Accepted Answer

Hi Joshua,
Your cat sounds really ill. If he was as plump as you describe before this, and then his food supply was drastically cut off...he could have developed a condition called hepatic lipidosis (which is a serious liver problem). Other things that could cause a cat to rapidly lose weight and be off feed include:

Kidney disease
Diabetes mellitus
Hyperthyroidism
Cancer


The first three can be easily tested for with blood and urine laboratory tests. I recommend that you take your kitty in to the veterinarian for a complete physical examination. The vet will want to do a CBC/Chemistry panel/T4/Free T4/ and a Urinalysis.
If all looks normal on these tests, then X-rays and/or abdominal ultrasound can be pursued to look for signs of cancer. Most of these conditions can be treated or controlled, however some cancers are more treatable than others. The specific treatment in your cat's case is going to depend on the disease process underlying the symptoms.

If finances are of concern in this case, there are many organizations that exist to help with this. I am listing some of them here for you to contact and see how they might assist you.

American Animal Hospital Association _http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/home _" Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship."

__Angels 4 Animals _http://www.angels4animals.org/ _"Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment _to those pets and pet owners in need."

__Care Credit _http://www.carecredit.com/ _A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. _"With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget."

__Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP) _http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/ "Seniors, People with disabilities, People who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten - any of these folks may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion." The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.

__God's Creatures Ministry _http://www.all-creatures.org/gcm/help-cf.html "This fund helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help."

__Help-A-Pet _http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html "Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor."

__IMOM _http://www.imom.org/ "We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged."

__The Pet Fund _http://thepetfund.com/ "The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care."


I hope that this information is of help to you, and I wish you the best of luck with your kitty. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Dr. K

Expert:	Dr. K
Pos. Feedback:	99.5 %
Accepts:
Answered:	9/4/2008

Veterinarian

9 years experience as Veterinarian