Sick Cat/Advice Needed.

My cat is approx. 8 years old, male, orange tabby and he has been exhibiting some odd behavior lately.

It all started about a week ago with me catching him doing that UNF UNF UNF upchucking sound, you probably know what I mean.

Then in the same day I saw him chewing on a plant leaf here in my house, a common house plant, I think it's called a "Wandering Jew".

He's rapidly losing weight, not eating, and won't pee or poop.

He often opens his mouth as if he's going to yawn, but licks a bit then closes it again...

Can you all offer me some advice?

The house has been cold lately, would temperature change do this?

He's been nesting too, hiding under covers and such.

You need to get your boy to a vet ASAP.

I have had several older cats, but I cannot think of anything that any of my brood has had that will help.  Just get your cat to the vet.

Good news is... according to ASPCA, it's not toxic to cats.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/wandering-jew

"Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs Non-Toxic to Cats"

I agree. He needs a vet visit right away. He could have an obstruction. If he hasn't been eating or drinking for a week, he is dehydrated and developing fatty liver disease on top of whatever caused this in the first place. Please don't wait any longer.

He needs to go to the vet like yesterday, if he isn't peeing or pooping he could have a urinary blockage.  Please get your cat to the vet like NOW.

if he is licking his lips he is most likely SEVERELY dehydrated-wrap him in a towel to keep him warm and help u syringe water into him on your way to the vet

One of the times one of my cats was  very sick, I was told to spoon gatorade into his mouth.  I was also told to do this test:

Grab a piece of the skin between the shoulder blades, and pull it up.  If that skins repositions itself almost immediately, your cat is not dehydrated.  If it takes several seconds and up to a minute, then yes, the cat is dehydrated.  Gatorade is in order.

I also was told to look at the cat's gums.  If they are a normal type of pink, then the cat is not anemic.  But if the gums are almost white, or a very pale pink, then the cat is anemic, and could have internal bleeding.

vball91 said:

He could have an obstruction. If he hasn't been eating or drinking for a week, he is dehydrated

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I should have been a little bit more clear, he's not eating NORMALLY, He is eating a little bit at a time, and does drink small amounts, normally he wolfs down LOTS of food, loves to eat.

As for the poopy and pee, he did poop today, a twisty mess of black HARD stool, and did pee as well.

ADDED INFORMATION:

He pooped today, hard black twisty stool.

Stopped eating his normal crumble food altogether, I've read cats won't eat what they can't smell, so I've been dribbling tuna juice on his crumbles and giving him tuna meat or wet tinned cat food, which he IS a little more receptive to.

Seems to help him eat more if I stay with him and stroke his back and talk calmly to him, keeps him engaged in the food.

Today he also played a little bit on the bed, batted at his favorite stuffed lizard, chased his bell on a string around the bed, with quite good energy.

He has had a slight drippy nose, with a few little sniffles now and then, which leads me to believe it may be some sort of cold brought on by colder temperatures in our region, thus making the inside of the house colder, he is however an indoor cat, doesn't go outside ever & hasn't been in contact with ANY other animals, he's been doing things to keep warmer than he normally does, sleeping in front of the baseboard heater, nuzzling his way underneath the bed blankets, cuddling alot.

He has been looked at by a friend who works in a Veterinarian office, this person thinks it may just be a kitty cold hence the reason for not being able to smell his food and in turn, not eating.

All the info you guys give is greatly appreciated and welcomed.

Hope to hear more from you all soon.

EDIT: I should be more clear about the poop, it was indeed hard and black but ZERO blood was evident, just hard, black stool with no moisture in it.

If you can't get him to the vet right away try an old time hairball remedy. Put a glob (thimble size or less) of Vaseline on one of his front paws.

penticton said:

 
EDIT: I should be more clear about the poop, it was indeed hard and black but ZERO blood was evident, just hard, black stool with no moisture in it.

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he IS dehydrated...did u do the neck test?

Yes,  please do the skin/neck test.  I described how to do that in my earlier post.

I did do the neck test, it stands up for about a second total, but goes down fairly fast.... Thankyou Angelina for telling me about this dehydration test.

He IS eating today, ate a whole GOOD SIZED serving of tuna with juice on it, and nibbled at his crumbles a bit, also drank a little bit of water, so I think he's recovering, seems like it may have been a little constipation/stuck hairball.

I gave him a half tablet of Senokot (very mild laxative), the half tablet worked out to about 3.2 MG.

Hopefully he poops out the hairball (if thats the case) or at least breaks it down some.

It sounds like your kitty is on the mend.  I truly hope so.  There used to be a hairball remedy called 'Laxitone' available at the vet for large amounts of money.  It may still be there.  But I think you can find something similar in the pet area of your local food or tractor store.

Good Luck!

thankyou, appreciate all the wonderful help.

We'll see what this Senokot tablet does, if it doesn't help I'll look into a different product at the pet store, and definitely BRUSH him more often to cut down these events to a minimum.

UPDATE:

Just a few minutes ago my little one barfed out one of those fabric covered elastic hair bands, the ENTIRE thing, all chewed, wet and yucky of course, followed by some bile looking liquid.

I'm assuming this was the cause to him not eating correctly over the past week or so and things SHOULD get back to normal now as the object is now out.

penticton said:

 
UPDATE:

Just a few minutes ago my little one barfed out one of those fabric covered elastic hair bands, the ENTIRE thing, all chewed, wet and yucky of course, followed by some bile looking liquid.

I'm assuming this was the cause to him not eating correctly over the past week or so and things SHOULD get back to normal now as the object is now out.

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Great to hear! What do you think was what helped him get that out? Just to know in case my babies ever get something similar? 

Coco and Rose said:

 
Great to hear! What do you think was what helped him get that out? Just to know in case my babies ever get something similar? 

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I'm not entirely sure, I did make an appointment to see the Vet by email I swear no less than an hour before he barfed it out, I think just knowing he'd have to go to the Vet scared the bejezzus out of him. hehe

I didn't give him anything special up to that point, only thing I did differently was feed him tuna.

He was heaving with no result for several days before it came up.

I can't say this enough, HIDE ANYTHING SHINY, ELASTICIZED OR THINGS WITH LOOSE STRINGS in your home as cats it seems love to eat these things, I'd also suggest paying close attention to the toys your cat plays with and chews on as loose bits or easily chewed dongles will ultimately end up in kitty's stomach!

u might want to take him to the vet anyway to make sure that it did not twist up his intestines

and include rubber bands in your list