Owner anxiety of a sick cat

[scoutthecat]

no idea which forum this could go in but figure it could go in this one since my cat is sick. My cat just got back from the ER vet and I'm currently have anxiety cats from my cat simply because he hasn't touched his food since he got back today. I think i may be over reacting since he is moving around and seems to be all healthy again. he just took his medicine that is to help with pain and some other complications. I'm off at college and can not visit my little cutie but my family is taking care of him. I wanna know if i'm being an over anxious owner over worrying and how to fix that or if he really does have a issue.




also if it gets to it is force feeding him food and water something it may have to come down to?

 

[maggie101]

There are many reasons he is not eating. He just got back from the vet so he may be too scared to eat. Tomorrow will be better. I give my cat prednisolone,a pill before eating. I think that's what's causing her to not eat. After taste of the pill. I will give it after eating. I do check her litterbox every day. She could also be having a flare up. So far her med is making her feel better. Why is he in pain?

 

[scoutthecat]

There are many reasons he is not eating. He just got back from the vet so he may be too scared to eat. Tomorrow will be better. I give my cat prednisolone,a pill before eating. I think that's what's causing her to not eat. After taste of the pill. I will give it after eating. I do check her litterbox every day. She could also be having a flare up. So far her med is making her feel better. Why is he in pain?

He had a urinary blockage and needed to get kidney stones removed. He spent this past weekend at the vets. He was in very bad condition to the point his survival was unsure. They did the normal procedure and he pulled through. he now takes meds to help relieve pain and help with his uretha.

 

[CyberTiger]

Hi there Allie. I saw your other thread about how you've lost 2 cats in the past very rapidly out of nowhere, and so you worry and feel anxiety that this might be a similar case.

It's alright to recognize what is possible. And it's alright to be afraid or worried or any of that.

Sometimes it can be helpful to stop and do this exercise: Pretend a friend or even some made-up imagined person is going through the same situation with their cat/pet. What advice would you give them?

We can often be kinder and more thoughtful to others than to our own self. So that's why that can help.

Try not to belittle what you feel as best as you can. You're human.

We can't really control how we feel but we can work on figuring out what action to take in the situation.

 

[iPappy]

If he's moving around and acting normally, this is a great sign. He might not be eating due to being upset from being at the vets, any medication they gave him that might upset his stomach, or from pain or discomfort from his procedure which will pass. You said he's taking medications at home to help with pain and other complications, this could be messing with his appetite. But if it helps any pain he's having, it should relax him enough to want to eat soon enough.
You're not over-anxious, but you're definitely anxious which is normal IMO with a sick pet at home when you're away. He had a major health scare and is now home and should start eating soon, but keep in touch with your family for any updates, it's so hard when they're sick and you're not with them. It sounds like he's getting great care with your family.

 

[ayumi9090]

no idea which forum this could go in but figure it could go in this one since my cat is sick. My cat just got back from the ER vet and I'm currently have anxiety cats from my cat simply because he hasn't touched his food since he got back today. I think i may be over reacting since he is moving around and seems to be all healthy again. he just took his medicine that is to help with pain and some other complications. I'm off at college and can not visit my little cutie but my family is taking care of him. I wanna know if i'm being an over anxious owner over worrying and how to fix that or if he really does have a issue.




also if it gets to it is force feeding him food and water something it may have to come down to?

Anytime my cat is sick, I get a full on anxiety attack. I've accepted that as I actually have diagnosed generalized anxiety. I find that even after she starts to get better, I get random bursts of butterflies (the bad kind) in my stomach and get bouts of feeling uneasy. However, I know there are things I can do to help manage the day-to-day anxiety that comes with having a sick pet.

I try to switch to a positive mindset and think about the things that are within my realm of control. I also point out the positives that I'm noticing in her behavior and habits, and I make it a point to determine what is real VS. the "what ifs" and "over reaching" (aka me letting my thoughts spiral).
Example - real: she's eating well, she's playing, she's using the litter box normally etc.
Example - what ifs/over reaching: what if I missed something, what if there is a long term effect, the outside eye area kind of looks pinker than usual (over reaching), her poop isn't diarrhea but looks a little softer than normal (over reaching)

One thing that helps is to limit monitoring. This is something you will need to determine since severity of illness definitely will come into play. I would find myself over monitoring my cat, watching every movement and checking in on her every couple of minutes. Taking little chunks of time away and even leaving the house really really really helped mentally.

Lastly, be kind to yourself! This is hard. It's tough work emotionally and mentally when your pet gets sick. Sometimes reading some of the threads on here help, as well! And posting (like you did) also helps because you get to see how many people have been in your boat and/or are in your boat!

Thinking of you and your cat!

 

[iPappy]

Anytime my cat is sick, I get a full on anxiety attack. I've accepted that as I actually have diagnosed generalized anxiety. I find that even after she starts to get better, I get random bursts of butterflies (the bad kind) in my stomach and get bouts of feeling uneasy. However, I know there are things I can do to help manage the day-to-day anxiety that comes with having a sick pet.

I try to switch to a positive mindset and think about the things that are within my realm of control. I also point out the positives that I'm noticing in her behavior and habits, and I make it a point to determine what is real VS. the "what ifs" and "over reaching" (aka me letting my thoughts spiral).
Example - real: she's eating well, she's playing, she's using the litter box normally etc.
Example - what ifs/over reaching: what if I missed something, what if there is a long term effect, the outside eye area kind of looks pinker than usual (over reaching), her poop isn't diarrhea but looks a little softer than normal (over reaching)

One thing that helps is to limit monitoring. This is something you will need to determine since severity of illness definitely will come into play. I would find myself over monitoring my cat, watching every movement and checking in on her every couple of minutes. Taking little chunks of time away and even leaving the house really really really helped mentally.

Lastly, be kind to yourself! This is hard. It's tough work emotionally and mentally when your pet gets sick. Sometimes reading some of the threads on here help, as well! And posting (like you did) also helps because you get to see how many people have been in your boat and/or are in your boat!

Thinking of you and your cat!

This is awesome advice!! Switching to a positive mindset is HARD. But if you can ignore any scary diagnosis, and look at how they're doing "clinically", that can really help keep you grounded.
When I was a young adult, I had a very old cat with a large growth on his neck. It was terrible looking, smelled SO bad, but it wasn't stuck to bone and we never saw him bother it but it was obviously bad news. This cat had a full blown panic attack if you even brought out a carrier, so aside from a few home visits from the vet, he didn't see the vet often. Specialists for this carrier phobic 19+ year old cat was absolutely out of the question. He continued to eat. Was engaged. Alert. He had the most unique meow in the world. It sounded like someone was blowing into a bagpipe and it got stuck on a continuous loop The tumor didn't seem to bother him. He lived to be just over 21!
When my dog was so sick, I monitored him closely. I kept a log. This was helpful to the vet, but it was helpful to me too. It gave me a tiny bit of control, not over his illness but just over the progression, improvements, and how he was doing so I didn't have questions as to what he was REALLY like last week, or last month. It kept things more organized. I really recommend this method, not obsessively, but just as a daily log as to his over all symptoms (eating, drinking, peeing, pooping, are his eyes bright, etc.) I'd also recommend a daily log for YOU, the owner, as to how you're feeling, what you're thinking, and just any random thoughts popping into your head so you can get them down on paper, evaluate, and do your best to let the bad stuff go as best as you can.
If possible, keep tabs on any other things in your life you feel you might be over-monitoring as compensation. Overcompensating in other ways is not necessarily bad, but if it's affecting you badly it might mean you need to just talk things out with a friend or family member who understands. If you don't feel you have a friend or family member who understands the love and dedication that goes into caring for a sick pet, you have this site 24 hours a day!
I have had so many instances with sick animals, I'd go to work and be a jittery mess, thinking "I need to get home ASAP." Then I'd get off work, rush home, and expect my anxiety levels to taper down because I was there.... but the anxiety would just continue. 5 minutes after getting home, I'd be a mess just pacing the house and doing nothing and mutter "I have to get out of here" and want to get in my car and leave but couldn't. It's a very messy, upsetting situation involving a lot of love and a lot of loyalty and very confusing emotions. I get it. A lot of people here get it. Just do the best you can and never be afraid to ask for help or support.