What happened to my cat?

For more than three years, I've had an active, happy-go-lucky kind of cat who loves life, food and the outdoors. One day last week, everything changed. The cat who could eat like a horse stopped eating and drinking altogether, won't leave the house, and is moody and depressed. We have had her checked out for everything under the sun - and don't even ask about the vet bill - but my sweet, happy kitty is just a shell of her former self. It's almost like she had a personality transplant. We are force feeding her via syringe so she doesn't starve or dehydrate, but the vet can't find anything wrong in her blood, x-rays or elsewhere. And nothing major in her environment has changed. She can't shake her funk or whatever is keeping her down. But it came on so quickly and is so out of character, I have a hard time believing its just a mood disorder.
Any ideas or experience here?
If she's grumpy, fine. But I want her to want to eat and to know nothing is wrong with her health wise.

My first suggestion would be take her to the vet immediately, but you have done this and there does not seem to be anything physically wrong with her.  

My second suggestion is that because she is a cat who normally likes to go outside, try and checkout whether there are any new cats or dogs nearby - there maybe territorial issues with a new cat in the area, that are upsetting her.  This I think would undoubtedly cause this sudden change in her behaviour.

Well, unfortunately, my suggestion is a different vet.

A cat that is being force fed and is fading away is definately sick.

A second opinion is imperative.  Please get to a different vet today.  We have seen on this site so many times something one vet misses another picks up on. 

Please get her help today.

Per your suggestion, I have made her an appointment with another doctor. Thank you!
Here is hoping the fourth vet trip gives us some answers.

Hmmm no new cats. But certainly some old strays who she has a love/hate relationship with. One chased her three weeks ago. :-/

Seeking another vet's advice is always a good idea and worth doing to set your mind at rest.  I think if she was really sick, she would be somewhere hiding out away from everyone.  I really do believe this is a psychological problem,  and as you say yourself, she is moody and depressed.  I believe that she has been compromised outside, probably in her own territory, and it has upset her so much, she has gone off her food and won't go out because she is afraid.  I am not a cat psychologist and if this is the root of the problem, cannot advise you what to do, but I would most certainly keep an eye outside on your lawn to look for any cats, new or old, spending an inordinate amount of time there, or in the immediate vicinity.  Has your cat been spayed?

With regard to her not eating and drinking, this is a real worry because of dehydration.  But a few years ago, I had a rescue cat who was so upset, he did not eat or drink for three whole days.  In desperation I contacted the rescue centre and was told, at the end of the day, cats have a real self preservation instinct and will come round.  I racked my brains trying to think how to help this process along and get the cat to eat.  Here is what I did:

I spent a lot of quiet time alone with this cat, cuddling and gently reassuring him, talking quietly to him, and then I started putting little bits of cat food on to his fur.  The reasoning behind this was because cats are such clean creatures, their natural instinct would be to clean their fur.  Therefore, by cleaning their fur, they would taste the food, and hopefully this would start their taste buds going again.  This worked and the cat came round to eating and drinking again slowly but surely.

I believe if there is a psychological problem at the bottom of this, there are medications a vet can give in these circumstances.

When you go to the new vet, ask for a chest x-ray - an x-ray that will show you ALL her organs. Just in case..... And on the blood test, ask for a senior panel, the most complete test they can give you - not only the regular CBC. Also ask for a urinalisys.....

I am very glad you are taking her to another vet.... This is very concerning, and I think there is something really wrong there

An update - i found a new vet on tuesday. We dont totally have all the answers for her funk but the new vet has at least put her on fluids and she is responding well to them.
But she did have a 105 degree temp and a urinary tract infection. Which, not sure how the old vet missed that. They're treating both.
I really do believe the second opinion advice you all gave saved her life. She was fading quickly so I am glad I found this site. I don't think she would have made it much longer without a more proactive approach than simply running tests.

singlecatlady said:

An update - i found a new vet on tuesday. We dont totally have all the answers for her funk but the new vet has at least put her on fluids and she is responding well to them.
But she did have a 105 degree temp and a urinary tract infection. Which, not sure how the old vet missed that. They're treating both.
I really do believe the second opinion advice you all gave saved her life. She was fading quickly so I am glad I found this site. I don't think she would have made it much longer without a more proactive approach than simply running tests.

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Whew! I am so si glad you went to the second vet!
Yeah.... A sudden change of behavior like that very very likely is an indication of an illness. A cat in pain will act off like that...
Good job momma!

Great News!  Let us hope that everything sorts itself out now.

How is your cat getting on?  Is she back to her old self?

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. My kitty got very close to checking out on us and we still aren't quite sure what was wrong with her.
The vet said she could have had some kind of contusion or possibly swallowed a poisonous lizard of some sort. Anyway, he managed to keep her alive long enough to get her through it. Her wobbly balance has stabilized and she is back to the normal kitty we know and love. Going to another vet was good advice. As much as he may not have actually known what was going on, he was more proactive about her treatment than the first vet and kept her alive long enough to get her over what was going on.
So a happy ending for all!