Constipation and bloated stomach

Hi all

I last posted here a few months ago when I had ongoing concerns about my (then) 9 month old rescue kitten Sam's diet.  Fortunately we got it sorted in the end.  He is now happily eating well and also we found a dry food, (James Wellbeloved) that has absolutely no cereal in it.  He loves this and we give him a very small amount as a treat every day.

My new concern is about my old 15 year old cat Tim (both my cats are indoor cats by the way).  Tim is the avatar photo I use above.  That photo was taken many years ago and he has slimmed down a lot since then!  He had a full physical around December and the vet said he was fine, but borderline hyperthyroid.  I know all about hyperthyroidism in cats as I experienced it with a cat I owned previously.

Looking down at Tim yesterday, I noticed that he suddenly has developed extremely swollen sides.  When you press them it feels like a balloon.  He does not seem to be in any pain, not yowling, but is eating less than he normally does, and drinking more than usual.  Not very much more I might add.  He has never been a great drinker.

I have been very busy lately, and it transpires my husband has been overfeeding Tim with the dry food we give mainly to the younger Sam I mentioned above, "as he loves it."  Tim normally only poops every other day,  but passed a minuscule "cigarette" sized poop about 6 days ago, and one a bit larger - the last time he went 3 days ago, after which he was scooting on the carpet. He is not attempting to poo either when he does go to the litter box.  I have also noticed some dried faeces around his anus too.  However, he is not licking his bottom, he is not vomiting or retching.  His waterworks seem okay and smell okay.  He seems fairly bright, he never has been a cat to run around either, so his inactivity is normal for him.  However, I am really concerned about the bloating.  Could this be the result of constipation or something sinister that has just happened out of the blue?

Shirley 

Bloating can certainly happen with constipation, and a change in diet to dry food could cause that.

But there can be other reasons for bloating, and I'd be inclined to get him to the vet.. best not to wait until the more obvious symptoms occur.

If you treat him for constipation, and there's a blockage of some kind, it will make things worse.

I am absolutely gutted. Never in a million years would I have thought that Tim had the wet form of FIP. He was put to sleep today. I don't know what this means for young Sam who is one year old and so far is as fit as a flea. We have been advised to get him tested for FIPin 3 months. In the meantime, we have thrown out absolutely everything cat related in the flat, and replaced it with brand new. We have disinfected well too, but I am a real regular house cleaner, so I hope that might have helped. I have no idea how Tim contracted FIP. I guess he may have been born with it. He came from a house with three other cats who had basically been left to fend for themselves. Also he lived with two other rescue cats here with us. Neither of those died of FIP. We spoke to the lady from Cat Action Trust where we got Sam from. and she said her cats did not have FIP. Bearing in mind they deal with mainly feral cats, who bear kittens indoors ( as Sam was) I think it is highly likely that they do have FIP but she is not going to admit that.

All I can say is that Tim had a great life with us for 15 years. He had the best of everything we could provide. He even had some fun and games with young Sam who he gently took under his wing from the very first day he arrived in our home last November. At the end, which was very peaceful, he did not suffer, and I reckon he knew it was the end, from the way he looked at me when we had a little "talk" before I took him to the vets, and the very calm attitude he had at the vets while being examined. Suffice to say, he may be gone physically, but I have two lovely photographs of him on my wall. I loved him more than any other cat I have ever had. He was so gentle and kind. To me he is irreplaceable.

I am so very sorry. RIP Tim.

OMG, that's shocking!  I'm SO sorry .  Who would ever dream he would have FIP . Did he ever go outdoors? 

for young Sam.

No. He never went out ever. He was a completely indoor cat. Just goes to show what can happen doesn't it?