Not sure what's wrong

Hi, I've searched the web for weeks trying to find out what is wrong my cat, with similar symptoms to yours. He's 11, and was in good health until he started sicking up small puddles of water in the night. The vet suggested acid reflux, but meds made no difference. This continued and then the diarrhoea started in November. Gradually he ate less and less and was being sick every afternoon and night. Anti sickness meds, inflammatories, appetite stimulants all only worked for 24 hours each time. Sedated for full observations of mouth and throat and xrays just showed inflammation. Full bloods were all fine.

Just tonight, he started a new symptom; his head dropped and he stared at the floor, he looked really spaced out and stopped responding to us. Unfortunately my son let him in the garden where he hid from us. Once we managed to find him, he staggered when trying to walk then he just collapsed on the rug and his breathing slowed. We gathered around him to make sure he had company and gently stroked his head and we expected his passing to be imminent. I rang the the on call vet just to get advice as I didn't want him to suffer and she asked that I bring him to the surgery. 20mins later, he was sitting up purring! Sadly, the vet thinks he is either in liver failure as he's not been eating or his body just can't cope and will shut down. They gave him another anti sickness jab tonight and said it's his last chance if he doesn't start eating something, so I syringed the recovery food to him, only a small bit but at least it's something. 

We all love him to bits and even though so far I've spent nearly #1000 in the last 2 weeks, I'm just so upset that there are no answers as to what's wrong with him and now it's spiralled quickly. We spoke about how much is enough. He's not enjoying life anymore, but the vet said he's not in any pain. 

I feel your pain xxxxx

Lyn1234,

Much seems to be missing from your post, such as diagnostics done since Nov - in all honesty, I feel seriously that you need a new vet, one who is committed to determining the issue and correcting it.  If the vet is simply prescribing medications based on assumptions but no true diagnosis, you need a new vet, like TODAY - please get him to a new, more qualified vet ASAP  - a feline vet would be a good choice.

IBD is a possibility, as is food intolerance, GI issues, pancreatitis issues, diabetes, heart issues - and yes, liver disease (all of which can be treated with prompt and proper care).  These all need to be ruled out with appropriate diagnostics - I can't believe your vet isn't addressing your concerns aggressively - An 11-year old cat shouldn't be suffering the problems you describe. 

Lastly, staggering, labored breathing etc, DEMANDS AN EMERGENCY VET VISIT.  Just because he was more alert after this incident, doesn't mean he's safe, PLEASE, get your kitty to a competent vet NOW.

Just an update really; after taking our frail cat home on Wednesday night, I expected to find him curled up asleep for ever the next morning, but he was thankfully still with us. I took home tablet anti-inflmatories for the first time.  He was really cold so I wrapped him in a warm towel and again syringe fed the recovery food into him, mixed in with hydration support granuals and forti flora.  During the day I did this twice more and then in the evening when I was cooking fish, he cried for it, and very surprisingly he ate a whole fillet. This is the first time in 2 months he's eaten more than one bite. During the night, he ate a whole bowl of his GI dry and emptied his water bowl. Today he has eaten well his GI dry again and finished off another fish fillet. The difference in him is amazing; he's heavier, happier and comfortable and we were all really pleased. I spoke to his vet tonight and we now have 2 options, she said treat him palliatively or do more tests to find out what's wrong. They want to do an ultrasound next as it's the only thing they didn't do, but they'd like to repeat all the bloods.

As I said, he's already had full bloods, all normal, camera down throat, all normal, x rays of mouth to bottom, all normal apart from some inflammation. He has had 4 days of not vomiting (previously he was vomiting every day without fail) and one small poop, which was a shape (had been watery poos for 2 months). 

After reading so many forums about similar symptoms I am beginning to feel a bit frustrated now that the vet didn't give him anti inflammatories and anti sickness drugs at same time, and for longer, it was always given in a 'try this and see if it works'. And one injection would work for a week but then he would return to the same state. Then another injection of pain relief would be given which started him nibbling but no antiinflamatoreis or zantac, so he carried on being sick. . I've since discovered that appetite stimulants should have been given with zantac as its no fun being hungry and feeling sick.

I've learned a lot through these forums and all I can say is that you trust your vet to guide you in the correct direction and whilst there was no firm diagnosis they suspected it is IBD, and were treating him with this in mind. I certainly don't want an invasive test to confirm IBD, but at the moment we are happy he is eating. The vet's worry is that once he stops the anti inflammatories  he will revert to not eating. I will cross my fingers and hope he continues to make progress and review as we go. Thanks.

Lynn1234,

The original xray, where was the inflammation seen? (i.e., intestines, colon, lungs, heart)

You mentioned once the vet suspected liver failure, yet said all blood work results were fine.  Doesn't make sense.  I'd opt for that ultrasound to locate the source of inflammation which will help determine the proper steps/treatment approach. Way too many months of this going on, you DO need to find the source of the problem in order to address and treat it properly. (the ultrasound is a good approach).