Kitty is still sick...any thoughts on what it is?

My 9 year old cat, kitty, has been having some sort of illness for about 8 weeks ago. Over the course of a weekend at that time, she vomitted about 6 times. I took her to the vet where they did senior panel bloodwork, physical exam, and xrays. The "diagnosis" was gastritis. She did have slightly elevated pancreatic and liver enzymes, but everything else was fine. We gave her the 10 day course of amoxicillin recommended by the vet and for the most part, she stopped vomitting (the frequency went down to about once every 7-10 days.) It has now been about two weeks since she last vomitted, which is good, but she isn't eating very much and is becoming very skinny (I think she's lost a pound in the last 8 weeks, so she's down to only 8 pounds).

The thing is, she seems hungry and interested in food. I did change her food to Hills z/d (low allergen) about two weeks ago, and stopped giving her treats and dairy (we used to let her have some milk from the ceral bowl.) She seems to like the flavor of the new food (but clearly misses the treats) but it appears she has a hard time chewing. She'll get some in her mouth, then flick it out and shake her head while extending her tongue (I hope that makes sense.) I've noticed that she does this even when she is not eating - so just sitting around she will shake her head while sticking her tongue out, as though something is stuck in her teath or throat.

So part of me suspects a tooth problem. BUT, at the same time, I noticed that in terms of drinking water, she seems to hover over the water bowl, licking the air most of the time and only barely touching the water. She seems like she might be mildly dehydrated. Finally today I just gave up and gave her chunck tuna in water, which she devoured. I didn't want to traumatize her little tummy, so I only gave her about 1/4 of the can and will give her more this evening.

Also, she's had persistent discharge from her eyes - it seems to be a dark brown color. Lastly, she seems withdrawn. I couldn't find her before we left the house today, but my husband finally did - she was wedged between the sofa and end table, someplace we've never seen her.

I've called the vet to see about getting in tomorrow, but in the meantime wanted to know what you all think. We're very worried about her - but she's only 9!!! That's too young for something very serious

Thanks for any thoughts.
Elizabeth

Elizabeth, I do not wish to scare you, from the symptoms you are posting about, the vomiting, the intense hunger, the hanging the head over the waterbowl unable to drink all can point to feline panleukopenia. A hardy virus that is also known as feline distemper. Normally, this disease affects kittens, but it can affect older cats as well. I would certainly not rule it out, and take great care that your cat stays hydrated until you get her to the vet for an evaluation. Cats can pick this by infected fleas, exposure to the outdoors and contact with other cat's waste material.

Again, I do not wish to scare you, but it is something you might consider looking into.

No Hissy, that's OK - I had thought of distemper when she was first sick - she is overdue for her vaccinations (by a year or two), though she is an indoor-only cat, as is our other cat. I realize it is still formally a possibility, and will ask the vet about it. The only thing that is not consistent with this diagnosis is that her white blood cell count at the last appointment was slightly elevated, rather than low. Of course this could have changed in the past weeks.

Thanks - that is a secondary reason I am going in - she was overdue by a year or two on her shots, but the last time she was at the vet they did not want to give them, since she was already "stressed." So if necessary, I want to get her up to date.

I just had a thought - while both of our cats are indoor only, we bought our house from a family that had in indoor-outdoor cat. Since distemper is very hardy, it is possible that Kitty could have been infected simply by being in the house (in particular the basement). Will definitely ask the vet about it. Now I feel awful about letting her shots lapse!

Well, we went in knowing that this vet appointment wouldn't be fun, and it sure wasn't. First off, Kitty is down to only 6.75 pounds - from an all time high of 11, but more importantly she was 9 pounds 8 weeks ago. This vet (a different vet than last time) felt around and feels 95% confident that she has a tumor, probably in her spleen or possibly the omentum. He reviewed her xrays from 8 weeks ago and said that the beginning of abnormalities were present. I wish the other vet had noticed something - while he may not have been able to do anything we could have at least started her on steroids earlier so she didn't waste away so much.

She is home now after a steroid shot and fluids. We have two weeks worth of prednisone, but really now we need to decide when to put her to sleep There is really nothing we can do.

We are just torn up about it since she is only 9 and we just love her so much. The worst is knowing that while the steroids will probably make her feel better, we still need to put her down...but steroids are not a long term cure and we'd rather not let her just get worse, stop eating, and starve to death.

Thanks for reading.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth, this is the inevitable time of a cat owner's life. The reality is that they do not live as long as we want them to. It is difficult to gauge their level of pain, because nature has equipped them to hide this pain successfully.

It will be up to you, to be in tune with her. To look into her eyes and understand when it has been "enough" for her. The light and life goes out of their eyes, and they show us way before this happens if we would only listen.

Many people strive to find the miracle in the can, to find that cure, that certain something that is just out there, has to be, has to cure this cat because oh my god, I can't go on in my life if she isn't in it with me.

The reality of this time in a cat owner's life is simple. We can't always let go and instead the cat suffers, because once their pain ends....ours begins.

No one can tell you when that time will be, except for her and your vet. She may have only graced your life for a few years, but, I am willing to bet, she will always be your forever cat, no matter when she passes. By your hand, or by God's, the decision is difficult no matter how you cut it.

I'm very sorry to hear about this new information....sending you many prayers

Originally Posted by epresco

Well, we went in knowing that this vet appointment wouldn't be fun, and it sure wasn't. First off, Kitty is down to only 6.75 pounds - from an all time high of 11, but more importantly she was 9 pounds 8 weeks ago. This vet (a different vet than last time) felt around and feels 95% confident that she has a tumor, probably in her spleen or possibly the omentum. He reviewed her xrays from 8 weeks ago and said that the beginning of abnormalities were present. I wish the other vet had noticed something - while he may not have been able to do anything we could have at least started her on steroids earlier so she didn't waste away so much.

She is home now after a steroid shot and fluids. We have two weeks worth of prednisone, but really now we need to decide when to put her to sleep

There is really nothing we can do.

We are just torn up about it since she is only 9 and we just love her so much. The worst is knowing that while the steroids will probably make her feel better, we still need to put her down...but steroids are not a long term cure and we'd rather not let her just get worse, stop eating, and starve to death.

Thanks for reading.

Elizabeth

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Did the vet do new x-rays or just review the old ones? Did you ever get copies of the bloodwork?

The vet reviewed the old xrays. He said that he could already damage starting to occur in the liver and upper GI area. We reviewed all of the old bloodwork, and all levels were normal (including T4).

He said that new xrays would probably not tell us any more than he could already gather by feeling the mass is her abdomen. And more xrays would only mean putting her under - a stress that probably wouldn't be worth it.

With the steroids, her appetite seems to be good, though she still cannot really "eat." We will see how she seems in a couple of days. If she is remarkably better, we may ask for more xrays.

Elizabeth

I got my 17 year old steroid shots once a month until she started vomiting blood. I know the steroids made her feel great, and I weighed the options of extending her life quality with steroids, or letting her wither away. I decided to give her the best quality unitl it was obviously over. She lasted around 9 months with the steroids. then I stopped them becuase she was vomiting blood, and of course that led to no eating and everything that goes with that, force feeding, subcutameous fluids. WE did that for a week when it was obvious that her stomach was not going to heal and the quality of life was very poor. you can read my post on crossing the bridge"my baby is dying"
My thoughts and prayers are with you.