One cat already very sick, now another showing similar symptoms.

I have 3 cats, but the oldest started vomiting and having extreme diarrhea a couple months ago and with huge weight loss.  Took him to the vet and they did every test they could and all they could find is air in his intestines, wanted me to go to a specialty hospital and have a bunch more tests, but I am trying to treat him with different food.  He is still over pooping, but it isn't all runny anymore, not a normal feces, but better.  He is still very thin and wants to eat all the time (no his thyroid was checked).  Now another younger cat is showing signs of diarrhea, not as bad as his, but she just started doing this and her appetite seems the same.  Does anyone have any idea of what could be going on  here?  I haven't taken  her to the vet yet, the last ordeal cost me about $800.00 within a couple weeks to find out basically nothing.  I am concerned the first cat may have cancer, but after doing a lot of research found that chemo or treatment can only prolong their lives a short time and I do not want to put him through that if that is what it is.  He is very hard to medicate, gets stressed at the vet, etc.  It just isn't worth it to put him through so much.  Please help if anyone can.  Thank You. Forgot the youngest cat seems fine so far.  The oldest was checked for everything possible via blood and x-rays.

Was your kitty tested for tritrichomonus foetus via a stool sample sent off to a lab?

http://www.highgait.com/page/page/3485008.htm
 

http://www.idexx.com/view/xhtml/en_...tories/testmenu/innovative-tests/real-pcr.jsf

Was he checked for diabetes?

His stool was checked twice, I took him to 2 vets. I don't know if they checked for that specific thing, what is that by the way? They also gave me some powdered stuff to put on his food at first in case they missed any parasites or anything, that didn't work either.  I don't know what to do with now the other cat showing some of these signs.  They checked for diabetis, heartworms, thyroid problems and most diseases that you can do through blood.  Would that cause these symptoms in more than one cat?  I so appreciate a response, I was wondering if I was going to get one.  Thank you!
 

Yes he was checked for diabetis.

Dawn Harvey said:

Yes he was checked for diabetis.

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Sorry I misspelled, diabetes.

It's got to be something that can be transmitted to both cats if the other one is showing symptoms. I'm wondering if it could be anything in the house itself. For instance, I don't use harsh cleaning agents, I only use vinegar and water. It kills germs and is not toxic to pets. I don't have any air fresheners as those can irritate their lungs and cause breathing problems, etc. No burning essential oils, those are very toxic to cats. Try also changing their brand of cat litter and see if that helps. Could be something in the cat litter? I'm just throwing out ideas. Could they have gotten into something in the house that they ate? No poinsettias in the house right? Those are toxic. 

I don't think it's anything here, I've lived here for almost 8 years and so have they and I do what I do then as now.  I use bleach on occasion when I really want to disinfect something, but I use a lot of vinegar and water too.  Nothing scented that is unhealthy, no plants at all.  I gave them up when my cats were (many years ago) peeing in them.  And I know it has to be something that is transmittable I just don't know what it is.  What is FIP and I know there is not test for it, but how common is that?  And these are indoor cats, they do not go outside at all. And the first cat that started exhibiting these symptoms is very thin now and eats ravenously.  He bugs me for food all day long.  The other one isn't.  I don't know what to do, the vet didn't diagnose the first one.
 

FIP is highly unlikely in my view.

There are lots of things they could have in their stool which don't normally get tested for.  Someone posted a place you can send stools away to (if you are in the US) that was a lot cheaper than the vet doing it but I can't remember which thread it was in.  Although they don't go out you do, and it's possible you've walked a parasite of some kind in on your shoes.

But there might be some completely different explanation - it might be food-related for example.

With the first one that is the sickest I have changed his food.  He wouldn't eat canned (he likes canned food) I/D, but he will eat the dry and now I give him Friskies Sr. and that has helped.  I tired a raw diet, but he won't go for that.  The other cat isn't nearly as bad, at least not yet.  I am going to call the vet today and try to find the place you are talking about to send the samples too.  Thank you.

What-were-you-feeding,when-all-this-started?

Dawn Harvey said:

<snip> I am going to call the vet today and try to find the place you are talking about to send the samples too.  Thank you.

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I will be amazed if they tell you.  Hopefully whoever it was here will reply.  You *might* find it with the search - it's certainly in the last 3 months, probably the last two.

I fed them what I have for years, Friskies canned and dry food both.  And 9-lives as well.  Never had any problems until about 2 months ago.

I just found that out, I called the vet and no doctor is in, but the man I spoke with said they need to see her (the new one that's getting diarrhea) so I am going to try to find that lab you're talking about, thanks for telling me about it. 

Can you get them onto something better for food? Those foods have grains in them and are very low quality. I've seen 9 Lives give MANY, MANY kitties A LOT of issues like this. Grain free is much better and might help these issues a lot. 

Can you suggest some, I have my really sick one on dry I/D, he won't eat the canned of that type and Friskies SR. which has helped him some.  He doesn't like the prescribed foods.  Aren't there any other brands you can buy that the vet doesn't tell you about?

Yes, absolutely!!! The best kinds are Nature's Variety, Evo, Merrick, Weruva, Natural Balance. Those are all grain free and MUCH better than prescription foods. The vets push prescribed foods because they sell them and get a profit from it. Sometimes they do help but the ingredients are horrible. 

I agree with you on the vet prescribed foods. :-(

I believe that because my cat can't stand them.  Where do you buy them at?   I live in a sort of small area.  I really appreciate this.

Do you have a Petco anywhere near you? You can get them there or a holistic pet food store. You could also try a feed store, sometimes they have some of the holistic pet food brands.