Pumpkin Is Not Well

My poor cat...

from JoeUser Forums
For those of you who know her, our cat, Pumpkin, is not well at the moment. She has developed a cough because of some sort of chest infection that won’t clear up. We’ve taken her to the vets a couple of times and each time, they’ve prescribed antibiotics. The cough clears and she is fine but as soon as the prescription is finished, she starts coughing again. It is not all the time, only once or twice a day but it is worrying because she has always been fit and healthy.

I’ve had her now for about 13 years and she is one of my closest friends. We’ve been there for each other through some pretty tough times and I don’t like seeing her sick.

I spoke to the vet yesterday and the next course of action is chest xrays, which we’re having done tomorrow. This will detect if there is anything out of the ordinary in her lungs. Apparently, some cats, as they get older, develop asthma. I don’t know if this is what is causing the cough, but we’ll know tomorrow.

As I said, I really don’t like seeing her sick. Hopefully, it is nothing serious.
26,029 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
I hope she gets better. I'm so sorry she's been sick Maso. I know you must be be very worried.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Tex,

Thanks... Both Toni and I are worried about her. If I lost her, I don't know what I'd do. She is the best non-human friend I've ever had.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
There's nothing sadder or more pitifully unnerving than a cat's cough. Our cats Misty (tortoiseshell female) and Teaser(blackspotted white male) are about ten now. Here they are play-fighting. Wishing Pumpkin gets better Maso. We love our kitties too.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
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Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I really hope that your Pumpkin gets better soon, Mark. Sorry to hear that she is sick.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Don,

Ah, mate, I KNEW there was something more about you I liked. Now I know - you're a cat-lover too.

There's nothing sadder or more pitifully unnerving than a cat's cough


Spoken by someone who knows. Thanks for your good wishes, mate. I'm keeping everything crossed and hoping her wonderfully robust constitution will see her through whatever is making her cough. I'm sure it will.

Rose,

Thanks for your good wishes too. Here is hoping it is nothing serious.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
My prayers are for Pumpkin, really. I hope she gets well very soon.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ennarath,

Thanks very much. At the moment, I'm trying to find a photo of her to share with you all. She is a ginger female with pale green eyes and very beautiful (I've always had a thing for redheads ) I might have to wait until I get home before I can post one though. Thanks again...
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sally sends her love as well.  Hope Pumpkin gets over it.  A nasty bug made our meanest cat, Scotty, into a lap cat.  He loves me now.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Whip,

Thanks for the wishes and for the advice. She has got rid of a few furballs without too much trouble. It is a concern because she has had antibiotics, gets well and then the cough comes back. I'm going to take what you've said, though, and mention it to the vet to see what she says. I don't know how often cats get rid of furballs either.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Maso,

I'm sorry about Pumpkin and hope she recovers soon.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

I'm sorry your kitty is not feeling well.


Maybe it will be something like asthma.  Maybe she's just allergic to herself.  Some people develop cat allergies later in life, maybe your cat did too.


Here's hoping its nothing serious!

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Whip,

We've just dropped her off at the vets and I spoke to her about some of the things you've mentioned. She is as concerned as we are and will give her another good going over to make sure she hasn't missed anything. She is also going to run x-rays to make sure it is not asthma or a chest bug of some sort.

i'll do some weird pagan well-pet rituals for her today


Thanks very much. As far as I'm concerned, 'weird pagan... rituals' are as valid as any prayer and much appreciated, by both Pumpkin and Toni and I.

Kelly,

hope she recovers soon


Thank you. She hadn't had a cough for about 24 hours, than coughed a number of times last night and woke us both up. She wasn't happy about going in the car today and probably won't speak to us when we get her home tonight. But it is for her own good. Good to see you, by the way.

Tova,

Maybe she's just allergic to herself


Yeah, just maybe. She leaves enough fur around the place, for sure. Thanks for your concern.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Maso--Sending good wishes that Pumpkin starts feeling better soon.

It might not be a furball,


I was actually talking to a friend the other day whose cat was ill for weeks and on and off medications. It turned out that the cat had a piece of grass stuck in her nasal passage that just wouldn't move. Once the vet removed it, she was back to her normal self.

Best of luck finding out what's wrong, Maso.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Shades,

Thanks very much for your kind words of support.

I've just heard from the vet and she has found the problem. Pumpkin has a bronchial infection and it clearly shows in the xrays of her lungs. There is a little bit of a growth, although it is not cancer but more likely as a result of asthma. So, she has to go onto a course of antibiotics (different) from the previous lot of medications. The vet said she is also a little overweight (NO!) which is probably not helping either.

So, she will have to get medication shoved down her throat twice a day, has to go on a diet AND give up the cigars she loves so much. This poor cat is in for a RUDE shock when she gets home.

Thanks to you all for your wonderful words of kindness and support. I don't know what I'd do without you all.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm sorry to hear your Pumpkin was ill. I'm glad they found the cause, that's a sigh of relief I'm sure and I hope the teatment works well!
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Whip,

hope the new meds help


Me too. She doesn't particularly like process of taking them but I think she understands it is for her own good and doesn't fuss too much. I will keep you updated. Thanks for caring.

Serenity,

I'm glad they found the cause


Yeah, me too. When I picked her up yesterday, the vet said he wanted to show her xrays to a specialist radiologist to make sure there was nothing more wrong. I think I'm going to be on the edge of my seat until I hear back. Thanks to you too for caring.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top

she has found the problem

AMEN!

So now Pumpkin is going to suck it up for all it is worth!  How do I know?  Scotty.  He had a bug too, and now he is a lap cat! (he was a nasty one).

Ok, so now take care of Pumpkin.  Sally is glad he is ok.  Scotty is POed that his secret is out.  And us?  We just love them.  What else can we do?

Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
Doc,

What else can we do?


Exactly... Love 'em, spoil 'em, let 'em run the house.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
For those of you who know her, our cat, Pumpkin, is not well at the moment. She has developed a cough because of some sort of chest infection that won’t clear up.


I can certainly sympathize! I've been going throught the same thing for a week now. I hope all turns out okay, Maso...
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hey Shovel,

I read earlier you'd been unwell. But I guess nobody has been holding you down, forcing your mouth open and dropping pills down your throat. Pumpkin is not exactly happy with us at the moment, although I am sure she knows it is for her own good. Thanks for caring, mate and I hope you're clear of the lurgy soon.