Looking for advice on a poorly cat.

[maxiewaxie]

My cat is 12.5 years old, he's never been a particularly healthy cay but has been fine. for the last 2 weesk has become quite poorly with sickness. He has had blood tests which have come back ok he is on antibiotics and antacid pills although he hasn't got a temperature. He is quite well in himself but every 2/3 days he sicks up everything he has eaten since he was last sick then he is quite hungry and wants to eat quite a bit. I'm not sure if he is pooing or not, he doesn't in the litter tray but he does go out occasionally. It seems to me that his food can't get beyong his stomach, nothing is being digested, he is therefore slowly losing weight.
The decision now seems to be to either call it a day or have some biopsies done to see if the reason can be found. We are not insured but are willing to pay £400-£500 that this will cost but don't want to put him through this if the outcome isn't likely to be good.
Has anyone's cat suffered anything similar to this?
Thank you

[boxtops]

Maxie, get back to the vet, ask them to do a blood test for kidney function, don't waste any time. My cat Rover was just like this two years ago - wasting away, sad, throwing up all his food. The vet was going to do an exploratory op thinking it was a blockage but when they did the pre-op blood tests, it came up straight away that his kidneys were failing. Apparently with cats, the damage has to be pretty bad (up to 75% damage) before the symptoms start to show - his stomach was full of bile making him so sick all the time. Anyway they kept him in for two days rehydrating him, then started him on Fortekor tablets one a day, and I am happy to say that two years later - about about 13 years old - he is full of beans and back to his normal bouncy self. He has to have a tablet every day but they have a tasty coating which he loves, he asks for his tablet before breakfast every day. Please get your vet to do this test - or change your vet and get a second opinion. Poor old Rover was ravenous and thirsty and going downhill fast two years ago, but his condition meant that nothing was staying in. Kidney problems are apparently very common in older cats (and I lost two cats to kidney failure 30 years ago), but these days there is treatment and we are looking forward to a good few years with him yet. Good luck to you and your cat - let us know how you get on!

[carmalee]

go with the advice of Boxtops - but, if you aren't happy ask for a second opinion.

[maxiewaxie]

Thank you so much for your reply but he has had blood tests already which showed that liver, kidneys and pancreas are working ok for his age.

[boxtops]

Hmm - ok..... but always worth getting a second opinion.... but has the vet suggested a possible blockage? That was my vet's first thought, in case he'd got a furball blocking the entrance to his gut from the stomach.

[carmalee]

can't you confine him for a day or two and see if he is using his litter tray. then at least the assumtion that nothing is going beyond his stomach can be eliminated.

[karenmac60]

Ask for an xray before you start shelling out for biopsies. My poor wee cat had the exact same symptoms and it was a tumour pressing on her eosophagus, meaning that her food couldn't get down. She was given steroid injections for it, and the vet was quite hopeful, but unfortunately she only lasted a week after being diagnosed. If your cat has the same and it is caught sooner he may have a better chance. Also, mine was 17 so the prospect of surgery was never really discussed. Good luck x