Recent Feedback
Hi, My name is XXXXX XXXXX have a cat who is losing weight and I can feel bones, I am scared that he may not make it. I don't know what is wrong? He seem to try to eat.
Optional Information: Age: 3; Male; Breed: Cat/Siamese Already Tried: His age range is around 2-4 year of age, I'm sorry for not knowing his age because he is my sisters cat but I took a real shine to him. I tried seeing if he would eat more food with time thinking that it was just the change in temperature outside. He doesn't move as much as he use to, he some times gets a little boost of energy hear and there, but then goes back to how he was. I have tried warming up milk to which I crunched up cat vitamins in it, doing the same with the food. I've put out three different kinds of food for all the cat to choose from. I have yet to bring him in to a vet because the last time my family brought in a family cat the vet gave her stuff that just brought her system down more and kept her over night to which she became home sick. So I was hoping for some help or info.
There are so many possibilities:
infectious diseases (feline Leukemia, other infections both viral or bacterial)
dental/periodontal disease
liver/kidney disease/metabolic disease
cardiac disease
parasitic diseases
Have you had your cat vaccinated? FeLV tested? Is he indoor or outdoor or both? Is he drinking more water than normal? How old is he? How long has he been losing weight?
He has had his shots as far as I know, Shi is a indoor cat. He's been drinking more water yes but it seem to be the same amount as he aways has. He is around 2-3 years of age. He has been losing weigth for about a week know. Sometime he will eat real good and be hoping all around then other times he is down moving slow.
I'm sorry if you've had a less than positive experience with your vet before, but if your cat has been losing weight such that you can tell the difference (this can be very subtle with cats so if you can tell the difference, it may be fairly significant), or he may be dehydrated which may explain why he looks like he is losing weight.
If he is an indoor cat and has always been an indoor cat, that's good news because it makes things like infectious and parasitic diseases less likely. However, if he has not been FeLV tested, he really should be because that is an infection that he may have received from his mother or earlier before you got him that could be making him sick now.
I would recc. you take him to a vet just for an exam, maybe a FeLV test, and if they think he is ill, maybe some other bloodwork. You shouldn't have to leave him there overnight. They also need to take a good listen to his heart and lungs. Also, try to bring in a stool sample if he hasn't had that checked before. If he is mildly dehydrated, they could always at least give him some subcutaneous fluids to make him feel better so you can take him back home until they get some results. It could also be something as simple as a bad tooth, which they should be able to check for during the exam.
Let your vet know you are more comfortable not having to leave him in the hospital unless absolutely neccessary. Most vets will try to accomodate your wishes as much as they can.
Hope this helps!
Experience: 20 years experience in small animal practice and emergency medicine.
Is there anything else that you can sujest I maybe able to do as well at home? Till I can get a apointment set up.I thank you for all your help.
Sure. You can make sure that he has plenty of fresh water. Also, check his litterbox frequently and see if he is urinating the usual amount. If you can get a stool sample, you can put it in a jar in the fridge for a night if you want to bring one to your appt.
Try feeding him small amounts of food at a time. You can try to add a little boiled chicken or hamburger to his diet to get him to eat. If he is nice about it, try to take a look in his mouth with a small flashlight and see if you see anything unusual with his gums or teeth.
If you pinch his skin over his neck or shoulders, time it and see how long it puckers up. It should come back within 1-2 seconds. If it stays puckered up, he may really be dehydrated and you may need that appointment sooner.
Make sure that he hasn't gotten into any medications, plants, or anything else unusual. If so, call your vet right away.
They also make some cat liquid diets that you may be able to feed him for a couple days if he seems to have trouble chewing or swallowing his normal food. Example:
CatSure Meal Replacement
Good luck with Shi and let me know how he does!