my cat needs help

[catlover]

my cat has been lying around doing nothing for a week now. he hasnt eaten drinken anything or gone to the bathroom in four days.he is really old(14) so i know his body may be giving out on him but i need him at least through christmas. i can not afford the vet what can i do to help him?

[Ghilly]

Fourteen is not terribly old for a cat.  There is a good chance that he just has a bad tooth or something that is preventing him from eating and is making him feel bad enough to just lay around.  The problem is this - you need to at least have him examined to determine what the problem is, because if a cat stops eating, it will eventually develop feline hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver disease.  Some of them have to go for a week or more before they develop it, others can develop it after not eating for as little as three days.  If it IS just a tooth or something, you could be setting you and your cat up for a lot bigger problem by not taking him to the vet and just figuring he's old and probably at the end of his life.  Like I said, 14 is NOT old for a cat.  Many live to 20 and even older.  Borrow money if you have to, but PLEASE get him to the vet to see if he really is dying, or if he can be fixed up with some antibiotic or some dental work.

Ghilly

[MJIthewriter]

Some other options: Do you have any friends or family?  Yes it will stink to ask for $, but I'd bet if they knew you need to take your cat to the vet urgently, they can help.  In fact I think with these kinds of questions, it better to ask your friends and family and real life contacts first, before going to the internet.

The best we can do is advise you to do those things and seek real life professional help for your cat.

[PrettyKitty1]

Amen.

[MJIthewriter]

When we first got Waldo we expected to only have him for a couple weeks and the owners to pick him back up.  Well surprise, surprise they didn't claim their cat.

We had a choice to drop him off at a shelter, but I didn't want to part with him. We didn't really have the money, but somehow we managed to care for him and get his food and stuff.

We didn't have money to take him to the vet either, but somehow we managed to. The first time my dad charged it off his credit card. He also did the same when we had to take him to the emergency vet once.

Then it came time to get him another check-up. I saved up whatever money I got for about a year and a half or so and labeled that money "Waldo vet fund".  Then when I got enough I took Waldo to the vet.  Last year I used money from my work study to pay for his check-up and immunizations.
----------------------
I can relate to the experience of not having money, but if you love your pet, you will somehow manage to scrape up the money to spend on vet appointments.

That said it sounds like your cat needs urgent care that you can't do on your own.  You may have to charge this visit with your credit card and pay back the money in payments. Your pet may or may not have to go, but you won't know until you take him to the vet and find out what is going on. It sounds to me you are thinking the worst without even giving your pet a chance.  Take him to the vet please. There is only so much help this forum can give you.

[zodiacqueen]

You say:

i thought someone would understand what it is like to love your cat so much you dont want to see him leave

I really don't have much sympathy for you!  When people love their pets so much that they don't want them to go, they do NOT allow them to suffer and love them so much that they want to end their suffering.

That is what loving an animal is all about.  Yours is a SELFISH love!

[zodiacqueen]

How do you know that your cat's condition is untreatable?  Wouldn't you feel horrible if you just let your cat suffer like that with a treatable condition?  You have let your cat's condition go for so long, that now it may be too late.

Merry Christmas!

[dominosarah]

We all love our pets and we do understand the want to keep them around but right now it is about doing the right thing for your kitty.  It is our responsibitlity.  We owe that to our pets.  I wish you both the best...........sara

[PrettyKitty1]

If love towards your pet is what drives you to not want to give him up I can understand. But, your love isn't enough to make him feel better at this point. He needs vet care. Your cat has given you years of comfort and companionship I'm sure. Well, be grateful, and help him. He depends on you. Poor fella.

I hope he gets better. He is a senior kitty but he can still live longer than that, especially if he is an indoor pet. I honestly don’t know what to say to help you. Nobody can. Only a vet is able to fix it. Please, do what’s right. I wish him the best.

Good Luck.

[catlover]

im sorry i didnt mean it like that and i thought someone would understand what it is like to love your cat so much you dont want to see him leave

[PrettyKitty1]

You did get all your Xmas shopping done, right? Maybe that's why you cannot afford a vet right now? I can give you a solution: Return those items, get your money back and take that cat to a vet. Don't put him through this.

You don't  give us enough information. So, next time you post, here's what you need to do:

1 - Take the cat to the vet, then post.
2 - Write a detailed paragraph on the situation.
3 - Read the Medhelp guidlines on when to take a cat to the vet. They help you understand what an emergency situation is. The thread in right at the top of the page and it is titled 'PET EMERGENCIES. Please read before posting. Great source of information.

I am so sorry about your cat. I hope he feels better. I do.

[zodiacqueen]

Please reread your question-"I need him to last for X-mas".  Does this sound selfish to you?  So, it doesn't matter what your cat's quality of life is, whether he is suffering or not, but as long as he's here for X-mas.

You put this on a cat forum, full of people that love cats-what kind of response did you think you'd get?

Your cat has given you 14 yrs of loyalty and love, and this is how you thank him????  That loyalty deserves his "mom" going out of her way to ensure that he doesn't suffer needlessly.  If you have any ounce of unselfishness in your heart, you will go out of your way to find a way to pay for your loyal cat's care.

Call different vets and ask if they will take post-dated checks, humane society, or your local ASPCA can give you advice, too.

PLEASE do the right thing here, and reward your cat's loyalty!

[dominosarah]

Why would you put your pet thru this just to keep him thru Christmas??  He is trying to tell you something here.  Please take him to the vet and set up some financial arrangement to pay.  This is not fair to your cat.