Sick cat

chuck steak

For the past day or two my gf's cat has been sneezing, growls when you pet her for more than a few seconds, and has been sitting on the furnace vents (never seen her do this before). It's cold here and she snuck outside the other day for a few hours so I'm guessing it's just a cold? Should we take her to the vet (which we can't do until friday morning) or will she likely just get over it with no problems?

Creepy

Take the cat to the vet. That sounds worse than just a cold.

Unknown

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Richard_Dastardly

If you're hesitant about taking the cat to a vet, at least get a cheap digital thermometer and (very carefully) plunge it into her anus. Anything above 105 should warrant a trip to the animal ER.

Edit: I had a cat with symptoms like that. Except for the growling. He wouldn't eat and just slept all day. We took him to the ER that night... and $600 later we find out it was just a minor virus. Our other cat then came down with similar symptoms. We just babied him, watched his temp, and a couple of days later he was fine.

Basar

I'd take her to a vet. That sounds serious, especıally since she also growls. Why can't you take her to a vet today or tomorrow?

BahamutZERO

This does sound like something to take seriously. Growling could mean the cat's in pain.

Peen

Our cats have had this same kind of thing, and at the first expensive vet visit the doctor said that if it's just the kind of symptoms that you've described it's a kitty cold and there's not much they can do. He said to keep an eye on them, because other kinds of infections can piggy-back (ours got an eye infection that required medication), but that cat viruses are like people viruses in that there's not much they can do.

I'd keep an eye on the cat, but from what you're saying it sounds like a cold and it'd be easy to overreact. Take it to the vet if you're that concerned, but don't be surprised if that's what they tell you.

VisionOfClarity

To be honest, I'd rather take my cat to the vet and pay a bill over nothing than miss something important and have my cat get really ill as a result.

Trowizilla

Take her to the vet. It may just be a cold, or she may have caught something serious when she snuck outside, maybe from another cat or eating something gross. By the time cats show discomfort, they're usually pretty sick, and they can go downhill fast from there.

JaysonFour

VisionOfClarity wrote: »

To be honest, I'd rather take my cat to the vet and pay a bill over nothing than miss something important and have my cat die as a result.

Fixed. Take the cat in- better to be safe than sorry.

proXimity

If you really can't take the cat to the vet until Friday, you should try giving them a call. A brief description of the symptoms might tell them that it's just a minor virus or something, or whether you should drop everything and get that cat in. A call is easy, and it'll give you a better idea of what you need to do.

chuck steak

She seams a bit better today. Still sounds congested (though she isn't breathing through her mouth so it must not be too bad) but she is eating and drinking, and doesn't moan/growl when I pet her now.

PeregrineFalcon

chuck steak wrote: »

For the past day or two my gf's cat has been sneezing, growls when you pet her for more than a few seconds, and has been sitting on the furnace vents (never seen her do this before). It's cold here and she snuck outside the other day for a few hours so I'm guessing it's just a cold? Should we take her to the vet (which we can't do until friday morning) or will she likely just get over it with no problems?

Is this an indoor cat that managed to sneak outside? If so, is it up to date on its shots?

It sounds like it's on the mend, just keep an eye on it. It doesn't have the shits or constipation, does it?

Sheep

Cats are highly susceptible to upper respiratory diseases. I'd highly recommend getting your cat checked out and prescribed some antibiotics.