[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Cat Help Needed (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 4/9/2014 9:16:30 AM EDT
My kitten of 10 years is in a bad way. He started dropping weight a couple of months ago, and now the little guy is skin and bones...has probably lost 70% of his body weight, he used to weigh over 11 lbs and now...just next to nothing. 
Vet ran all sorts of tests, found signs of liver failure, and basically said there isn't much we can do. We were hoping, initially, that it was hyperthyroidism, but that was ruled out 1st. Basically all we can do now is keep him fed, watered, and loved. I've been trying all sorts of food, hoping we can do something diet related to help him, but nothing has worked. Now, I'm turning to GD for some inspiration...what treat, snack, or cat food does your cat flip out for? Mine loves rotisserie chicken, so I'm trying that tonight, but he only eats small amounts of anything...but if I give him different things, he'll eat all night. He likes canned tuna, too, been giving him that as well. These are likely his last meals, so I'd appreciate any suggestions...silly cat will eat anything, God bless him. |
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They make this lactose free milk for pets called "Sip" that I've found at several grocery stores and pet stores. Most cats are actually lactose intolerant and giving them regular milk will give them epic diarrhea. But this stuff doesn't, and it is still fatty so it can pack on weight. Also most cats regardless of health or proclivity will scarf down a saucer of milk.
When our older Maine Coon was on her last days we used to give her a saucer of that once a day and it helped her keep weight on. |
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I'm sorry about your little friend.
Stupid question, did the vet check his teeth? My niece's cat (adult rescue, she's 10) started having tooth issues and stopped eating. When that happened the previous owners dumped her off on the Denver Dumb Friends League instead of taking her to the vet. The DFL pulled most of the bad teeth, but one broke and left a bit of the root in her gum. She kept dropping weight. They went back in and got out the bit that they missed and once it healed she started putting weight back on. Now she's a super happy cat. My step-mother's cat has hyper-thyroidism. It's taken over a year to find the right dose and the best way to get it into her. After lots of issues with pilling, transdermal creams and cat anxiety, it turns out the best solution was just crushing the pill into her wet food. |
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Sorry to hear.
My first cat, Isabelle, went that exact way. She was 18 years old. I didn't have the nerve to put her down. She died one night while we were sleeping. Odd thing was, the vet would give her a cortisone shot and she'd perk up for about a week, then fall back to no eating or drinking. Finally that quit working. Chicken topped with catnip. My two boy cats love chicken and catnip. |
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Are you doing subdermal liquids? Some steroids help increase appetite. Our cats love bananas, pumpkin, and squash. They don't really care about chicken or fish. Honestly, it isn't an appetite issue...he eats fine, he just isn't metabolizing the food. He loves to eat, in fact, and I want to give him what he loves while I can. ETA: And yeah, they did the subdermal liquids because he was a bit dehydrated. |
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Are you doing subdermal liquids? Some steroids help increase appetite. Our cats love bananas, pumpkin, and squash. They don't really care about chicken or fish. I had to do that once, gave one of mine injections under his pelt to keep him hydrated. Op, I don't have any real advice other than just something the cat can lick...at this point. Nothing that takes a lot of chewing effort. I have had cats all of my 41 years, seen it all. Have a 16 yr old Tabby right now that had since he was a kitten. I know him better than most people. Good luck and just keep him warm/ wrapped in his final days with you. |
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They make this lactose free milk for pets called "Sip" that I've found at several grocery stores and pet stores. Most cats are actually lactose intolerant and giving them regular milk will give them epic diarrhea. But this stuff doesn't, and it is still fatty so it can pack on weight. Also most cats regardless of health or proclivity will scarf down a saucer of milk. When our older Maine Coon was on her last days we used to give her a saucer of that once a day and it helped her keep weight on. He'll always take a few sips of milk, but he'll never finish a saucer full. he does go crazy for my leftover cereal milk...I might try the lactose-free milk and some lucky charms. Good idea, thank you. |
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I'm sorry about your little friend. Stupid question, did the vet check his teeth? My niece's cat (adult rescue, she's 10) started having tooth issues and stopped eating. When that happened the previous owners dumped her off on the Denver Dumb Friends League instead of taking her to the vet. The DFL pulled most of the bad teeth, but one broke and left a bit of the root in her gum. She kept dropping weight. They went back in and got out the bit that they missed and once it healed she started putting weight back on. Now she's a super happy cat. My step-mother's cat has hyper-thyroidism. It's taken over a year to find the right dose and the best way to get it into her. After lots of issues with pilling, transdermal creams and cat anxiety, it turns out the best solution was just crushing the pill into her wet food. Sure did, teeth are in great shape. As for the hyperthyroidism, vet told me they can fix that permanently now...for a price. might be something to look into. |
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I use to have a cat that went insane for marshmallows. I had to put the bag inside a cupboard cos if he found it on the counter he'd chew through the plastic to get to the marshmallow goodness. He couldn't even chew them well... he just kinda tried mushing them in his teeth. So I once got him a jar of fluff and he went insane for it.
My main cat though... his weakness was pork. Ham, bacon, pork ... he just couldn't get enough of it. Fresh chicken was good too but his fav was pork. |
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I use to have a cat that went insane for marshmallows. I had to put the bag inside a cupboard cos if he found it on the counter he'd chew through the plastic to get to the marshmallow goodness. He couldn't even chew them well... he just kinda tried mushing them in his teeth. So I once got him a jar of fluff and he went insane for it. My main cat though... his weakness was pork. Ham, bacon, pork ... he just couldn't get enough of it. Fresh chicken was good too but his fav was pork. I'll try this just to see him try to chew it, lol. Pretty sure I have some at the house already. |
| My sister had a cat that went batshiat for shake n bake chicken. Whenever he was doing something bad (or I needed him to come to me) I could say "shake n bake" and he'd come running. If you opened the oven after you said that he'd put his two paws on the oven door and stick his head in to see if there was any in there. |
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diabeetus? Our one cat got that and needed insulin shots twice a day. My cats love cheese. Especially easy cheese out of a can, or string cheese. Sorry about your cat man, I couldn't imagine.. Nope, checked for that, and feline HIV, leukemia, etc. He likes cheese, but he doesn't go crazy for it. Crackers, on the other hand...he ate half a package of saltines that my wife left out once. I bought him Ritz last night, he'll get some of those tonight. Maybe I'll serve some cheese with that, and marshmallows for dessert. |
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My sister had a cat that went batshiat for shake n bake chicken. Whenever he was doing something bad (or I needed him to come to me) I could say "shake n bake" and he'd come running. If you opened the oven after you said that he'd put his two paws on the oven door and stick his head in to see if there was any in there. lol, yeah, my furball loves the shake-n-bake too. Any kind of chicken, really. |
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Sweetie, I don't have any good news for you. We went through this EXACT thing with our cat He-Man. He lost half his body weight within a month. He became so weak he started having accidents. And this is a cat that never, ever, ever would go outside the litter box no matter what.
He spent $1100 on tests, to no avail. The vet's conclusion was finally that he had the Corona Virus. Basically no chance of survival. I paid for him to have one day at the vet's, on fluids, hoping he'd at least be a little more comfortable. Mike couldn't watch him go, so I held him while they gave him the shot. The hardest part was that he didn't purr anymore. He never stopped purring his whole life, I swear. And in his last days, I couldn't coax one last little purr out of him. It still chokes me up. He was one of those cats who embodied all the qualities of an awesome cat. You may want to ask your vet about this. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) in Cats
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease in cats which carries a high mortality due to its characteristic aggressiveness and nonresponsiveness to fever, along with other complications. This disease is comparatively high in multi-cat households as compared to those with a single cat. It is difficult to diagnose, control, and prevent, and in cases of outbreaks within breeding catteries and kennels, can result in a high number of deaths. It is most often spread through inhalation of airborne contaminants and infected feces, but the virus can also be transmitted by humans who have come into contact with the virus, or can stay active on surfaces that have been contaminated. This disease exploits weakened and immature immune systems, spreading by way of the white blood cells as they move throughout the body. The highest incidence is found in kittens three months to three years of age, with incidence decreasing sharply after cats reach three years of age, when the immune system is stronger. Likewise, older cats with weakened immune systems are also more likely to acquire this disease. FIP generally follows infection of a feline coronavirus, which typically does not cause any outward symptoms. It is assumed that there are some types of coronaviruses that mutate into the feline infectious peritonitis, either on their own or as the result of a defect in the cat's immune response. Also complicating the matter is that a coronavirus can lie dormant in a cat's body over months before mutating into FIP. The FIP virus then infects the white blood cells, using them as transportation to invade the entire body. |
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Mine loved salmon, the stuff that comes in a retort pouch, as well as tuna.
More than the tuna or salmon though, she loved the liquid in the package. One of the few things she was a gluttonous terror over. When she was nearing the end, we went through a case of tuna in no time, just dumping the liquid out for her. Best wishes for you guys and kitty. |
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Did they check for renal failure?
Regular subcutaneous fluid injections might help. As for food, raw or cooked fresh meat. No veggies or grains; that will only tax his liver more trying to break them down. Meat, meat, and more meat. Whatever you can get him to eat. Meat will be the easiest thing for his system to process, as it is what cats evolved to eat. |
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Sweetie, I don't have any good news for you. We went through this EXACT thing with our cat He-Man. He lost half his body weight within a month. He became so weak he started having accidents. And this is a cat that never, ever, ever would go outside the litter box no matter what. He spent $1100 on tests, to no avail. The vet's conclusion was finally that he had the Corona Virus. Basically no chance of survival. I paid for him to have one day at the vet's, on fluids, hoping he'd at least be a little more comfortable. Mike couldn't watch him go, so I held him while they gave him the shot. The hardest part was that he didn't purr anymore. He never stopped purring his whole life, I swear. And in his last days, I couldn't coax one last little purr out of him. It still chokes me up. He was one of those cats who embodied all the qualities of an awesome cat. You may want to ask your vet about this. Quoted:
Sweetie, I don't have any good news for you. We went through this EXACT thing with our cat He-Man. He lost half his body weight within a month. He became so weak he started having accidents. And this is a cat that never, ever, ever would go outside the litter box no matter what. He spent $1100 on tests, to no avail. The vet's conclusion was finally that he had the Corona Virus. Basically no chance of survival. I paid for him to have one day at the vet's, on fluids, hoping he'd at least be a little more comfortable. Mike couldn't watch him go, so I held him while they gave him the shot. The hardest part was that he didn't purr anymore. He never stopped purring his whole life, I swear. And in his last days, I couldn't coax one last little purr out of him. It still chokes me up. He was one of those cats who embodied all the qualities of an awesome cat. You may want to ask your vet about this. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) in Cats
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease in cats which carries a high mortality due to its characteristic aggressiveness and nonresponsiveness to fever, along with other complications. This disease is comparatively high in multi-cat households as compared to those with a single cat. It is difficult to diagnose, control, and prevent, and in cases of outbreaks within breeding catteries and kennels, can result in a high number of deaths. It is most often spread through inhalation of airborne contaminants and infected feces, but the virus can also be transmitted by humans who have come into contact with the virus, or can stay active on surfaces that have been contaminated. This disease exploits weakened and immature immune systems, spreading by way of the white blood cells as they move throughout the body. The highest incidence is found in kittens three months to three years of age, with incidence decreasing sharply after cats reach three years of age, when the immune system is stronger. Likewise, older cats with weakened immune systems are also more likely to acquire this disease. FIP generally follows infection of a feline coronavirus, which typically does not cause any outward symptoms. It is assumed that there are some types of coronaviruses that mutate into the feline infectious peritonitis, either on their own or as the result of a defect in the cat's immune response. Also complicating the matter is that a coronavirus can lie dormant in a cat's body over months before mutating into FIP. The FIP virus then infects the white blood cells, using them as transportation to invade the entire body. Silence from a normally puury cat is heartbreaking.
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Yeah. 
He used to 'chat' with me in the mornings while I'd make breakfast and pack lunches. "Mrrowwwr?" "Yes, yes. And how do you feel about that?" "Mrrow." "Well, I'm very sorry to hear that, Mr. Cat." "Mrroow mrrooowww." He was an entertaining little bugger. After he passed, we vowed never to get another cat. We didn't want to watch a pet die ever again, but... Well, technically, Winnifred found *me*. 
They're with us for such short times in comparison to our own life spans. It makes them somehow more precious. Keep us updated, OP. |
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Honestly, it isn't an appetite issue...he eats fine, he just isn't metabolizing the food. He loves to eat, in fact, and I want to give him what he loves while I can. ETA: And yeah, they did the subdermal liquids because he was a bit dehydrated. Quoted:
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Are you doing subdermal liquids? Some steroids help increase appetite. Our cats love bananas, pumpkin, and squash. They don't really care about chicken or fish. Honestly, it isn't an appetite issue...he eats fine, he just isn't metabolizing the food. He loves to eat, in fact, and I want to give him what he loves while I can. ETA: And yeah, they did the subdermal liquids because he was a bit dehydrated. OK--I thought appetite might be an issue since you said he only ate a little bit at a time. Shredded pumpkin or squash on top of their food is always good. |
| My cat has very poor liver function, once we started noticing him losing weight, we got an IV bag and needles from the vet and put liquid in him every night. That combined with the prescription wet food has completely turned him around and he is back to normal now. It is expensive but effective. |
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My cat has very poor liver function, once we started noticing him losing weight, we got an IV bag and needles from the vet and put liquid in him every night. That combined with the prescription wet food has completely turned him around and he is back to normal now. It is expensive but effective. I did that with a cat for a few weeks, and it didn't work. His liver was just too far gone. |
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Open a can of tuna. Give him the juice. I've seen cats revive from that stuff, if only for a few days. My cats go bonkers for the stuff. A couple of folks have said this, but no dice. I tried that with the tuna I've given him, he doesn't really like it. He's never liked wet food. He eats the solid stuff and leaves the mess for me to dump. 
He's been eating ultra-premium cat food since he was a kitten, in case anyone was wondering. I'm not looking for healthy food...pretty sure we're past that point. I'm looking for happy food. |
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Shot in the dark but have you tried feeding him egg? Like, cook up some scrambled eggs in a non stick pan using a water base instead of milk, let it cool to room temperature and see if he will eat it?
Our current cat is a fatass British Shorthair and he is positively mental for scrambled egg, but we don't let him eat any because the caloric and fat content is too high for his metabolism. |
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Shot in the dark but have you tried feeding him egg? Like, cook up some scrambled eggs in a non stick pan using a water base instead of milk, let it cool to room temperature and see if he will eat it? Our current cat is a fatass British Shorthair and he is positively mental for scrambled egg, but we don't let him eat any because the caloric and fat content is too high for his metabolism. Yep, wife tried scrambled eggs the other day. He doesn't care for them. |
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Unfortunately, their tastes for food change dramatically during their waning days.
In our experience with a 17 year old male and an 8 year old female, lots of "surefire" meals went ignored. Sadly, the loss of appetite is a telltale sign the end is near. The other sign our old male cat displayed was an eagerness to leave the house even though he was indoor only for his whole life. I have heard this is common with dying dogs too. Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
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Yep, wife tried scrambled eggs the other day. He doesn't care for them. Quoted:
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Shot in the dark but have you tried feeding him egg? Like, cook up some scrambled eggs in a non stick pan using a water base instead of milk, let it cool to room temperature and see if he will eat it? Our current cat is a fatass British Shorthair and he is positively mental for scrambled egg, but we don't let him eat any because the caloric and fat content is too high for his metabolism. Yep, wife tried scrambled eggs the other day. He doesn't care for them. Don't cook them. And fats are where it's at. Just the yolk on his tuna at a 1-1 ratio. Heavy cream (even though I hear you're not supposed to give milk to cats, ours seem to love and thrive on it) I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. Our vet warned about a feline aids that is around and very contagious. |
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Don't cook them. And fats are where it's at. Just the yolk on his tuna at a 1-1 ratio. Heavy cream (even though I hear you're not supposed to give milk to cats, ours seem to love and thrive on it) I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. Our vet warned about a feline aids that is around and very contagious. Quoted:
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Shot in the dark but have you tried feeding him egg? Like, cook up some scrambled eggs in a non stick pan using a water base instead of milk, let it cool to room temperature and see if he will eat it? Our current cat is a fatass British Shorthair and he is positively mental for scrambled egg, but we don't let him eat any because the caloric and fat content is too high for his metabolism. Yep, wife tried scrambled eggs the other day. He doesn't care for them. Don't cook them. And fats are where it's at. Just the yolk on his tuna at a 1-1 ratio. Heavy cream (even though I hear you're not supposed to give milk to cats, ours seem to love and thrive on it) I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. Our vet warned about a feline aids that is around and very contagious. Most cats are lactose intolerant, but that still means that a lot of them aren't. I've had both. Our current cat will shit a mudslide if he gets real milk but our cat two cats ago could drink a pint and walk it off. |
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Baby foods are great.. Most all the meat ones and some of the pumpkin ones most cats think are awesome..
One of our Kittehz Stinky is 12.. We though we were going to lose her in the last few years with as she had gone skin and bones.. Got about the same results from the blood work.. Maybe not as bad.. I noticed she was uncomfortable eating.. Mouth bugging her.. Had a bunch of rotten teeth removed and over about 4 months she got better.. Fed her baby food while it healed and still every few days. She feels more sold now and is back to the queen of the house.. Jack and Pew won't fuck with her. May not be what helps your Kitteh, but it makes mine happy as shit.. |
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Honestly, it isn't an appetite issue...he eats fine, he just isn't metabolizing the food. He loves to eat, in fact, and I want to give him what he loves while I can. ETA: And yeah, they did the subdermal liquids because he was a bit dehydrated. Quoted:
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Are you doing subdermal liquids? Some steroids help increase appetite. Our cats love bananas, pumpkin, and squash. They don't really care about chicken or fish. Honestly, it isn't an appetite issue...he eats fine, he just isn't metabolizing the food. He loves to eat, in fact, and I want to give him what he loves while I can. ETA: And yeah, they did the subdermal liquids because he was a bit dehydrated. Get his thyroid checked. Supposed to be 1-4 ours was 15 he ate everything but wouldn't gain weight. 45 cents a day for the pill Didn't read the whole post correctly. |
Baroness Anastasia De Cobray pictured here on the back of the couch
Was lost when she was about 2 years old, in the middle of the winter for a month. She went from 11 lbs down to 5lbs 11 oz. Over the last 5 years she took forever to gain her weight back, including at one point dropping from 9lbs back to 6lbs 9 oz. We ran blood panels, liver tests, etc. Some enzymes would come back slightly elevated, but not high. in order to bulk her up we went to the highest protein cat food we could easily find, which is Blue Buffalo Wilderness (40% crude protein). When then supplement it with canned tuna. Because of the higher liver enzymes, we attempted to give her liver supplements (in solution, full tablet, etc) which she would then spit out. So that was a no go. She finally is now back up to a healthy weight of 10lbs 2 oz as of March. I'd suggest trying the tuna, or roasted chicken. We also give her fried egg yolks to supplement her coat. If she hears a can open, or a smells chicken she'll happily climb into your lap and try beg for what ever you're eating... So I'd try those. Basically very smelly high protein foods. Cats are carnivores after all... Also it sounds like my previous cat, who finally developed feline leukemia... Even though she had all her vaccinations for FeLV on time her entire life. |
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Thanks everyone...just wanted to let you know I followed quite a few recommendations, and Flip got spoiled even more than usual in his final days.
Sadly, he continued to decline, and the vet confirmed today it was a tumor and that his time was very short. Rather than seeing him suffer any more, we made the hard decision. Flip the cat went peacefully this afternoon to meet his Maker.
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Thanks everyone...just wanted to let you know I followed quite a few recommendations, and Flip got spoiled even more than usual in his final days. Sadly, he continued to decline, and the vet confirmed today it was a tumor and that his time was very short. Rather than seeing him suffer any more, we made the hard decision. Flip the cat went peacefully this afternoon to meet his Maker.
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