Suspected Liver Problem--HELP!!!

Kipper has been acting/looking strange for about a week now. The first sign that anything was wrong was that he stopped jumping (like onto furniture etc.). He injured one of his back legs as a kitten and has a hard time jumping anyway but had been doing alot better then out of nowhere he just stopped, instead he claws his way up or meows for help like he used to. I figured he either strained the leg or that the colder weather was getting to him and shrugged it off. Since then his fur has gotten very greasy even though I do see him cleaning himself often (he is very diligent when it comes to hygiene). I remember when Kipper's brother Klein got sick (he got a fatty liver and died of liver failure) his fur got really nasty too, that was the first sign before he even stopped eating. And now Kipper is not eating, not even wet food which he normally goes nuts for because he doesn't get it often. And now I notice that he does seem to have lost weight (Klein lost 4 lbs before he passed away). I didn't really notice until I checked because his long fur hides his body and I don't pick him up much because he doesn't like it. So...

I called the vet but the office is already closed. I will call in the a.m. but the earliest I will be able to take him is Monday. I know I have to force-feed him in the meantime. What should I feed him, just regular wet cat food? I can have DH pick up KMR on his way home later tonight but until then all I have is canned food. Also what is the easiest way to force feed a cat, syringe, dropper, bottle, etc? And how much and how often? I'm not sure of his exact weight, he used to weight 9 lbs but I'm sure he has lost some and I don't have a scale right now to weigh him. Can someone please answer these questions? Any other advice would be welcome too. TIA!

Was Klein his actual brother? Some health issues are genetic..

Honestly, I would be looking for an ER vet right now. You'll lose precious time if you wait till Monday. At the very least can you or your husband call in sick tomorrow and get him in? Half a day even. You've already lost close to a week, so please please don't wait.

Not knowing what precisely is wrong, it's hard to say exactly what would be the safest to feed him.

What other symptoms are you seeing to suspect his liver?

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Was Klein his actual brother? Some health issues are genetic..

Honestly, I would be looking for an ER vet right now. You'll lose precious time if you wait till Monday. At the very least can you or your husband call in sick tomorrow and get him in? Half a day even. You've already lost close to a week, so please please don't wait.

Not knowing what precisely is wrong, it's hard to say exactly what would be the safest to feed him.

What other symptoms are you seeing to suspect his liver?

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Yes, Kipper and Klein are actual brothers. I've checked and Kipper does not seem jaundiced, which is good. Klein was badly jaundiced by the time I figured out he was was sick. I guess there is nothing more that indicated liver specifically but being that they are brothers I just keep thinking about what Klein went through. It just occured to me last night that Kipper might be seriously ill, I've been feeding him 3x a day since then with wet food, kind of a test to see if he would still eat on his own volition. I was hoping that as long as he was eating we had time to get him to the vet. But he refused his dinner tonight. He won't eat anything I offer. So now I am worried.

Talk to your husband when he gets home to figure out what you two can do. I hope you can get him in to see a vet tomorrow or even tonight.

The reason I worry a bit about food is if there is a problem with his liver or even kidneys he might not be able to handle richer foods (higher protein). But he needs food. For tonight I suppose you could try syringe feeding him (better pressure control than a dropper, easier to measure, and easier to clean) his regular wet food that's been watered down until soupy.
Others will have to tell you the best amount for his weight/size.


First, though, try offering him a small saucer of some of it that you've made more soupy with a bit of warm water. Hopefully he may eat a little on his own. You may even try seeing if he'll lick it off of your fingers. If someone's going back out to the store you can get chicken or turkey baby food (meat and broth only type, no garlic or onions), he may even lick that off of your fingers or a spoon.

can you call an er vet ? or any vet open and describe the issue... he does need to be force feed but I am not qualified to say what...

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Was Klein his actual brother? Some health issues are genetic..

Honestly, I would be looking for an ER vet right now. You'll lose precious time if you wait till Monday. At the very least can you or your husband call in sick tomorrow and get him in? Half a day even. You've already lost close to a week, so please please don't wait.

Not knowing what precisely is wrong, it's hard to say exactly what would be the safest to feed him.

What other symptoms are you seeing to suspect his liver?

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Oh, and if I can find an E-vet nearby I can take him tonight. But I can't drive and DH works all through the weekend. DH is already taking 2 weeks vacation starting Monday so I know he would not take time off even if I asked. The reason being that I am pregnant (I'm due tomorrow actually) and am being induced on Tuesday. DH wouldn't want to take off time or start vaca early because he won't want to miss time with our new baby. This really is terrible timing but no one ever plans these things. I'm not willing to let Kipper get sicker because of it though.

Originally Posted by mira's_mommy

The reason being that I am pregnant (I'm due tomorrow actually) and am being induced on Tuesday. DH wouldn't want to take off time or start vaca early because he won't want to miss time with our new baby.

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Oh! I see how that's horrible timing. Do you have a friend or family member you can ask to drive you? Any form of taxi? A nice neighbor?

Heck, is there anyone on this forum or that you know online that lives close enough to you to help?

I hope all goes well with your delivery, btw.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Oh! I see how that's horrible timing. Do you have a friend or family member you can ask to drive you? Any form of taxi? A nice neighbor?

Heck, is there anyone on this forum or that you know online that lives close enough to you to help?

I hope all goes well with your delivery, btw.

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Thanks =)

I just called every vet in the phone book and all of them are closed. There are 2 that have 24hr emergency services but that is reserved for established clients only, and I am not a client at either one. Although after this I'm thinking I should be so I can use the E-vet services if anything truly horrible ever happened.

I will have to talk to DH, we may be able to take Kipper in the morning before he goes to work. I just wish I could get a hold of someone to tell me how much to feed him! I am going to have DH pick up the baby food on his way home tonight, should I bother with the KMR?

Oh, I wish someone on the forum lived nearby and could take Kipper to the vet for you - you and your baby don't need this added stress now. Many prayers for all of you.

Originally Posted by mira's_mommy

Thanks =)

I just called every vet in the phone book and all of them are closed. There are 2 that have 24hr emergency services but that is reserved for established clients only, and I am not a client at either one. Although after this I'm thinking I should be so I can use the E-vet services if anything truly horrible ever happened.

I will have to talk to DH, we may be able to take Kipper in the morning before he goes to work. I just wish I could get a hold of someone to tell me how much to feed him! I am going to have DH pick up the baby food on his way home tonight, should I bother with the KMR?

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The 2 vets that you called, did you explain Kipper's situation to them? If they did say no to you. Could you call them back and just ask them for advice over the phone what you should be feeding him and how much they would suggest?

For Lynxx all we had was a dropper at the time. We didn't get a syringe until his feeding tube was put in. We used can cat food, heated it up mixed with water. We force fed him that way. I can't tell you how much to give Kipper. We didn't give Lynxx enough. In our case we had to do it just until he could be tested for cancer and the moment the results were back negative, we rushed him right up to have the feeding tube put in. We didn't give him the KMR because we found another product at Petco called CatSure it was a drink to help cats over the age of 7. He was 9. I don't know if it's any good, I did post asking about the product on here, and no one responded. But we gave it to him any way. We didn't have to force him to drink water, he still did that on his own.

I talked to DH and we will take Kipper in the morning, assuming we can get seen on such short notice. I offered him the wet food watered down as you all suggested and he was completely uninterested. After I post this, I will try to force feed him that mixture, and then when DH gets home with the baby food I will feed him some of that too. I'm still not sure how much to feed him but hopefully even a little will tide him over till morning when we can get him to the vet. If they don't keep him (if it really is his liver I'm sure they will), they can at least tell me what, how much, and how often to feed him.

I really hope he is okay...

They may not actually "see" him right away with as sick as he is. I know my vet would just take any of my cats and check them right in if they were that bad. It depends on if anyone is there over the weekend, though. If not, one of the other clinics that has 24 hour ER service may be better.

I fed Kipper. I got him to take about 1.5 tablespoons of the water/canned food mush. He didn't seem to have the strength to fight me on it, normally he would have and probably would have won too. Then he slept for a couple hours and when DH got home, we offered him more food and this time he ate very enthusiastically. Maybe forcing him to eat re-stimulated his appetite? I don't know.

We still plan to take him to the vet tomorrow. I will try to keep you updated.

Please do - maybe he just had an upset tummy and is now feelng better, but with the family history, I'd be right there with you wishing I could get to the ER vet right this second.

I hope you get nothing but good news here on out - and again, prayers and best wishes for your safe delivery and that your kitty is healthy too.