Several years ago it was discovered that my now almost 18 year old cat was starting to have signs of kidney failure. It was initially diagnosed through regular bloodwork, and at one point we had thought we thought we were going to lose her. Lots of fluid shots over the course of a few weeks, and she was a whole new kitty. When I moved into my own house I took her with me, learned more about cat diets, and started her on almost exclusively canned cat food in hopes to slow the progression of the disease.
Now, it seems as though she is in gastrointestinal distress. A couple of months ago she started pooping out of the litter box, but I made some changes and thought we had handled the situation. She's always been a cat that throws up hairballs and water on occasion, despite numerous attempts at changing her diet. Lately she's been throwing up more often, and it's not just hair or water. Around that time (a couple of days ago) her stools have become runny. Apparently she had some sort of problem when I was in the shower earlier, and I found a fairly large spot of brownish very watery vomit next to a spot of equally runny diarrhea. When I found it, she was sitting on the couch in the other room like there was no issue. She's still eating and peeing in the box, and there haven't been any recent diet changes.
Could this be related to her kidney failure? Or is it another issue entirely? I don't think it's some sort of bug going around as I don't have any cats coming in or out, and my young cat is just fine. Either way, what should I do about it other than take her to the vet?
I don't want to make the awful decision to have her put down because of this if it progresses, but I fear the worst with older animals I have noticed that for the past couple of weeks that she has seemed... kind of more droopy and sadder than usual. She's still relatively active for an older cat, and there's nothing dramatically different about her. She just doesn't seem to be like she has been. Still loves to rub and snuggle all over me, and still hates every other person in existence. Just... sadder. It's been bothering me, and these issues now have me worried about her.
Oh, and she will be going to the vet asap to see what they have to say. I just wanted to see what other folks thought about her situation.
Now, it seems as though she is in gastrointestinal distress. A couple of months ago she started pooping out of the litter box, but I made some changes and thought we had handled the situation. She's always been a cat that throws up hairballs and water on occasion, despite numerous attempts at changing her diet. Lately she's been throwing up more often, and it's not just hair or water. Around that time (a couple of days ago) her stools have become runny. Apparently she had some sort of problem when I was in the shower earlier, and I found a fairly large spot of brownish very watery vomit next to a spot of equally runny diarrhea. When I found it, she was sitting on the couch in the other room like there was no issue. She's still eating and peeing in the box, and there haven't been any recent diet changes.
Could this be related to her kidney failure? Or is it another issue entirely? I don't think it's some sort of bug going around as I don't have any cats coming in or out, and my young cat is just fine. Either way, what should I do about it other than take her to the vet?
I don't want to make the awful decision to have her put down because of this if it progresses, but I fear the worst with older animals I have noticed that for the past couple of weeks that she has seemed... kind of more droopy and sadder than usual. She's still relatively active for an older cat, and there's nothing dramatically different about her. She just doesn't seem to be like she has been. Still loves to rub and snuggle all over me, and still hates every other person in existence. Just... sadder. It's been bothering me, and these issues now have me worried about her.
Oh, and she will be going to the vet asap to see what they have to say. I just wanted to see what other folks thought about her situation.