How to help my Older Kitty?

Hey guys,

I'll preface this with, earlier this year and a lot of last year I took my cat Xiao Hua to 3 different vets. After we moved last year he lost some weight and started coughing a lot. First 2 vets did a whole bunch of expensive tests just to tell me he's "fine." One of them had him on a few different prescriptions to treat what she thought could have been an infection, but to no avail he still had his cough. I wasn't content with that answer and took him to a 3rd vet, who we finally discovered he had mild asthma. Got him his inhaler and medicine, and his coughing fits have been better. 

So I'm very adamant about going to the vet at the first sign of danger, but also hesitant because some of them don't really want to help your pet OR can't even figure out what's wrong.

-----------------------

Skipping forward to yesterday, my little guy was totally fine and himself in the morning. From the afternoon on he started acting "off," and wouldn't get up for food. He's responsive to me, but mostly sleeping/very lethargic, when usually he's a very curious little trouble maker. He went to the bathroom normally but he's still not eating. When I brought the bowl to him last night he smelled it and it made him throw up. The same thing happened this morning when I showed him his bowl (Wellness wet food). His breathing seems normal but his ears are a little warmer than the other cat's.

I can't figure out what happened and it's worrying me because he's 12 years old. We opened a new pack of the usual treats he eats, and I think those might've bothered his stomach. Our other cat sniffed the treats afterwards and didn't want them, so maybe they're bad treats?

If he's still not eating tomorrow I'll take him to the vet. I'm just hesitant because I know how much going to the vet stresses him out and if he's already in a weak state I don't want to push him more. And sometimes the vets can't even figure out what's wrong or misdiagnose and charge you tons of money for it :/

Has anyone experienced this or something similar? I've been searching online for what could possibly be wrong/what I could do for him, but I'm thinking it might've been the treats. Because it's after he sniffs food that he throws up, like how someone who ate something bad will react when they're still feeling sick.

That is weird that your other cat also didn't want the treats. I've had that happen before when both my cats were suspicious of a food, and I trusted their reaction and didn't feed it (my one cat will eat anything, so if he turns up his nose I take notice). I've never heard of a cat throwing up from just smelling the food. Poor guy must be feeling very unwell. I understand you hesitating to stress him out with a vet visit, but I think he might really need to see one, especially if he's not eating by tomorrow. It could very well be a bad batch of food that caused this.

Poor kitty!

Those symptoms sound vague enough that it could be any number of things, and unfortunately they're worrying enough that he should get checked out by a vet. At the very least, they can give him an anti-nausea shot so he'll be able to eat something, because it is dangerous if he goes too long without getting calories. He might be dehydrated too, and some sub q fluids might help him feel better.

I'm sorry you've had such frustrating experiences with vets. I wish I could say that your experience was a fluke, but I've had similar experiences too. I would go to the vet you trust the most, perhaps that 3rd one who gave you the correct diagnosis earlier, and call ahead of time and explain that you really want to take every precaution to keep the visit as stress free as possible so you do not risk making his symptoms worse. The vet I found that I finally trusted sprays everything down with Feliway, and my cat does seem more calm there than anywhere else, so if your vet doesn't do that maybe get some Feliway spray beforehand and spray your cat's carrier and surfaces in the exam room, and ask that the technicians and vet spray some on themselves before handling your cat. It's not magic, but it does help somewhat.

What kind/brand were the treats?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pushylady  

That is weird that your other cat also didn't want the treats. I've had that happen before when both my cats were suspicious of a food, and I trusted their reaction and didn't feed it (my one cat will eat anything, so if he turns up his nose I take notice). I've never heard of a cat throwing up from just smelling the food. Poor guy must be feeling very unwell. I understand you hesitating to stress him out with a vet visit, but I think he might really need to see one, especially if he's not eating by tomorrow. It could very well be a bad batch of food that caused this.

Right?? It really seems that way, and I'm definitely inclined to trust them with their reaction to the food. They can probably smell when something is wrong/off about it more so than we can. Especially if it's a brand they usually eat with no problem.

Yeah... you're right. Better safe than sorry to take him to the vet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molly92  
 
Poor kitty!

Those symptoms sound vague enough that it could be any number of things, and unfortunately they're worrying enough that he should get checked out by a vet. At the very least, they can give him an anti-nausea shot so he'll be able to eat something, because it is dangerous if he goes too long without getting calories. He might be dehydrated too, and some sub q fluids might help him feel better.

I'm sorry you've had such frustrating experiences with vets. I wish I could say that your experience was a fluke, but I've had similar experiences too. I would go to the vet you trust the most, perhaps that 3rd one who gave you the correct diagnosis earlier, and call ahead of time and explain that you really want to take every precaution to keep the visit as stress free as possible so you do not risk making his symptoms worse. The vet I found that I finally trusted sprays everything down with Feliway, and my cat does seem more calm there than anywhere else, so if your vet doesn't do that maybe get some Feliway spray beforehand and spray your cat's carrier and surfaces in the exam room, and ask that the technicians and vet spray some on themselves before handling your cat. It's not magic, but it does help somewhat.

What kind/brand were the treats?

That's a really good idea! Maybe I should pick up some Feliway too and spray his carrier? 

The treats were "Good Lovin" Dental Health in Toothsome Chicken Flavor. We just finished another pack of these and I use them as rewards for after he takes his asthma inhaler. Usually he loves them but I think something is off about this bag. Wish I knew earlier.. the bag isn't damaged and they look like they normally do. Maybe I should bring these to the vet too.