Cat not wanting to bend head down to eat?

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
Hi guys, 

I had originally posted a while ago about my cats lungs and had mentioned part of this issue at the end of that post. My cat (Captain) has not been eating very well for a while. I took him into the vet at the beginning of the month because he had been pretty immobile and not eating. Vet discovered some pain in his left back leg, prescribed him Metacam (And yes, I know the dangers) every other day for 10 days. A couple days after this, I found a bump on that leg, right at the Achilles. I took him back into the vet, who took an x-ray, and it barely, if at all, shows up. Was told to just watch it. Everything seemed to be going okay other than eating, he definitely has the appetite and wants to eat, but if he eats it's very little. A week after finishing the Metacam, I called the vet and told her that he has gone back to the way he was before, so she prescribed him more Metacam at a lower dose and told me to re-check is blood work at the end of February. His bump has decreased in size a good bit. A few days ago, I noticed one of his eyes was not dilating. Made him an appt on Friday (today), but yesterday in the morning, he was very irritable, seemed to be turning his head, and his tail was fluffing, so I dropped him off a the vet. Vet called and said he has a detached retina, probably caused by hypertension, but they do not have a BP cuff. I picked Captain up to go to the ophthalmologist where we were referred and notice in his chart has had lost another POUND since 1-5. His vet said could be hyperthyroidism and he would have gone ahead and drawn blood, but we had to be at the specialist and he didn't want Captain to be stressed. The ophthalmologist, confirmed he does have a detached retina and high BP. She also was leaning greatly toward hyperthyroidism. She drew blood, which I took back to be regular vet to run a full blood panel. To the vets surprise the T4 came back normal, said WBC was high and it might be due to an infection in his bump, gave him Clindamycin and Amlodipine for his BP and told me to hold off on the Metacam until we can get this straightened out. He said he would send off the blood for T3 testing. We left and he ran more blood test. The vet called and said his kidney levels were normal; however his calcium was high. He said that could be a fluke, but I need to bring him in next week for more Calcium testing. Apparently between that and the bump, we might be looking at cancer. Today, I came home from work, offered him a few different things to eat, he sniffed them then did nothing. I decided to get a spoon to see if holding it higher would help and it did! As long as it was where he didn't have to move his neck, he would stare straight ahead and lick at it. It makes me feel good that at least I got a little something down him, but I was wondering if anyone has gone through this before. I do have a call into the vet to see if he can make some recommendations. 

Thanks for reading all of this!
 

di and bob

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
16,547
Purraise
22,888
Location
Nebraska, USA
My cat had a pupil not working too and we found out he had an infection causing it. After the antibiotic he was fine. He could very well have a stiff, painful neck, from arthritis or something else. I would get him an elevated bowl and see if that helps. Right now you have to get some nutrition in him any way you can. You sound like you are a wonderful pet parent and are doing what you can to help your little one, I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. My heart goes out to you, all the luck to you too!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
Yeah, the vet called back and said that I can go ahead and give him the Metacam and see if that helps. He has been drinking water out of the raised dog bowl ,but he's not eating the dog food, which he normally would do, unfortunately. 
 

keyes

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
445
Purraise
59
That was the first thing I thought of also was an elevated feeding station.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
I called the vet today, and I think they are going to give me an appetite stimulant. Has anyone ever used these? I'm leaving him for one night and starting to second guess if I should or not. Other than the not eating, he is acting pretty normal. My mom is in town and agrees one night will be fine. I did get some food in him this morning, but he was not happy about it. He pouted for a little bit, but now he's sitting beside me cleaning himself. 
 

keyes

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
445
Purraise
59
Tippy is on appetite stimulants.  For him it's one eighth of a tablet every 3 days and it definitely works for him.  He is on it for long term, your dosage for your baby, more than likely, would be different.  But it does work.
 

andieg

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Oct 29, 2014
Messages
43
Purraise
5
I don't really know the background of your cat prior to what's written here, so forgive me if this doesn't apply. And I don't know if you are the first owner.

My cat wouldn't bend his head down due to feline herpes so I raised his food bowl on a stand until the symptoms cleared up.

But he also wasn't eating and the vet attributed it to all his previous mouth problems, to the point I am/was making his food into soup. But he was still extremely finicky. And his tongue is smoother then the norm, so that also contributed to it.

BUT what I am finding out, is his previous owner before he showed up a couple of years ago at the shelter, must have been feeding him table scraps. I found this out while I was eating some rib tips and he came running. I gave him some since it was very soft and he gobbled it up. I have since been home cooking for him and he loves it. He will eat 'soup' first thing in the morning and during the night, but the rest of the time he will only eat home cooking. Luckily, his behavior has changed, he's stopped pacing and is more at ease and content.
 

keyes

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
445
Purraise
59
It's always so nice when you can finally find something that works for both of you.  Sometimes it takes a little effort and the patience button can get  a work out but so satisfying when you finally figure it all out.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
The vet said I need to get him in to have his calcium checked ASAP because the hypercalcemia could be causing muscle weakness. Went ahead with the 1/4 tab of 15mg Mirtazipine every 72 hours. I gave it to him before I left for my trip, so I don't know how it's working. Reading stories about how Mirtazipine has effected others cats makes me feel bad for leaving him, but I'll be heading back soon.
 

keyes

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
445
Purraise
59
Tippy is on mirtazapine, 1/8th tablet every third day, and he has had no problems with it.  It is a 15 mg tablet.  I do remember that when he was first started on it it was 1/4th of a tablet but because he is now on long term it was changed to the 1/8th.  But really, I have not seen any side effects.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
I just got back from my trip and decided to offer Captain some wet food since I have two cats and have no clue who ate what overnight. He didn't want it, so I decided to try his Greenies, which he loves, but lately he just sniffs at them, picks them up, and drops them. He excitedly ate every single one! I'm very happy! He also seems closer to normal than he has in a while, talking to me, and even making biscuits! Other than his wobbly back leg with the bump on it, which has also decreased since I last felt it on Friday, he's like my old Captain again. I'm taking him tomorrow so they can do more tests on his calcium, so hopefully we get some good news there. I'm just so excited at how he is doing today!! 
 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
Well, Captain's Calcium was still very high at the vet today, so I had to admit him into the UT Vet Hospital for the night.  The vet also said the glucose in his urine was high, but his blood glucose is normal. They're going to work on getting his Calcium down tonight and do a bunch of tests and x-rays, send his urine off to check for fungal infection, look at the fine needle aspirate from the bump on his leg. The ER Vet said idiopathic hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, and cancer are all possibilities. I just hate it to be kidney disease when his kidney functions looked good on Thursday. They are estimating $4000 if they end up having to take his leg due to cancer. This is so hard because he's been acting great lately, but his normal vet is a bit of a pessimist. Anyone know of other sources to help paying vet bills? I had to put half of the estimated $2500 down tonight and am wondering what to do about the rest. I know about care credit, but I'm trying to be approved for a loan on a house and not wanting to open another line of credit. Is it too late for pet insurance?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
Got terrible news from UT. Captain has aggressive cancer that has spread quickly. There aren't really any treatment options, and I don't want to put him through them anyway. The vet said he is very happy and stable right now, so I can bring him home and make his last days or weeks or whatever comfy. They're going to put him on prednisone to keep his calcium down and make him feel better. Any suggestions on how to keep him comfy and prepare would be awesome.. Thank you guys.
 

di and bob

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
16,547
Purraise
22,888
Location
Nebraska, USA
My heart is breaking for you, I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. I've had good luck with prednisone keeping a lot of the cancer's terrible affects at bay, please insist on it until the end, it really helps. Just try to love that sweet baby as much as you can, you know him better then anyone and will know when the time has come to release him from this world. Please keep in touch, it helps to talk to people who have been through all this, bless you for loving that precious cat so much. Give him a kiss for me and please try to be gentle on yourself. If I could I would take your pain away, I'm so sorry.
 

rlavach

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Oct 1, 2014
Messages
284
Purraise
72
I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I lost my sweet Shizu to cancer a year ago, so I know how tough it is. We tried to make her life as comfy as possible. We laid down towels in all the spots she liked to sleep in so she could be extra cozy. We also let her eat all of her favorite foods, nothing off limits. Towards the end, I'd give her entire meals of mushed up treats since those were her favorite. 

We were given several medicines for her that we diligently gave her until it became evident that making the cat take the medicine was more traumatizing than the symptoms, so we stopped. We only gave her pain medicine for a while. Really, just let him do all the forbidden things he couldn't do before! Eat what he wants, sleep where he wants, play with whatever he wants. Quality of life is most important right now. I hope that you can treasure your time with Captain & have happy memories together 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #16

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
Thank you guys. I just got him home and the vet said he doesn't even know that he is sick. He's purring and cuddling beside me now. I got him some treats, gave him a whole bunch, and he ate them all and was looking for more! I can't help but watch him like a hawk though. I'm reading too much into his body language and facial expressions. I know he's got to be exhausted from the past couple of days.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #17

mmccror1

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11
Purraise
1
Just an update for those that wanted one. I decided to put Captain down tonight. He was open mouth breathing, so I took him to the ER, where they told me he was partially dehydrated, despite all the water he drinks, and he had some fluid on his heart.  He also stopped eating and I have been syringe feeding him for about a week. I decided it was better to go ahead and do it than to watch his breathing get worse, and the vet agreed. I know it was the right thing, but I'm going to miss him! 
 

rlavach

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Oct 1, 2014
Messages
284
Purraise
72
I'm so sorry to hear that, but you know in your heart that you made the right decision. 
 He's no longer suffering. Virtual hugs to you. 
 

keyes

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
445
Purraise
59
So sorry for your loss.  You know, in your mind, that you did the right thing for Captain.  It may take longer for your heart to accept.  You did all you could for him and then did the greatest act of love for him at the end. 
 
Top