Newbie looking for help w/ideas on cat's health...vets don't seem to know

[taylor619]

First, let me start off by saying hello!

I am a newbie to this forum and about losing my mind over my cat's poor health, so, I was hoping some of you may give me some ideas since you have experience with felines.

So...I took in my cat who was a stray approx 4 months ago. (my 1st cat!

)

She doesn't seem to be gaining any weight and weighs a measly 4.5lbs; yes, she is fur, skin, and bones at this point.

Initially, I had her vaccinated, tested for FIV/FeLV,  and de-wormed (drontal). I was also attempting to get her spayed through a non-profit here in TX, but they denied it and stated she looks to be around 15 and they don't spay over 6. So it appears I have a senior kitty!  The vets have given me an estimate of age from 8-15yrs, depending on which vet you ask.

I figured it would take some months for her to put on noticeable weight, so I wasn't too concerned until she had an "episode", as I call it. She generally was very weak and unsteady on her feet. Vet thought she was anemic and gave her some l-lysine but didn't run any tests. She perked up for a while, but still didn't gain any weight.

On Christmas eve she wouldn't eat, drink, or really get up at all. When she did get up, she had a "sideways" walk. She seemed very confused, unsteady, low temp, and generally very weak. I took her to the vet and they gave her fluids as well as tested her kidneys. They found blood in her stool when taking her temp but kidney test showed nothing remarkable.

She recently had another "episode" of the same manner. Didn't really use her back leg to walk this time (walking in circles, kind of), one front paw and one rear paw had a "parkinsonian-like" tremor. Again she didn't want to eat or drink, and again, I took her to the vet. This time her thyroid was tested. Nothing remarkable. Her face also looked like it was retaining fluid...very strange.

 I've been to three different vets now and none of them seemed very concerned that she weighs all of 4.5lbs, which is really frustrating me. She has no energy and with these "episodes" I fear she may die soon. Vet thinks she has mild inflammatory bowel disease IBD, but she rarely vomits and rarely has diarrhea. I'm really at my wits end with my vets and their lack of concern. This little one is too precious to just waste away.

Any ideas from your own experiences?

 

[laralove]

Taylor, I don't have experience with this and no ideas to offer, but I did want to welcome you to the site and express how wonderful it is that you've taken in an older kitty and are taking such good care of her. 

A couple of relevant questions: What are you feeding her and how much? How is her energy level on a normal day (with no episodes)?

 

[fleabags mom]

Am so sorry that you and kitty are going through this. First of all, if you can afford it, I would go to another vet and get a second opinion. Do you know anyone who can recommend a good vet, or is there any research you can do online for vets in your area? Are you in America? Some folk here talk about cat-only vets, that may help? The reason I say this is that your cat is clearly sick, and to do things like give her l-lysine without taking bloods seems a bit shoddy. I wonder if you can get full bloods done and perhaps an x-ray to check all is ok inside.

There could be all manner of things wrong, esp as you don't know her background or her nutritional history. Ie, B1/thiamine deficiency can cause the walking  sideways thing you're talking about. It may be worth getting a good check done once and for all and don't let the vet dismiss or bully you, some vet's are terrible!

In the meantime, can you offer kitty some human food to try and kick start her appetite? Something strong smelling like tuna in water, sliced ham or my fav is boiled chicken in water - my cat enjoys all of it including the water as long as not too watery. Sometimes smelly food can make them feel hungry.  As kitty isn't used to eating much, offering food little and often may help out too.

I wish you all the best, I really do. Kudos to you taking on a stray and doing your best to help. Hugs

 

[cprcheetah]

Have any of the vets looked in her ears?  Inner ear infections can cause them to walk in circles.  Has she had any xrays taken?  Heart problems can cause them to be weak and anemic.  Are there any Specialists in your area?  If so you might want to have her checked by one.  How many times has she been dewormed?  If she had a heavy load of worms it can cause the anemia as well as the low weight.  How much and how often are you feeding her?  What kind of food?

 

[taylor619]

Thank you for all the warm welcomes! Sorry it has taken me so long to reply!

@ laralove - she  was eating one 5.5oz can a day...some days only 1/2 a can. Yesterday  she ate 3 cans! Which is the most she has eaten in the 4 mos I've had her. I've fed her just about everything under the sun from cheap 9lives and Friskies, to Wellness and Felidae. She seems to prefer Friskies above all. I feed her both dry and can -- kind of like a buffet. I set it out and she eats as she wants throughout the day. Her energy levels throughout the day are pretty low. She sleeps mostly, day and night, but she is older, so idk. Yesterday and today her energy levels have been higher as she has been following me around most of the day and has curously tried to "peak" on top of the nightstand, so I can tell the last two days she has been feeling much better. She did get two or three rounds of fluids from the vet, so I'm sure that is what has helped boost her back up.

@ Fleabagsmom -- I have taken her to three different vets. I am in America, and there is a feline only vet 10 mins down the road from me. The main issue is the office visit alone is 125, and seeing as I am living on student loans at the moment (grad student), it is difficult to find the extra money. I've already spent near $700 with no results

, and my remaining money has to last until early June. I was unable to find any reviews of the place, either.

@cprcheetah-- The last vet did look in her ears, but didn't mention anything to me. She has not had any x-rays taken...none of the vets even mentioned x-rays. She was dewormed once, but I just de-wormed her again yesterday. I checked her fecal and there wasn't anything visible. She was given drontal, which I understand is a broad spectrum? Is there any other dewormer I should try? I feed her as much as she will eat. I set a can and a bowl of dry out each morning and she eats what she wants throughout the day. If she eats all the wet then I'll give another can, but that is very rare. Yesterday she ate 3 cans but today only 1/2 can, so her appetite varies greatly. She seems to like the "wet" wet food more than any.  I've fed her everything from 9lives and Friskies, to Wellness and Felidae. She seems to prefer Friskies more than any of them...

 

[hexiesfriend]

Sorry about your kitty it's awful to not know what is wrong. Have all her blood tests been normal? The behavior with the unsteadiness and the irregular food appetite sounds like her blood glucose is out of balance. I've seen a neighbors diabetic cat that had been off her insulin and she was bones and would fall over from dizziness. If yours is 15 there are things like liver tumors or cancer that can be a possibility but she wouldn't be eating like she is. Only a vet can diagnose this stuff but just letting you know my experience as I have a diabetic cat now. A blood glucose test is about $15 and any kind of vet can do it. Before you go to the vet with that thought, you can buy ketone sticks at the drugstore for $10 and test her urine. If she is showing ketones in her urine she probably needs to be seen by a vet and prescribed insulin. Insulin is about $80 for a 2-3 month supply and it is very easy to administer. Good luck let us know how she is doing. I just thought sharing my experience may help. I have been where you have been living on student loans with a sick cat

 

[mycatwasthebest]

Since your cat was better after getting fluids is she drinking now?

 

[mycatwasthebest]

and, I forgot to add, maybe there is a shelter in your area that provides low-cost vet care to people within certain income guidelines...it took me a long time trying but I finally got my (recently departed, but don't let that scare you) cat covered at anti-cruelty...$5 visit, every time, everything

 

[taylor619]

It is awful not knowing.

She has been much, MUCH better a few days after receiving fluid. She seems to always be better after fluids. All of her blood tests have been normal so far. I believe they tested her glucose, but I'll have to get into her paperwork to be sure. A ketone stick is a great idea, I will definitely try that if it hasn't been tested. The vet I go to now is pretty affordable, but she told me she thinks Izzy has mild irritable bowel, which doesn't really fit imo. She is drinking now, and eating like a hog, thank goodness. There is a shelter in my area that does do low-cost, but there is a substantial waiting period (I submitted the paperwork after she first got sick).

 

[denice]

It could be IBD.  Has anyone given her a B12 shot?  Kitties with IBD often also have a malabsorption issue.  The cyclic nature of it, not gaining weight when she is eating, and normal blood test results do make IBD a possibility.  My kitty has IBD and has never had diarrhea.  He is actually prone to constipation.  The next time you take her in I would ask for a B12 shot.  If she quits eating again I would ask the vet about trying a steroid to see if she reacts favorably to that.  If the B12 shot helps with weight gain and the steroid brings her out of the aneroxia I think it would be a good assumption that she does have IBD.

 

[taylor619]

Okay, well I just looked and they did check glucose. I do remember the vet stated she gave her a shot, but there isn't a charge for it listed on my bill so I don't know what it was. I can call and ask. Yeah, she hasn't vomited, had diarrhea, or constipation. I figure there would be some kind of symptom I can see, but if not, then IBD might be the culprit. She didn't send me home with any medication for IBD, is that normal?

 

[denice]

Medication wise the only treatment really is a steroid.  An appetite stimulant can help get a kitty to eat but it doesn't actually treat the IBD.  Some people have had success controlling IBD with diet, it's a matter of figuring out what the triggers for the inflammation are.  http://ibdkitties.net/  is a good resource with a lot of information about IBD.

 

[angels mommy]

Hi Taylor, I don't have any advice, as I have never experienced this kind of thing either, but just wanted to send you guys some vibes! 

I know the vets can get expensive, especially when you are trying to figure out what is going on. I know living on a limited budget is hard. I thought I'd suggest Care Credit to you, if you haven't checked

it out already. The payments are low & manageable (mine started at 25.00/mo.).  It saved me when Angel had cystitis 3XS!  It allowed me to take care of what ever he needed! 

I wish you the best of luck, & pray that you will have a right answer soon, so you will know how to treat her.

Bless you for taking care of & loving this kitty!!

 

[hexiesfriend]

I hope she will be fat and happy soon!!!

 

[taylor619]

Thank you, Angels Mommy! Unfortunately, Care Credit is not an option, as I am currently not employed (full-time student). Thank you, hexiesfriend, I hope so too!

 

[taylor619]

Update: So far, so good! She hasn't been back to the vet for a weigh-in, but I can feel she has gained some significant weight! For the first time, I saw her play and "spaz" around the house. She is much more talkative and her appetite is healthy! She's like a whole new cat I'm not sure exactly what helped, but something sure did!

 

[hexiesfriend]

I'm glad your cat is doing well! Sorry it is still a little puzzling what happened.....