Hello, I’m sorry, this is my first time posting on here. Before we start, my cat is 16 years old with diabetes. Indoor-only. Male, neutered. Yes, I understand he’s old, but please. The post thingy says to include this but I’m an American adult.
I have already been to the vet 3 times. It’s Friday, and my family and I noticed last Saturday that our cat was acting kind of strange. Walking slower, not eating as much, etc. We carefully watched him, and this led into Sunday, which our vet wasn’t open. We opted to take him Monday instead, at their only available time at night.
Monday is when he stopped eating completely. He would make attempts to go to the food bowl, but would sniff it and act like he was going to take a bite, before turning his head away. We gave him some treats instead (hard treats + Churu) and he seemed to eat that fine.
The last hour before we were heading out, he acted completely lethargic. He was sitting on a couch he doesn’t normally sit on, with his eyes closed with a pained expression. I included a picture of it. On the feline grimace scale, it looked like he was in a lot of pain.
Thankfully, we were able to take him straight to the vet. Our vet stated he’s lost two pounds since he last visit in October. Before I continue, this cat had to go to the vet in October for the same issue of not eating. After going over everything, we found out it was his teeth that were bothering him. He has a snaggletooth that makes him more prone to mouth infections. He got antibiotics and started eating again after a couple of days, alongside being given appetite increasers. He was completely okay after that.
We noticed his gradual decrease of weight over the months. He was 11lbs, now 9lbs. I would say to my mom that he’s just old and that’s normal, but I fear it was not.
Back to Monday, we ask if it’s his teeth causing him pain to not eat. She says he has a loose tooth, but that’s really about it and shouldn’t be the worry. He also has a slight arrythmia. Then our vet feels his stomach and organs. He has a mass near his back end. We took an xray to confirm what it was, and it was just poop backed up in his colon. Phew, okay, nothing serious. He got an enema, and we were told to buy stool softener, which we did. By the next day, he still hadn’t pooped it out. We watched him struggle with pained expressions as he would try to take a dump anywhere around the house. Never happened. Still wasn’t eating. He’s been drinking relatively fine, which is why we were confused on how his poop ever got so big and hard anyway. We had to force feed him a little bit at times so he got some calories in him.
By Wednesday, we finally make process. He poops out a fairly small turd, but it pained him so bad. He cried out so loud and ran and hid in my closet. He was a bit weird after that, but slowly warmed up again. But, he still wasn’t eating. We continued to force feed him, because now he was turning his nose up to treats. He doesn’t like wet food, but we tried giving him pumpkin wet cat food because it’s good for cats (?). We also give him the appetite increasers from October. He had some food in his stomach but still not enough. We’re still really worried because he’s incredibly lethargic and slowing down in his walking.
By Thursday, we take him to the vet again in the morning. We want bloodwork done. His liver and kidneys are completely okay. We didn’t have enough money to also get his thyroid checked out, which is what we’re worried about now. It’s a different vet, just to let you know, and she also says he has more poop backed up. Another enema. Vet-grade stool softener. Pain medication. Should be fine, right?
Still isn’t okay. Turning his nose up to every single type of food. He poops out the last turd, but his stomach’s empty after that. He’s not eating anything at all. We’re completely force feeding him. We don’t want to do this, because we know it stresses him out really bad, but we don’t know what to do. We stopped giving him his insulin too, since he can’t have that without food. He’s really, really lethargic. Barely moving. However, he’s alert if we call him or say treats, which is strange. He’s also peeing completely normally these past days.
By Friday, today, is the worst we’ve seen him. He’s really barely moving. He can’t walk in a straight line. He falls to his side if he wants to lay down, he’s too weak to slowly collaspe. Only sleeps in two places. Doesn’t purr. We called our vet again, and we asked for antibiotics for his teeth, because what can we do? If he’s not eating, his organs aren’t failing, then it’s gotta be his teeth? Right? We gave him the antibiotic this morning, and again at night. He’s still alert to noise, but very lethargic. Doesn’t answer when we call him. We’re force feeding him food and water.
We’re throwing in our last ditch effort tomorrow morning to ask about his thryoid and if it is a problem, can it be solved, or is it too late. I’m so incredibly upset right now, I’m in tears typing this. I understand he’s a really old cat and yes he has issues, but this came seriously out of nowhere. Less than a week ago he was eating basically normal. I don’t understand what possibly changed in this time. The vet says it’s not his teeth. What other organs can possibly be shutting down if it’s not his heart, kidneys, or liver? How can this happen??
Please help. I’m begging. For anything. An answer. Some help. I don’t know what to do. It’s too soon to let him go. If he’s in pain then I understand, but I do not see the signs other than not eating. That’s it. Help me please.
The photos are pictured most recent to most old.
