Stress is killing my cat.

So recently my cat rapidly lost weight. VERY rapidly. A few days ago she was still fat and happy (maybe not happy) but then yesterday I was petting her and I could feel her spine and ribs etc. She's the thinnest she's ever been in the 9 short years she's been alive. She straight up refuses to eat any food. I tried her normal dry food, putting catnip in it, cat treats, chicken, and wet food. She drank some of the gravy if the wet food but she didn't actually eat any of the real food in it. 

She's also been breathing oddly. Just kind of slow and staggered. But a few minutes ago she started breathing a lot faster for no apparent reason. Just laying on my mattress and then suddenly it's like she's gasping for air. She also has been laying down a lot gentler than usual. I have speculations that she has arthritis because she's been kind of slow and careful for a while, but now it takes her a good 30 seconds to lay all the way down and get comfortable. Earlier I picked her up because she wanted off of the perch that I put her on, and I dropped her not an inch from the ground and she fell! She looked like a baby horse learning how to walk. Her legs fell out from under her. That's never happened before

I won't be able to afford to take her to the vet until the 25th. I just need to keep her alive for 5 more days, but I fear that I'm going to wake up to see my dead cat any day now. She's like this because she's stressed. We're moving out of our apartment so there are boxes everywhere and there are weird vibes going on right now. I can't really do anything about that until we move out and even then car rides stress her out incredibly. I don't want her to starve to death or die from stress. She's the only thing that keeps me holding on... Can you guys help me?

I'm not sure if this advice will be helpful but if it is stress they sell a special collar at the vets or also a diffuser called feliway it helps calm the cat and relieve stress especially during situations like moving. I honestly feel the symptoms sound like something more than stress but you could try the collar or diffuser if you can't afford a vet visit right now. If its stress, it will help. I just bought the collar and it was $17 and you don't need a vet visit to buy it. I hope this helps some! But definitely have her see a vet when you can if it's something respiratory it cannot wait 5 days. Hope this was helpful!

You need to get her to the vet NOW. Her symptoms are NOT a reaction to stress. She is very sick.

You need to be concerned about heart problems. You need to be concerned about developing fatty liver disease from not eating. Both of these can be fatal.

Wow, that is a hard one. If it is only stress then you will need to make it as easy on her as possible and perhaps leave one area of the house as untouched as possible to give her someone where to hide. You may want to look at pain meds for her joints and for her stress. My cat gets 0.20cc twice a day of Buprenophine which really helps his pain. He used to take a long time lying down but now it is much easier for him. The pain meds also help reduce stress and they don't seem to make the cat seem like it is drugged up.

Is she breathing normally at any time or is it always laboured? She has to eat and drink so this is the top priority and you need to find a way to make it happen. If you have a good vet then you can also phone them up and explain the problem and see if they have any suggestions. I am sure they could also credit the visit if it is really needed and then you pay them back when you have the coin.

Yes, what you need to do is syringe her.

She will die if she continues to not eat, and you don't mention about water, but the syringing will cover that, as cats dehydrate quickly and are weak and lethargic.

You need to get a syringe first of all, the larger sized ones they have at the pet supply/feed stores, or at any vets office.

She needs a good quality pate canned food like Wellness, you will take 1/4 of the can out, add hot water so it warms it nicely, about 50/50.

Suck it up in the syringe, wrap her up in a towel because if she is eating she is not going to cooperate with being forced to eat, and lay her on your lap or a table, pull her head upwards by her scruff, and slowly syringe into her cheek area, careful not to go too fast, give her time to swallow, etc.

This needs to be done each day, feeding her a full can of the food and she will be getting an equal amt of water.

This will carry her for 5 days.

That sounds like something a lot more serious than just stress. It sounds as if she is in pain. If your cat is refusing to eat her organs will be damaged very soon and this alone could kill her.

You really need to take her to a vet now. Could you write your vet a check and ask them not to cash it until the 25th? Maybe if you explain your situation they would wait a few days for payment.

Please don't wait, it sounds as if there is something seriously wrong with her.

@Norachan  I was just coming back to say exactly that, my husband came in and started to ask me something so I got distracted.

I completely agree with you!

There's no way a cat will starve itself over boxes and commotion like that. No matter HOW stressful it is for them.

There is something more happening.

I wish there was a way to get to the vet right away. 

It could be 20 different things causing this so there's no way for anyone to know by her symptoms, but at 9 years old, there should be alot more life left to live and whatever is causing her not to eat is obviously bothering or hurting her and needs to be seen as soon as you possibly can.

rest in peace

cindykitty said:

rest in peace

Click to expand...

Oh no, what happened? 

Oh.....yes, what happened?

I'n so sorry..........

Hi,

You need to get to a vet immediately.What area do you live?Call all your  local vets,explain and ask if they can treat her and defer payment/set up payment plan,or have you sign paperwork to allow payment from your account when funds are there.Local animal hospitals/Rspca or other organisations,if you explain the urgency,will be able to work out payment options also.Im in Melbourne-Lortsmith Animal Hospital,Lost Dogs Home,RSPCA,etc-most of these places can work out a payment option,call them,explain and ask if they can help.Someone will.Humane society also may be able to help you/refer you(help financially perhaps?) to a vet.If none of this is helpful there is an organisation set up by vets that may help a bit financially but I have to dig out info so msg me if u need it.

  But basically you need to have your cat seen now,and someone will help you.

she puked and then she just died

i guess i'm alone now

I'm so very very sorry.

I'm so sorry you lost her, and so suddenly.
This thread will be closed now out of respect, as per TCS policy.
Please consider writing a thread for her in our Crossing The Bridge forum. Most people find that very helpful.

http://www.thecatsite.com/f/19/crossing-the-bridge