Cat is Very Sick - Please Help

Returning from a deployment in December, the person watching my house told me my cat Clyde threw up all over the house one day, and refused to eat for a day, which for him was unheard of.  As a healthy cat, he was larger than normal at about 16lbs and ate everything in site.  I assumed him puking was due to him eating standard stuff he isn't supposed to eat as he seemed normal.  As the months went on, I noticed he was losing weight.  I tried different foods but his appetite was not an issue.  He also continued to puke on almost a daily basis.  Occasionally he went days without puking..and some days he would puke a couple/few times a day.  I took him to the vet and he ran numerous tests for kidney, liver, hyperthyroidism among others.  Everything came back ok... the vet decided to put him on blood pressure meds and said it might be hypertension and that if it was a blood pressure issue we would notice a difference right away.  They didn't work, and I started to also notice that Clyde started going to the bathroom anywhere and everywhere.  I put him in the guest bathroom to feed him away from the other cats and in less than 5 minutes he urinated on the floor.  He also doesn't use the litter box most of the time even though they are 100% clean.  I took him back to the vet and he decided to give him hyperthyroid meds even though the test came back ok.  He said I would notice a difference by today...and I have not.  He is still puking, and going to the bathroom everywhere.  I am not sure what to do at this point.. the vet says if this doesn't work it would be most likely intestinal cancer.  I am sure I left some information out.. but to sum it up:

December-February

Clyde continued to lose weight 12-13 lbs

puking got worse

became more tired and moved around less and less

appetite was great

March-May 10-12

Clyde continued to lose weight

puking stayed the same mostly.. sometimes it was better - went 10 days once with no puking

still tired

appetite was great

May-Now 7-8 lbs

puking the same

going to the bathroom out of the litterbox

appetite was great

He has also had a gurgly belly and has gas fairly often.. if you have more questions please ask.. or suggestions please let me know.

Thanks.

Mike

Sounds like IBD or possible cancer but I wouldn't jump to that conclusion.  I hope he isn't going extended periods without eating or keeping anything down because of fatty liver disease.  There are several threads going in the nutrition forum about IBD diets but it's basically what works for the cat.  The standard is a grain free wet diet and a novel protein that he doesn't normally eat.  But it's a trial and error thing, my IBD kitty does better with a little rice in his food.  

I think a new vet would be a good idea.  This vet sounds like he's just trying to treat different things without the test results to show that he has the problem.  IBD usually isn't a definitive diagnoses but my vet didn't try treating this and that.  She ruled those things out with tests.  I would try a novel protein grain free wet for now and find a good preferably feline only vet to check him out.

The vet ruled out IBD..I forget how.  I'll ask but how can you rule out IBD?  I think the vet did a number of tests to rule out kidney/liver issues as well.  I'll look to see what I can find as far as a cat only vet.. I live in a small town, and am on a time crunch as I am deploying again.  I'd like for it to be something that can be treated... we never did try any different types of food for IBD.. 

The only way to definitely diagnose IBD is with a biopsy from the intestinal wall.  That wouldn't rule it out only possibly find it.  If the biopsy doesn't come from the right area then it will be negative even if the cat does have it.  I know the problems with finding a vet.  I grew up in a rural area and vets pretty much only treated lifestock.  Even in a larger urban area where I am now I went through three vets and finally the fourth one was good. 

I don't know what you have access to for pet stores.  I know PETCO sells some of the grain free like Nature's Variety in novel proteins like venison and lamb.

Ok.. I'll go with some food and see what that does.. also try to find a vet.. anything else?  What about going to the bathroom anywhere?  Vet said thats usually a sign of hyperthyroidism.. but meds are not working.. 

The bathroom problem could be because he feels bad.   Are you using an enzyme cleaner to clean up?  Without using a special cleaner he will be drawn back to those same places because of the scent.  A lot of people like a product called Nature's Miracle.  There is also one call Nok Out.  Jackson Galaxy recommends a carbon dioxide cleaner called Fizzion.  There is also a type of litter called Cat Attract that is supposed to be good for correcting litter box problems.   For now along with cleaning up with the right cleaner I would concentrate on getting him feeling better.

I have not used a special cleaner... they are usually random places... not the same place.  For example.. the place he was sleeping had puke and poop on it.. almost as if he puked and pooped at the same time.. I'm not all that concerned about the bathroom issue.. I just want him better and want to make sure I exhaust every option prior to deciding to put him down.

I would ask the vet about doing a steroid trial because this would help lymphoma and ibd.

My girlfriend just reminded me... initially the vet gave clyde a cortisone shot because he thought it was IBD... he said it would help him almost immediately.. that's how the vet ruled out IBD.  So... does that actually rule out IBD, or is there still a chance it could be IBD.. and not cancer?

Yes it is still very likely be IBD, cortisone does not work for all cats. As Denice stated the only diagnoses for IBD is a biopsy. My cat also had a chronic vomiting issue ((http://www.thecatsite.com/t/259470/vomiting-bile-possible-blockage-in-ragodoll-what-to-ask-vet) and I believe he very likely has IBD but I have not done the biopsy. What worked for me was diet change and supplements which I will discuss below.

What I would recommend is to get Cernia immediately this will stop the vomiting and in my opinion it is pretty irresponsible of the vet not to have tried this yet. I would also get some subcutaneous fluids injected because I am sure the poor guy is dehydrated

What kind of food are you feeding him? I agree to try the nature's variety either instinct or pride wet food is a good option. Get a novel protein like lamb or duck, this food really helped my cat. I also have been giving my cat these vitality science supplements to him and I feel they are really helping (http://www.vitalityscience.com/v/AllProducts/Cat-Diarrhea-Vomiting/feline-Diarrhea-Vomiting.asp). My cat is doing so much better after switching him to an all wet diet and giving him these supplements.

Here is a great site by a vet on feline nutrition that has a section on IBD (www.catinfo.org) and here is a great article on IBD by another vet (http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease/)

I agree the litter box issue is probably because he is not feeling well. Also could be due to the fact that the vet is giving him medication for issues he does not seem to have and I would find a new vet and get them to help you take him off this unnecessary medication. Did he even have high blood pressure? It seems insane to me to give a cat blood pressure medication and not cerenia when they have chronic vomiting!

Though has the vet checked him for a urinary infection because he may have developed one due to dehydration from all the vomiting?

Ok.. I picked up some food from Petsmart.. I tried to stick with moist duck grainless, but also got some dry food in the case he eats it (we have other cats too and don't want to risk him eating food that doesn't work well with him).  We picked up Wilderness dry, and Natural Choice (nutra?) and Wilderness food.  It's all I had access to immediately.  Are these good foods?  He has a vet appointment tomorrow..with a different vet..so I will ask to get Cernia, as well as some other things... I will also order the supplements tonight .. anything else that might help make him feel better/get better?

Great glad you have an appointment and got some food. Is he eating? Will he eat the wet? If he will eat enough wet that is great but it is fine to start the transition to wet with kibble as well so he gets enough calories/ will eat the wet. Sprinkling some kibble or treats on top of wet is a great way to get them to eat it and this is what I did with my cat. The two kibbles you got are no means the worst. Is the natural choice grain free? Quite a few people on here feed wilderness though recently there were some issues with the food (http://www.thecatsite.com/t/258997/blue-buffalo).

Good luck with the vet and keep us posted!

Those are fine.  Mainly see if we will eat the wet.  If not which isn't unusual for kibble eaters try putting some crushed kibble on top.  Of course if he will have nothing to do with the wet then give him some dry.  Whichever dry has the fewest grains or is grain free.  If you have to resort to dry mix a little of the new dry with what he has been eating.  Hopefully he will eat the wet with no kibble. I am glad he is seeing another vet tomorrow.

For some more treatment ideas and supplements you might want to check out http://www.ibdkitties.net/index.html this site has a lot of information for cats with IBD

I fed him the new food today... didn't eat a whole lot of it.. and he seems to be getting weaker..  He tried to jump onto the couch tonight with us and couldn't do it.  I had to help him up.. Hoping thats just a lack of calories and feeling weak.. and that it's not too late.  I'll see what the wet says.. trying to feed him wet food as often as he wants...