my baby is sick not eating advice?

Ok I don't no where to post this so I am in the wrong spot I apologize.my cat jean Claude is sick I have a vet appointment scheduled but its a ways out we dont have emergency vets here. He is 8years old, I moved recently and at first I thought it was depression but he is just not eating no dry food no wet food and he has been messing himself as of last night he just want to lay in my lap he is lethargic but he is still loving he gets up a little had a bit of a runny nose the other day. He has never been like this and he has lost weight as well. Does anyone have advice on what could be wrong or how I can get something in his tummy, I'm worried especially about the not eating/weightloss.

Hi and welcome.

The first thing that comes to mind is, when you already have a vet appt but the problem seems to be more urgent, they will almost always consider your needs to be more urgent and will work you in asap.

Tell them he is lethargic, this is a big deal!

I would try that first thing, and if all else fails we can explain how you might be able to get something in him.

Watered down chicken or turkey only baby food, warmed up is often times very enticing and will get a cat to eat some, which will also get some water in to him.

Sounds like if he is messing himself, do you mean pooping?

Yes, he wet himself and didn't do so hot at the litter box I have spoke to vets I cant get in sooner.

Wow that's crazy they can't see you right away!

I have no idea what is happening for him to wet on himself like this, but it sounds very serious.

The lethargy can be caused either by dehydration or from a fever.

Either case he MUST get fluids in to him.

Can you go get some baby food?

I am going to I have tried wet food but he doesn't want it but at this point I will do whatever I have too.

This is an awful situation to be in! I feel so sorry for you guys. Not eating and messing himself are bad. I can't believe the local vet can't squeeze your cat into his/her schedule.

If you have to, you could force-feed him with a wide syringe. He may not like it - most don't - but it's important to get some nutrition into him. Be careful when squeezing the food into his mouth that you don't shoot it straight down his throat - he could choke on it. And if you can, you may want to give him some subQ fluids. It's important that he get some hydration, too.

Seriously, though, I can't imagine a vet so busy that he can't see a patient in such dire need. Is there a larger town near you? Or a veterinary college? Or even just another vet? This is preposterous!

Good luck. We're hoping for the very best for you and Jean Claude! Keep us posted, please.

It REALLY is preposterous!

I can't imagine..............

Please TRY the baby food I suggested, it goes down much easier and tastes great, and very easy to digest.

It will get some water in to him too, which is even more critical at this point.

Mix it 50/50 with water, or pediolyte is even better, but water will do if not.

Warm it! Then if he won't lap it up on his own you will definitely need to syringe him, into his cheek slowly.

Wrap him with a towel if he fights it.

I got them to move his appointment up, and he ate a little of the warmed food last night and a bit more this morning, I fed him on my lap I found another vet 30 minutes away that I am going to call today.

If no GI signs, looking for a wound if he lives with other cats/goes out, and checking his bladder by palpating his abdomen are the most common causes of lethargy and inappetance in cats. No wound, no fever, normal sized bladder, then bloodwork to evaluate glucose, kidney values (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) and electrolytes is first diagnostic to consider for an 8 year old boy.

Your regular vet shouldn't have made you wait. That is poor service, and poor medicine. If you had walked in they'd have to treat him. Perhaps your vet has difficulty managing time and staff sufficiently enough to see both routine appointments, anesthetic procedures, and walk-ins. When I worked in regular medicine, I would even triage a walk in for routine bloodwork and vaccines, let alone a poor appetite, lethargic patient. As a follow up, if you're up for it, you should call and talk with the hospital owner or manager about being turned away and such poor service leading you to seek better care elsewhere.

Hope your new vet sets Claude right!