maybe this is a tooth issue. I've work in dentistry for 25 years..can you look in her mouth and see if there is any broken teeth, rotten teeth or very red, bleeding gums. You have to look in the back and this is hard. Just gently pull her mouth open..if she has an abcess that would make her drool...look and let me know

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She does have a lot of plaque and her gums look very red just at the edge of her teeth. I don't see any bleeding or missing or broken teeth. Or any swelling. Is there any kind of home remedy that would help? Should I rub her teeth with bakind soda or something?

No..she feels bad enough, as long as no teeth look rotten or broken leave it for now. Try to get some fluids into her. Like I wrote before. Water down wet food and try to get her to eat. She needs nurishment. Try fluids first. Her fur looked ungroomed because she may be dehydrated..you have to get fluids in her first to get her up and feelind better..can you do that?

I gave her about 5-6 teaspoons of water. She seems to swallow okay. Her meow is a little hoarse sounding. How often should I try to give her liquids? She won't eat wet food. She doesn't really like anything but dry food.

Great!!! Just keep that up! As often as she will take it. If you have some chicken broth that would be really good..you could get that tomorrow if you doon't have any in the house now. If you have campbells noodle soup, you can give her the broth...or any soup like that. This will build up her strenght, and help her kidneys work..do you have any canned soup that you can give her the broth..beef is good too.

She is eating some tuna and the water it was packed in. I will keep giving her water. When she feels better, should I try to clean her teeth?

No..the teeth is not the issue. I asked that because sometimes cats with very rotten teeth can have heart failure. So I have to rule things out, since I am not there to see her. I am flying blind here and have to ask questions so I can help you. Do you understand that? Right now, she needs nurishment. The tuna is good, but later, you must keep her hydrated.(as much water as she will take) I still would like you to try the chicken broth and keep an eye on her for several days. Her bad breathe makes me think she may have another issue so I want to keep an eye on her. And your job is to be my eyes. You're doing a agreat job!

Edited by MichaelsMom on April 17 2006 at 11:00pm

We will keep a close eye on her. My daughter is on vacation from school this week, so she can watch her during the day. I will have her especially watch to make sure she is using the litter box and drinking water. We will also give her some broth.

Keep me posted..please click the accept button so "they" know I helped you..if you add a comment the page stays open and we can communicate for as long as you want too. I will contact you again tomorrow and that opens the post for another 24 hours. I am typically around and if not, I am not gone long,so be patient, if you need me, I will be here. Don't close out the question...just relist..but ask for me. Try to get some rest..I'll be back on by 9 am EST. You can post a message and it will be in my email box..Good night..Marie

Relist:
I wanted to post a comment, but lost the link to do so.

Hi! How is you cat today? Is she any better? I'm still concerned about other health issues.

She seems a little more alert. She is eating a little, both wet and dry, and has been drinking water on her own. She is still drooling, but her breath isn't quite as bad. She seems to have indigestion. I can hear her tummy rumble (squishy, squeaky sounds) and I think she burped a couple of times because I could smell her breath really strong for a moment or two.

Hi! Sorry to be so late getting back to you. If she is eating and using the litter box that is a plus. The drooling still bothers me. Is there anything she could have eaten?..be a detective..I have thought about this all day. For the most part when a cat goes down, we think, liver, kidney, etc. But drooling is mouth and throat, stomach issues. And her tummy rubbling is a new one for me. So if she was a human, what would you think? Something she ate..maybe? I know the answer is there..we just have to get it...Lets try something. Just take a glass of water, put in a big pinch of salt, a pinch of sugar and some baking soda. Shake. Put that in her water dish. Try to get her to drink it. Then tell me how she is. I will be here tomorrow am.

I have given her some of the water/salt/sugar/ baking soda mix. She tolerates it okay. I also gave her some beef broth. She is urinating okay. Haven't been able to catch her in the box to see if she has had a solid movement or not. Her belly doesn't feel bloated or distended. She doesn't seem to have a blockage in her intestines. (I had a cat who did once - long story). But she is still droopy. Her cry sounds hoarse. Can cats get a sore throat?

Hi! I don't think its a sore throat. My concern is if she has pancreatitis or issues with her spleen, liver or kidneys. Droopy is sick. And cats are so stoic, they can be is very serious pain and bare it. Keep getting fluids into her..as long as she is drinking water and broth, you probably don't need the combo water any more. Try and get good food into her and lets watch her. I know you said things are tight, could you call the local shelter and ask them if they know of a low cost Vet? Maybe someone who would take payment plans. It's worth a shot. Our Vet have two plans for me. My house cats..I pay this fee minus a few dollars. The ferals..pretty much just his expense for meds. Try it, not all Vets are as money hungry as we hear at this site.
I'll be in touch in am. If you need me, just click on my name and scroll down, hit pm and send me a message. That's private. So if you need to talk about something, that is between you and me.

I can't seem to get to your email. There is nothing to click on other than your ratings. I finally got her mouth wide open. She has what looks like canker sores at the corners of her mouth and around the gum line of her farthest back teeth. I cleaned the areas the best I could with q-tips and peroxide. I live in a resort area with lots of wealthy retirees, so I don't think I will find a low cost vet but I will try tomorrow. I don't know what else to do. I pureed some canned cat food for her. She licked up a little of it. And I gave her about 1/8 cup of water with the eyedropper.

Hi. Okay, that is also a clue. Don't clean them any more. Often cats with liver problems can get sores in their mouths. That explains the horrible breath, the drooling and lack of appetite. There is only one thing I can suggest, and it has worked for me. Milk thistle is the only know product that can heal and jump start a liver. My cat was dying of arsenic poison and my Vet said no hope. I bought baby food and milk thistle at the health food store. I opened the capsules mixed with the baby food and had him lap it off my finger. Did that for a week. He lived another 3 years. Buy the baby food that says turkey and broth, or chicken and broth. I think at this point without a Vet, will be the best chance of trying to get the liver functioning. Its up to you. it willnot hurt her.

I will get some milk thistle and give it a try. My email is Customer (name blocked for privacy)@yahoo.com.