Veterinary question

Hi guys - Im new here and would like a little help

I own 2 cats, they are brother and sister and will both be 14 years old this summer. Recently both of them have been showing some changes.
The female has been drinking a lot of water every day, and eating much more than normal (she only eats dried food, barely eats the softer pouches), and has put on a little weight (she was always very skinny, now she has a little belly)
The male cat has also been drinking more, not as much as his sister, but he is eating much more food than normal. He used to eat maybe 3 "pouches" of cat food a day, and for the past week or so he has been demanding 5 or more.

Both of them seem healthy in every other way, they are both still active and have a clean glossy coat.

These cats are my babies and Im really worried about them - they both fear the vet, and the last time the female had to go she was actually given a mild sedative because she was infact having a feline panic attack which could have killed her, so if there is anything I could do for them at home before a vet visit is necessary I would love to hear from you. I am so scared that these are signs that they are in CRF...

Many Many thanks

Angie
xxxxx

There are some vets who will do house calls.

You could call around to find a vet who would be willing to come to your house, so they could avoid the stress of the trip and vet clinic, but still get the vet care & testing they need. Perhaps your existing vet would even be willing to make the trip, possibly for an extra charge, knowing how stressed your babies got last time?

hth

Tess

It is probably time to have a senior blood panel drawn - this shows organ function so you can know where the issues may be.

I totally relate to stressful vet visits. My boy Tonka went to the vet for a very routine claw clipping (I can't do it by myself on him) and when I put his carrier down to write out my check, a dog came and lifted his leg right on Tonka's carrier!!! Needless to say, we were both appalled, but Tonka has hated going to the vet ever since. I guess I understand why, poor little man.

Anyway, call around and see if you can get a vet that does housecalls. I know that for a small extra fee, my vet will come to the house if I need him to.

Best of luck,

Gaye

It is time for them to make a vet visit. The drinking more water is often a sign of the start of kidney problems.The senior blood work will tell if this is going on.If so then sometimes a food change will be helpfull in slowing down the kidney problems.So its best to have them both have a complete check up.

Thanks Guys.

Ive discussed this with my folks and suggested that they may need a vet trip and they were both dubious about the money (Im only 22) so it looks like I may have to take them myself when I have a car (Im looking to buy my own, the family car is bust). My local vet cant do house calls, and the nearest one to me costs a lot of money to come out..

The past 2 mornings it looks like one of the cats has used the house as a toilet. I know that she has been leaving my room to go out in the middle of the night, but she has always gone outside before - never indoors. Why is this? And is there anyway I can prevent it? I dont really want to suggest to my folks that the strange wetness was cat pee - they arent the biggest animal lovers and I dont want the cats risk being banned from the house.

I'll try and get them into the vets ASAP though it may take up to a month What sort of foods are there available that can slow this down? IM so desperate I'll try anything!

Angie
xxxxx

PS: Thanks for all your help guys...love you all!

I dont know if where you live has public transportation //// if you can use it to get them sooner to a vet...

I would call every vet to see if any make house calls reasonably...

My vet charges just 10.00 extra for house calls

If you let us know where you are, other members from the area might be able to recommend a good vet!!

A lot of vets also offer payment plans, so you might want to ask about that while you're finding out about the house calls! There are also many, many ways to get extra money to pay for vets bills!

Your kitties really do need to see the vets!

Good luck and do let us know how everything goes!

Although I empathize with your situation...it is essential that your kitties be examined by a vet.
They could be suffering with pain and have condition that could be treated. Please find a way to get them to a vet.

I also totally empathize with your situation, but there are huge signs telling us that you cats need to see a vet right away. Eliminating outside a litter box when they haven't done so previously is almost always a sign that they are sick. Drinking excess water is typically a sign of kidney problems.

Any change of behavior in a 14 year old cat should a red flag to you. Find a vet that will take payments and/or come to your home. These babies need a senior blood panel to find out what is up with their health. Waiting a month at their age could set a disease in motion that can't be controlled.

I am so sorry that you are going thru this!

I'm sorry, it sounds like you're having a tough time.

The urination problems popping up, in addition to the other changes you've noted, mean that your cats need to get to a vet ASAP. I definitely wouldn't wait a month. Try calling your vet and letting him know what's going on, to see if you can work out some sort of a payment plan.

Health problems caught in their early stages are usually much simpler and less expensive to treat than if they're ignored and you wait until it's an emergency.

If a house call isn't an option and the car isn't working, you can call a taxi to come and get you to take you to the vet, and again to take you home. I had to do that once when my car wasn't working. Just tell the dispatcher you're taking your cats to the vet so the driver will know to expect animals, and make sure your cats are secured in carriers. You'll probably want to make sure to line the carriers well with newspaper & soft towels in case the cats mess their carriers. Perhaps you could find a friend willing to give you a ride?