17 y/o with health and other odd issues

Ok, I'm new to this site so plz be patient with me. I have had Cohiba (male 17 y/o Maine Coon) ever since he was just a kitten. He now has developed within the past year a "bump" distal to his nasal cavity which has continued to grow. It does not cause him any pain whatsoever, is just odd and looks somewhat like a skin tag but now concerns me as it continues to grow. Also I have included pics which one shows how his fang teeth gums have receded tremendously as well.


He now also has an odd tendency of when even lightly touched on his left back side, he immediately turns to that side, biting and "convulsing". Somewhat like a compulsive reaction to a touch. These fits go on and on for maybe 30 seconds if not longer and sometimes he has them spontaneously but do not seems like seizures just licking, biting himself but he will flip and turn. Very strange.

He also will not routinely use his litter box for urinating or pooping. He won't go on my belongings but will go on my husbands or my sons clothes. I clean the litter box once and twice a day and now put him in it three and four times a day and with a reward i.e. Treat which has gotten better. He was at a point where he urinated over my head while I was sleeping ...... I will tell you ....I'm at a critical point with him. Putting him in the litter box ever couple hours has helped but he will still randomly poop in odd places even when it is clean and it will be right next to him and he only stays in the bedroom.

I'm am going crazy. He was once such a great cat, I love him so, he is part of my family but is now just gone insane or is rebelling so to speak. I don't want to put him down and I know need to take him to a vet but we recently moved and do not know of a vet I feel I can trust locally and of course money if always an issue. Please, please help us. Thank you for all your input.

Gwen and Cohiba

your cat needs a vet. he is suffering big time. call your old vet and get a referral or go anywhere because its better than what you're doing now.

I would second a vet visit. There are many signs that something is not right with him.

I am sorry you're having trouble with your cat.
Given the multiple issues Cohiba is having, and as you probably know deep down in your heart/head, I believe you need to take him to the vets. Have you met your neighbors yet--do they have pets? Maybe get a recommendation from them. The only thing worse than a bad vet is no vet at all, in this case.
I have NO idea what the growth is near Cohiba's nose; hopefully someone else on this site will know and respond.
Regarding peeing outside the litter box: your cat, given her age, could be developing kidney problems; a simple blood work would determine whether this is the case. Or developing a UTI; if your cat stops peeing, this is a life threatening emergency. Literally.
Or reacting to stress of the new move. For the latter, you can see if Feliway might help. You can buy Feliway on line for cheaper than in a big box pet store.
Finally,
"He now also has an odd tendency of when even lightly touched on his left back side, he immediately turns to that side, biting and "convulsing". Somewhat like a compulsive reaction to a touch. These fits go on and on for maybe 30 seconds if not longer and sometimes he has them spontaneously but do not seems like seizures just licking, biting himself but he will flip and turn. Very strange."
Ritz has similar symptoms, though they are entirely spontaneous, and not related to when I touch her. Does Cohiba kind of run up and down a hallway trying to escape what ever might be bitting him? Check out this article and see if it sounds like what Cohiba is experiencing.
Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

I had a tuxedo cat that developed the same seizure problem when he was washing/licking his right flank when he was about 16. He always seemed surprised afterwards. He became very cautious about washing in that area. We could see him assessing the possibility of a seizure and deciding whether to wash that area or not. He felt more secure if we put a supporting hand on his other side while he washed the betraying right side. He had them occasionally for about 6 months and then they stopped. He lived two more years. We never did figure out why. 

Good luck at the vets.

Oh thank you so much for your response. He doesn't run away from himself but goes in a circle. He does seems very confused by it all though and licks prior to it all happening. I don't get it.

Thanks to Ritz who sent me an article on Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome which is exactly what Cohiba suffers from. Called my vet back home to get some feedback from her on where we start.

Just read that the other symptoms of this is under controlled urination......explaining my my cat wld urinate on top of my head while I sleep. Ewwww.

Ok, did a ton of reading. Acupuncture works too so contacted my friend who does acupuncture and will let u know. So excited.

My friend, who rescued Ritz four years ago, is now an acupuncturist.
Ritz is a skittish cat, to put it mildly. She shook about 60% of the time while my friend was giving her a treatment.
Acupuncture did not help Ritz' FHS, although it did make her calmer for about a day.
If I had the money--and if the drive to my friend's house wasn't so traumatizing or long, I'd get Ritz regular accupuncture treatments. More for her fear/trust issues, than FHS.
Check out the threads on FHS and how to mitigate the symptoms of FHS.
That said, I do think a vet visit is still warranted--just to, among other things, rule out a medical (non FHS) reason for the change in behavior.

Did you take him to the vet about that growth? It could be cancer, and your kitty could be in a great deal of pain. Cat's hide their pain very well, and it shows in various other ways such as behaviour changes IE: inappropriate urination.

Please, please, take him to the vet if you haven't already done so.

Any updates?

Yes and so sorry been crazy here. Have an appt with a vet who works herbal remedies along with acupuncture and is familiar with FHS. Alsi just so happened to turn on the Animal Plant and watch My Cat From Hell and there was an episode on FHS. I have him more on a schedule so to speak, checking in on him often as he stays in one room and give him treats when we visit and not once has he gone outsode the litter box in over a week now and his episodes have diminished dramatically. Thank God for all your help. Now on to his other issues. It is all about schedules with cats like this and repeation along with love and patience. Huge hugs and thanks.