New Here... My cat isn't eating or drinking

I'm going to start with the whole story that started a month ago.  My cat stepped on something sharp and punctured his back foot.  It got infected and we took him to the vet.  They put him on an antibiotic.  A few days later, I started painting my kitchen which took 3 or 4 days.  During that time, I left painty water in the bathtub to soak things.  We lock the cats in there at night so they don't get into trouble in the house.  My one cat started vomiting in the night and the early mornings.  I thought at first it was due to the antibiotics giving him an upset stomach, but after a couple/few days of it, it clicked.  He was probably drinking the paint water... nothing else made sense why he was only puking in the night and early morning.  I removed it all and the puking subsided.  His appetite decreased until a few days later he was no longer eating at all.  His poop was black.  I took him to the vet and he was dehydrated.  They ran bloodwork and did an xray because they were convinced that he had an obstruction somewhere.  nothing on the xray and elevated white blood count.  I told him I thought it was an ulcer from the paint, in which he insisted couldn't happen because cat's eat paint all the time... I disagree, there are lots of stories out there where cats do get ulcers from it.  so we were sent home after he had fluids with 4 days of pepcid and a 10 day course of antibiotics.  He just finished up the antibiotics 2 days ago.  I was hoping that he would have a better stomach with the antibiotics done, but nope  Oh, and he apparently caught a cold when he went in for his foot, because his eyes have been goopy since he was on the first antibiotic.  

I've been syringe feeding him blended wet food with water or marshmallow root tea in it, and also some probiotics in the mix.  He is still kicking, but still laying around a lot and not eating.  I am determined to help him, but I don't know what else to do except for give him more of the pepcid.  he does wheeze at times as well, but that could be because of the cold?? I hope he isn't aspirating the food.  He is peeing and pooping, though not a lot, but then again he isn't really consuming a lot either.  

How long would it take for an ulcer to heal?  Is there anything else I can do for him?  Do you think he's going to get better?

Thank you!  My other cat is getting pretty lonely

Oh, and his name is Pretzel, he is 1 year old, and he is an indoor only cat.

How long ago was he drinking paint? I am pretty sure your cat got intoxicated, not an ulcer. Also, how much pepcid are you giving him? Be careful with that.

On the syringe feeding... How much are you feeding a day? It's a pain, but it is important to feed the entire nutritional need for the kitty. If he needs a can a day, he must get that, or at least 3/4 can.
I am curious why the vet didn't give the kitty charcoal, or something to remove the paint from his digestive tract.... I suppose it is too late now....
I guess an ultrasound can tell you if in fact he has ulcers, on thing is for sure, antibiotics are not helping his case. There are better meds to heal ulcers too; Pepcid as far as I know is better preventing, but for healing I believe sucralfate does a much better job. You should ask your vet for it.

Well, that is just the thing.  the vet wouldn't do ANYTHING for the paint because he didn't believe it was the issue.  He told me there is no way he'd be sick from it.  which makes me so mad.  he insisted from the moment we went in there, that he ate something he shouldn't have, like thread, and has a blockage.  We're REALLY broke right now, or I'd just go and get a second opinion somewhere else. 

I wonder if I could call tomorrow and insist that they give us something to heal an ulcer??  

Do you think the paint could have done too much damage and he is not ever going to get better?  Or do you think there is something they can do?  

Our vet appt was 2 weeks ago.

I'm barely able to get into him the 2 teaspoons at a time that I try and give him every 2 hours.  He gets ticked off when he swallows it and freaks out and breaks away.  I've swaddled him in a towel and everything and he just gets away no matter how tight I hold him.

ETA:  he drank the paint probably 3 weeks ago?  it was multiple days in a row before I figured out what was going on.

I just started the pepcid tonight, using the same dosage as the vet gave us.  1/4 of the 10mg pill. once per day.

This is sad. I am so sorry what your cat is going through and you too.  I don't want to slam your vet, but some things don't add up here.  If he really thought your cat had a blockage, then I think some further testing like an ultrasound or x-ray would have been done to know for sure.  A blockage is not going to go away taking pepcid and antibiotics.  Honestly, I think the paint has made your cat sick.  If it was two weeks ago, is your cat getting better or worse.  How many cats were shut in the bathroom with the paint water and is just one of them sick.

Whatsin the paint? Did you take the container to the vet? Also, that Pepcid dosage is too low for ulcer imho. You really need a vet who will work with you, your kitty needs help.
What about applying for carecredit?

No, they did an xray.  But the vet said that nothing showed, but things like thread woulnd't show on the xray.  He sent us home with that stuff because Pretzel had elevated white blood count ( which could mean anything he said) and clearly had an upset tummy.  

UGH.

I'm just so annoyed thinking about it.  The vet said that if he didn't get better next they'd want to do explorative surgery, which I am not going to do because I don't believe it is due to him ingesting something.

Pretzel hasn't gotten really any better OR any worse.  He's basically stayed the same  He is still around because I'm doing my best to try and help him.  I don't want to lose him.  I feel like there must be SOMETHING we can do... But I don't feel like I have the vet on my side  My other cat (same age) was also in the bathroom... but she isn't the type to drink something like that.  And I should have known better than to leave that in there.  Pretzy eats anything  which makes me feel guilty.

I was using 2 types of paint, and oil based primer and a latex.

What's done is done, and there is nothing you can do about it, but to learn from it. From now on, don't ever, ever leave cats around anything they can eat or drink that's not food or water....
Ok..... I really, really think you need a new vet. Can he be saved? Yes, otherwise he wouldn't be alive. But I really, really think you need to take him to a competent vet who will listen AMD work with you.

if you think he can get well, I might try another vet.  I don't want to end up someplace else and waste more money on someone completely incompetent.    

Maybe I'll call around tomorrow and see if I can find some place that sounds like they can help.  is that the best step to take next?  His body isn't too far gone yet, right?  His fur looks better than it did 2 weeks ago when I brought him into the vet.  he jumps on the counter at times looking for food when he smells something cooking or looks hungry, he just won't eat.  and when I syringe feed him, he flips out when it gets into his stomach  poor tummy is probably burned or something  

what stinks is that he just had to get sick when we're in the hole.  That is the worst part.  this couldn't have happened when we were more stable financially.    Guess I need to get cracking on getting some classes to help pay for it.  He is a great cat.  Spunky and so much fun.  Always into trouble, but that is what makes life interesting!  I miss his crazy antics  And my other kitty misses her playmate I sure hope he can be helped.

Oh the little stinker!  He didn't even get that pepcid earlier! I just went to feed him and found it sticking against the side of his face.  goober!  he pretended to swallow the darn thing.

Yes hun, I really do think that's the best thing to do. Ask your friends who have pets, maybe they have a great vet to refer you. Put a thread here with your location asking for a vet, maybe someone will come along. Where are you? The fact he is fighting you is a good sign!
Go to carecredit.com apply for it. You can use it for veterinary care

Oh yes, he fights REALLY good.  He is such a stinker!  And I found him in one of his old 'hiding places' last night.  He was sleeping in the cabinet drawer  Stuff like that is reassuring to me... At least he's keeping up with his crazy personality

Sometimes a cat's appetite is stimulated if you use some really smelly food.  Also, sometimes it helps to warm it just a little in the microwave.  I agree with Carolina's advice.  You need a vet that is doing something now.  Is the cat using the litter box in a normal fashion.  Are his stools normal looking.  I really hope you find a way, financially and with a caring vet to help this little kitty. 

he is using the bathroom, but the poop is still dark looking.  

I just called the vet back.  They said that they wouldn't do anything for the 'potential ulcer' 'potential poisoning', because it would just be like pulling a card from a deck and guessing.  and that if I brought him back in, they'd redo the bloodwork and xray,. and then give him MORE antibiotics.  and then if that didn't help, exploratory surgery. which I'm not going to do.  

so I called another vet.  they basically said that there isnt' really anything they can tell me, short of coming in for an appt.  sigh.  which will mean more blood work and more xray.  I just don't know what to do here.  I could keep calling around, but I'm about out of cell phone minutes.  I feel so frustrated.

You need an ultrasound, not an xray.....

I guess I just don't understand WHY they don't believe me.  Why they won't try and treat him for paint poisoning.  WHY??  this is very frustrating to me.  

Because it's been a couple of weeks and your cat is nit getting better.... And that is very likely not consistent with what they think it would ne going on if the problem was due to ingesting painting.... And they don't want to guess, while there might be a bigger, or entirely different issue behind his illness.
So, as I said, imho, if I were you, I would really go for an ultrasound. I would not be just doing what you are doing right now. And an xray is not going to show you. I rather do an exploratory surgery, frankly, than nothing. I am being completely honest here.....

Thank you  

You are welcomed Hun
I think the thought process of the vets is, if this was inoxication, the reaction would had been critical for a few days, but after that kitty would gotten better. Thing is, time has passed and the kitty hasn't gotten better.
There was a kitty here who was in a similar situation (minus the paint - plus vomiting), and it ended up being that the kitty had eaten a door stopper cover, and that had created such an inflammation, it had given the kitty pancreatitis. Once the door stopper was removed the kitty got better pretty fast.
So..... you see? There could be MANY things.
Did the paint solidify inside the kitty and caused inflammation? You know how latex is kind of gummy? Could that be a possibility? We don't know. Yes, there is the possibility of being ulcer - BUT that in ONE possibility - there are more.... And a vet will not just take the easiest route as it is not always the safest route to the kitty.
I know it is scary to think about a big surgery like that.... It is, I agree. However, antibiotics on the top of antibiotics, IMHO won't do much.... Just complicate things, I think.
And if there is something in there that needs to come out, he will only get better once it is removed.
The bottom line is this: You don't have much time - because he needs nutrition. If you can't give him all the nutrition he needs by syringe feeding, he is risking ending up with liver failure. And that is a road that you don't want to take.
I do think you can have a lot of answers from an ultrasound.
As I said, instead of looking in the yellow pages for a vet who will do what you want - talk to friends who have pets for a while. Friends who are animal lovers, and get a recommendation for a GOOD vet.
Apply for carecredit. http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/ You can make small payments....
Anyways..... Sorry I can't be of more help.

That makes a lot of sense.  Maybe I just need to surrender him to someone who can give him the care he needs.  We can't afford something with payments right now.  It just isn't in the budget  And that sounds bad.  But maybe I could give him to someone who could help him.  He's a sweet kitty.  I've done so much for him to help him.  I just feel like now I've done all I can.  I feel like I've exhausted all means that I can possibly exhaust from things I can do.  I love him, he is the best... but at the same time we can't put ourselves in more of a financial bind.  We have a lot going on with the kids on special diets etc, and it is expensive. I know my hubby won't let me take him in for something else.  He sees the cat right now as a lost cause that isn't going to get better.  I can't see him agreeing to spending more on him  Which breaks my heart.  he is just 1.  we got him as a kitten and he is my little sweetie.  ok, off to cry some tears.\

thank you for all of your help, I really do appreciate it.