Cat not eating in days & Bloated badly

[Tamcan]

I know this sounds crazy - and I know everyone is going to scream take him to the vet, but there is no money & nobody willing to see him for free . . and believe me I have called everyone in the book.

Cat started out pulling his hair out which I assumed was fleasd, treated, and I can find no fleas at all on him then or now.  He has a topical on since he started this & there is no change.  He still drinks, but he has stopped eating.  he had been put on amoxillan, but I stopped that because he is not eating either.  Today I notive his belly is VERY swollen & sore to the touch.  he is a ittle lethargic - just sleeps constantly.  I was afraid he was constipated, so I gave him the 10 drops of vegatable juice & also tried the prune juice suggested by an online site - but that was all today & he has not pooped yet.  He is not really intereste din drinking anymore either...but will take a couple o flicks when I out it in front of him.  I dont want to lose my cat, but have no kmoney, friendly neighbors, or helpful vets to open an account up for me -so I need any advice I can get.  We are on day 3 of no food- please can soebody give me advice on what to do wthout ebing able to get xrays or see a vet??

[Tamcan]

it is a male and pees a lot - no over pee - about once every 3 or 4 hours.  He still is making biscuits on my arn when i hold him, which is a lot... and I know his brother has wprms - so he probably does too, but I have not given him the worm medicine because of all this, didnt want to aggravate the situation.  I thought maybe the amoxillan was making him not eat. so I took him off that too.  He still drinks & pees - but wont eat & has not pooped.  I owe my vet money already - cant get bill any higher according to him

[peekawho]

Some docs will also accept post dated checks.   This was the only way we could afford $3000 surgery for one of our dogs some years back.  

Best advice is what the docs told you, if you have no other means, take the cat to the shelter.   The animal is suffering, and it is your obligation.  

[Justine Lee, D.V.M., DACVECC]

I'd also worry about FIP - feline infectious peritonitis - this is an "infectious" type of virus (coronavirus) that can cause abnormal fluid accumulation in his abdomen. If he's outdoors, he can be exposed to it from other stray cats.

I'd also reiterate that it's imperative to take him to a vet or shelter immediately - cats can only go 3-4 days without eating before they run into potential liver failure (hepatic lipidosis), and a thorough vet examination is the first place to start...

[mandi35]

Try www.medchoicefinancial.com That is the company I use. You get a card and you can use it over and over again for anything your vet does. I always put my cat's special foods on it and extra things like dental cleaning, etc. You can even pay no interest for a few months. Make sure your vet is enrolled- you can check online. If they aren't just let them know and they can sign up. My vet wasn't signed up, but I asked him to and he got set up and I could use my account the next day!

Good luck! I hope your little man feels  better soon :-)

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

First, let me express how badly we feel for you and your kitty.  We know that you are only trying to get some help for him and it must be extremely frustrating to feel so helpless.

Dr. Coyner has already given you the best advice that we can in this virtual type of forum.  Since we can't see your cat, there is absolutely no way that we can diagnose what might be wrong.  BUT...as Dr. Coyner said, these symptoms are severe and warrant immediate attention.

Does your cat not have a regular veterinarian?  You mention that you called "everyone in the book".  Unfortunately, trying to do that is often an exercise in futility because on the rare chance that a veterinarian might offer some sort of payment plan, he or she is more likely to offer it to a long term client versus someone calling in off of the street.    Also, a veterinarian you have been seeing for many years might understand your needs a little better and potentially be willing to work out payments with you.

Dr. Coyner mentioned CareCredit and Chase Health Advance also offers personal financing for these types of situations.   You might even have a relationship at a local bank that you could utilize to get a short term loan.

Office calls or exam at veterinarians are often very reasonable...$25, $30 or $45 depending on the clinic.  You mention that you have no friendly neighbors, but what about family? Can you borrow this amount from them?  Can you give up your cell phone for a month or stop your Internet service for a short time in order to come up with the money?

I would also invite you to read the blog postings we have at forums.petdocsoncall.com/entry.php?7-My-dog-is-hurt-and-I-have-NO-cash!  We have several links to some national charitable organizations plus you can hear from veterinarians who have commented on how these types of cases affect them, personally and professionally.

I do wish you the best of luck...the very best thing  you can do right now is take him somewhere before he suffers any further.  I found two organizations in Corpus Christi that might be able to offer you some advice and direction:

Corpus Christi
Compassion For Animals
PO Box 72064, Corpus Christi, TX 512-852-6573

Corpus Christi
Paws-Gulf Coast Humane Society
1101 Navigation Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 512-884-0366

[Kimberly Coyner, D.V.M., DACVD]

You mention in your post that the cat is a male, but in the description under the post you say female? Have you witnessed the cat urinating or trying to urinate? This is important, because the most common reason for a distended and painful abdomen in a male cat is an obstructed urethra. This causes the bladder to fill with urine and eventually burst if not treated (although the cat often dies of kidney failure and electolyte imbalances before the bladder bursts). Another possibility for a distended painful abdomen would be intestinal obstruction or rupture. Unfortunately, both of these conditions are fatal unless treated, and cause a very painful death, so immediate veterinary evaluation tonight is recommended--you may be able to qualify for Care Credit, which allows owners to spread payments over time, you can check out their website and apply online.  If taking your cat to the vet for diagnosis and treatment is not an option, please consider humane euthanasia to not let him suffer;  veterinary clinics often offer to perform euthanasia at a discounted price for this reason.  There is nothing more that you can do at home for this poor kitty.
Kimberly Coyner, DVM DACVD