So we have quasi-adopted a street cat. She is super sweet lets you pick her up and carry her around, she plays fetch with my kids. Most amazing cat I have ever been with and I have had 5. Well over the last 2 days her meow is very quiet and scratchy.

internet seems to think laryngitis. She was super soaked the last 3 days by rain so I think she may have some kind of "cold". But we are in south florida.

Right now weather, and a few issues like loading this death machine (still a street cat) into a cat carrier seem to have me leading towards ride it out. We kept her in the garage last night out of the rain and she tolerated it fine. I figure I need to do that again tonight with all the rain.

If I take her to the vet what would they do for her? Are there meds or is it a wait it out deal anyway??

Thoghts appreciated.

A Vet may be able to determine if there is an infection, inflammation or something viral and prescribe an appropriate medication to get it under control. "Waiting it out" could work or allow something treatable to get worse...or worse.

My experience is that cats have amazing powers of recovery from almost any bacterial or viral infection (feline leukemia is a different story). Recognize that diagnostics and treatments can be a long and difficult quest, and no fun for the cat. A "street cat" will almost certainly have fleas, and other parasites that the vet will want to address before looking into more serious possibilities. Not that they shouldn't be addressed, but it is a tip of the iceberg kind of thing, at least potentially.

Alternatively, go the comfort route. Since she has accepted the patio, maybe take it one step further and provide a "lair" that she can sleep in if she wants, a small dog kennel will do, with bedding in it for comfort, and maybe a blanket thrown over to cut the breeze. She will get the idea almost immediately that this could be her cave, and may even accept it. Under no circumstances try to force or even urge her into it, cats like to make their own discoveries and decisions.

We have multiple cats and one of them is determined to be an outside/inside cat. He comes in and eats and drinks. Occasionally takes a nap during warmer months. Then when colder winter weather arrives, he stays in for much longer periods of time. He certainly seems to develop a hoarseness in his meows. It sure seems like allergies. His inside only relatives do not seem to ever get hoarse. YMMV.

quote:

Right now weather, and a few issues like loading this death machine (still a street cat) into a cat carrier seem to have me leading towards ride it out.

Mobile vet service?

So Cat seemed to do worse as the day went on.
Trip to the ER Vet last night showed he was dehydrated and severely constipated. The gave some enemas and he is back at home resting.

Thanks to all for your concern.

So glad you got the constipation diagnosed! That’s what did in one of my boys in 2003. I didn’t catch it…thought it was something else and he couldn’t fight it. He was 18…

Hope your buddy mends fast!

Maybe it’s Cat Scratch Fever……. Sorry I couldn’t help myself