Aa
Is She suffering?
hi
I have a Tortoise shell cat shes 16 years old soon to be 17, she lost a lot of weight, but she won't stop eating. She's always asking for food and she will try and steal our food when we're eating. Her fur is no more silk its not even soft anymore. She keeps throwing up and have diariha,I have took her to the vet many times to many vets most of them said she just have digestive problem but a few have said that it could be digestive or cancer but she's to old to do full test and find out, of course since then I don't have enough to take her to the vet again and find out, though I do have to say I'm afraid to... I'm afraid to hear that she's suffering and I have to put her down.
She doesn't show any signs shes suffering but I was told that animals will hide it... she sleeps more then she use to which I understand shes old..
I have a Tortoise shell cat shes 16 years old soon to be 17, she lost a lot of weight, but she won't stop eating. She's always asking for food and she will try and steal our food when we're eating. Her fur is no more silk its not even soft anymore. She keeps throwing up and have diariha,I have took her to the vet many times to many vets most of them said she just have digestive problem but a few have said that it could be digestive or cancer but she's to old to do full test and find out, of course since then I don't have enough to take her to the vet again and find out, though I do have to say I'm afraid to... I'm afraid to hear that she's suffering and I have to put her down.
She doesn't show any signs shes suffering but I was told that animals will hide it... she sleeps more then she use to which I understand shes old..
Hi hon, thanks a bunch for the update!! I am so sorry that things didn't work out better! Your cat had such a long life and I can tell that she was greatly loved. I hope that, once your heart and spirit heals, that you'll share all the love you've got left to give to another special kitty!! Please think about saving a kitty at an animal shelter if you do decide to get a new baby!!
Best wishes and prayers for you!!
ZQ
Best wishes and prayers for you!!
ZQ
She stop purring stop asking for attention just food litter sleep and more sleep, well i finally took her to the vet she had cancer apperantly she had it for some years now well when we put her down she started purring again she looked at me and gave me a kiss....
thank you for your support but i was too late
thank you for your support but i was too late
Have you tried posting your questions in the ask a vet expert forum? we can all only guess here so I think you should post your questions there too as the cat is old and time is running out. If she has a good appetite then it doesn't sound like cancer at all, which means there is hope. Don't bail on her now she needs you more than ever. Good luck I hope kitty gets the help she needs.
I had a cat, Magnum, that lived to be 16. When he was done, he let me know. He did not hide it from me. It does not sound like your cat is done yet and should be treated! My baby got to where he would go hide in the closet and did not come for attention like he used too. I knew then that it was his time, among other things. But, your baby sounds like although she has stomach problems - she is still eating and seems happy for the most part. So, I agree with everyone - get some tests done and find out what's ailing her. My Magnum, before we had to put him down we gave him IV subcutaneous for 2 years and he was very happy. There are treatments for our older ones and they do work!
You mentioned that finances are tight, though you want to do right by your cat. Is there a local chapter of the ASPCA? Many such have clinics where the rates are more reasonable than a private veterinary clinic.
As for your subject question; I have found it hard to tell and I have had 4 cats of the 8 I have owned make it past 16 years; all have passed on. (The members of my current clowder are 8, 7, & 6.)
Good luck - Pip
As for your subject question; I have found it hard to tell and I have had 4 cats of the 8 I have owned make it past 16 years; all have passed on. (The members of my current clowder are 8, 7, & 6.)
Good luck - Pip
Its a dumb question but i will ask it anyway.Have you thought that your kitty might have intestinal worms?That sure canmake them lose weight and eat like crazy.Just a thought.
Glad to be of some help :D! You mean all your vet said was-I'm running tests, then I'll figure it out? You've got to be kidding me!! GGRRR! I'd be highly pissed too. Bloodwork is expensive. I'd call the receptionists, and they will tell you exactly what they tested for, although the vet should've done that from the get go. So, when you get the answers, please let us know what tests were done and we can do some serious brain storming! There are a few people on here that are very helpful and have lots of cat smarts!
to be honest i think they did three test but i dont know the names of those test all the vet said to us was we'll do some test and figure it out that was all, that really pissed me off i seem to have bad luck on finding good vets lol
though i do have to say thank you all for your support it means alot to me
though i do have to say thank you all for your support it means alot to me
You mentioned that you had blood work done-but you weren't specific. WHAT was tested? The conditions that I mentioned-diabetes and thyroid are very specific tests-meaning they are separate. One test alone won't show those things.
You're cat, even an older one, deserves good complete care. What if her condition is caused by one of the diseases that I mentioned that are treatable? Wouldn't you feel bad if you put her to sleep, when the condition is treatable???? By the way, I think your vet is ignorant for assuming that because your cat's old, then it's cancer. That's a bunch of BS to me.
You're cat, even an older one, deserves good complete care. What if her condition is caused by one of the diseases that I mentioned that are treatable? Wouldn't you feel bad if you put her to sleep, when the condition is treatable???? By the way, I think your vet is ignorant for assuming that because your cat's old, then it's cancer. That's a bunch of BS to me.
"that is why when i get my pay i want to take her to the vet again because it seems like all the vet i went to doesn't even try, not one of them thought of going deeper and finding out what her problem is"
That is a good idea. You'll see as soon as they find out what she has and start treating her, the fur will improve and her overall health as well. She may need ultrasounds, biopsies, stool work, and I know this may sound like it's too much for a kitty this old, but the stress is worth it if it means she'll feel better in the long run. Take a sample of vomit to the vet if it will help. I cannot believe they don't seem to be willing to help. Good job on taking her to anothe vet. That's what a good pet owner does.
Don't forget to give us an update. We'll be waiting to hear from the kitty.
Good Luck hun.
That is a good idea. You'll see as soon as they find out what she has and start treating her, the fur will improve and her overall health as well. She may need ultrasounds, biopsies, stool work, and I know this may sound like it's too much for a kitty this old, but the stress is worth it if it means she'll feel better in the long run. Take a sample of vomit to the vet if it will help. I cannot believe they don't seem to be willing to help. Good job on taking her to anothe vet. That's what a good pet owner does.
Don't forget to give us an update. We'll be waiting to hear from the kitty.
Good Luck hun.
we have taken her blood, and that vet said she couldn't find anything, but she could see something was wrong... I want to take her to the vet near by that my boyfriend has always been going to she seems to know what shes doing. Its true it does seem like I'm giving up but I'm not it seems like my family is though, everyday I look on the computer to find what she may have and I'll tell my mom, last time I found something that seem to be accurate and I forced my mom to bring her to the vet and also told them what i found (though at the moment i don't remember what it is) that's when the vet took her blood and said that it show nothing so where back at square one, that is why when i get my pay i want to take her to the vet again because it seems like all the vet i went to doesn't even try, not one of them thought of going deeper and finding out what her problem is
I'll ask a question and I do not mean to be rude. But why are you giving up on her without even having a diagnosis? Don't you think you deserve to know what's wrong with her? Don't you think she deserves a chance?
From what I've read, you've tried. But I don't think you've tried enough. Perhaps she doesn't have cancer. The vet didn't give you assurance of cancer existence. Why give up now?
I wish you and your kitty good luck, from the bottom of my heart. Hopefully, you will take her back in. I think you deserve to know what her real problem is. You deserve to know how she can be treated if she can be treated. Don't assume something without knowing what her illness is. To say she has cancer is very drastic. She may have other problems, like zodiacqueen said, and the treatment may even be affordable.
Good Luck to you :)
From what I've read, you've tried. But I don't think you've tried enough. Perhaps she doesn't have cancer. The vet didn't give you assurance of cancer existence. Why give up now?
I wish you and your kitty good luck, from the bottom of my heart. Hopefully, you will take her back in. I think you deserve to know what her real problem is. You deserve to know how she can be treated if she can be treated. Don't assume something without knowing what her illness is. To say she has cancer is very drastic. She may have other problems, like zodiacqueen said, and the treatment may even be affordable.
Good Luck to you :)
Hi, have you had your vet check for hyperthyroid disease and diabetes, both can cause digestive symptoms. These can be checked with blood work. These are very common diseases in cats over 7 yrs old. Also, check for kidney disease.
Don't assume that the cat's weight loss is from cancer either, the above conditions that I've mentioned can also cause weight loss. These conditions are very very treatable and worth looking into and can be dangerous if you just ignore them. Also, many times the vet will feel the abdomen during an exam and can usually feel a mass if there were one growing. If he didn't feel it, then most likely your cat doesn't have cancer.
Don't assume that the cat's weight loss is from cancer either, the above conditions that I've mentioned can also cause weight loss. These conditions are very very treatable and worth looking into and can be dangerous if you just ignore them. Also, many times the vet will feel the abdomen during an exam and can usually feel a mass if there were one growing. If he didn't feel it, then most likely your cat doesn't have cancer.
well I'm not exactly sure what they gave her it was a sort of liquid that was suppose to help her stomach become strong they thought it could of been the fact with age it wasn't strong and that there may be some sort of hole but it didn't appear to be that so they gave another liquid for the acid..
I talk to my mom this afternoon about it, and my mom said
" There's nothing we can do, she probably already have the cancer that's why I'm letting her do what she wants before we have to put her down...."
It's very depressing to hear that, but no one in my family belives she'll 'till next year. One of our vet already said it probably was cancer and if nothing helps treat the digestive problem then she already has it since a couple years now...
I talk to my mom this afternoon about it, and my mom said
" There's nothing we can do, she probably already have the cancer that's why I'm letting her do what she wants before we have to put her down...."
It's very depressing to hear that, but no one in my family belives she'll 'till next year. One of our vet already said it probably was cancer and if nothing helps treat the digestive problem then she already has it since a couple years now...
What kind of medicine was your cat given? Was she put on antibiotics? From experience, antibiotics and prednisone can do a great job. But my cat has Inflammatory Bowel Disease. You cat's needs may very well be different.
One more thing, that silky fur which is no more is a result of all her vomiting and diarrhea. This is another sign that should tell the vets that this cat needs treatment ASAP. They do not appear to be in pain, I know. But digestive problems can escalate into a more serious matter. That is why I am encouraging you to exploit all your resources. The outcome of treating an older cat versus the outcome of treating a younger one may be different; but older kitties do get better if we attack the problem and the root cause nonetheless. I still have hopes for your cat. You should do the same.
Take care. I understand very well what you're going through; and how expensive it is to get appropriate health care for our pets. Usually, when a cat turns 5-7 years, it is best to get pet insurance. (Just another thought) At 7 years of age a cat is considered senior. With seniority comes health complications, and more issues on top of it. Having pet insurance isn't a bad idea after all. It saves money.
I know our Community Leader, Savas, knows of good web pages where you can sign up to get pet insurance. He can also give you some good, excellent advise on your cat's issues.
Savas? Where art thou? lol
One more thing, that silky fur which is no more is a result of all her vomiting and diarrhea. This is another sign that should tell the vets that this cat needs treatment ASAP. They do not appear to be in pain, I know. But digestive problems can escalate into a more serious matter. That is why I am encouraging you to exploit all your resources. The outcome of treating an older cat versus the outcome of treating a younger one may be different; but older kitties do get better if we attack the problem and the root cause nonetheless. I still have hopes for your cat. You should do the same.
Take care. I understand very well what you're going through; and how expensive it is to get appropriate health care for our pets. Usually, when a cat turns 5-7 years, it is best to get pet insurance. (Just another thought) At 7 years of age a cat is considered senior. With seniority comes health complications, and more issues on top of it. Having pet insurance isn't a bad idea after all. It saves money.
I know our Community Leader, Savas, knows of good web pages where you can sign up to get pet insurance. He can also give you some good, excellent advise on your cat's issues.
Savas? Where art thou? lol
I have change her food many times by order of the doctor and seems to have done, all the vet gave this kind of medicine to help treat it but it would only work for a couple of hours and no more but i do plan to re take her to a vet and this time i hope i can get some help
As a cat owner whose feline has chronic digestive issues, I will tell you that I can relate. A few thoughts:
- Usually, when a cat has digestive issues, the cat will bleed, have diarrhea or blockage and will also vomit a lot. The cat may either eat excessively or stop eating. It does sound like she has digestive problems. However, it is very common and very treatable this condition in cats and you can certainly keep it under control by following the vet's advice.
- Your cat needs treatment and special diet along with a proper eating regimen. What are you feeding her? She may be intolerant to commercial foods and so keeping her on prescription food sounds convenient at this point. The thing that points to the direction of "your cat having food intolerance" is that she has diarrhea and has been vomiting. I know what you mean. My cat's diarrhea and bleeding almost drove me insane. Sadly, commercial foods deteriorate a cat's health when the kitty has food intolerance. So, whatever you are feeding her, if it's from the pet store, you should stop buying and start switching her to a better nutrition. First talk to a vet about it; but just think of a cat's natural diet and you'll see what I mean.
- I do not believe the vet is giving you a good service. Unfortunately, some vets take for granted digestive problems in cats maybe because it is very common...... or I don't know. I can't think of a good reasoning as to why a vet would not take action when a cat is vomiting and has diarrhea. For all I know, a good veterinarian should never take for granted any illnesses no matter how old the cat is. You did not mention anything possibly done to her, like biopsy or blood work. Older cats go through biopsies, MRI, x-rays, quemotherapy etc, so her age is no excuse to leave this untreated. According to my experience, your cat needs a biopsy. If a vet can't seem to find anything wrong with the cat, an imaginary bulb should light up in their heads indicating that it is time to perform a biopsy and see what is really wrong with her. Take her to another vet. They need to examine stool samples, vomit samples, blood, colon, rectum, etc. Seek a second or third opinion. Digestive issues can certainly lead to cancer if left untreated. Now, re-read this last sentence.
- Is the cat throwing up hairballs, blood, food, mucus or just stomach acid? You may want to look into that as the vet may ask you what you see when she vomits and evacuates.
- For now, I cannot tell you to feed her a certain food or give her certain medication because I don't know what her problem really is; but she definitely has a problem and you definitely want to look into it. Hopefully, it is something so mild that you can easily get rid of it and she can quickly recover. However, delaying a trip to the vet sounds like a bad idea. You don't have to put her down because of a digestive issue.
I sure hope your kitty gets better. I should have said this earlier but Good, Good Job on caring for a cat for so long. I know your worries and concerns. My 1 year old's digestive problems can lead to cancer if I don't keep an eye on him. Good luck to you and your kitty. Blessings and prayers on my part. Please let us know how she is doing.
PK.
- Usually, when a cat has digestive issues, the cat will bleed, have diarrhea or blockage and will also vomit a lot. The cat may either eat excessively or stop eating. It does sound like she has digestive problems. However, it is very common and very treatable this condition in cats and you can certainly keep it under control by following the vet's advice.
- Your cat needs treatment and special diet along with a proper eating regimen. What are you feeding her? She may be intolerant to commercial foods and so keeping her on prescription food sounds convenient at this point. The thing that points to the direction of "your cat having food intolerance" is that she has diarrhea and has been vomiting. I know what you mean. My cat's diarrhea and bleeding almost drove me insane. Sadly, commercial foods deteriorate a cat's health when the kitty has food intolerance. So, whatever you are feeding her, if it's from the pet store, you should stop buying and start switching her to a better nutrition. First talk to a vet about it; but just think of a cat's natural diet and you'll see what I mean.
- I do not believe the vet is giving you a good service. Unfortunately, some vets take for granted digestive problems in cats maybe because it is very common...... or I don't know. I can't think of a good reasoning as to why a vet would not take action when a cat is vomiting and has diarrhea. For all I know, a good veterinarian should never take for granted any illnesses no matter how old the cat is. You did not mention anything possibly done to her, like biopsy or blood work. Older cats go through biopsies, MRI, x-rays, quemotherapy etc, so her age is no excuse to leave this untreated. According to my experience, your cat needs a biopsy. If a vet can't seem to find anything wrong with the cat, an imaginary bulb should light up in their heads indicating that it is time to perform a biopsy and see what is really wrong with her. Take her to another vet. They need to examine stool samples, vomit samples, blood, colon, rectum, etc. Seek a second or third opinion. Digestive issues can certainly lead to cancer if left untreated. Now, re-read this last sentence.
- Is the cat throwing up hairballs, blood, food, mucus or just stomach acid? You may want to look into that as the vet may ask you what you see when she vomits and evacuates.
- For now, I cannot tell you to feed her a certain food or give her certain medication because I don't know what her problem really is; but she definitely has a problem and you definitely want to look into it. Hopefully, it is something so mild that you can easily get rid of it and she can quickly recover. However, delaying a trip to the vet sounds like a bad idea. You don't have to put her down because of a digestive issue.
I sure hope your kitty gets better. I should have said this earlier but Good, Good Job on caring for a cat for so long. I know your worries and concerns. My 1 year old's digestive problems can lead to cancer if I don't keep an eye on him. Good luck to you and your kitty. Blessings and prayers on my part. Please let us know how she is doing.
PK.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Cats Community
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
Ooh and aah your way through these too-cute photos of MedHelp members' best friends
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
