Cat help..PLEASE!!!

[vickitricki]

My cat is about 16/17 years old, and has an overactive thyroid, and a heart problem, both of which she is treated for. In the alst week or so she has stopped eating, nom atter what i give her. She is still healthy in coat, just lost weight, looks for food but can;t eat it, if i force her she throws up.
Vet put her on steroids, still nothing, so today she is getting full blood done. I am thinking if it is kidney's, this may be the end.....does anyone have any sugestions ot get her to eat???? She is not telling me it is time to go, as when she gets very ill, she does the same thing......but i don;t want her starving....

 

[JohnTBap]

My friend has cats and when they are sick she feeds them the meat baby foods. Best of luck to you.

 

[Tina]

Talk to your vet tomorrow morning. You may have to take her in and have her put on an IV to keep her nourishment up. Cats should not go for long periods without food. It can cause additional problems. Best of luck to you and your baby.

 

[DocRafiki]

Sounds like a rough time. Hopefully she just needs to increase her thyroid doses... good luck on the bloodwork results.

I don't know any special way to get a cat to eat other than giving I.V. valium, and you can't do that at home (it only works a few times anyway). Try canned food... Eukanuba Maximum Calorie or Hill's Science Diet a/d if you happen to have access (they are only available from your vet). Those can be syringe-fed, but you can always make a mash from canned food and try to syringe feed or spoon feed. Warm up the food. Pet her while eating. Feed in a quiet place. Is your cat's body temp normal? Is she hydrated? Give her whatever it takes to get her to eat.

Go in to the vet today and let him/her know how long it's been since she's eaten normally. He/she may need to give parenteral nutrition until she can eat again. Anorexia in a cat is a semi-emergency. It shouldn't go on for more than a couple of days without seeing the vet.

Do you know what the vet was treating with steroids???

 

[catsrule]

So sorry about your fur-baby. My brother gave his cat baby food also. See what the vet says and good luck with your kitty.

 

[DocRafiki]

Oh, and don't think it is the end even if it is the kidneys. You could have several months or even years with her if it is caught early enough and well-maintained by diet and fluids.

Best of luck.

 

[vickitricki]

About 3 years ago we tried her on a special cat food, to help her with kidney's jsut in case, and she wouldn;t eat it. I guess the next step is to see what the blood says. She has no temp, and is happy in herself, just not 'normal'. When i force fed her last night, she chewed it etc, but not long after threw it up.....i know she would hate it if she had to be force fed and forced ot stay inside for the rest of her life, I couldn;t do that to her.

 

[sixcats]

You have my sympathy. A few years ago after an illness one of my older cats stopped eating. We started syringe feeding with very small amounts. It took over a month but she eventually went back to normal eating . I was also giving her IVs at home to keep her hydrated. Best of luck with your cat.

 

[Aprille]

I have no advice but wanted to say that I hope your kitty is better today. Please give us an update when you get the chance.

 

[peg2001]

I've done syringe feedings before when a sick cat wouldn't/couldn't eat. I used canned food mixed and mushed up with water to a thin consistency and filled a syringe (no needle!) and squirted this into her cheek, slowly, giving her time to swallow. She finally (after a few days of this) perked up enough to start lapping at the same mixture for herself. She lived for several more months doing well before the end finally came.

Good luck and I hope your kitty starts doing better. If not, try to be comforted by all the good years you have provided and that you did everything you could to help.

Peggy

 

[vickitricki]

Got the blood tests back for my cat....not great newsm, we think she has another tumor too, in her throat. At her age, I really don;t want her to suffer, so her days will end by the weekend. If i was home al lday tomorrow, I would go with her ot be put to sleep tomorrow night, but I know i am being slefish, but i want some little time with her. The blood tests came out with no real answer, jsutthe news we were expecting./

At 16/17, we have held onto her for the last 3 years through her otehr problems. i ahve accepted it, but my mum hasn;t at all..

She woke me up this morning, meowing...like ususal.....and tonight when mum picked me up she started meowing when she saw me....

 

[BethR]

Oh vickitricki! I am so very sorry. These next fews days will be so hard.
We will be here for you...

 

[Tina]

You and your cat have had 16/17 good years together. I know putting her down will be hard, but when she is in pain, its the best thing you can do for her. She knows you love her and that's what really matters. Me & my kitties will be thinking of you.

 

[DocRafiki]

You're not being selfish unless she is agonizing, and it doesn't sound like she is. I like to think that she would gladly give you those last few days if she knew that it would give you peace of mind.

 

[snoopy]

{{{hugs}}, I am sitting here crying reading your post. I've been where you are before.

Doc offers you better advice than I ever could (after all, she knows best!) so I just wanted to stop in and give you some supportive hugs.

 

[sammi]

I'm so sorry...........I can understand fully what you're going through.

 

[disneygals]

Hugs from another cat lover! Give yourself plenty of time to grieve, too. There is no such thing as "just a cat".

Vivienne