Lethargic cat - share your experiences!

ealyssa · Mar 29, 2016

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ealyssa
Mar 29, 2016

Hi everyone! I'm new here and hoping if anyone can share similar experiences. My indoor 13 yr old cat is acting lethargic. She has been to the vet 4x since January and I'm not getting definitive answers. Vet thought it was a URI then now it may be something worst. She's had two antibiotics and it's not getting better.

1. She walks around the house very slowly and unaware OR she just lays all day.
2. Her third eyelid is showing on the left eye and the right is peeking - it's been going on for three weeks.
3. Discharge on left eye and left nostrils.
4. Her nose was bleeding last night.
5. She doesn't eat or drink - maybe because she can't smell her food. I tried heating it and giving her wet food instead of her Science Hill Senior diet but she won't eat. I started force feeding her.
6. Sometimes she's not responsive and won't wake up.

Made an emergency visit to the vet this morning and now they're doing her second blood test of the year.

Anyone has had this experience?

inanna · Mar 29, 2016

Not exactly like that... but in finding answers for my cat's medical crisis I've run across symptoms like you are describing. I don't want to list off all the possible conditions (I don't want to scare you), but I suggest getting an X Ray in addition to a full lab work up.

ealyssa · Mar 29, 2016

Thank you inanna! [emoji]128516[/emoji] According to her vet, that is the second step!

inanna · Mar 29, 2016

As far as helping her while you're waiting for that vet visit - I'd try leaving food close by to where ever she's camping out. I literally have a food and water dish in every room of my house to help my lethargic girl. I also resort to Gerber baby food and Fancy Feast. As far as for your cats eye you can try to put a warm, clean compress on it a few times a day. At the most it'll help it from being overly irritated.

Keep us posted

foxxycat · Mar 29, 2016

. The nose bleeding could be because the air is dry-not sure your location but if its winter where you are-the air is dry..try a bit of Vaseline at the opening? The poor girl. have they considered ultrasound of heart? Sometimes lethargic could be cardiac. and/or ultrasound of her organs. Sometimes it takes 3 to 4 weeks for an URI to pass but you are right to start assist feedings.

Sometimes bloodwork is perfect and it doesn't always point out cardiac issues..the not waking or responding is what makes me question her heart-on top of a cold..equals a pretty crummy feeling. also just because the heart beats sound good via stethoscope doesn't mean no cardiac issues. Unfortunately sometimes the best way to look at the heart is ultrasound-have them do her liver and other organs if this persists-again bloodwork sometimes doesn't show up as we expect..when my Honeybee got a wicked uri she slept for almost 2 weeks and was very lethargic. we did sub fluids every 3 days and cerenia for nausea. After going a few days without eating normal foods sometimes they get a tummy ache when eat.

you can try babyfood meat ones. gerber or beechnut=make sure no onions or garlic=but my girl loved ham and turkey. chicken wasn't bad..beef they didn't care for.

for the nose issue=there are two things you can try:

a hot shower with door shut and you and kitty-breathe steam for 15 min-this will help lubricate the nasal passages- you can do this several times a day if needed

there is a saline solution for babys for their nose=its called little noses saline water-yes the cat will jump=they don't like it-but if its mucus and stuffy then it will help break it up. I often sit with them in front of me on my knees and spray it gently in front of nose almost in nostril. I have an asthma kitty who is prone to these annoying URI and she gets all yucky in the nose wheezy out of it..so I found that this done before bed helped her breathe better-I have forced hot air for a furnace and it dries things out. I don't have a humidifier=we tried it one day and it made the room so much colder so we had to run furnace even more than already and it wasn't working..that was back when heating oil was super expensive..so if you have one you can try a humidifier but don't use vicks or any menthol stuff=I have been told its not good for kitties.

antibiotics=for stubborn infection doxycycline is at least 10 days or Zithromax which depending on dose could be 7 days are the two that I saw really good results from this. But they need to eat a bit before otherwise may vomit.

We fed tuna a lot during this time. Also don't get white tuna-get the light meat-the darker the meat the fishier it smells..my cats hate the white meat-they like the light tuna in water by bumblebee or chicken of the sea. they did not like the oil kind.

I know most people say no but it was really the only thing they would eat. I have 3 girls and every winter they all three get it..and try to keep them separate doesn't work because they all like being around my boyfriend and I.

Also for more information about cat illness=you can Google Tanya's crf site for no appetite

http://www.felinecrf.org/nausea_vomiting_stomach_acid.htm I know that's not what is going on but she explains all kinds of things=maybe there's something you can try.

for my girls they wont eat refrig food=I usually add hot water to it or leave it out at room temperature then a few hours later I notice that they pick away at it.

Tempation treats are another goto=sometimes they work.

freeze dried meats chicken etc.

tuna=add a bit of hot water and mash with a fork so its like a slurry. you can see if kitty will lick it off a spoon.

some people have had good luck with cold cuts turkey or chicken rotisserie

Its very scary when your kitty wont eat or feel good...sending you guys

ealyssa · Mar 29, 2016

Hi foxxycat,
I truly appreciate your detailed post. Just wondering what your treatment plan was for your kitties? Do you usually take them to the vet or do have home remedy solutions? I'll for sure be doing the steam tonight and buying a humidifier so thank you!!!

ealyssa · Apr 5, 2016

Hi everyone,

Madison's ct scan results came back and she has a huge tumor in her nose that grew rapidly within the last few weeks. Due to the location and size, her doctor believe it's inoperable. She's going to discuss "quality of life" with us today. I can't believe how this escalated so quickly as she was completely normal earlier this year. Hug your kitties and your babies because life is so unexpected.

inanna · Apr 5, 2016

ealyssa said:
Hi everyone,

Madison's ct scan results came back and she has a huge tumor in her nose that grew rapidly within the last few weeks. Due to the location and size, her doctor believe it's inoperable. She's going to discuss "quality of life" with us today. I can't believe how this escalated so quickly as she was completely normal earlier this year. Hug your kitties and your babies because life is so unexpected.

From the symptoms you posed initially, I suspected lymphoma or something similar. I'm so sorry that you and your kitty are going through this. You aren't alone and we are here for you. There are few owners on this site that have terminal cancer kitties, myself included.

I'm absolutely devastated by my cat's condition so we've been putting huge amounts of focus into her quality of life. She is on medication for pain medication and steroids.

Keep us updated. Healing vibes & love for Madison.

ealyssa · Apr 5, 2016

Inanna said:
From the symptoms you posed initially, I suspected lymphoma or something similar. I'm so sorry that you and your kitty are going through this. You aren't alone and we are here for you. There are few owners on this site that have terminal cancer kitties, myself included.

I'm absolutely devastated by my cat's condition so we've been putting huge amounts of focus into her quality of life. She is on medication for pain medication and steroids.

Keep us updated. Healing vibes & love for Madison.

Inanna,

I don't want to open any healed wounds but how is the steroids? How long has she been on it? I emptied a room in my house so she can stay there as the vet suggested. She just circles around when she's awake and she doesn't sleep at all unless I lay her down and caress her. The vet said she's not in pain.... But I know healthy Madison wouldn't want to live her life just walking in circles. This is so hard. I've never lost a pet or anyone before.

inanna · Apr 5, 2016

She's on .5mg dose prednesolone for every 8 hours. She's been on it for about 4 weeks now. She was on buprenex for a week right after she was dx'ed. My vet couldn't / wouldn't refill it after her script ran out. Now she is on a Fentanyl Patch which gets changed every 5 days. My girl has spinal lymphoma so in addition to what the vet gives us, I give her 250 mg of glucosamine twice a day as well as omega.

If you sense pain, ask for the medication relentlessly til you get it. After all, this is necessary for decent quality of life. My cat has huge mobility issues so I keep food and water close to her (excessive thirst is a side effect from the steroids). I also put a liter box in the room she spends most of her time in. I've read constipation can be a side effects from her meds so I'm trying to keep an eye on her bm's.

I completely relate to how difficult this is for you. I just want to stamp my feet and say "No! This isn't fair". Having to finalize the plans for the end was absolutely gut wrenching. We are opting to have her cremated, take her for a family hike, and release her ashes from the top of a mountain. It seems a fitting tribute for a cat that can't really walk.

Don't worry about opening wounds. I'm just grateful I was able to take her home and have the chance to love her for a little bit longer. I guess I'm lucky that this isn't so sudden so I can prepare for it.

ealyssa · Apr 5, 2016

Inanna said:
She's on .5mg dose prednesolone for every 8 hours. She's been on it for about 4 weeks now. She was on buprenex for a week right after she was dx'ed. My vet couldn't / wouldn't refill it after her script ran out. Now she is on a Fentanyl Patch which gets changed every 5 days. My girl has spinal lymphoma so in addition to what the vet gives us, I give her 250 mg of glucosamine twice a day as well as omega.

If you sense pain, ask for the medication relentlessly til you get it. After all, this is necessary for decent quality of life. My cat has huge mobility issues so I keep food and water close to her (excessive thirst is a side effect from the steroids). I also put a liter box in the room she spends most of her time in. I've read constipation can be a side effects from her meds so I'm trying to keep an eye on her bm's.

I completely relate to how difficult this is for you. I just want to stamp my feet and say "No! This isn't fair". Having to finalize the plans for the end was absolutely gut wrenching. We are opting to have her cremated, take her for a family hike, and release her ashes from the top of a mountain. It seems a fitting tribute for a cat that can't really walk.

Don't worry about opening wounds. I'm just grateful I was able to take her home and have the chance to love her for a little bit longer. I guess I'm lucky that this isn't so sudden so I can prepare for it.

I was also prescribed prednesolone today for a 7 day trial period. I'm so heartbroken to hear what you're going through. Your girl is so lucky to have a caring and wonderful parent like you. I hope you keep in touch. I feel like we're going through the same circumstances and you truly understand how I feel. Good luck and take care to both of you. [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

Lethargic cat - share your experiences!

ealyssa

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inanna

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ealyssa

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inanna

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foxxycat

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ealyssa

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ealyssa

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inanna

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ealyssa

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inanna

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ealyssa

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