Cat not eating has lymphoma cancer

Hello,

I'm having a very tough time right now not to mention my London. He has lymphoma cancer. He hasn't been eating much but has been drinking. He actually hasn't been eating anything for about 4 or 5 days now. I have tried everything from cooking him food. Giving him chicken and tuna (which he loves) his normal canned food and even a bowl of treats. Nothing. He is drinking water. They have given him and appetite stimulant in addition to his medicine which is suppose to increase his appetite as well. I have had to stop the stimulant because it is a pill and he was hiding from me when he saw me coming. Huge fight to get it into him. The initial medicine for the cancer was pill and liquid (I tried both) which was also a fight. I would come away bloody everytime till they gave him a shot which would last a couple weeks but has the side effect of probably getting diabetes. Since he probably wasn't going to last that long it didn't really matter.

Now he has taken to hiding in new special places. My question is what is left for me to do. I can't stand to see him starve so I set up an appointment to put him to "sleep". He was up and around today wagging his tail and doing his "adventures" outside. Am I being premature in taking him in? This is my first pet as an adult and my first cat ever. Growing up we always had family dogs because my father use to hunt. like I said I have an appointment to bring him in but I don't think I will be able to do this. Some advice would be very helpful right now. Thank you.

Richard

You will know when the time is right.  There's no easy answer to when and how.  It's incredibly dangerous when a cat won't eat for days at a time.  If they are not getting the nutrients that they need it can cause problems that are just as big as the lymphoma.  Call your vet and ask for an opinion on the matter.  Call another vet and get a second opinion.  Do whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable with whatever decision is coming your way.

I am so sorry you are going through this.  As has been said no one here can tell you when it is time.  At this point you could try any human food that he likes.  Everything about a complete balanced diet and best quality food doesn't matter now, if there is something that he likes and will eat that would be fine.

Thank you, I have tried every food I can think of. I even put some food on his fur in he hopes he would groom it off. He groomed every thing but that spot, eventually had to clean it myself. He wont be getting better from the disease and I can't watch him starve to death. Hard to tell if he is in pain or not. I'm sure not eating for 5 days isn't helping and he wasn't eating that much before that. I really don't know if I can go through with this but I don't think I'm doing him any favors by not.. At present I'm keeping him going for me because the decision seems so hard. That's not right for my boy.

I'm so sorry. :rub: It's tough.

If getting him to the vet isn't a major hassle or huge stress, the long-acting steroid shot would help. It *can* cause diabetes. My cat was on that for 7+ years and never developed diabetes. So I wouldn't stop getting it just because of the potential for that to develop.

Talk to your boy. Ask him to let you know when he wants to go. If he's up and about and enjoying adventures, it doesn't sound to me like he's ready to go. But you're right - not eating, he will starve. :heart2: But apparently he's not at that point yet.

Can you hide the appetite stimulant (or other meds) in a pill pocket? Butter? Cheese? A little pocket of meat? I see no harm in trying all kinds of things in which to hide it.

Here is a video demonstrating a method to using the "hiding-the-pill-in-something" method of getting pills into them. Of course - they need to want to eat whatever it's in. :heart2:

(Scroll down to the video).

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=pillingcats

Denice said:

I am so sorry you are going through this.  As has been said no one here can tell you when it is time.  At this point you could try any human food that he likes.  Everything about a complete balanced diet and best quality food doesn't matter now, if there is something that he likes and will eat that would be fine.

Click to expand...

Yes. At this point, it's just about making him happy. :heart2:

for you and your boy as you navigate this difficult time.

My post crossed with yours.

This may help you. :heart2: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/237066/when-the-moment-comes

Thank you all! Well... My London is no longer with me. He wasn't eating anything and hiding. I just couldn't watch him starve to death. The hardest thing I have ever done.  I still expect to see him in his favorite places. Very hard. I want to thank everyone for your support. Best to all!

I see you are still online, hang out cause I have some things to say, just lost my cat in July

How old was London?   July 22-2014 I put Franny to sleep.  She got really finicky with food May 30-14.  I tried everything.  And then the last 10 days were hell.  She hid, she peed herself, I was force feeding her med, food and fluids.  On July 21 we had the worst night together she could not even stay in bed with me.  She went to her dying place(that she had been going to for a week).  I called my vet, and as she laid there slightly wagging her tail I sent her over the rainbow bridge.  I am still heartbroken.  I never liked cats, grew up with dogs.  But this little girl was special for 12 years.  You did the right thing no matter what.  We only struggle because there is no exact answer to our pets health issues.  With people they can tell us where we hurt and doctors can explain stuff to us.  With animals its totally different.  It seems so many here have the same story, not eating, hiding....its all part of a cat's nature.  And yes you and I tried to keep them just for us.  They needed to move on and we just did not want them too.  I am so sorry you are feeling so sad.  We all are here, over and over again as we hear the stories of people like you tonight.  Cry for London as much as you want.  We were lucky to have them in our lives and they were lucky to have us who loved them so much.  Rest in Peace London. 

PS, I watched my sister take 9 days to die, but I knew it was going to happen and why it had to happen.  Having to put an animal to sleep is like you are really a bad person.  But think about this. I you were really sick and there was a way to end your suffering would you do it.   What you and I did was the hardest thing we have ever done.  But it was the right thing to do. I am not sure if London died at home, is so you were lucky.  If you had to call the vet...we all know how you feel here because we have been in the same place. 

Thank you for that. I feel like a horrible person. So much guilt. He still had some weight to him so I could of gotten maybe another week... maybe 2. I brought him to the vets office. A friend of mine told me about his cat and that he waited to long. His boys called him up and told him that he was on the dogs bed and urinated all over himself. I guess he was a total mess. I just couldn't let my boy go through that. He was hiding and wouldn't come near me. I was trying to get an appetite stimulant in him but I would come away bloody everytime and if he got away I wouldn't be able to get him back. He even started hiding from me so I wouldn't try to give it to him. Just scared and starving. I know I did the right thing in my head, but I don't feel I did the right thing. Just selfish I guess. My first pet as an adult. I grew up with dogs because my father hunted. Then he stopped and we ended up with strays all the time. First cat. What a real treat. I have become this crazy cat lady (so my daughter says). I'll probably rescue a cat or two down the road. Can't do it know though. Again thank you for your kind words and support. Best always.

Oh, hew was 8 years old.

I want you to re-read your post....because it was the exact same for me...London  started hiding cause the end was coming.  The fact that I had a litter box 1 foot from my Franny and she could not get up to use it says volumes.  You said the same.  How would we like to be in our bed's sick and urinating on ourselves.  NO...so as time goes by and I read more and more hear...my grieving is getting a little easier.  We don't want anyone to die...humans or pets...it's just so sad.  But in the end we all do.  And as I think about it tonight...how long would I like to sit in my own urine not being able to get up or function...hiding from my family cause I just want to head off to heaven...