Elderly Bengal doesn't want to eat, has the runs, vomited yellow liquid & we are completely snowed i

gehrandt

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George, our 13 1/2 year old Bengal suddenly stopped eating Sunday morning - he has always been a chow hound and normally eats anything. He doesn't seem in pain but has the runs, acts a little disoriented, wants to be with me more than normal and this morning vomited a little yellow liquid. 

The worst part is that we are completely snowed in and it looks like we will be for quite a few more days. The governor just declared a state of emergency. So I can't get him to a Vet. I did talk to one and he suggested boiling some chicken which I did and George ate several small pieces but seemed to do it more because I asked him to. I fixed him some scrambled eggs this morning and again he took a couple of small bites (doesn't seem to have any pain in eating).

Does anyone have any suggestions? Would have to be something I'd likely have around the house

At the moment he is cuddled down in his bed in front of the fire with me within reach as he doesn't seem to want me to be out of his sight.

Up until Sunday he had never shown any health problems other than he had always had soft stools even as a kitten and Vet's never worried about it after testing him and trying meds. He has stopped jumping up to high places as of a few years ago.

It is breaking our hearts not being able to help him.
 

stephanietx

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Maybe try some plain boiled chicken.  Also, if need be, you'll have to syringe feed & water him.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Even if he eats small amounts several times a day, that's better than nothing.  He MUST eat.  Problem here is, Bengals are different, and I don't know if they can have things that "regular cats" can have, like Pepcid A/C".   Also don't know what you have around the house.  If you take Metroclopramide, that is an anti-emetic, but, of course, you must talk to your Vet via phone first to make sure any of these would be ok, and how much to give him. 

In the meantime, keep getting him to eat, even if you have to syringe feed him.  And don't forget to water him too, especially if he's got diarrhea.  Got to keep him hydrated as well. 

 

stephenq

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It is breaking our hearts not being able to help him.
I apologize for asking the obvious but there is no way to get to a vet?  Could you hire a snow plow company to transport you and him?  Sorry for sounding so naive....
 
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gehrandt

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Where we are even the town doesn't have snow plows. The small amount of snow they get during a season is normally so light that the sun melts it almost immediately. This storm is more then any they have had in recent memory. It is also so cold out there that if we got stuck for any reason - even a short amount of time - it could be deadly for him.

I've been giving him boiled chicken, roast turkey that I have frozen and tuna, plus his regular cat food. He will take a couple of bites and then quit. Seems to have been better on the runs and no more vomiting then the one time this morning. I also fixed him scrambled eggs and cooked fried eggs so he could have the yolk, which he loves. He has been drinking some of his water.

Have very limited meds in the house other than my husband's prescriptions and aspirin.

George is an F2 - he doesn't tolerate most shots - we've kept him an indoor cat and never boarded him. Whenever we've gone someplace we've used a pet sitter (usually a neighbor or friend) so he hasn't been exposed to outside problems.

I have the feeling it is related to his age.

Just praying for a magic cure for him - something I might not have thought of.

Thank you for suggestions. One I hadn't thought of was saving the broth I cook the chicken in.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Just don't use any garlic or onion in the broth, or too much salt for that matter.  Plain is best.  You can cook some white rice in the broth and add that to his food too (not normally an advocate of adding rice to cat food, but it helps with the runs) IF his stools get really lose again. 

It's good that he hasn't vomited again, and that his stools are firming up.  The lowered appetite is worrisome, but at least he is eating some.  You need to try to get him to eat at least 2/3 of his normal intake to stave off Hepatic Lipidosis.  It's more likely to occur in overweight cats, but could happen to any cat (bengals included, I guess).

This could very well be age related.  When you said you had a bengal that was 13, I was shocked!  I've never heard of this breed living that long, but then again, I really don't know much about them.  Seems like most of the ones I've known on this site succumbed to disease. 

Hopefully the storms out your way will end soon so the snow can melt and you can get in to see your Vet. 

 
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gehrandt

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Has been almost a week - got more snow - temps in one digit figures. I finally discovered George would drink Swanson's chicken broth. And this morning, for the first time, our 'treat' hound asked for and ate some of his treats and played with the belt on my robe! He still isn't interested in his regular food but is becoming more himself. My husband is also feeling better. Nothing like having a cat and a husband both running for their 'litter' boxes at the same time lol.

George hasn't lost a noticeable amount of weight. - still about 18 pounds. Watching him carefully. Odd thing, our Maryland Granddaughter's cat came down with the runs this past week as well. I'm sure it is impossible, but it is almost like they have the 'flu'. Bill had a doctor's appointment the week before and the office was full of sick hacking people.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Playing is a good sign
  Asking for treats is a good one too
 

Sometimes cats DO just get a little bug, just like us humans.  I just thought of this.  Do you have any yogurt at home, either plain or flavored, just nothing with artificial sweeteners in it?  If so, you can try giving that to him.  The probiotics in it might be helpful, and most cats like yogurt.  I give mine daily probiotics now, but before I started doing that, if they ever got diarrhea, I would give them some plain yogurt and it usually helped them out right away.  (I make my own yogurt, so maybe that's why...it's kind of like chicken soup....made with love so it cures almost anything
)

for both George and your hubby
 
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gehrandt

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Unfortunately no Yogurt. However we are suppose to get rain tomorrow and higher temps so hopefully roads clearing up. It is so cold and roads so bad that it would be a major mistake to venture out. Our schools have been closed all week, along with a lot of businesses. A record storm.
 
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gehrandt

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George suddenly, after a week, decided he was starving and now is demanding food almost hourly. The Swanson Chicken broth kept him hydrated and it was the only thing that he would drink/eat.. At the moment he is happily, with a full belly, in his cat bed in front of the fireplace (it is about 15 degrees outside). We are so thrilled to have him back to his old obnoxious self!!!

Just want to thank everyone for their help and suggestions. He is such a wonderful part of our life.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm SO glad he's back to his old self
  Must be such a relief

I've got a 15 year old who has kidney disease, so I worry every day about her, and wonder how much longer she'll be with us   Every  moment is precious
 
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gehrandt

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We'll keep your kitty in our prayers.
 
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