Cat Won't Eat, Lost A Lot Of Weight

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have an orange tabby who is about 10 years old. He's had a problem where he seems to let loose small amounts of liquid feces or hard balls of feces while he is laying down. There were no other symptoms that went along with this so I figured it was just because he was getting old. About a month or two ago it became a lot worse as to where he just couldn't go the bathroom. He would strain and strain and either nothing, or a very small piece of feces, would come out. He would cry out in pain even if I just accidentally touched his rear end area. I brought him to the vet and he just skimmed over the bathroom problem, telling me that my cat had a problem with a tooth and would need a $1000 surgery to have it removed. He also gave me some antibiotics for his tooth. I gave him the antibiotics but am still saving up for this hefty surgery. His bathroom problems seemed to be gone for a couple of weeks. He was eating, drinking, moving around, purring, and letting me touch him happily. But within the past week or so he's completely stopped eating and looks like a skeleton, I can clearly see all of his bones and it breaks my heart. It's like I'm lifting a feather when I pick him up. I tried giving him Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers since he always loved to lick the gravy from his wet food and another food called Sheba. He denied both of them. I bought him kitten milk and pumpkin as I read on a forum about a similar problem that these could help. He also denied both of these. Finally, I used a syringe to try and get some of the kitten milk into his system. When I went back to check on him, he threw it all up. If things aren't looking up by my next paycheck I'll be bringing him back to the vet. But in the meantime I was really hoping that someone could help me with what I should try and what could be wrong with my cat. Please and thank you so much.

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Comments (5)

trancegemini_wa
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
It sounds as though the tooth is really bothering him so it could be that but I suspect there may be more going on and some of his symptoms could be due to something else e.g. kidney problems (loss of appetite, stomach upset, vomiting, dehydration perhaps is causing his constipation), did the vet run any blood tests? I can't imagine why it would cost $1000 to remove a tooth unless I'm missing something. I think you need a second opinion from another vet because once they stop eating, especially in an older animal they go down hill really quickly.

A week without eating properly is far too long already, get him to another vet asap. If you have an emergency vet close by I've found they can often diagnose and treat things much better than many average vets too.

If it turns out to just be a badly infected tooth and the antibiotics made him improve all his symtoms then you may have to have him on repeated courses until the tooth and infection are dealt with, but if a vet quoted me $1000 for a tooth removal, I would certainly be getting a second opinion on that too.
nicolenunez100 thanked trancegemini_wa
annztoo
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sorry, but there's really nothing any of us here can do. Your cat may not be alive by the time you get your next paycheck so I strongly suggest you take him to a vet in the morning. If your vet really wanted $1000 to remove one tooth then you need to go to another vet. See if there's a clinic in your area that specializes in cats and make an appointment.....for tomorrow.

He may not be able to eat because of a tooth problem and is starving, or he could have an intestinal blockage (based on the strange stools he's having). There's just no way to know until a vet gives him a thorough exam. Please talk to the vet about a payment schedule and get the cat in asap.

Also, be careful using a syringe to administer liquids since your cat could easily aspirate.....which is deadly. Since he's in poor condition and refusing to eat/drink on his own I'm pretty sure he's going to need IV support and meds .

10 years old is not really that old for a cat..........
nicolenunez100 thanked annztoo
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Debbie Downer
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I will just reiterate the above = both spot on imho - you really need to get an updated diagnosis and emergency care... if need be from someone who can work out a payment plan. Have you communicated back to this vet to update him - both about what's happening now and also I think the fact that all the symptoms incl digestive cleared up with antibiotics is revealing - (what happened after two weeks, the course of antibiotics ran out?) It could be the tooth infection/ inflammation keeping from eating, it could be it is systemic (has spread throughout his system) or it could be something else entirely yet to be diagnosed

Unless youd rather not deal with this vet (him seeming to blow off some key symptoms is not good), Id certainly start with him and lay it all on him including your finances and see what if anything he will propose. A good vet understands that his job is to help the human along with the animal patient - if that's not this guy, then it sure doesn't hurt to ask around and look for someone else.

So sorry to hear your guy is so ill - all the best to you.
nicolenunez100 thanked Debbie Downer
nannygoat18
8 years ago
Echoing what others have posted. This forum cannot offer suggestions at this point other than to urge you to seek immediate medical care.

Best wishes for you and your cat.
nicolenunez100 thanked nannygoat18
sylviatexas1
8 years ago
could be hyper-thyroidism, treated with thyroid hormone, not expensive at all. hoping for the best for you & your beloved kitty.
nicolenunez100 thanked sylviatexas1

Cat Won't Eat, Lost A Lot Of Weight

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trancegemini_wa

annztoo

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