My cat is eleven and a half years old and an indoor kitty. Her name is Josie. 
background info:We got her and her sister, Jem, from the same litter when they were old enough to leave their mom. They were both healthy, friendly kitties that loved to play with the other two cats we had. eventually, Jem got antisocial and hated being around other cats so we had to keep her in a separate part of the house from the other cats including Josie. She never had any weight problems, but had weird twitchy itchy fits. She was diagnosed with type 3 diabetes about two years ago and had to be put down.
Josie is like my daughter and I don't know what I would do without her. I'm always worried she will develop diabetes like her sister and also it will be too late to save her. about three years ago, Josie started eating the whole bowl of dry food we would set out for the cats to munch on when they got hungry. we've never had an obese cat, and Jo has never been obese, though eating dry food did make her a bit bloated. They get fed wet food for breakfast and dinner and dry food for snacks throughout the day.
So for the past 3 years we've been monitoring the amount of food the cats get (my two male cats get fed when they're hungry, but since Josie is hungry all the time, she gets fed every two hours.) last year, the vet told me it could be an allergy to the dry food. so for the past year, Jo has been given only wet food.
She will eat and eat and eat until she vomits. and then she'll want more food. She'll vomit immediately if she takes even one bite more than her tummy can hold. Once again, she's been like this for the past about 3 years.
Last year the vets checked her blood sugar and pressure, took x-rays, and took a urine sample. All came back looking normal and healthy. but the problem persisted, I'd even say got a bit worse.
Josie has the same kind of licky twitchy fits that her sister had, but not as violent or long as her sisters. Also just this past week, she's been itching her chin and ears, flicking her paws, and licking and rubbing her lips a lot. I took her into the vet yesterday and they checked her temperature, blood sugar level, took x-rays, and took a thyroid test. all of it was normal and healthy. though we noticed the gumline around one of her teeth was red and her tooth looked a little discoloured. The vet ended up giving her a depo medrol shot and told us to call back on tuesday to let her know how Josie is doing and that if she gets lethargic and vomits, to let them know and they'll give us an antibody to give her. Today she has seemed a bit more lethargic than usual, but she hasnt been as eager to get food either. could be just due to lack of energy, though. and she hasnt vomited. So I'm not sure if this is solving her problem, or just making her unnecessarily sleepy. The vet hasn't been able to diagnose her with anything and i don't think this shot is the right solution to her problem, though it could be the longer I wait.
If anyone else has had this problem, even if they havent found a solution or diagnosis, anything will help. thanks!
background info:We got her and her sister, Jem, from the same litter when they were old enough to leave their mom. They were both healthy, friendly kitties that loved to play with the other two cats we had. eventually, Jem got antisocial and hated being around other cats so we had to keep her in a separate part of the house from the other cats including Josie. She never had any weight problems, but had weird twitchy itchy fits. She was diagnosed with type 3 diabetes about two years ago and had to be put down.
Josie is like my daughter and I don't know what I would do without her. I'm always worried she will develop diabetes like her sister and also it will be too late to save her. about three years ago, Josie started eating the whole bowl of dry food we would set out for the cats to munch on when they got hungry. we've never had an obese cat, and Jo has never been obese, though eating dry food did make her a bit bloated. They get fed wet food for breakfast and dinner and dry food for snacks throughout the day.
So for the past 3 years we've been monitoring the amount of food the cats get (my two male cats get fed when they're hungry, but since Josie is hungry all the time, she gets fed every two hours.) last year, the vet told me it could be an allergy to the dry food. so for the past year, Jo has been given only wet food.
She will eat and eat and eat until she vomits. and then she'll want more food. She'll vomit immediately if she takes even one bite more than her tummy can hold. Once again, she's been like this for the past about 3 years.
Last year the vets checked her blood sugar and pressure, took x-rays, and took a urine sample. All came back looking normal and healthy. but the problem persisted, I'd even say got a bit worse.
Josie has the same kind of licky twitchy fits that her sister had, but not as violent or long as her sisters. Also just this past week, she's been itching her chin and ears, flicking her paws, and licking and rubbing her lips a lot. I took her into the vet yesterday and they checked her temperature, blood sugar level, took x-rays, and took a thyroid test. all of it was normal and healthy. though we noticed the gumline around one of her teeth was red and her tooth looked a little discoloured. The vet ended up giving her a depo medrol shot and told us to call back on tuesday to let her know how Josie is doing and that if she gets lethargic and vomits, to let them know and they'll give us an antibody to give her. Today she has seemed a bit more lethargic than usual, but she hasnt been as eager to get food either. could be just due to lack of energy, though. and she hasnt vomited. So I'm not sure if this is solving her problem, or just making her unnecessarily sleepy. The vet hasn't been able to diagnose her with anything and i don't think this shot is the right solution to her problem, though it could be the longer I wait.
If anyone else has had this problem, even if they havent found a solution or diagnosis, anything will help. thanks!
. I would recommend another general blood panel, another urine analysis, and such. A cat her age should be seen on a yearly basis if financially feasible.
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, she's quoted by Timothy J Govers, D.V.M., Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners:
. I just mean that I find actual cases more believable/interesting then some studies.
I'll post results
