My male cat[Louie] is 1 year and 5 months old. He is an indoor outdoor cat. He recently was missing for about 36 hours, which is extremely unusual. We were getting some unexpected bad weather, and he was seriously traumatized during this time. He must have additionally have gotten spooked. He has just been laying around, and may be sick, but mostly traumatized by several things.
His brother[Fred] has had an upper respiratory condition that we have been treating with antibiotics. Louie was also put on the same medicine, because he had also started having the same symptoms. They both had taken about 1/2 of the prescription given by vet. Both cats were showing great improvement prior to Louie's ordeal. When Louie came home he was wet, exhausted, upset... His breathing seems OK. I have starting up his 2x per day prescription again immediately-he missed two doses. Now, after 24 hours of rest, he is just as depressed and lethargic as he was initially. He is eating a little tuna fish, but I have not seen him drink much water. It is Saturday evening, and the vet will be closing soon.
Should I be overly concerned about his condition? I am not an expert on feline behavioral issues. Please give me some suggestions on what I should do as a responsible pet owner. He normally has a very high energy mischievous personality. He seems miserable/ tired... Thanks for your help. If his condition does not change by Monday, I plan to have the vet check him out.

As long as he's eating, and you can get him to drink something, then I'd think he should be fine until you can get him to a vet when they reopen on Monday.

Until then, try giving him a little of the tuna water to drink. You could also try adding some water to dry food and see if he'll eat that. I've found that the easiest way to get a cat to drink is to make their water taste like food.

Just keep an eye on him and try to get him to eat and drink. You already said you plan on getting him to a vet if he doesn't seem to be feeling better, so I won't bother stressing that. It seems like you're already doing everything you can.

Thanks 541;2482309. Louie is still Chinese eyed, like something has yanked the spirit right out of his feline soul. He is eating a little, and may be drinking a small amount. I do appreciate your response. As you well know, these small animals DO become part of the family, and need our help sometimes when they experience LIFE LESSONS. I WILL keep the garage door propped slightly open in the future, if there is any possibility of a down- pour

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Originally Posted by hheath541

as long as he's eating, and you can get him to drink something, then I'd think he should be fine until you can get him to a vet when they reopen on Monday.

until then, try giving him a little of the tuna water to drink. you could also try adding some water to dry food and see if he'll eat that. I've found that the easiest way to get a cat to drink is to make their water taste like food.

just keep an eye on him and try to get him to eat and drink. you already said you plan on getting him to a vet if he doesn't seem to be feeling better, so i won't bother stressing that. it seems like you're already doing everything you can.

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Yeah, my kitties are very much part of my family. I'd probably worry myself sick if any of them got out and disappeared for that length of time.

Have you thought about getting a doghouse for your kitty? It would give him somewhere to go if it starts to rain, or he gets too warm, while he's outside.

Louie is still sick. He has a knot on the right side of his neck, that our vet says is probably an infected lymth node. HIS WHITE CELL COUNT IS HIGH, but not cancerous, I believe. He is eating some baby food, at the vets recommendation, and drinking a little water. Also just a little more active, but not much. He still has a fever[he had 105 on Monday]. Today is Thursday, and this 1 year and five month old fast, people friendly, and high energy mischievous cat has barely improved at all. Last night he actually went upstairs to my bedroom on the 2nd floor, after I encouraged him to do so.
He has one[of three] more liquid medicine filled syringes that the vet said would reduce his fever. He was also given more 65.5 mg anti-biotic that he and his brother had been started on around two weeks ago for an upper respiratory condition. Fred is all better while Louie continues to fight/struggle lethargically.
ANY SUGGESTIONS? THIS IS REALLY ODD.

Louie 22 here- please see answer above, as it is meant to be a question. Thanks

You need to give people time to see and respond to your question. Two minutes is just not long enough.

The only we can tell you is to follow your vet's advice. Some cats, just like some people, mope and pout and complain and just generally act like the world is ending when they get sick.

If you have concerns, then talk to your vet.

ThankS 541. Here's the deal. As with many pet owners, we cannot always pay to have our pet examined. That is why I have sought this askmehelpdesk. If Louie does not improve in 3-5 days + or -, I will call them for consultation. My main concerns are his strength, hydration, fever, and THE LARGE LUMP ON HIS NECK. Thanks again for your input. Sincerely, Larry

A cat's normal rectal temp is 102.5 to 105.5, so his temp seems only very slightly worrisome, is on the high end of normal. The lymph node bump will disappear as the rest of his system normalizes. Make sure he's drinking water now and then.

Like hheath said, cats tend to act like death warmed over and will crawl into a corner like they're dying. They are amazing at bouncing back -- have watched cats do that all my life.

Keep us informed as to how he's doing. Don't panic yet.

A cat's normal temperature is not up to 105.5. It's more like 100-102, maybe 103 at most.

The most common reason for a high white blood count is a bacterial infection. That very likely could be the reason for the high temperature as well. But a viral and bacterial infection are different. Viral generally causes a low white blood count. I'm wondering if it's the wrong meds.

Ha! Found something: Bordetella is still being researched. It is believed to cause fever, sneezing, nasal discharge, enlargement of the lymph nodes found under the throat and loud, harsh lung sounds. Coughing may also be observed.

Bordetella is a bacterial infection, and URI are more commonly caused by viruses. It also says Tetracycline or doxycycline are the drugs of choice for bordetella.

I'm a bit concerned about the lack of drinking and eating. Cats can't go long periods without eating much, and you can't continue feeding nothing but baby food. (Some baby food is not hurting, but it's not supplemented.) You may have to resort to syringe feeding. I think I already mentioned that if you use a canned food, plus the water that would need mixed in, that ought to be enough moisture.

Louie has been eating a little bit, but I am concerned about several things:
1,His eyes look bad. They are chinese, with the whites covering half of the visible eves I took a photo, and could attach or send to one of you that have been kind enough to give your input. I need an address
, He is not drinking water much at all. We have put some tuna water in with the regular water, but he is not drinking.My wife will bring a syringe home and try and hydrate Louie that way
3, He is still very lethargic.

Although yesterday, my son and I took Fred and Louie for a short walk, and Louie seemed wide-eyed and a little more normal. He was a little more energetic. Today he is worse. I will call the vet. Thanks for any help that might be able to give

I personally don't know a lot about upper respiratory infections so can't help much from that respect. I do know issues about food and not eating, and about blood work, so I can help there if you need more help. Hopefully with the syringe you can get more in him, and I'm glad he's at least eating a little. Syringe if you have to, but it's best if he'll eat at least some on his own.

What I can tell you is how to get the picture up. Under the little box where you post is "go advanced." In there is a thing to "management attachments." You can upload an image right to your post.

Good luck hun, we will send positive energy your way for both of you.

We are doing our best with Louie, 1 year 5 month old cat that used to be crazy fun, and energetic... His fever may be down a bit. His food and water consumption is very little. We are giving him two forms of anti-biotic. Here is a picture I took of him two days ago. Not much change.

I wonder if he was poisoned by someone. Probably not, but he has been bad about digging in neighbor's flower beds. One across concerns me, slightly. All other neighbor's are friendly.

It's possible that he may have been accidentally poisoned. He could have eaten some grass, or other plants, that had been sprayed with weed killer or insecticide. He could have also eaten a plant that is naturally poisonous to cats.

Talk to your vet and see if they have any suggestions on how to flush a possible toxin out of his system.