I have a 7 year old female Maine Coon that has recently lost an alarming 3lbs. I can now feel her bones sticking out through her coat. In addition, she has developed a voracious appetite where she's eating upwards of 5 large cans of food each day, about 25 ozs. I've been able to stabilize her weight by feeding her as much and as frequently as she wants. She's been on the same wet food her whole life. She has terrible diarrhea, which includes undigested food. Her coat doesn't look good and she's losing hair. My once super energetic interactive cat has become lethargic and depressed. Cali is spayed and is indoor only. Her lab results were completely normal, except for mild dehydration. The vet said Cali could have a multitude of problems, including cancer or thoracic tumor or IBS. She recommended an abdominal ultrasound, but the vet that performs that test only comes to their clinic once monthly and she's not due back for another 3 weeks. Since hyperthyroidism, kidney disease and diabetes have been ruled out, does anyone have any thoughts about what could be wrong with my beloved companion?
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What's wrong with my cat?
- Thread starter Pawsings
- Start Date
Hello - May I ask how they ruled out Hyper-T? Sometimes Hyper-T requires an additional test called Free T4, that was the definitive way my angel Poppycat was diagnosed.
This provides a little information;
Feline Thyroid Tests
This provides a little information;
Feline Thyroid Tests
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Hi. I'm sorry you are struggling.
We are not vets here, and can't see your cat, but can offer lots of brainstorming and emotional support.
Is there another vet in your area that can do the test sooner?
I've also linked the VCA's standard test sets for cats with severe weight loss.
Testing for Weight Loss in Cats | VCA Canada Animal Hospitals
We are not vets here, and can't see your cat, but can offer lots of brainstorming and emotional support.
Is there another vet in your area that can do the test sooner?
I've also linked the VCA's standard test sets for cats with severe weight loss.
Testing for Weight Loss in Cats | VCA Canada Animal Hospitals
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- #4
Where did the number fall in the range?
Would your vet consider consulting with a university medical veterinary department? Is your vet cat-only? Can you go and see another vet?
Find a Veterinarian and Practice | The Cat Community
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- #6
I appreciate any brain storming. She's obviously having malabsorbtion problems. The illness is preventing her from metabolizing the necessary nutrients. I'm thinking of something like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), which is when the pancreas doesn't provide the required enzymes to break down food. I'm currently trying to find a vet that can perform an ultrasound sooner. Thank you for responding.
I am assuming that you have the same mobile sonographer arrangement that I have in my area. For some reason, they don't seem to be able to deviate from the circuit that they are on. You might state your case again, even asking if you could meet the sonographer at another clinic (if you are comfortable with a practice you don't know), if they had an extra hour or so. You also might try a referral to a specialty hospital (your vet will know what you mean) as most of those will have someone on staff who can do the ultrasound.
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- #8
Thank you for your great suggestions. I found a "cat only" vet and made an appointment for her earliest opening, which is not until May 12. I also have another appointment with a new vet in 2 weeks. I'm surrounded by vets in my area, so finding another one isn't an issue.
I don't know what you mean about "where did the numbers fall in the range." All the values in her blood test were normal. I read the results myself and none of her values were even borderline. They were all right in the middle, normal. Thanks again!
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- #9
They only did the standard chemistry blood test panel, which included liver, renal, glucose, complete CBC, platelets, and a U.A.
l. I wasn't aware there was another test that could identify a thyroid problem. Thank you for informing me about it.
They only did the standard SuperChem blood panel and included a test for T4. Her value was 2.4. The normal range is .08-4.0. I will discuss your suggestion of the Free T4 with the vet. When Cali started to lose weight, while still voraciously eating, my first thought was Hyoer-T. Thank you!
That is what I was wondering, so even the T4 was mid-range. How confusing!
Let us know how things go with her, and you.
Can you try adding in high calorie foods, --even kitten glop, a little butter now and then, Royal Canin A/D and anything else she might like;
This is titled for cats who are struggling with eating but there are some great ideas;
Any Good Tips To Get Your Cats To Eat? Share Them Here!
These might help, from one of our articles, How to Get a Cat to Gain Weight;
The formulation is easy to introduce to a cat’s diet and they are made in flavors that cats adore. As examples of the high-quality type of caloric supplements we’re talking about, consider these:
GNC Pets Ultra Multivitamin Gel
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
Nutri-Cal High-Calorie Supplement (3-pack)
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
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- #11
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- #12
Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to post all that great information and suggestions. I'm feeding Cali as much as she wants, as often as she wants. She's eating around the clock and will wolf down an entire 5.5 oz can of cat food in just a couple of minutes. But she has diarrhea and any deviation from her regular food, even just a quarter teaspoon, will turn her stools into milkshake consistency. I've even tried freshly cooked chicken breast, no skin. I've tried adding powdered or pureed pumpkin to her wet food to combat the diarrhea, but then she refuses to eat any of it.That is what I was wondering, so even the T4 was mid-range. How confusing!
Let us know how things go with her, and you.
Can you try adding in high calorie foods, --even kitten glop, a little butter now and then, Royal Canin A/D and anything else she might like;
This is titled for cats who are struggling with eating but there are some great ideas;
Any Good Tips To Get Your Cats To Eat? Share Them Here!
These might help, from one of our articles, How to Get a Cat to Gain Weight;
The formulation is easy to introduce to a cat’s diet and they are made in flavors that cats adore. As examples of the high-quality type of caloric supplements we’re talking about, consider these:
GNC Pets Ultra Multivitamin Gel
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
Nutri-Cal High-Calorie Supplement (3-pack)
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
I will definitely look up those high calorie supplements. Those would really help her to at least maintain her weight. She's a large Maine Coon and at her heaviest she was 14.5 lbs. Now she's down to a frail 11.3 lbs. I just cry when I hold her and feel her withering away before my eyes. Thank you again !
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I am so sorry. I don’t know what could be causing it but I hope you and dvm figure it out. My thoughts were cancer, hyperthyroidism, or malabsorption of some sort maybe. Kidney disease, and hcm heart disease, which is hereditary for MC, can cause this too.
National Heart Month: Learning About Feline Heart Disease - Just Cats Clinic
National Heart Month: Learning About Feline Heart Disease - Just Cats Clinic
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- #15
Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to post all that great information and suggestions. I'm feeding Cali as much as she wants, as often as she wants. She's eating around the clock and will wolf down an entire 5.5 oz can of cat food in just a couple of minutes. But she has diarrhea and any deviation from her regular food, even just a quarter teaspoon, will turn her stools into milkshake consistency. I've even tried freshly cooked chicken breast, no skin. I've tried adding powdered or pureed pumpkin to her wet food to combat the diarrhea, but then she refuses to eat any of it.That is what I was wondering, so even the T4 was mid-range. How confusing!
Let us know how things go with her, and you.
Can you try adding in high calorie foods, --even kitten glop, a little butter now and then, Royal Canin A/D and anything else she might like;
This is titled for cats who are struggling with eating but there are some great ideas;
Any Good Tips To Get Your Cats To Eat? Share Them Here!
These might help, from one of our articles, How to Get a Cat to Gain Weight;
The formulation is easy to introduce to a cat’s diet and they are made in flavors that cats adore. As examples of the high-quality type of caloric supplements we’re talking about, consider these:
GNC Pets Ultra Multivitamin Gel
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
Nutri-Cal High-Calorie Supplement (3-pack)
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
I will definitely look up those high calorie supplements. Those would really help her to at least maintain her weight. She's a large Maine Coon and at her heaviest she was 14.5 lbs. Now she's down to a frail 11.3 lbs. I just cry when I hold her and feel her withering away before my eyes. Thank you again !
Thank you Meowmee, I will look into that. She’s had a slight heart murmur since birth. I’ve had the same thoughts about cancer, Hyper-T and malabsorption, especially when I saw undigested food in her diarrhea along with the weight loss and increased appetite. She’s definitely not metabolizing food properly or absorbing calories and nutrients. I’m grateful she’s not vomiting too.
How are things ?
Something else to check into with your vet;
Something else to check into with your vet;
Recommendations for keeping a senior cat full?
My mom has 2 cats that are almost 16 years old. Over the past few months, one of the cats has become obsessed with food. He lost some weight and the vet initially thought that he had hyperthyroidism but all of his blood work came back completely normal. They recommended not giving him high...
thecatsite.com
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- #17
Furballsmom, thank you for checking up on us. I purchased the products you recommended. I also got Nutramax Proviable Digestive Health Supplement, which is a probiotic and digestive enzyme. I add the powder to her food once daily and it has helped a lot with her diarrhea. The product reduced the number of bowel movements from four to once daily and the consistency is much firmer. I believe her weight has stabilized. Her mood and behavior, although not normal, are much better. So I assume that she is absorbing more calories and nutrients. I was able to get an appointment with a cat specialist, who was recommended to me, for next Friday April 21. Now that more time has passed and she has developed more symptoms, I believe that she has exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, EPI. According to what I've read, she has 8/9 symptoms of that disorder and she's developed them in a particular order.The diagnosis of EPI can only be determined with a blood test of her pancreatic enzymes. Thanks again for staying in touch. We are both feeling better now that her diarrhea and mood have improved.
Oh my goodness yes, it's just the worst when they either aren't eating, or aren't able to keep the food in
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- #19
Hi furballsmom. My sweet girl had a G.I. panel blood test done last Saturday April 22 and the results still aren't in today, April 27. Do you know how long it takes to get results for that particular blood test? The vet's office keeps telling me different things depending on who I talk to. One person says 2-3 days and another person says 5-9 days. I am unable to reach the vet directly. Meanwhile my beloved companion is getting weaker and thinner because she's absorbing so few nutrients. Do you know if there is a prescription medication for diarrhea caused by IBS or EPI?Oh my goodness yes, it's just the worst when they either aren't eating, or aren't able to keep the food in
I unfortunately don't have any information to help you with. If this were me, I'd show up at the clinic with her as a walk-in and see if they can't help your baby.
