Cat with GI mast cell tumor: PLEASE HELP!

Please if you can offer some advice or direction, I would be most grateful. Please also bear with me as this post may get long.

In February of this year, I took my 11 year old female cat Vegas to the vet because I saw that one of her teeth was becoming infected. At the appointment, the vet was doing the routine exam, and palpated a hard mass in her abdomen. He recommended an X-ray, and some blood work. Upon X-ray, it was apparent that there was a large mass visible in the abdomen. My local vet then referred me to the closest cat oncology center.

I took Vegas to the oncology center and it was then recommended that I have an Ultrasound with needle aspiration to attempt to diagnose the mass. I did that and a few other tests. The test came back positive for mast cell tumor. The ultrasound showed that it was actually two masses attached to her small intestine, and was non-operable. The oncologist did explain that we could try chemo, but it was not something I was interested in putting my precious angel through, and there was no guarantee that it would lengthen her life.

So fast forward to now. Up until Friday, she has been doing great. No change in bowel or eating habits, being her normal self with play and snuggles. Thursday night I went to feed her supper, and realized she had barely eaten any of her morning meal. I left what food was there in  her dish and left for work. I came home Friday morning, and not only had she hardly touched her food, I had to call her out to me. Normally when I come home from work she leaps from the couch to the counter to get her morning snuggles! She was not interested in any of the things we normally do in the morning before I sleep. I went to check the litter box, and there was no poo or pee since I had cleaned it Thursday in the AM.

I called my local vet and they were able to work me in that afternoon. On the way to the vet, Vegas did pee and have a really small poo in her carrier. They took her vital signs, and did a routine exam. The vet basically reminded me, in a gentle way, that her condition is terminal, and this could be a sign of her worsening. She said that she could run some blood work but that it would not really change the outcome. She gave me a bottle of prednisone and an antibiotic to give to her.

So today she is still very lethargic, walking very stiffly and slowly, not really interested in her normal routine. This is the first night she has not slept with me since I rescued her as a kitten. She will not jump on the bed or the couch. She is drinking water today, and she ate some of her treats that she likes, but the litterbox is still empty.

I am having a really hard time with this as she was fine a few days ago, and as a matter of fact on Sunday, my family was talking about how great she looked for a cat that was told she had only three months maybe left to live.

Does anyone have any insight as to whether this is related to her cancer, or is something else going on here?

Please help me. I am beside myself here.

Thank you to anyone that reads this far.

I am so sorry that it is Vegas' decline that's the reason you found us here at TheCatSite. I'm not a vet, nor have I had experience with this situation. Some members have, and I'm sure they'll have information to share with you. But it seems likely that it is the cancer that has led to this abrupt decline.

Keep in mind that cats are very good at hiding things when they feel poorly or in pain. Try to celebrate the fact that rather than 3 months  after the diagnosis you've had Vegas with you, alert, and loving, and happy, for 10 months.

We love them, and they never live as long as we do. It is clear that you love Vegas, and she loves you. Tell her this. Make her comfortable. And know that everyone here offers you their sympathy at this hard, hard time.

It could be related in that she isn't eliminating. Constipation will add to a kitty's discomfort and they won't eat.  I would agree with you though that making her last days more comfortable and familiar is the way to go rather than subjecting her to procedures that may not change the outcome.

You could mix some miralax in the water, since she is drinking that. That may help things move on through so she is at least not uncomfortable due to that. While I'm also not familiar with the progression of this particular condition, did the vet say that the tumor is interfering with her colon? Did the vet notice a back up of feces in the x ray?

When I took her to the vet yesterday she did pee and have a bowel movement. She has not attempted to use the litter box at all today so far.

She was diagnosed in February. At that time there was no blockage, and indeed she has been having two bowel movements daily until this Friday.

I haven't had any additional X-rays done since the initial diagnosis. I'm assuming the tumors are growing, but the vet yesterday didn't think there was a blockage because she hasn't had any vomiting.

I guess this is just very hard for me to deal with because even though I knew she had cancer, there had been no symptoms. I am just trying to get a read on whether this could be related to the cancer or something else.

I gave her a dose of the prednisolone but so far it seems it has only made her thirsty.

Thank you for responding. I am extremely upset seeing my angel not feeling well and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to respond to our distress.

I can certainly empathize. It's very difficult when our little friends are ill and especially going through this. Perhaps it gives some comfort knowing that just being by her and loving her makes her own discomfort less.

Also you might want to see if the vet has some forti flora packets. That might entice her to eat just in case she still has some time, but that the illness is making it harder for her to enjoy her daily routines.

It could be related.  I had a standard poodle who had mammary cancer, eventually it spread up into her spine which made it extremely difficult for her to walk.  The not eating/drinking would make it so she isn't going to have anything to go to the bathroom.    Toward the end of my poodles life she quit eating/drinking and quit going to the bathroom.  It may be something else but that is my experience with cancer.

She is drinking but is only eating her treats and the liquid of the wet food. She has no desire to be in her normal spots, she goes and lays in the spots farthest away from me. She started meowing but they are not her normal hearty meows. I am giving her one more day of the steroid and antibiotic and if there is no improvement she will have to go to the vet again Monday.

I am utterly devastated because I feel she may be dying!

My cat was diagnosed with the same cancer in October except it's also in his lymph nodes.  I'm glad to know that he was doing so well.  We opted for Chemo treatments.  He is significantly improved.  However, the disease and the treatment have similar side effects.  So it's difficult to know the cause of his symptoms now. 

Did things improve or did you take Vegas back to the vet? 

Vegas was diagnosed in February of 2013. I opted for no chemo as I was told it may not even prolong her life and I couldn't put her through it even if I could afford to. She was asymptomatic until Dec 6. She deteriorated rapidly from there and I took her to the emergency clinic on the 8th. The vet told me nothing more to be done, and she was put to sleep at the ER.

She lived six months longer than was predicted.

RIP Vegas. I will love you always!

RIP Vegas =( My thoughts are with you