URGENT HELP

Please help me guys. My cat is 1 and something weird is happening with him. He's been eating clay litter for months now, and the vet doesn't seem too concerned. But the past few days he's been super lathargic and not himself, he's usually very active. 2 days ago underneath his eye was swollen but only for a few hours so we assumed him and my other cat got a little too rough. About 45 minutes ago he all of a sudden couldn't walk straight or hold his head up. It's seemed to have passed now, but he's still lathargic and just looks permanently zoned out. We have a vet appointment first thing in the morning (which I just woke my vet up to make) but I'm really needing any advise to help me sleep. I have my sisters here who are going to take shifts watching him throughout the night since I work in the morning.

Anything is appreciated.. Thanks guys.

hno: That really doesn't sound good. If it were me I'd be going straight to an emergency vet - I don't think I'd want to risk waiting til morning. I really hope he's ok

Thanks @columbine I spoke to the emergency vet and he gave me really great instructions to watch him throughout the night, the exam cost goes from $52 to $350 for emergency and that's just for the exam

How is your cat now? Are you going to the regular vet soon?

He really needs the emergency Vet....

eating any type of litter is very bad!!

Yes the appointment is at 9:30. He's sleeping right now, the not being able to walk straight or hold his head up seemed to last for about 30 minutes, and then while he was still lathargic and zoned out he was able to walk normally to a comfy spot and then he fell asleep..

Is it clumping litter? because that could kill him

@Artiemom yes he's going to the vet right away here. He'll also be going to a new vet since the last one was not concerned about him eating litter.

@zed xyzed yeah unfortunately it is. I've changed his litter to corn based but he still seems to be munching on that as well. The original vet dismissed it as pica and said it wasn't that serious, because he always chews up cardboard and pretty much anything else. But litter seems to be the only weird thing that he actually swallows.

Also at first he would only eat clean litter out of the bag so we put that out of reach and it was fine. Only the past couple of days he started eating it right out of the litter box now.

jessglanz said:

@Artiemom yes he's going to the vet right away here. He'll also be going to a new vet since the last one was not concerned about him eating litter.

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Thank goodness, what kind of vet would not be concerned about a cat eating clumping litter. If you feel comfortable sharing your location you might get a few good recommendations re a good vet in your area 

What are you currently feeding him?

some more info for you http://www.thecatsite.com/t/36231/eating-litter-is-often-a-sign-of-anemia

Right now he gets a mix of Orijen dry food and some dehydrated chicken or wet food mixed in. Anemia was our first thought too, but it doesn't explain not being able to hold his head up or walk straight

I am glad you are taking to a vet, let us know what they say 

Wow, poor kitty. Please let us know how the vet visit goes. Hope this new vet takes this more seriously.

At the Vet right now, the vet seems to be great. He did some blood tests and Pippin is extremely low in RBC and HGB. His HCT isn't even registering on the tests. The vet says his internal organs are okay, but he doesn't think it's low production of RBC he thinks it's destruction of them and wants to do a blood transfusion. Waiting for more tests right now. 

jessglanz said:

 
At the Vet right now, the vet seems to be great. He did some blood tests and Pippin is extremely low in RBC and HGB. His HCT isn't even registering on the tests. The vet says his internal organs are okay, but he doesn't think it's low production of RBC he thinks it's destruction of them and wants to do a blood transfusion. Waiting for more tests right now. 

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So glad you find a good Vet...

poor baby... keep us updated....((hugs))

jessglanz said:

 
At the Vet right now, the vet seems to be great. He did some blood tests and Pippin is extremely low in RBC and HGB. His HCT isn't even registering on the tests. The vet says his internal organs are okay, but he doesn't think it's low production of RBC he thinks it's destruction of them and wants to do a blood transfusion. Waiting for more tests right now. 

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Please let us know asap.

Also, be sure to take away that clumping litter!! Yikes, that is SO dangerous/deadly.

Things do not look good. The vet has recommended we put him down as he is suffering and he thinks it is something biological destroying his RBC. I'm on the phone with another vet right now to get a second opinion. Apparently nobody where I live does blood transfusions and we would have to go out of town for it, which wouldn't be until Tuesday (Monday is a holiday here) and the vet doesn't think he'll make it until then. His RBC and HGB are more then low, they are basically non existent. 

It's a sad day.. We are putting Pippin down. He's technically my dad and sisters cat so they are all with him right now. I'm unable to leave work so I can't be there. Thank you everyone for the support. Because his body is attacking himself and it's in such a late stage, where his RBC count is non existent, multiple vets are in agreement that he won't make it until Tuesday to do a blood transfusion, which isn't guaranteed and they don't think it would be a positive outcome. It's going to be a long day at work.. have to stop crying before my clients come in.