Cat being sick

Dan2000

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Hi there I feed a stray cat in my garden. It has always come to my garden. It has been about 2 months now and knows us. For the past 2 days it has been sick. Today I have picked up after I gave it wet food it threw it all up. I then waited an hour and then gave it dry food and it was fine. Should I stick to dry food for the time being?
 

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Hi and welcome to TCS. What was this stray eating regularly before it started throwing up? Was the wet food you gave it not food it has had before? When the cat threw up, did you notice how fast it was eating, and if the vomit was regurgitation (undigested food)?

If it ate the dry just fine, then continue that and see what happens. And, let us know.
 
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Dan2000

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Hi and welcome to TCS. What was this stray eating regularly before it started throwing up? Was the wet food you gave it not food it has had before? When the cat threw up, did you notice how fast it was eating, and if the vomit was regurgitation (undigested food)?

If it ate the dry just fine, then continue that and see what happens. And, let us know.
Hi there. Thanks for the reply. It was eating whiskas wet food: chicken, poultry, duck, turkey

I am not too sure if I am being honest. I think it’s owners feed their cat whiskas as they have quite a few cats. It most likely has had pouches before. It does eat quite fast to be far as its hungry. Yesterday it was undigested food, just flem like substance was coming out. But today It threw up all the felix salmon pouch. So I waited for a bit and gave it dry whiskas and it seems to be okay for now!

Hi! Is the cat throwing up undigested wet food? And how long after eating did s/he throw up? It could be overeating or eating too fast.
It ate and threw up within a minute. All the wet food it ate was on the floor

I also don’t give the pouch all at once. I give it bit by bit in a bowl.
I have a feeling a gourmet pouch I gave it a few days ago has caused an upset stomach. It contained a duo fish and was branded purina.

Hopefully it has a quick recovery. Would you recommend me trying felix wet food over whiskas? I am on a budget so unfortunately can’t be anything high end.
 

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I think it’s owners feed their cat whiskas as they have quite a few cats. It most likely has had pouches before. It does eat quite fast to be far as its hungry. Yesterday it was undigested food, just flem like substance was coming out. But today It threw up all the felix salmon pouch. So I waited for a bit and gave it dry whiskas and it seems to be okay for now!
The problem you have is that this cat has owners, and you have no way of knowing what food they feed, or if they have changed it recently. Why are you feeding it if it has owners? Maybe since you know them, you should tell them that you feed it, and what you have fed recently may be causing it to get sick.

You are in a precarious position unless the owners know you feed it and are OK with that.
 
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Dan2000

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The problem you have is that this cat has owners, and you have no way of knowing what food they feed, or if they have changed it recently. Why are you feeding it if it has owners? Maybe since you know them, you should tell them that you feed it, and what you have fed recently may be causing it to get sick.

You are in a precarious position unless the owners know you feed it and are OK with that.
Well the owners are clearly neglecting which seems to be it. 90% of time it stays in my back garden. I have made it a little hut and it sleeps in there. I think they have 5 cats and this one’s neglected. Since the first day its come its always “meowed” and looked hungry.
 

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I have one particular outdoor spayed female cat that has been visiting for a few years now and she sometimes vomits up the canned food almost immediately after eating but it is usually because she has eaten too much of it at one time. She also has dry food available for most of the day.

I usually only put out 1/4 of a 5.5oz can of wet food with added water at one time and this helps reduce her vomiting it back up right away. Unless of course she also gorges on the dry food at the same time.
 

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If this looks more or less like the food that was eaten or if it is in a cylindrical shape when you find the evidence, it may be regurgitation from eating too quickly. You may be able to control that if you have the time to feed this cat in small portions as was suggested.

You can't control what the cat eats elsewhere or what the owners may be feeding. You certainly don't need to buy high end food.
 
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Dan2000

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I have one particular outdoor spayed female cat that has been visiting for a few years now and she sometimes vomits up the canned food almost immediately after eating but it is usually because she has eaten too much of it at one time. She also has dry food available for most of the day.

I usually only put out 1/4 of a 5.5oz can of wet food with added water at one time and this helps reduce her vomiting it back up right away. Unless of course she also gorges on the dry food at the same time.
The cat refuses to have water at all. Whats the best way of feeding them water?

If this looks more or less like the food that was eaten or if it is in a cylindrical shape when you find the evidence, it may be regurgitation from eating too quickly. You may be able to control that if you have the time to feed this cat in small portions as was suggested.

You can't control what the cat eats elsewhere or what the owners may be feeding. You certainly don't need to buy high end food.
Yes I feed it only in small portions. I divide the pouch throughout the day. It eats quite fast to be fair that can may be a factor. I also realised it was chewing on some grass in the neighbours garden.
 

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Follow the other members' suggestions about feeding this cat. I am not sure what to tell you because there are way too many variables to guarantee a solution. As far as water, place a fresh bowl of it outside and just replace the water as needed, or at least daily, probably when the cat shows up so they know that the water is being given to it by you.

Do you ever see any of these other cats? Do you have any idea why this particular one might be neglected? Have you ever considered asking the owners if they would like you to take this cat under your own wing since it seems to gravitate toward you? That is, if you would like to have a cat of your own. Maybe it is a stray that they were caring for and don't really have a loyalty to it, and now it has found you.
 

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Dan2000 Dan2000 , I have a ground level bird bath on my patio that the outdoor cats, bird and other wild life drink out of every day. I dump it daily, scrub it out and refill with fresh water.

For the canned food, I just add some water to the pate texture food I feed, mix it up a bit and put it outside in the cat feeder box. In the warm months of the year, I use some reusable ice packs, put them in a larger plastic container and then place the glass bowl of food on the ice pack to keep it cool.

You could start with adding a teaspoon of water to the wet food and mixing it up to see if the cat will still eat it.
 
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Dan2000

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Follow the other members' suggestions about feeding this cat. I am not sure what to tell you because there are way too many variables to guarantee a solution. As far as water, place a fresh bowl of it outside and just replace the water as needed, or at least daily, probably when the cat shows up so they know that the water is being given to it by you.

Do you ever see any of these other cats? Do you have any idea why this particular one might be neglected? Have you ever considered asking the owners if they would like you to take this cat under your own wing since it seems to gravitate toward you? That is, if you would like to have a cat of your own. Maybe it is a stray that they were caring for and don't really have a loyalty to it, and now it has found you.
Ok cool I will see how things pan out. Unfortunately I am not able to get a cat of my own due to some people in my household suffering from allergies and fear so we keep it in a certain area.

I have come to find out the owners abandoned the cat. It no longer has any owners. It goes to my neighbours as there are other cats there hence why I think it goes there for a bit. It has been in my family friends house one of the days this is how I have found out.

Was refusing to eat all day. Didn’t want dry food nor wet food.I gave it some cooked chicken mixed with water and it finished it all off. 🤌
 

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Poor, poor cat. I wish you could do something to give it a home - maybe these neighbors or family friends can help?

It also sounds like it could be sick, but who knows what stuff it has been eating.
 
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Dan2000

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Poor, poor cat. I wish you could do something to give it a home - maybe these neighbors or family friends can help?

It also sounds like it could be sick, but who knows what stuff it has been eating.
I have made it a little house outside my garden and have provided clothing on the base. I have closed the roof and sides and made it cosy. It sleeps in there which is good. I think because it’s adjusting to a proper diet its body is taking a toll
 

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The more you can keep it in your yard, the better. That way, you may be able to control what it eats. So, keep fresh water in a dish out there too. Maybe make a little spot near your 'house' for it's food. And, if it will let you, spend time (from afar, if need be, at first) when s/he is in your yard softly talking to it, just to let him/her know you're safe to be around.

What does the family friend know about this cat, if anything besides what they have already shared with you? You said s/he has been in their home? But, they are not able/willing to make a permanent home for him/her? Think they may know if it is a female or a male?
 
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Dan2000

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The more you can keep it in your yard, the better. That way, you may be able to control what it eats. So, keep fresh water in a dish out there too. Maybe make a little spot near your 'house' for it's food. And, if it will let you, spend time (from afar, if need be, at first) when s/he is in your yard softly talking to it, just to let him/her know you're safe to be around.

What does the family friend know about this cat, if anything besides what they have already shared with you? You said s/he has been in their home? But, they are not able/willing to make a permanent home for him/her? Think they may know if it is a female or a male?
I let her come into my kitchen and eat food. I have already bonded with it. Its very affectionate. It always loves to brush her head against us etc. I always feed her inside, then let her out. Its a female and have heard it has been neutered. It has built a relationship with me and knows its safe.
 

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Coco is soooooo cute! She is most likely an adult, but she is definitely not an older one. The only thing that could suggest is she is under 1yo is that her ears still look like she has yet to grow into them, but some cats have larger ears anyway. Do her paws look big? That is another indicator that a cat has yet to grow some when their paws still look large for the rest of their body. She looks like a pretty small cat, but some adult cats are.
 
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Dan2000

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Coco is soooooo cute! She is most likely an adult, but she is definitely not an older one. The only thing that could suggest is she is under 1yo is that her ears still look like she has yet to grow into them, but some cats have larger ears anyway. Do her paws look big? That is another indicator that a cat has yet to grow some when their paws still look large for the rest of their body. She looks like a pretty small cat, but some adult cats are.
Yes her paws are big. Tbf this picture doesn’t do it justice, the angle isn’t the greatest, I will take another better picture.
 
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Dan2000

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Are cat collars advisable?
 
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