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Jillian Fouts | 7 years ago
I Have A Senior Cat Who Goes Into Labored Open Mouth Breathing When He Is…

I have a senior cat who goes into labored open mouth breathing when he is in a hard purr and also has wheezing and snoring but otherwise acts normal – eats, drinks, and is active for his age. The snoring is even when he’s not in a deep slumber and it can be an airy rattle if that makes sense and he has a little squeak when he swallows. I saw your video on the cat with a polyp and thought maybe this could be what he has except that he’s almost 17 so the vet suggested it probably isn’t since that’s more of a young cat thing but did suggest a scope and CT which will cost me 2500-3500 and he will have to be put under. In reading about breathing, heart disease can also cause breathing problems and since he has heart disease I would hate to spend all the money and put him through that to be told the scope didn’t show anything. I’ve also been reading about asthma, but my regular vet nor the specialist even mentioned that it could be that and from what I’ve read, it’s hard to diagnose. He’s a flame point Siamese and he has early ckd and some heart disease (stage 3/4 systolic murmur and hypertension), so I’m nervous about putting him under. Aside from these “old man” things, the specialist and my regular vet say his labs are spectacular. The specialist said when she is presented with a cat that has these conditions, they bloodwork and labs never look this good. So I certainly don’t want to put him down if he looks good but I also feel like he can’t be comfortable with these breathing episodes. One thing to note, when they did bloodwork a couple of weeks ago, his eosinophils were elevated which I have read can be linked to upper respiratory and asthma. Im putting the link to videos of the wheezing and purring to see if you’ve ever seen such a thing in a cat. I sure wish I had you closer by. Thank you so much!
Jill

Wheezing https://youtu.be/gaf7WCRzu80

Purr/breathing https://youtu.be/kqnd4YORenY

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    hello,

    i reviewed your videos, i think that it is appears as if the wheezing is in the oropharynx area. It also appears to be primarily it the inspiratory phase of the purring/breathing.
    There are internal medicine specialists who focus on this kind of clinical sign. I am not sure if there are any in your area though? I think the best place to start is at a feline specialists office. They tend to be more affordable and accessible. See if they can help start to rule out things before you jump into a scope.
    In my practice for cases like these a typical work up looks like this;
    1. exam,,, use your brain,, its your best diagnostic tool.
    2. radigraphs,, to look at the lungs.. lots of older cats have chronic lower resp disease,,, and unfortunately, we are also looking for signs of cancer.
    3. blood work,, a full cbc, chem, urine and t4.
    4. oral exam under anesthesia,, i look at the whole oral cavity, remove a polyp if i find one, flush the nares if the patient has had chronic nasal discharge, and then I also take skull rads, esp of the nose/nasal passages.
    if all of this fails to produce any helpful info endoscopy is the next step.. or CT, but endoscopy allows helpful info and you can do something (biopsy, etc) if you find something.
    I hope this helps..
    PS i agree about your theory and feelings about the corp practices..
    good luck,
    please keep me posted,, i would love to hear about how things turn out.
    PSS i do think that your kitty is a little old for a polyp.

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Pawbly | 10 years ago
First Week He Was All Cream/off White Colored With A Pink Nose And Paw Pads….

First week he was all cream/off white colored with a pink nose and paw pads.. second week his nose and ears began to turn greyish (grey on bottom layers of fur but cream putter layers or tips) Today he is mainly cream/off white colored with a grey nose, grey ears with the cream tint, his paw pads are still pink but now with almost a purple accent, his little nut sack even now has a grey outline lol. His tail seems to be very furry and/or bushy, however it doesnt seem to be a certian color or outline. I think its kinda cream or off white with a orangish tint to it, as well as his back legs but im wondering if thats not “pee stained” bc he does have quite a bit of accidents the older he gets. (Idk if thats even possible, lol I just know the orangish tent seems super out of place with the grey and cream/gold/off white color. Also it appears as if he is going to be long haired.. at first I was just thinking all kittens are fluffy but no.. he has an afro, and when he’s full he looks like a fluffy balloon! His fur is also become quite silky.. almost like a greasy feel even when he’s fresh out of a bath and blow dried. But his tail is so fluffy it looks like a really long Christmas tree, bc for some reason all of his fur makes him look as if he just got his tounge out of a light socket lol. So anyone have any ideas or opinions of what he could be? I’ve been hearing the terms Long haired Siamese, Persian, Himalayan, Color point Long hair, Flame Point, ext. Or what age do you think ill have a decent idea of what he may look like lol.

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  1. Anonymous

    maybe he has blue points?  the photos are pretty grainy – hard to tell.  but pointed cats USUALLY tend to be related to Siamese cats and their sub-breeds.

  2. Cherish Yuppa

    Oh yes I know my camera stinks! But yes his ears are like a greyish color (perhaps even a silverish blue) lol I know they are very close. But would a Siamese start out as blueish? Its his nose and his ears and small, random, very light patches on his face as you can kinda see on the big picture. And his paw pads are changing from just bright dark pink to a faded purple color (kinda like if I was to hold his paw and cut off the circulation) but yet his tail seems to have nothing? And other than the pads the paws don’t seem to have anything either, just his creamy color. Would Siamese start out that way? How long before he would have good visible colors? And is it possible to have a long haired Siamese or would it have to be a cross bread between something?

  3. Cherish Yuppa

    For the first week I thought he would just be a little white cat with pink tips lol.. and of course a little more hairy than normal.. but the over night his nose and ears started turning grey.. so now im just all confused. But I’d like to do some research on the breed like temperament, health, grooming, and overall personality but cant really do that without somewhat of an idea of where to start.. also! Hes not quite 3 weeks yet and his paws open to about the size of a quarter, covering the tip of my thumb with no problem.. that kinda seems like huge paws for such a tiny kitten, or is that pretty much normal? Im just thinking big paws means big cat, and he sure does have an appetite too! He can finish between 15-30ccs in a matter of mins, like 10 being the absolute tops! Then he’ll burp potty (sometimes play and cuddle) then straight back to bed lol

  4. Anonymous

    there are blue point Siamese out there. 🙂

    http://www.nationalsiamese.com/colors.htm

    i’d be willing to bet his colors will change more as he grows. try to work on focusing that camera. 😉 i want to see as many photos as you can pump out of this little mite!

  5. Anonymous

    btw, there’s no real breed called a long hair Siamese. there are Balinese cats, and they’re…noisy. demanding. affectionate if you build a relationship with them. for now, just keep that baby healthy…in a few more weeks we might be able to figure it out together. he doesn’t have the smushed face of a Himi, so if he truly is a longhair i’d consider him a Balinese mix or a Siamese mix until proven otherwise.

  6. Cherish Yuppa

    Can you send me an email or something so I can send you some pictures? Here’s my info 7622199076 you can text. Cherish.yuppa3@gmail.com or email! I’d love to use your expertise on my breed and sex!! Lol

  7. Anonymous

    i’m not so good at sexing cats…i’ve never owned a kitten! but if you post photos over on a website like Photobucket or Flickr, then post the link here, we can all enjoy photos of the nugget. 😀

  8. Cherish Yuppa

    Im a first time cat owner and definitely a first time “mommy” to anything other than my human children lol. So this is a whole new world to me. But im such an animal lover and I just couldn’t bare the thought of anything happening to this little baby. He has become my entire world lol. Hes just like my own now!

  9. Anonymous

    you seem to be doing great so far. 🙂 make sure he gets to the vet around 10 weeks of age for a checkup, shots, etc.

    and if he IS a Siamese/Balinese/etc. kitten? expect to have a screamer on your hands. 😉 they’re NOISY. i brought home my Balinese from the shelter when i lived alone because i wanted someone to talk to. now, well… this is my life: https://youtu.be/ad42HbrGwWo

    this is every day. if he’s awake, he’s yelling at me.

  10. Cherish Yuppa

    OMG well so far with the colors and markings he has right now and with looking at that site he looks like a lilac point! Bc his tail has an orangish tent to it and his ears and nose are a light color greyish. But again, thats today at a little under two weeks lol. But his fur is way thicker than those. So would that make him a cross breed between a lilac point Siamese and something else since he has long hair? Or is there other breeds out there that look like Siamese but aren’t Siamese with long thick fur??

  11. Anonymous

    like i said, Balinese cats. they look like fluffy Siamese. i’d call them a medium hair cat. they don’t get mats like Maine Coons, but i would still train this baby to accept brushing. i’d start him now with a toothbrush, so it’s VERY gentle on his skin.

  12. Cherish Yuppa

    Oh my goodness!! He actually talks back to you?! And this little baby has the same base color as yours!! The same fur thickness and bushy tail!!! What breed was yours again??

  13. Cherish Yuppa

    My baby kitty meow during our cuddle sessions, playtime, and anytime I put him in the floor or back in his carrier and he isn’t ready. I was so worried about it for a whole week but I was feeding him, helping him potty, burping, and making sure he was clean dry and warm so I knew he didn’t need anything.. I just assumed he didn’t wanna be alone lol. But if he’s one of those vocal breeds then I guess he’s just talking the best way he knows how lol

  14. Anonymous

    as i’ve been saying, Balinese. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balinese_cat

    and yes, we talk. we carry on conversations. i got my boy from a shelter but a friend whose parents used to breed Balinese confirms he has all the breed traits.

    they’re pretty healthy, from what i’ve found in research. some can be afflicted with urinary troubles just like Siamese, but i wouldn’t worry about that until he actually shows problems with inappropriate urination. when he’s old enough to start using the litterbox, make sure you have *two* boxes in your home, ideally one on each floor if you have different floors, or at least in different rooms if you do not. my boy is a social pooper – he PROUDLY tells me he’s going to poop, and yells at me as soon as he’s done. i’d also feed a high quality food that doesn’t have ANY corn in it – cats can’t digest corn and some research has shown it can contribute to feline obesity. we feed Wellness in my house…my boy has IBD and that’s the food that has worked best for us. hit the store, read labels. you want the first few ingredients to be actual meat sources. i’d avoid Blue Buffalo and Purina.

  15. Anonymous

    kittens meow anyway – they’re calling Momma. and no, they don’t want to be alone.

  16. Cherish Yuppa

    OMG!!!! They are beautiful! I was thinking he was gonna be just beyond goofy looking lol I guess thats what I get for judging before he’s done lol. But wow!! I took in a female calico that was living under my dumpster at my apartment complex a few months ago. The vet said she’s around a year old maybe a little bit younger, but she’s tall and lanky.. but she has 6 toes on each of her four paws, we names her Cali, so at around a year old she’s only around 8lbs, give or take a little. (She’s small!) Yours looks much bigger.. are they really large cats? Big paws?

  17. Cherish Yuppa

    Oh wow! The only time I even hear Cali is when she’s sliding across my hardwood at 3 am, or if I let her food or water bowl get completely empty, she could be stuffed full and still demand I fill it all the way back up for the next time she decides she’s hungry lol. So that may take some getting used to.. oh, and I’ve read several places that say I can try weaning and litter training at 3 weeks and others say 4.. what do you think?? Hes literally 2 days shy of 3 weeks and he’s downing 30+ccs 5 times a day if I let him and thats in generally 5 mins or less. I burp him and make him potty. But yet he’s also still have “accidents” at LEAST once a day where he’s pooping and peeing in his carrier ON HIS OWN. So im also changing blankets and stuffed animals and doing baths, towel and blow dries daily!

  18. Anonymous

    they’re large-framed but should be kept slim. my boy is around 8 pounds. he’s TALL and slim. 🙂 slim is always better for housecats – helps to keep them healthy.

    calico with extra toes? you have a thumbkitty!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydactyl_cat i always wanted one but they never seemed to show up in rescue when i was looking.

    and i didn’t realize you had another cat at home. that means you should have *three* litterboxes.

  19. Cherish Yuppa

    He is also starting the walk.. or wordless shall I say, quite well. I mean he does tumble over from time to time and he’s a little shaky but he can get around to be so tiny

  20. Anonymous

    regarding your weaning and litter training questions, i have no idea. i’ve only rescued adults – i never, ever want a kitten. they’re too crazy for me. i’d ask your vet those questions. 🙂

  21. Cherish Yuppa

    Yes! That is Cali!!! Lol im assuming that’s why someone dumped her bc they thought she was inbred or something :/ she’s quite intelligent tho! She can open cabinets, drawers, and doors! She loves to play with bottle tops, bc she can pick them up in her hands and wonder the house with them! Its actually quite crazy how those extra toes can allow her to do basically anything us humans can do!!! And yes, i do have her.. she just like him I was supposed to take in a nurse back to help and find forever homes for… BUT guess who fell in love :/ lol. Especially since my city passed a law now where its illegal to feed strays and you will be fined and taken to jail. Which is ridiculous so I feel so sorry for these poor animals!

  22. Anonymous

    yep, polydactyl cats seem particularly crafty with opening things. have a friend with one and she had to buy babyproofing supplies to stop her cat from getting into things!

    i understand WHY your city passed that law – feral cat colonies can be a menace. but without them i’d be willing to bet your city’s rodent problem would be through the roof.

  23. Cherish Yuppa

    I may have to post on here… lol my local vet isn’t much help at all with baby kittens.. literally when I first took him in he was only hours old (still wet with his umbilical cord still attached) and over the last two weeks I’ve went to see him several times with questions, and I’ve found I got more help from the workers at petco, and petsense. Lol I’ve also called both emergency and regular vets offices in my area and many states away with all my questions and conserns lol. Then I found this! There’s just so many different opinions on how to do everything! 9 times out of 10 I try the first thing that I was told the most and if it doesnt work then try the other and back and forth until one finally works

  24. Cherish Yuppa

    OH AND IM ASSUMING I SHOULD PROBABLY STOP LEAVING FOOD OUT CONSTANTLY HUH?? LOL I didn’t even think about the amount of food im allowing them access to could determine whether my cats would be larger or not :/ oh and I understood the 2 litter boxes but why 3? I currently have Cali’s in our bedroom closet bc she can open the door and its private. Plus other than food and play time she stays in there. Planned to get the kitty a baking sheet or something similar to help him learn to use it.. im only in a one story 2 bedroom apartment.. so what’s with the extra litter box? I understood the one per cat, bc they may not want to share but now im lost? ?

  25. Cherish Yuppa

    Yes not to mention taking their food away isn’t going to make them disappear, just gonna make them more of a problem when they start acting like dogs and getting into garbage cans, under houses, and in open windows bc they are starving! They are just trying to survive too. It isn’t there fault people are too selfish and ignorant to realize a pet is forever, or at least their life span.. and with all these rescues there’s really no excuse not to get your cats fixed at the very least.

  26. Cherish Yuppa

    I never even thought of toddler proofing to keep her out!!! Thats perfect, bc I mean she can even open the toilet lol!

  27. Cherish Yuppa

    And since your an expert on bigger cats, maybe you can help me out with Cali! So when I first brought the newborn kitten in she was terrified of him. Like she would hiss, run away, and hide. Finally the last couple of days she will come up and smell him if he’s crying on the bed or floor, or while im feeding him.. but the second he walks to her she gets up and backs away, if he keeps following her she will leave the room. No more hissing and she is at least smelling him now. Do you think she is or will come around. Im scared to leave him out while she’s out :/ but I do realize he’s gonna need to get used to the house and being on his own and even being with her.. idk

  28. Anonymous

    maybe Dr. Magnifico can help you with your kitten questions, then.

    i’d start meal training your older cat now, and keep a close eye on them both when he starts eating from a bowl. she may bully him out of the way to get his food.

    the general rule for multi-cat households is one box per cat plus one. cats generally don’t enjoy sharing litterboxes, and having the right number of boxes from the start will help to ensure there’s no inappropriate toilet behavior later on. better to have that extra box in case the kitten decides he doesn’t want to share! here’s a little more about it: https://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-behavior-and-training/litter-box-101-how-many-litter-boxes/ and http://www.petmd.com/cat/centers/litter/evr_why_multi_cat_households_need_multiple_litter_boxes

    does your city have a trap and release program? how do they handle the feral colonies? 🙁

  29. Cherish Yuppa

    Okay, yeah ill definitely get in touch with him! And thank you! Ill read up on that article in just a few mins also! But im assuming they dont bc I live across from a park which is one of the top places in the area right now that they are having the biggest “stray” issue.. other than like Wal-Mart. Lol (hints mommy kitty just putting dropping her baby on my doorstep) but when I was searching for info at the local pet store the lady had told me that 3 of her “display” cats were strays they had trapped and turned in to them and apparently it has made quite a few people angry. But no one seems to care I guess :/

  30. Anonymous

    *her. Dr. M is a woman. 😉 she’s the person who owns Pawbly.

    read both of them, they’re enlightening.

    ah, annoying. : Baltimore has a wonderful stray trap and release program – they spay/neuter any ferals that come in, then put them back in the area where they were found. there will always be stray cats…they’re an incredibly invasive nonnative species.

  31. Cherish Yuppa

    Oops* lol im sorry… I really wish our area would try something like that! I understand some of these cats were dumped and would be better and safer in a shelter or pet store until finding them actual homes, but what about these other cats that have been out there on there own there whole lives, no trusting people, in fact being quite terrified of people.. and cats are territorial so what these people are going to take a lets say 3 year old cat with absolutely no human interaction and abduct him from his friends, family, home, and everything he’s ever known to what, attempt to force him to be a house cat and accept people?? And then when he doesnt, im assuming they just put him to sleep… smh. Pathetic, it really is.

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Pawbly | 10 years ago
I Have 2 Siamese Cats, They Both Accidently Ate Raw Rancid Beef On Fri Morning…

I have 2 siamese cats, they both accidently ate raw rancid beef on Fri morning. Since then haven’t eaten, not seen them drinking, looking and feeling sorry for themselves, vomiting and runs, will sit on my knee and quietly purr when petted.

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Vicky Lowdermilk | 11 years ago
She Is Spaded Seal Point 12 Year Old Siamesse Cat 71/2 Lbs Blood Work Is…

she is spaded seal point 12 year old siamesse cat 71/2 lbs blood work is good

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Vicky Lowdermilk | 11 years ago
I Have A Siamese Cat With A Uti She Is Half Way Throw Meds When…

i have a siamese cat with a uti she is half way throw meds when she go the litter box she drops pee on the floor does this mean she is getting better or getting worse

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  1. Vicky Lowdermilk Post author

    i have had taken her to the vet. the vet done blood work and urine test and gave meds 2 drops for 7 at .75ml

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Vicky Lowdermilk | 11 years ago
Hi My Siam. Cat Has A Red Spot In The Bend Of Her Paw She…

hi my siam. cat has a red spot in the bend of her paw she just got off predazone seem not to help so i put cone her she acts like is the thing ever will help or should take off and let healon it on

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  1. Kelly Furgason

    HI Vicky,
    Did your vet tell you to leave the cone on ? If so and if she’s bothering her paw, then you need to leave the cone on ,,,take it off for a bit if you can watch her so she doesn’t bother her paw….but put it back on.
    Call your vet if you think the medication is not helping , or if things are getting worse.
    Good luck!
    ~kelly

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Vicky Lowdermilk | 11 years ago
My Siamesse Cat Is Showing Some Pink Skin Under Her Front Paws Near The Body…

my siamesse cat is showing some pink skin under her front paws near the body i put a cone on her head is that going help her she seems like is the worst thing ever

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  1. Kelly Furgason

    Hi Vicky,
    No animal likes the cone, but it is something that they will adjust to. If your pet needs to wear one, keep it on her. Get to your vet to get the paw checked out, she could need pain meds or other medications to help.
    ~kelly

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Pawbly | 12 years ago
Hello 7mo Old Siamese Neutered On Fri Will Not Keep Cone On.. Has White Raised…

Hello 7mo old Siamese neutered on Fri will not keep cone on.. Has white raised spot thats black/blue Stopped oral diluted metcam as was prescribed this am & Primary vet not helpful, taking to emergency clinic tonite. What could this be?

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