Is it time to put my cat down? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is it time to put my cat down?

Posted: 1/31/2015 7:39:44 PM EDT

She is 16 years old and otherwise healthy. About 6 months ago she started losing weight and her appetite went through the roof. Currently I am feeding her 2-3 cans of wet food a day, her whole life before recently was half a can a day.

I tried putting out dry food but she will sit and eat it until it's gone then puke it up.

2 rounds of blood work later and the vet said there's nothing wrong with it.

She gets so hungry she'll eat whatever is on the counter, brownies, cookies, bread, etc.

If she gets hungry during the night or while I'm at work and no one is home to feed her, she gets so worked up she pukes up clear liquid, the vet thinks it's just bile.

She otherwise acts like a cat half her age and is social, friendly and playful. Idk what to do.

Posted: 1/31/2015 7:43:02 PM EDT

[#1]

No, if vet says it's fine, don't put her down. Tapeworms?

Posted: 1/31/2015 7:45:40 PM EDT

[#2]

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Quoted:
No, if vet says it's fine, don't put her down. Tapeworms?

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I don't think so, she's an indoor cat. The vet said her poop was gray, which could be an indication of something wrong with the pancreas? But again two rounds of blood work came out normal. This is new activity for her, and there must be something wrong with a cat that eats 2-3 cans a day, is still hungry, and not gaining weight.

Posted: 1/31/2015 7:50:26 PM EDT

[#3]

Possibly cancer, I suppose, but if she's acting fine and just eating a lot, I certainly wouldn't put her down.

Posted: 1/31/2015 7:52:34 PM EDT

[#4]

Diabetes? Polyphagia is one of the symptoms (for humans at least)...

Posted: 1/31/2015 7:55:29 PM EDT

[#5]

First thought would be hyperthyroidism.

You might consider reviewing the tests your vet did ~if a thyroid panel wasn't in there then she needs one. Another possibility is a second opinion from another vet (with another round of blood tests).

A stool sample to check for worms could be good.

Big picture, as long as the cat is still in the game feed her all she wants and keep an eye on her.

Posted: 1/31/2015 7:56:29 PM EDT

[#6]

Have her thyroid values rechecked.

A minute late.

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:01:22 PM EDT

[#7]

Thyroid tests were done twice, by the same vet. He checked using the lab at the office and sent the second sample out somewhere.

Diabetes would make sense if she was peeing and drinking a lot, which is not the case.

Cancer would normall suppress appetite, no? Also since it's been 6 months you'd think other symptoms would show.

The vet said he was stumped. All I know is I go through a lot of cat food, and she's always interrupting what I'm doing to eat more. I just want to make sure she's not in pain

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:01:40 PM EDT

[#8]

My cat went through that a few years ago. Thyroid. We did radiation treatment. She was fine afterward. In October she seem to have the same problem. We had blood work done. Was sent to a specialist for MRI, and the diagnosis was inoperable cancer. Put him to sleep. 12 good years.

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:02:34 PM EDT

[#9]

She wants the wet food because of water and easy to eat. Make sure she has plenty of water everywhere she can get to it. Multiple bowls she has easy access to near where she hangs out.

Eating is good. Drinking water is good. Be concerned if she doesn't want one if those. If she not lethargic, crying for food or water, she's ok. Watch when she poops or pees and see if she's struggling. Otherwise she's just old.

Vet would know more of course. Kitty sounds fine.

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:03:30 PM EDT

[#10]

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Quoted:
Diabetes? Polyphagia is one of the symptoms (for humans at least)...

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That was my first thought. Is she pissing like crazy?

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:07:58 PM EDT

[#11]

We have a cat like that.. she is 17 or so years old. Started about two years ago. It was her thyroid. It's difficult to get the meds she needs in the right amount.

She got checked out about a week ago. thyroid numbers are decent enough, but now she has other issues(seems like kidneys are starting to go, vet gave her something for that now). Vet basically just said to feed her all she wants. She gets several cans of food a day.. just licks it dry, doesn't really eat it.

She seems happy and active. So we are just gonna keep feeding her.

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:09:52 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Diabetes? Polyphagia is one of the symptoms (for humans at least)...

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My old cat is dealing with this. I give him insulin twice a day. Don't see why you should need to put your cat down.

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:12:00 PM EDT

[#13]

Check for parasites and leave out dry food. If the cat seems like it is still enjoying life then it isn't time to put it down.

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:22:07 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thyroid tests were done twice, by the same vet. He checked using the lab at the office and sent the second sample out somewhere.

Diabetes would make sense if she was peeing and drinking a lot, which is not the case.

Cancer would normall suppress appetite, no? Also since it's been 6 months you'd think other symptoms would show.

The vet said he was stumped. All I know is I go through a lot of cat food, and she's always interrupting what I'm doing to eat more. I just want to make sure she's not in pain

View Quote

Not to argue with the vet, but my cat didn't start the excessive thirst aspect until after huge weight gains. Cats handle diabetes better than humans.

But then again, one of the treatments for feline diabetes is to cut all dry food, which she doesn't eat since you said she mainly eats wet food? Either way, might be worth a trip to have them do a curve on her just to rule it out.

Posted: 1/31/2015 8:37:00 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
No, if vet says it's fine, don't put her down. Tapeworms?

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No. it is Cancer.

Cancer makes them lose a ton of weight with a big apetite

Posted: 1/31/2015 10:24:30 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

No. it is Cancer.

Cancer makes them lose a ton of weight with a big apetite

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View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
No, if vet says it's fine, don't put her down. Tapeworms?

No. it is Cancer.

Cancer makes them lose a ton of weight with a big apetite

Dang....misread that she was losing weight not gaining. Sorry op.

Posted: 2/1/2015 10:07:48 AM EDT

[#17]

The symptoms sound EXACTLY like hyperthyroidism, which is fairly common in older cats. One of my cats had it.

Ask your vet if they did the test for the T4 level, to check for hyperthyroidism. It's a special test, separate from any other tests. It's somewhat expensive to have done. $40 to $60 or so.

If that's been done, and it is normal, and it was ME, I'd take the cat somewhere else. It sounds like your vet has exhausted what they can do for your cat. You need to find a better veterinarian.

Good luck.

Posted: 2/1/2015 10:13:29 AM EDT

[#18]

We just went through this with our 16 year old (thread here). Took him to a 2nd vet, who did a blood test and we are now treating him for a blood parasite. He's starting to gain weight back and act like his old self again.

ETA: I see your vet did a blood test. What did they think it was?

Posted: 2/2/2015 1:22:41 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

Thyroid tests were done twice, by the same vet. He checked using the lab at the office and sent the second sample out somewhere.

Diabetes would make sense if she was peeing and drinking a lot, which is not the case.

Cancer would normall suppress appetite, no? Also since it's been 6 months you'd think other symptoms would show.

The vet said he was stumped. All I know is I go through a lot of cat food, and she's always interrupting what I'm doing to eat more. I just want to make sure she's not in pain

View Quote

The test for thyroid function absolutely, positively CANNOT be done in a vet's office. Unless the vet clinic is part of a large University setting, as a vet school clinic would be. The test is a radioimmuno assay. It uses a radioactive isotope. The licensing for use, and the disposal of radioisotopes is extremely expensive. And you have to have someone who knows how to work with radioisotopes. I worked with radioisotopes in a laboratory setting for 19 years. The last 8 or 10 years, the safety requirements for radioisotope use, and the cost and procedures for disposal made it harder and harder, and more and more expensive, to keep using them

It's not completely impossible for a vet to be able to run the T4 test in his own lab. But, almost impossible. It doesn't pass the smell test, for me.

Posted: 2/2/2015 1:28:27 PM EDT

[#20]

Love the old girl until you can't.

Posted: 2/2/2015 1:31:35 PM EDT

[#21]

16?
Cat years same as Dag years

Posted: 2/2/2015 1:32:21 PM EDT

[#22]

The puking is probably not hunger related. I have an older cat that does the same thing but eats very little. He pukes up everything from hair balls, dry catfood, wet cat food, and clear bile. He is very skinny as well. Other than that he acts like he always has.

Posted: 2/2/2015 1:35:31 PM EDT

[#23]

Our 16+ year old cat is going through the same thing. He has a rather large, inoperable, benign tumor on his liver. We're just trying to keep an eye on his quality of life and cleaning up the puke. He is down to half of his original weight but seems happy to be around.

It will be a tough day when the time comes. My wife is disabled and spends a lot of time home alone. Mr. Puddin Head has been her constant companion for 16 years.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is it time to put my cat down?

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