hairball or blockage?

[chel]

so far so good, he has kept his last 3 meals down wih no coughing in between!

so hopefully the 2 diff things have cleared whatever it was up! 

[Kats inc]

I've had 2 cases of cat tonsillitis with mine recently.Dry retching and bringing up that foamy stuff,it was really awful to watch them.Both were acting like they'd got something stuck in their throats but on examination the vet said it was a throat infection.It cleared up very quickly with antibiotics.

Hope your puss is better now but thought I'd let you know about my cats experience just incase.

[blackcat]

sometimes too if they have passed a hairball it causes their throats to be a little sore - which may also explain any residual coughing. Follow the instructions on the hairball product you have and see how he goes...

[Hippykitty]

Silly me, I didn't realise that Kipper was your cat's name. I misread your first post and thought you had given your cat kippers for brekkie  Must've been half asleep at the time!

Glad to hear the vet not too worried. Hopefully you'll soon have a happy cat again, though you may have regular bouts of this. Once a cat develops the habit of throwing up fur.....

Do you give Kipper a good brush now and then?

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Definitely sounds like a hairball.  They don't always get everything up first time which might explain the coughing after he'd brought up something.   Mosi coughs like something is irritating his throat when he has a hairball.  I use katalax if he has a problem with one (he licks it from the tube) and give him defurr um treats each day as a preventative measure.

[Tiggy's Mum]

How's Kipper now?  Hope he's perked up a bit 

[chel]

well we managed to get into the vet this morning, as brekkie didnt stay in either ( i only gave him a teaspoon) she also thinks the cause sounds like hairball, but has given me some antibiotics as his temp is low ( not high!?) and some liquid parrafin for the hairball, they mentioned katalax but they dont have any, neither did the other surgery they rang to ask  but they said the L/P should work the same for it.

he's really sleepy today, and as its raining, ive kept him in and made up a litter tray for him, so he shouldnt need to go out

off to get some chicken now, as she said he more than likely has the runs, as his tummy is super gurgly, she is wondering if he has eaten something he shouldnt of aswell. he is a hunter and is out most of the day time, he regularly eats his catches, so im wondering now what he's been up to!

[Hippykitty]

Does he go out and have access to grass? Cats use grass to help them throw up hairballs. Sometimes this results in nothing but frothy slime with a bit of grass in it.

There is a marked difference between the way cats throw up when they have hairballs to when they are ill. With hair (or fur) balls, they cough in a deliberate way, as though they are really trying. When they are ill, they are overtaken by the rush of vomit. (Sorry to be so graphic  )

A few things to check: your cat's ears should be cool, unless he has been sitting in a particularly warm place. If his ears are hot, this may indicate a raised temperature.
Has your cat been vaccinated against feline enteritis? This usually produces a nasty yellow vomit and diarrohea.

Otherwise, get one of the many furball treatments available: katalax, defurrum etc. Don't buy it from a vet, they charge a fortune!!

If your cat likes fish (he must like kippers, could he have had a bone stuck? Just a passing thought!) give him some tinned tuna IN OIL NOT BRINE as this helps to pass the fur.

[Mark]

make sure you rub in  well in to the front leg (in direction of fur!) otherwise they have a habit of flicking it
and you will end up (like me) with it up walls, over sofas etc 

[Desley (booktigger)]

I think Katalax is only available through vets and online, but petshops sell equivalents, such as Sherley's and Defurrum.
Why isn't it recommended they lick it straight out of the tube?

[chel]

brilliant thanks ever so much, not so keen on having to hear him struggle all night, but as long as it sounds ok to others it will put my mind at ease, he went out for a wee just now and cam back in to throw up the rest of his tea in my sons bedroom 

will pop him to vets in morning to be sure thats what it all is

[blackcat]

it's one of several products that assist in the passage of hairballs, It comes in a tube and is malt based so some cats lick it out of the tube (not recommended!). Others are a little more picky so you can wipe it onto a front leg so they have to wash it off (make sure you have covers on your furniture if you choose this option). you should be able to get it at any pet shop or PAH.

[Angiew]

As he seems ok in himself and threw up a nice fur ball this morning I'd say furball as well. Perhaps he just hurt his throat in the throw up this morning which is why he's still tender.

One of my cats was dry retching over new year but he was defoo off colour and had a temp when i took him in to the vets last week. A couple of shots of antibiotice and he's back to his old unpleasant self. They said he could have had a ouch of bronchitis or got something caught in his throat.
They also suggest worming him with advocate as there are instances of lung worm around and this is good for that.

If he's eating well and normal doesn't sound too much to worry about but ob. a vet check will sort that out. If he still wants to eat try him with a little bit at a time - he may be gobbling it down to quickly in his hunger and this may be induce vomiting.

Good luck at the vets, let us know how it goes.

[chel]

silly question i suppose......???? what is katalax? where can i get it? 

[blackcat]

hairball - no question about it ...

A little katalax should sort it out ...

[chel]

jut after some thoughts really....hoping to confirm what i think!

kipper ate etc as normal last night, my cats stay in overnight after their tea, he did his normal play with dot before we went to bed about 11, all was fine.
this morning, he ate his breakfast, then threw up. hes normally sick after eating mice then his biscuit, but as he was inside, there is no way it was that today. there was a sausage like hairball i think in it as well as his brekkie, but as he was otherwise normal i thought nothing else of it......however ive come home from work tonight to him kind of making a coughing noise, like he has something in his throat? he has spat up some foam like dribble, then calmed down again. when it was dinner time i fed him as normal, his appetite seems the same, however half way through he has thrown it back up ( muchto dots delight) again kinda foamy. apart from the odd little hack/cough he is as normal again?

im definatley ringing the vets in the morning, but to help me have a decent sleep im hoping someone may have some idea what it may be?