Really need advice on a senior cat losing weight.

[Anonymous]

OP, the latter stages of life include weight loss and some unwellness. Rather than illness that is curable or a specific syndrome, there may be value in looking at your cat's weight loss and upset stomach as symptoms of old age and decline. Can your vet treat those symptoms -- loss of appetite, nausea and help make him more comfortable?

At the end of an animal's life, there is often a balance between comfort and the symptoms the animal is sustaining. I agree that your cat is not at the stage where he needs to be out of pain, but what you are seeing -- weight loss and inability to eat -- is what many pet owners see at the end of life. It's not unusual.

[Anonymous]

Most of the advice is great, and appreciated. Thank you. The children know he is sick; we have told them. Surprisingly, they seem to be pretty much OK with it. Obviously, they don't have the ability to fully comprehend the outcome. However, I have truly amazing, and compassionate children. I am going to follow the advice as for the specialist. We will have to go from there. I did ask his current veterinarian, because I have my doubts. I know felines are masters of disquise. His response was that is his job to let him worry about that. I am not sure how u feel about this response,but for now it is what I have to go on. I honestly think a specialist is at least in order. He deserves a second opinion before I have any right to take away any chance he may or may not have. I am sure many will understand, and agree. I am thankful for all similar experiences shares with me on this post. I will continue to keep checking.

[Anonymous]

Hope Advanced Veterinary Clinic in Rockville is great.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. I am going to look at getting him in next week. To to poster above my last post, that is an angle no one has looked at. Not even myself. Thank you, that is something ti seriously think about. That is possibly the most valuable information that I have heard from most. I am actually shocked myself! Wow, thank you for your help. Thank you everyone, seriously! I will update this thread as soon as I have new information. I am still going to check back, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the latter stages of life include weight loss and some unwellness. Rather than illness that is curable or a specific syndrome, there may be value in looking at your cat's weight loss and upset stomach as symptoms of old age and decline. Can your vet treat those symptoms -- loss of appetite, nausea and help make him more comfortable?

At the end of an animal's life, there is often a balance between comfort and the symptoms the animal is sustaining. I agree that your cat is not at the stage where he needs to be out of pain, but what you are seeing -- weight loss and inability to eat -- is what many pet owners see at the end of life. It's not unusual.

This one: that is amazing! I can't believe how something that simple has NEVER been looked at, or mentioned. I am guilty of not figuring out that possibility too. Who ever you are, thank you for your help. I am not even going to try to make any sense of how I too did not think about it.

[Anonymous]

OP again, I have one more question to ask. I am aware that mare 'bad days rather than good days' is a huge indication that we should seriously consider a time frame. However, is there anything else anyone can tell me that I am positive I am over looking?

[Anonymous]

My cat had kidney failure. His symptoms were similar. We chose not to do anything invasive. He lived another year and was very comfortable until the last week. It's apparently very common in older cats. Our original vet didn't diagnose him but my gut said something was up. We changed vets and he was diagnosed. I know your vet did labs but did they specifically rule kidney failure out? I can't recall the specific labs used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My cat had kidney failure. His symptoms were similar. We chose not to do anything invasive. He lived another year and was very comfortable until the last week. It's apparently very common in older cats. Our original vet didn't diagnose him but my gut said something was up. We changed vets and he was diagnosed. I know your vet did labs but did they specifically rule kidney failure out? I can't recall the specific labs used.

Yes, his scaring on the kideys is so mild that it doesn't even qualify to be staged. The blood test checks the bun/ creatinine levels, and the pH to check how well the kidneys are concentrating the urine. Then he had the urine sample sent to a lab to culture it.

[Anonymous]

We recently took our almost 16-year-old cat to the Hope Center in Rockville and were very pleased with our visit. It cost $245 but the doctor spent a good 90 minutes with us reviewing our regular vet's records, discussing symptoms and recommending treatment. Our cat has hyperthyroidism and diabetes which contributed to weight loss although not as drastic as what happened to your cat. But the specialist did say there was a 50/50 chance he has cancer based on his symptoms and age and that the only definitive way to know about something like lymphoma is to do a biopsy, which we aren't willing to put him through.

One of our other cats (we have 3) recently had drastic weight loss and vomiting and all the tests showed absolutely nothing wrong with him. There is a special gastro panel that can be run out of a university in TX I think so you could ask your vet about that. We had it done and everything looked fine so they did an ultrasound just to be sure and that looked fine too. The cat has now gained some weight back and seems totally fine months later so we still don't know what it was.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hope Advanced Veterinary Clinic in Rockville is great.

Hope is wonderful! I have been a lifelong pet owner and been to many vets and emergency clinics. We discovered Hope this summer after 2 unrelated pet emergencies. The vets we saw were kind, thorough and knowledgeable and the fees were reasonable. Highly recommend!

[Anonymous]

Thank you! He has an appointment today. He is hacking as I type. He is nauseous, because a few minutes ago he was doing the lip smacking routine. Hopefully we will have answers today, or a good idea as to what is wrong, or not wrong. I am inclined to believe a PP who mentioned just getting old. Maybe sometimes the answer is that there is no answer. I will post an update. You guys are amazing!

[Anonymous]

The doctor examined him, and said other than the drastic weight loss he is fine. He said it is when they stop eating that is how I will know it is time. I don't agree, and now I am at a loss. He did not do any blood work, because he said, 'I don't want to stress him out."

[Anonymous]

Sounds like cancer. I'm sorry op

[Anonymous]

OP, here. I am not sure, but I believe that I should consider the quality of his life as well? I mean, am I missing something? I totally understand why I would continue to keep him her if there was an end to justify the means, but by all account there is nothing more I can do. I am shocked by a veterinarian who would actually tell me that as long as he is eating then keep him here and watch him deteriorate.

[Anonymous]

Google cat quality of life scores--that will help you figure it out.