Hey you cat people, I need advice

[coffeegyrl]

My cat Scout has been sneezing and I'm concerned. He doesn't act sick, he eats normally, and jumps around playing like he usually does. He is about 14 years old. We've been in our new house for three weeks, he is his normal huggy self, sleeps on my bed and sits in my lap. He has sneezed occasionally over the past months, but now it's 4-5 times in a row.

He hasn't been in contact with any other animal since we were reunited in April except for my sister's crazy little dog (one year-old boston terrier-pug mix) for one evening a couple days before we moved. He is an "only" cat, and is happiest that way. Years ago when I had three cats he was grumpy and I never heard him purr, so that is not an issue.

Anybody have any ideas?

[Greener]

Hopefully it's something simple. One of my cats used to get a cold every winter. She would sneeze as many as ten times in a row. At first, I would take her to the vet every year and he would give me the pink stuff to try to squirt in her mouth (good luck), and suggested baby nose drops, (right).
Then, the following years, I just waited and it ran it's course in about a week or 2 and went away. Hope that's all it is.

[angelgirl]

Yes, my experience has been similar to what Greener described. Hopefully it is a slight cold and will pass. Lots of rudievibes & angel heartlinks to Scout.

Angelgirl

[Ginny]

If you have installed new carpets or linoleum there would be fumes from these things. If so, maybe your cat, who lives closer to the floor, and also is a smaller creature than humans, would be extra-sensitive to these fumes and show this by sneezing.

[gisli]

I dont know nothing about cats but we have one kitten at my place and it seems like a very strange creature.

Not that it matters but if it starts to sneeze everybody run like hell to the vet and ask what could possibly be wrong???????......and always get the same answer: "Nothing to worry about"
Usually that is not a good enough answer so it is followed by a series of :"Are you sure questions" and get all the reasuring: "Not to worry-answers"

If I on the other hand sneeze.....there is no phoning the doctor or the vet for that matter......the only thing that happens is that the cat always jumps up from the floor and I get the blame for disturbing the cat.

PS I know this answer isnt any help but sometimes I get these images that I need to get out of my chest and I really wasnt going to send this "Image" but I had to sneeze and the farkling cat landed on the Submit Replay button.:o
Sorry.

[Sara]

My cat Scout has been sneezing and I'm concerned. He doesn't act sick, he eats normally, and jumps around playing like he usually does. . .He has sneezed occasionally over the past months, but now it's 4-5 times in a row.

. . . Anybody have any ideas?
Sally, we all love our pets around here. Sometimes, I get concerned about my kitties when it's really nothing. My vet tells me I need to practice more "benevolent neglect" and just keep an eye on them.

My Liza sometimes comes down with a little cold where she sneezes, especially when it's cold in the house. It simply goes away, and she's fine.

Hopefully, your Scout (especially since he is getting more mature in age, is similar, another "delicat" (delicate cat)! :)

[Marcia Drummergal]

It could be allergies and maybe I missed it if someone else suggested it BUT: I don't think it would be such a bad idea to take Scout to the vet for a check-up! That's what I would do. Then you won't have to wonder.....

Marcia :)

[Oak Kitten]

I have four cats and there have been occasions when one of them gets a cold and then it passes to the others. They tend to sneeze in rapid-fire multiples. It sounds sometimes like they are imitating a toy train. If your cat does not seem to be listless and is otherwise fine, I do not see any problem in waiting a few days to see if it passes. Running to the vet is an expense you may not want to incur just to be told the cat is fine.

Oak

[aabram]

Probably nothing to worry about. Mine get a snuffle every winter too. Sure he'll be fine in a few days. Just keep him warm and make sure he drinks plenty, just like when you have a cold yourself, although I never seem to get them these days because of the garlic factor :)

Take pity on one of my son's hamsters which he bought, got it home and then she promptly sat down and died of a chest infection. Don't forget, cats can catch your cold just as that hamster died. Cats seem to be more robust though... Have YOU had a cold lately, Sally?

Annabel

[Bat]

check the eyes. If they are inflamed or teary, that could cause tears to drain into the nose and make him sneezy. Also, keep the floors dusted...sometimes they just get a snootful of dust and that is sneezy stuff, too...it doesn't take much.

[Roady]

Coffeegyrl, was there a cat living in the house before you moved in? That might be the source of the URI or if he's previously had an Upper Respiratory Infection some cats become asymptomatic carriers and only become symptomatic when stressed. Tops on the list is boarding but I would think moving is a big stressor.

My vet always tells me when I tell her my cat is sneezing that if he's eating and acting okay, don't worry about it. But I'd certainly check with my vet if the sneezing is prolonged or any other symptoms develop.

Keep us posted okay?

[Eva]

Not that it matters but if it starts to sneeze everybody run like hell to the vet and ask what could possibly be wrong???????......and always get the same answer: "Nothing to worry about"
Usually that is not a good enough answer so it is followed by a series of :"Are you sure questions" and get all the reasuring: "Not to worry-answers"

If I on the other hand sneeze.....there is no phoning the doctor or the vet for that matter......the only thing that happens is that the cat always jumps up from the floor and I get the blame for disturbing the cat.
Hmmm... I hope you don't think now that your family loves the cat more than they love you? :confused: Or have I just planted a very disturbing thought in your head? :D

Eva

[coffeegyrl]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I worked on the "dusty floor" angle today and I haven't heard Scout sneeze in a day or so. I guess we just needed reassurance. It sure is more affordable to get it here than from the vet!

[Mary6906]

Put enough Rudie heads together and you get solutions. Just don't forget to feed the kittie! :p

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg317/Mary6906/Cat-willignoreyou.jpg

[coffeegyrl]

Just don't forget to feed the kittie! :p


Oh I never forget. Scout gets fed at coffee time every morning!

[Mary6906]

That's a good owner.... just like my birds... fed in the morning.

[Bat]

Sometimes the simplest, most obvious ideas provide solutions. Glad to hear Scout is doing well now...and he probably did have a cold...cats do get them.

[hoops]

Peanut doesn't wake me on the days i don;t work to get fed...for some strang reason, he trusts me to feed him twice a day...in the evening he does get a little whiney around 5. But you better believe he knows when snack time is...he's crawls up my leg and scream bloodly murder for his two dinky pieces of cat treat. then he is satisfied and walks away. wierd cat...he also...this is really kinda cute for about 5 minutes...at night when we're sleeping he will become either Tracy's or my "kitten hat" he engulfs our head with his body and finds it just oh so comfy to sleep there...and when play time comes you get an open clawed cat fist in the face. it's adorable aghhh mmmuggmmmign. no really
peace
hoops

[coffeegyrl]

No way Hoops! No cats on my pillow. That's where I draw the line. (and all the cuteness in the world isn't going to change it)

[DaveM]

Junior does the "fist in the face" bit when he wants me to get up--quite interesting depending on what I'm dreaming at the time. Makes me jump almost every time but it's far better than his former wakeup technique, which was to climb on top of the wardrobe and leap onto my chest. When a 14 pound cat lands on you at something approaching terminal velocity....you sit up. In fact, sometimes you throw up. Which may be why he stopped doing it.

I would not mind the "wakeups" if he could wait just a bit longer than 6:30 a.m. It's not as if he NEEDS anything....his bowls are always full and I know he's not eager to have his thyroid pill (usually won't hold still for that until around noon). It just seems like a good idea at the time, I guess.

[Eva]

When I read all this I am so glad I am allergic to cats... :eek:

Eva

[Sara]

Junior does the "fist in the face" bit when he wants me to get up--
My Cleo does the "one and only one claw pressed into my face very carefully." She has excellent claw control; she never hurts me, but does wake me up. It's usually to get petted which causes her little purr motor to run on high.

I don't know what I'd do without my kitties.



When I read all this I am so glad I am allergic to cats...Then, Eva, what do you do on your Pirate ship to control unwanted rodents, hmmm?

[Mary6906]

... Then, Eva, what do you do on your Pirate ship to control unwanted rodents, hmmm?
Why our Pirate Queen gets one of those misbehavin' swabbees to get down and crawl on their hands and knees and go find them thar rodents ... Lo and behold the lash of they don't comply! :eek: But our Queen is so fierce that I think even the rodents quake in fear and jump ship. Cap'n RedJack picked a fine Quartermaster indeed.

[TwinLori]

Sometimes I wonder if my cat Dolly is allergic to me or the dog -- maybe she just has a cold, but when she sneezes, often times it's right in my face!

On a side issue, I was wondering if anyone would know why a cat would stop using her litterbox (though the litter was cleaned every other day) and then start to pee on the carpet instead? I've even seen her poop in the litterbox, then jump out and proceed to pee on the carpet next to the box. I've tried various ways of getting rid of the urine spots on the carpet and the smell, but it's still bad. I've had Dolly about 10 years and I'm not sure how old she was before given to me (though I suspect she was maybe only 2-3 years old at the time), so maybe it's just because she's getting old? Help!

P.S. Yes, I do love my cat and dog more than some family members! Heck they're my children.

[Dee]

When I read all this I am so glad I am allergic to cats... :eek:

Eva

Yah, me too. *aaa aaa aaa choo!*

[Eva]

Why our Pirate Queen gets one of those misbehavin' swabbees to get down and crawl on their hands and knees and go find them thar rodents ... Lo and behold the lash of they don't comply! :eek: But our Queen is so fierce that I think even the rodents quake in fear and jump ship. Cap'n RedJack picked a fine Quartermaster indeed.
Ehm... yes. That's exactly right :D I call it pest-controle. The pest can be the rodents or the misbehavin' swabbees.

Eva

[Mary6906]

... On a side issue, I was wondering if anyone would know why a cat would stop using her litterbox (though the litter was cleaned every other day) and then start to pee on the carpet instead? I've even seen her poop in the litterbox, then jump out and proceed to pee on the carpet next to the box. I've tried various ways of getting rid of the urine spots on the carpet and the smell, but it's still bad. I've had Dolly about 10 years and I'm not sure how old she was before given to me (though I suspect she was maybe only 2-3 years old at the time), so maybe it's just because she's getting old? Help!

P.S. Yes, I do love my cat and dog more than some family members! Heck they're my children.
It could be that she's getting old, and could be getting finicky in her old age, and demand that you clean out the clumps after each use .... Have you changed your brand of litter you've used? Do you think she may have some kind of medical condition? Just something to think about..... it's been ages since I've had a cat, but when I did, I can't say I've encountered this problem.

I'm sure you can get some helpful suggestions from others here on the board.

[Eva]

I have heard from friends they had cats who started peeing and doing heeps in all the wrong places (potted plants, the bed :eek: ) when they felt neglected. When their owner had been away a lot and hadn't had a lot of time for the cats. Not accusing you of anything, but might this be it?

Eva

[Sara]

Sometimes, when a new pet is introduced into the house, the cat (or dog) will act out. But you didn't mention any new addition, so I don't suppose that's it. Is there anything else your cat might be protesting?

Before my Margie was diagnosed and treated for her diabetes, she started peeing in odd places. (She really couldn't control it. With her insulin, all her symptoms have cleared up.) Could be something medical, as has been suggested?

[Ginny]

...I was wondering if anyone would know why a cat would stop using her litterbox...

One reason could be that there has been a major change in the routine of your household. Cats like routine.

Also, apparently cats like privacy when they are using their litterboxes. This could be a factor in Dolly's recent behavior. (Maybe because felines in the wild like to make sure that no predators are in sight when they "do their business"?)

[Eva]

(Maybe because felines in the wild like to make sure that no predators are in sight when they "do their business"?)
Or maybe they simply don't like it when strangers are staring at their a** :eek: But seriously... I'm sure all animals feel vulnurable doing their 'thing'.

Eva

[Sara]

Or maybe they simply don't like it when strangers are staring at their a** :eek: But seriously... I'm sure all animals feel vulnurable doing their 'thing'.

Eva
This reminds me of one of my father's many World War II stories, when he was in the Army. I think he was in Okinawa at this particular time. As he tells it, he happened to come upon a squatting "enemy soldier" doing his business. His instructions were to have shot the man on sight. My father couldn't bear to do this, having empathy for a fellow human being engaged in a universal activity which made him very vulnerable. My father just walked away.

(Funny how threads tend to mutate, subject-wise.)

[Marcia Drummergal]

There are several good suggestions to try here. I know that we have cats who like to pee in one box and defacate in the other. Do you have room for an additional box?

Marcia :)

[DaveM]

Lori--your cat may have a urinary tract infection. One more possibility to consider along with all of the others.

[dragonlady]

On a side issue, I was wondering if anyone would know why a cat would stop using her litterbox (though the litter was cleaned every other day) and then start to pee on the carpet instead? I've even seen her poop in the litterbox, then jump out and proceed to pee on the carpet next to the box. I've tried various ways of getting rid of the urine spots on the carpet and the smell, but it's still bad. I've had Dolly about 10 years and I'm not sure how old she was before given to me (though I suspect she was maybe only 2-3 years old at the time), so maybe it's just because she's getting old? Help!


Our cat started doing this when she got old (though she was 17 at the time) because she was simply having continence problems. Even if she just pooped she'd step out of the box and pee...it could have a medical cause...

-di

[Oak Kitten]

Could be worse. One of my cats poops in the water dishes. Only she knows why.

Oak

[Mary6906]

be afraid.... be very afraid... :eek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcxhOGyrCtI

[hoops]

cats are very special creatures who make you really consider the term "commanding respect" along with other things like "choose you battles" and "swallow your pride" and "who is really in charge here". Oh and though Peanut Butter is allowed on the pillows, he is not allowed on the table or near human food and he does well with that. Now i've got to get him to leave my writing implements alone... i can never find a pen! He also does the very gentle pat of the paw on the face when you are petting him and he looks you in the face. it's adorable really.
peace
hoops

[coffeegyrl]

I ban Oak's cat for pooping in the water dishes! :eek:

[Sara]

I ban Sally for posting in the wrong thread! ;)

[aabram]

Hey, girls, girls..... get thee back to the BANNED thread!!!!! See you next year.

Annabel