Dear Cat Site members,
My 12yr old cat has been suffering from gastrointestinal issues since September 2016 and after many vet visits, tests and a lot of food improvements, I still don't know what is wrong with him.
I'll throw a timeline here. I know it's long but I've tried to make it as clear and thorough as possible so we can get adequate advice for our situation. We would appreciate any help or advice we can get. Understanding not everyone has the time or will to read all this, I've highlighted in red his symptoms and wrote a summary of his current ones at the end.
Winter 2015:
He clearly isn't well and, although the really bad times seemed to have gone past, he still isn't himself and he is clearly struggling with his tummy.
The vet isn't really giving me any direct action to take and I don't know what to do. I worry it could be cancer, and he says it could be, but the only way to know is by opening him up.
I read a lot about hyperthyroidism as he seems to have quite a few of the symptoms so I suggested doing a blood test.
After my last strong enquire about possible treatments or tests our vet came up with these:
I'm sure we all feel the same about our kitties, but so you know, he is the sweetest companion, very loyal, friendly, loving and he truly saved my life when I found him @ 18 years old not knowing my place in the world.
The people at this site seem very knowledgeable and I've been reading so many posts here and in so many other sites, but, I still don't know what is wrong with him.
We would appreciate ANY advice at this point. I'd like to know what my next step should be and what tests you guys think are best to do right now. He has improved a little, so I feel now is the time to go ahead and try to find out once and for all and cure whatever he is struggling with.
Thank you all.
Love, Silvia & Nene.
My 12yr old cat has been suffering from gastrointestinal issues since September 2016 and after many vet visits, tests and a lot of food improvements, I still don't know what is wrong with him.
I'll throw a timeline here. I know it's long but I've tried to make it as clear and thorough as possible so we can get adequate advice for our situation. We would appreciate any help or advice we can get. Understanding not everyone has the time or will to read all this, I've highlighted in red his symptoms and wrote a summary of his current ones at the end.
Winter 2015:
- Symptom: First urine infection of his life after a 2 day long car ride from Florida to NC.
- Solution: Bought a water fountain.
- Result: Never happened again.
- Symptom: After a yearly checkup, we are told he is a little overweight.
- Solution: Scheduled feedings 2x day & calorie count + outdoor walking on a leash
- Result: Weight loss but obvious food obsession
- Symtom: Food obsession
- Solution: Adding extra feeding time at midday.
- Result: Major improvement
- Symptom: Nene starts having behavioral issues, mainly with my other cat. He starts chasing and stalking her (never happened before).
- Solution: Start adding more play time to their routine.
- Result: Slightly improved, still having issues...
- Symptom: Nene starts vomiting dry kibble whole.
- Solution: Adding water to their kibble.
- Result: Vomiting becomes less frequent.
- Symptom: Nene starts wanting to eat EVERYTHING and comes back from the neighbors balcony and vomits plant leaves
- Solution: Increased food dosage
- Result: Slight improvement
- Symptom: Nene has his first ever diarrhea, and it's bad!
- Solution: 24hr fast & chicken w/rice for a few days
- Result: Back to normal, or so I thought.
- Symptom: Nene starts rubbing his ass on the floor (anal glands impacted)
- Solution: Visit to the vet and emptying
- Result: Traumatized cat and diarrhea again
- Symptom: Vomiting & diarrhea
- Solution: Vet visit and 2 week fast on home cooked turkey & pumpkin
- Result: Harder stools and less vomiting
- Symptom: Doesn't want to eat
- Solution: Prescribed canned food (Hill's I/D)
- Result: Not improving
- Symptom: Continued vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy & weight loss
- Solution: Blood & fecal tests
- Result: Clear of kidney or liver diseases. No parasites found in feces. Triglycerides slightly high?
- Symptoms continue
- Solution: Possible food allergy suspected so started novel protein (rabbit)
- Result: Major improvement for about 2 weeks
- Symptom: Diarrhea starts again
- Solution: Wet food change every 2 weeks more or less (Wild Calling Rabbit canned food, Natural Instinct rabbit canned food, etc.
- Better energy levels and mood
- Weight loss in the past but has gained a tiny little bit lately
- Struggling to eat at times but hungry
- Stalking other cat at times
- Often crunched posture, especially after eating
- Tummy roaring
- No diarrhea at the moment since we changed to Ziwi Peak rabbit & lamb a few days ago but I suspect it could come back again as it has done in the past after a few days of the new food.
- Rare vomiting
- Grass eating & vomiting
- He knits me often and can get a little rough!
He clearly isn't well and, although the really bad times seemed to have gone past, he still isn't himself and he is clearly struggling with his tummy.
The vet isn't really giving me any direct action to take and I don't know what to do. I worry it could be cancer, and he says it could be, but the only way to know is by opening him up.
I read a lot about hyperthyroidism as he seems to have quite a few of the symptoms so I suggested doing a blood test.
After my last strong enquire about possible treatments or tests our vet came up with these:
- A intestinal biopsy
- Blood test to measure B12 levels and hormones
- B12 injections
- Continue trying out foods
I'm sure we all feel the same about our kitties, but so you know, he is the sweetest companion, very loyal, friendly, loving and he truly saved my life when I found him @ 18 years old not knowing my place in the world.
The people at this site seem very knowledgeable and I've been reading so many posts here and in so many other sites, but, I still don't know what is wrong with him.
We would appreciate ANY advice at this point. I'd like to know what my next step should be and what tests you guys think are best to do right now. He has improved a little, so I feel now is the time to go ahead and try to find out once and for all and cure whatever he is struggling with.
Thank you all.
Love, Silvia & Nene.