Fat Cat is now Skinny

[Natasha23]

My 2yr old Male cat use to be 17lbs. He use to eat normal and act normal. Within the last month or so he hasnt been eating as much and is now down to 9 or so pounds. Hes skin and bones. You can see his ribs and hip bones....just unhealthy looking. He just lays around and sleeps. He doesnt seem to be in pain but hes just not acting like he use to. Should I take him in to see the vet? Does anyone know what could be wrong with him?

[Natasha23]

Its now Day 2 after Noodles came back from the vet with Immune Mediated Disease. Hes still doing wonderful on steriods and antibiotics. Only 5 more days of antibiotics but steriods may be in his life always. Hes eating so much more now and also drinking water. His attitude alone says hes feeling much much better! So glad to know hes doing good...hope it stays that way! It is a very crazy and pointless disease but we just take it with a grain of salt and deal with it. Thankgoodness is controlable! Thanks for your concern and support Savas!

[Savas]

Congrat's! how very strange. I never would have guessed that from this end (well, i think of those types of illnesses, but I'm not Dr. House. Anything that unusual I'd be afraid to suggest. :)  )

I hope it does work out. I've heard of that and it always seems like one of those illnesses that's the epitome of futile pointlessness, like when you're allergic to your own sweat!!!

[Natasha23]

Took Noodles to the vet again this morning just to check his temp. It is normal! YAY! He is drinking and eating again and acting himself much more now. Just a waiting game but just after one night hes doing great!

[Natasha23]

Ok...took him in again. Its ok....no worries with the vet....hes wonderful! Hes actually working very hard to help him...not just take my money...infact he gave me a $94 discount today. whoo hoo! lol. Anyways. Just got Noodles back. We did some more blood work and it was a bit lower than before and again running a fever. Before he was on antibiotics and was getting better while taking them but soon after stopping them he got worse again....so that takes us to where we are now. Still his KIM12 test came back normal...thats a good thing...just his blood count was a little abnormal. With all we disscused we are thinking its Immune Mediated Disease. Which means his body is fighting his body for no apparent reason. This can also happen in humans. It can be controlled so this gives us hope. Hes now on Steriods and a different antibiotic. He gave him shots of each before he came home and then pills to follow up. Weve been home for a couple hrs now and already and improvement. Good signs! We go in tomorrow morning again just to make sure temp. has gone down and then chatting with the doc over the phone through this trial period to see how things are going. Im hopeful that we have finally found what is wrong but you know that is always a possiblity that it "could" be something else....but all signs point to this with his new blood work compared to last and also how he reacted to the antibiotic last time. He really is in good hands with this vet....I truely have no worries there. So this may mean that if this is it....it can be controlled and he may have to take meds the rest of his life (thankgoodness they are cheap lol) or he may just have outbreaks here and there and have to treat him then. Either which way...it can be controlled. Thats a good thing to know...we love him so much! So thats where we are now. Hope it stands true! Thanks for all the support!

[Savas]

I would suggest trying another vet, preferably an animal hospital. something is obviously wrong and perhaps this vet lacks the equipment to properly check/treat...or he may just suck.  

Let us know what happens, I hope he starts feeling better!

[Natasha23]

Ok...we are taking another down hill turn. Im just so scared. I have no idea what in the world is wrong with him. Yes I took him to the vet just Sat. but he seems like hes still losing weight. Seriously nothing but bones and hair and is starting to just lay around again. Now hes gotten to the point hes not even really eating anymore. I think this will take yet another trip to the vet. Gosh I just hope we can fix problems before they are too late. Anyone with some more advice or what they think this may be would be wonderful....then I could ask my vet about it. Hes a little puzzled to with his condition. thanks!!

[Natasha23]

Hi there....
Well I took him in again this morning. We wormed him just to eliminate that being an issue. Then weighed him and I will be taking him at "least" every two weeks to monitor his weight. He acted his self going to the vet this morning...hating every bit of it....unlike last time he just didnt care....so thats shows me that hes doing a little better. Like I said...just gotta get him FAT! :) Doc said to just let him eat as much as he wants....which I do. There is always food out and I give, between both of my cats, 2 cans of wet food per day plus treats. They are EXTREMELY spoiled! LOL If I didnt have children my cats and my dog would run the house! Gotta love them! Thanks for your concern!

[Savas]

Well I'm glad to hear he's better. There are a few syndromes that are a ***** to diagnose, even harder to treat. If he shot helped...it could be something strange like scarring on the intestinal tract that causes swelling and improper digestion (but just as likely it's something else!). I hope he gets fat again!

If he still looks skinny but his tummy starts looking bloated, don't panic, that's natural. It takes time for the weight to shift about more naturally!

[Natasha23]

I did end up taking him to the vet. It every blood test there was...which was a pretty penny....and all came back normal. He did have a fever though. So he got a anti inflamatory shot and then was on antibiotics for a week. Since then he has finished  his meds. He is acting better now, not just laying around like hes misserable....but...hes still not gaining any weight. I actually called the vet again to let him know whats going on (we have a REALLY awesome vet) and we have been playing phone tag all day. :) Thankgoodness they are open tomorrow and we will try again. I just want him to be my fat cat again. Hes not losing hair and not eating everything in sight....actually he doesnt eat like he use to...so I guess this will take yet another trip to the vet. Thankgoodness our vet is so wonderful and truely loves animals...hes very caring but even his years of practice...hes a little puzzled as well...we'll just keep working together to make him better. Ive invested a lot into "noodles" so far and Im not stopping now. Hes just like a child to me. :0) Thanks so much for the reply!

[suziq72]

I would definatley see yourvet and ask for bloodwork. My cat did the same thing and she had hyperthyroidism. She is now on medication and is back to her beautiful self! She was losing hair, eating everything in sight and still losing weight. Her breath was also HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!
Give it some thought and let me know how u make out

[Natasha23]

Thankyou for the reply!!
Ive thought that it might be parasites but I thought you would normaly see them in their stools...??? Hes also not eating the same and not being as active. Is that something that could happen with parasites? I was at PetSmart yesterday and they were telling me that he could have liver/kidney failure. Could it be? For sure he will be going to the Vet first thing Monday.

[Savas]

Yes, take him to the vet. Most likely it's a parasite. I would skip the over the counter wormer and go straight to the vet. This sort of fast weight loss suggests one of the parasites you'd need a vet given shot for.