Metro

My mom has a cat named Metro and he over the last few months has been puking off and on. We attributed this to hairballs. Today he puked while he was here and then started pooping because he was puking so hard. His bathroom is in the basement so I brought him down and he pooped. Didn't seem to have a hard time pooping so I'm thinking he's okay with that department. Thinking of switching him from Nutro? Perhaps it's his cat food? Ever since my mom switched him over to Nutro he has lost a LOT of weight and started this throwing up. Any other ideas? My mom doesn't have a lot of money - nor do I - for a whole bunch of testing and we want to try some stuff before we start spending money. She really doesn't want to change his food since my sister Natalie *rolls eyes* feeds her cats Nutro and for some reason thinks it is a great food because Natalie feeds them that and Natalie tried to get me to switch over to Nutro but I've been so reluctant to switch to that because of many reasons but mostly because of all the pet food recalls and inconsistent reports of the quality of the food.

I don't live at my mom's house, but with my veterinary experience she always tends to listen to me first - except for the cat food issue!!! I suggested her putting a cat box on the first floor and second floor, and she ideally wouldn't like to do that, but if that will keep him from having accidents, I thought it was a good idea.

Been brushing him, giving him hairball meds (Petromalt) every day. He absolutely begs for the petromalt so I'm thinking that must be making him feel better. Just at a loss for any other ideas other than bringing him in and mom would probably be more likely not to bring him in. My mom's on disability and has a hard time living from check to check let alone having lots of money for testing so I understand that to some extent, but something has to be done.

FRUSTRATING.

P.S. Didn't see any hair in his vomit, nor did I see any blood or worms or anything in his stool. He is a solely indoor cat, but he has caught a mouse in the house before. He is neutered and they have had him for about 5 years, and we don't really know how old he is. We are guessing that he was a year old when we got him in 2005. So that means he's about 6 or older.

Well, I hate to be the one, but he does need to be seen. The weight issue is troublesome. Taking him in earlier rather than later may save some money.

Yes cats can become allergic to an ingredient in their food. But there are other things it could be. Hyperthyroidism for one. Weight loss and vomiting are signs. He would need a thyroid test. Not that expensive. If he has it, he will have to take a pill the rest of his life. The pills are not very expensive either. Hyper t is not terribly difficult to treat. I have had two cats with it.

Diabetes is another. Has he been drinking more water than usual? That is a symptom of this.

Either way, maybe you can pool your resourses and just get the testing done. It could be easily treated, whatever it is.

PLease keep us posted.

Yeah I pretty much thought that would be the case. It's just funny that it just started after he started the nutro. Seems to be too much of a coincidence. I'm saving my money anyways and trying to make a trip to chop some firewood - my vet takes firewood in lieu of payment, weird UP thing but true.

I tried Nutro with my girl and it gave her gas and made her throw up. The vet attributed it to something in the food and told me to switch her back to what we'd been feeding her. So, it's very possible that this cat is experiencing something similar. The repeated vomiting could contribute to the weight loss and that's not a good thing, either the vomiting or the weight loss. I agree that a vet trip is the best thing to rule out anything health wise.

When is Metro throwing up the food? Is it not too long after he has eaten? Does the vomit consist of food, not really digested?? It could be possible Metro is just eating to quickly and swallowing too much food at once if it is food being thrown up. If this is the case try feeding him on a flatter surface, like a plate, smaller amounts more frequently. This will help prevent Metro from eating too quickly and throwing it up shortly after.

If this is not the case, is he throwing up yellow bile?? Frothy and slimy?? Since you mention weight loss, maybe he is not getting fed enough. I have seen many pets vomit when they have an empty stomach. One of my dogs in particular. He was on a strict schedule, if we were late feeding him he would get nauseated and throw up the yellow frothy bile. I myself feel nauseated if I am past meal time. She may need to increase the amount he eats or feed him more frequently. How much is she feeding him per day? About how much does he weigh?

Was Metro overweight before? Is she feeding weight management? If he needed to lose weight and that is what she was looking to do then weight loss would be ok, but if it is rapid and due to underfeeding. The package gives recommended feeding guidelines on what to feed you cats but it is only a guideline. It is recommended that you adjust to your own pets activity level and needs. My Chester eats the Nutro Natural Choice Indoor Weight Management and he only gets about 1/4-1/3 cup of food twice a day. That is less than the recommended amount on the package because he is a lazy boy. If I fed him the recommended amount that would be too much. He also gets wet once a day. He has been on Nutro since he was 9 months, he is 11 1/2 years old now. He has always done well.

I hope you can help your mom with Metro and get him all straightened out, regardless of what you feed. If the things I have asked about are not the case then I highly recommend he gets looked at by a vet.

Good luck!

It is full food amounts. It isn't slimy or frothy. There is no blood in it or discoloration that makes me believe that it is anything but food. A few months ago, it was with hair in it, but not lately. He is fed in one of those automatic feeders without a timer, you just put the food in and he eats when he wants to. He WAS quite overweight before when he first brought him home but I figured that was because he was from the shelter and didn't get enough exercise, and now is rather slender. But my own two kitties at my home are a little on the porky side, but seeing such a big change in his weight is distressing for me. Perhaps she should go to portioning his food out and see how much he really is eating. We leave the light on downstairs where his food is at, so he can feel more comfortable about eating since he doesn't like to eat in the dark. He will often times during the day beg for us to feed him more, so we go pull more food down from the automatic feeder. Mom says he always loses weight in the summer. There is no ac in this big old house. This house is two stories with a full finished basement, with 5 bedrooms, and a lot of room.

Will get a weight on him soon. I can also call the vet's office to see how much he did weigh last time we brought him in. He is a bigger boned cat, but his ribs are not showing so he is not emaciated, but I'm thinking he's under the ideal. I come over here every day to check on my mom, her dog, and the cat.

Really not liking the fact that Natalie - my sister - is coming in two weeks with her husband, her Mastiff and her Rhodesian Ridgeback/Boxer mix. I would like her to leave them home with kitty not feeling well, but Metro has always gotten along with the dogs. Metro is still chipper and does not seem withdrawn, but I would doubt that if I was nauseous I would want a lot of visitors over, but that's me, I guess.

Originally Posted by LadyHitchhiker

It is full food amounts. It isn't slimy or frothy. There is no blood in it or discoloration that makes me believe that it is anything but food. A few months ago, it was with hair in it, but not lately. He is fed in one of those automatic feeders without a timer, you just put the food in and he eats when he wants to. He WAS quite overweight before when he first brought him home but I figured that was because he was from the shelter and didn't get enough exercise, and now is rather slender. But my own two kitties at my home are a little on the porky side, but seeing such a big change in his weight is distressing for me. Perhaps she should go to portioning his food out and see how much he really is eating. We leave the light on downstairs where his food is at, so he can feel more comfortable about eating since he doesn't like to eat in the dark. He will often times during the day beg for us to feed him more, so we go pull more food down from the automatic feeder. Mom says he always loses weight in the summer. There is no ac in this big old house. This house is two stories with a full finished basement, with 5 bedrooms, and a lot of room.

Will get a weight on him soon. I can also call the vet's office to see how much he did weigh last time we brought him in. He is a bigger boned cat, but his ribs are not showing so he is not emaciated, but I'm thinking he's under the ideal. I come over here every day to check on my mom, her dog, and the cat.

Really not liking the fact that Natalie - my sister - is coming in two weeks with her husband, her Mastiff and her Rhodesian Ridgeback/Boxer mix. I would like her to leave them home with kitty not feeling well, but Metro has always gotten along with the dogs. Metro is still chipper and does not seem withdrawn, but I would doubt that if I was nauseous I would want a lot of visitors over, but that's me, I guess.

Click to expand...

I would definitely try feeding him on more of a schedule, flatter surface, measured amounts and monitor his weight closely. If he is otherwise acting ok see if feeding him as I suggested helps with the vomiting. Maybe he is gulping his food down and since food is readily available it could be hard to know when and how much he is eating. I like to feed on a schedule because it helps to be able to recognize more easily if there is a problem. If my Chester refused to eat at his scheduled time I would definitely know something was wrong. Visitors may not help if there is something else going on, but if he has gotten along with them before it might be ok. As long as he doesn't get stressed out by the visit.

Below is the suggested amount of Nutro Natural Choice Adult by weight and Max Cat Indoor Adult by weight. Of course adjusting to his activity level, etc. You didn't say which Nutro product she was feeding so these may not be the right formulas. The website has this info posted.

Again, good luck. I hope you get it all figured out. If you decide to switch Metros food to a different brand be sure you mix it for about a week so not to cause more stomach upset.


Suggested Amounts To Feed Per Day (In Cups)â€:censor:â€:censor:
Natural Choice Indoor Adult
Weight of Cat (lbs.) \tAmount to Feed
3 - 5 \t 1/4 - 1/3
5 - 10 \t1/3 - 2/3
10 - 15 \t2/3 - 1
15 - 20 \t1 - 1 1/3

Max Cat Indoor Adult
Cat Weight \tCups to Feedâ€:censor:
3 – 5 lbs. \t 1/4 – 1/3
5 – 10 lbs. \t 1/3 – 3/4
10 – 15 lbs. \t3/4 – 1-1/4
15 – 20 lbs. \t1-1/4 – 1-2/3

I see you are a Nutro gal! I wasn't trying to say that Nutro is always a bad food but part of the issue, is that my mom will buy whichever Nutro is on sale at the time and sometimes it has been the same kind that I know there have been recalls on. And she thinks as long as she's just keeping with the same brand name, that her kitty will be fine. Cats don't always adjust well to changes in diet. I know this from first hand. My sister's the same way. Whatever's on sale. I find that most cats usually are better with consistent diets. I know that Iams and other brands have had recalls too. I'm not saying it JUST because it's Nutro brand it's bad, but I'm not saying that just because it's Nutro brand it would be good either.

I think both my mom and sister are more dog people than cat people. And they are both SO stubborn! Rar! Just trying to figure out what I can do to make things better for Metro besides kidnapping him. I will go over this stuff with my mom when I get done with work. Gotta head out! Wendy's is calling me...

Thanks for all the help!

Originally Posted by LadyHitchhiker

Yeah I pretty much thought that would be the case. It's just funny that it just started after he started the nutro. Seems to be too much of a coincidence. I'm saving my money anyways and trying to make a trip to chop some firewood - my vet takes firewood in lieu of payment, weird UP thing but true.

Click to expand...

Wow, I'd be chopping wood 24 hours a day! You are so lucky...altho my vet did swap treatment for some sweet woodruff a couple times.

I completely understand where you are coming from. I do agree a consistent diet can be beneficial as well. I know plenty of people that are more dog people than cat people and it shows in the care they provide them. Drives me nuts too! Keep us posted on how Metro does.

I think if every dog person was just a little bit more of a cat person they'd understand how to take care of their dogs better!

Mom fed some Iams wet food (chicken) to Metro and he ate it gradually over the day. No vomiting. No accidents. I weighed him with me on the scale then weighed myself and there was an 11 pound difference so I'm guessing he weighs about that. I think that's still a pretty healthy weight but the vet's office is closed so I will call them tomorrow and get a weight for sure.

His coat is glossy though shedding a bunch, but he has always shed a bunch especially during the summer. His coat is not dingy, and there are not clumps missing.

Just trying to think of anything anyone would ask me so that way I can explain as much as possible!

The problem with chopping firewood is that I have to travel 30 miles to chop it and then transport it. I don't have a truck so it takes some time getting arrangements together. My mother-in-law has 77 acres and most of it has hardwood trees on it, so that means I have a lot of acreage and firewood to help with vet bills! But that also means a LOT of work which I am not that experienced with but so willing to learn how to do it better.

Generally deforestation is bad, but I think my cats health are worth it. And we always replant trees.

So mom's been keeping Metro on the canned food and his coat is actually getting silkier, and he hasn't thrown up at all so far this week or had any accidents! I'm not saying he's cured, but who knows? Maybe this is his turn-around? I can only hope. Perhaps once summer is over she can switch him back to some sort of dry if she needs to, she says, but I figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Well except animals. They need to be spayed and neutered as a general rule.

Alas and alack... two days of pukeage again. Gonna bring him in. Don't know what questions to ask....

But it must be done. It's been going on too long, so we're going to bring him in.

Originally Posted by LadyHitchhiker

Alas and alack... two days of pukeage again. Gonna bring him in. Don't know what questions to ask....

But it must be done. It's been going on too long, so we're going to bring him in.

Click to expand...

Darn, I was hoping you got it all figured out. I am sending vibes your way for Metro. Good luck!

Aw thanks... hoping we'll get it all figured out and kitty will be feeling better soon. He's so sweet. I wish I had brought him home for me instead of my mom... but you know, you gotta have a cat!

So we didn't bring him in. He got better again. Now he's started the puking and inappropriate pooping again. I don't know if she's going to bring him in but I'm thinking he needs to be. He was doing so good for so long, but his history to me means he needs to go in. Unfortunately also her westie has been limping since Natalie - my sister - and her dogs came to visit so I'm thinking she will probably end up bringing him in first, to make sure he didn't break a bone.

Raaaaaaaaaaaar...

Did the cat and dog get seen by a vet yet?

Prayers

Puppy's almost all better. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Kitty hasn't had any more episodes so she's decided not to bring him in now.

I must say I am completely confused by Metro's reactions.

Originally Posted by LadyHitchhiker

Puppy's almost all better. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Kitty hasn't had any more episodes so she's decided not to bring him in now.

I must say I am completely confused by Metro's reactions.

Click to expand...

Well hopefully things will continue to stay good.

I agree. If he would have these episodes more often I think my mom would bring him in, but really? What could be causing this?