Cat not eating
Discussion
So our indoor cat age 12 (not old I'd say) has for a while now stopped eating or is eating very little^. We took him to the vet and he had a raft of tests which all came back negative / good eg liver ok, kidneys ok, no lumps and no diabetes. The vet is stumped as are we. We feed him umpteen different varieties of food just in case he has gone off one or more items. He runs down the stairs at breakfast as usual but when fed he just sniffs it and wanders off!
^was over weight I guess at 5.5kg but now weighs 3.7kg, he really is super skinny vs before
Anyone else had something similar and can let me know what was actually wrong?
In case relevant he is a Norwegian Forest Cat albeit not pedigree.
TX.
^was over weight I guess at 5.5kg but now weighs 3.7kg, he really is super skinny vs before
Anyone else had something similar and can let me know what was actually wrong?
In case relevant he is a Norwegian Forest Cat albeit not pedigree.
TX.
Was he throwing up before he stopped eating? With a long haired cat not eating, our experience has been fur balls are the culprit. Our Maine Coon had one a couple of years ago that ended up almost filling his stomach. Way too big to pass or vomit, and had to come out surgically (it was roughly the size of an avocado. Not a small one).
He stopped eating for a while because of that, lost weight and started behaving very atypically (taking himself off somewhere unusual and quiet and hiding from us, which is what cats do when they are ill, apparently).
Our vet spotted it with a scan; ultrasound, I think.
He stopped eating for a while because of that, lost weight and started behaving very atypically (taking himself off somewhere unusual and quiet and hiding from us, which is what cats do when they are ill, apparently).
Our vet spotted it with a scan; ultrasound, I think.
Our cat did that.
He'd got FIP, and was very anaemic and a very high temperature. The worry was that he's not a big chap anyway (normally 4kg, but had dropped to 3.5kg - not as bad as yours).
He's just finished his meds (84 days, with £1,000 for the medication), after a couple of spells at the specialist (no-one knew what it was - you can't really test for it; you can test for a precursor, Feline Coronavirus, but you can get false negatives). The specialist tried the FIP medication (gs-441524), and he responded to it, so it looks like it's what he's got. Note that it normally only occurs in young cats, but he's just over 6 - this was why it wasn't initially suspected.
We've got some appetite stimulant from the vet (Mirtazapine). It can be given by rubbing it into his ear, but that stopped working for a bit. Pills seem to be better for him, which he is given one every 3 days.
After being given it, he eats like a horse - although he's still not got quite back to his previous weight.
He'd got FIP, and was very anaemic and a very high temperature. The worry was that he's not a big chap anyway (normally 4kg, but had dropped to 3.5kg - not as bad as yours).
He's just finished his meds (84 days, with £1,000 for the medication), after a couple of spells at the specialist (no-one knew what it was - you can't really test for it; you can test for a precursor, Feline Coronavirus, but you can get false negatives). The specialist tried the FIP medication (gs-441524), and he responded to it, so it looks like it's what he's got. Note that it normally only occurs in young cats, but he's just over 6 - this was why it wasn't initially suspected.
We've got some appetite stimulant from the vet (Mirtazapine). It can be given by rubbing it into his ear, but that stopped working for a bit. Pills seem to be better for him, which he is given one every 3 days.
After being given it, he eats like a horse - although he's still not got quite back to his previous weight.
BlackTails said:
Was he throwing up before he stopped eating? With a long haired cat not eating, our experience has been fur balls are the culprit. Our Maine Coon had one a couple of years ago that ended up almost filling his stomach. Way too big to pass or vomit, and had to come out surgically (it was roughly the size of an avocado. Not a small one).
He stopped eating for a while because of that, lost weight and started behaving very atypically (taking himself off somewhere unusual and quiet and hiding from us, which is what cats do when they are ill, apparently).
Our vet spotted it with a scan; ultrasound, I think.
He is doing that actually + also getting up high so he can look down at us. Both unusual.He stopped eating for a while because of that, lost weight and started behaving very atypically (taking himself off somewhere unusual and quiet and hiding from us, which is what cats do when they are ill, apparently).
Our vet spotted it with a scan; ultrasound, I think.
Thanks for above posts will try the hairball stuff + try ultrasound if that hasn't already been done.
TX.
Inappetence is a very non-specific symptom and can be numerous different causes, especially in the absence of other clinical signs.
Were his teeth well examined? Given the bloods were unremarkable dental disease could well be a cause. Sadly after that it may be a cancer hunt.
Getting a second opinion from a different vet is never wrong.
Hope this helps.
Were his teeth well examined? Given the bloods were unremarkable dental disease could well be a cause. Sadly after that it may be a cancer hunt.
Getting a second opinion from a different vet is never wrong.
Hope this helps.
Our woody is 6 and now turns his nose up at his favourite steamed cod or steamed chicken , often just eats 1/2 a portion of wiskas etc .
Wife was concerned but as I said to her when I was 20 ish I’d eat double pie & large chips / curry sauce , the other night mrs / me had fish cake & chips between us & were full , just think as you get older you eat less , and in our woodys case become more choosier .
Wife was concerned but as I said to her when I was 20 ish I’d eat double pie & large chips / curry sauce , the other night mrs / me had fish cake & chips between us & were full , just think as you get older you eat less , and in our woodys case become more choosier .
We bought 2x ragdoll kittens and one of them had similar symptoms and it was a intussusception (which is where the stomach kind of twists/turns inside out). I would have thought this would be immediately detected by X-Way so it's possibly not the right thing for you.
The kitten had similar symptoms of throwing up any food we forced on them, became depressed and would sit in the corner rather than cuddling up, became unresponsive. It was horrible to see and we had to put them down in the end.
I hope you find out what's happened. We've got the other kitten still with us and love her to bits, so I can understand the impact of a sick pet cna have, especially when you don't know what's wrong.
...
Only other thought is a second vet who may have a different approach or idea?
The kitten had similar symptoms of throwing up any food we forced on them, became depressed and would sit in the corner rather than cuddling up, became unresponsive. It was horrible to see and we had to put them down in the end.
I hope you find out what's happened. We've got the other kitten still with us and love her to bits, so I can understand the impact of a sick pet cna have, especially when you don't know what's wrong.
...
Only other thought is a second vet who may have a different approach or idea?
^^ good suggestion.
Got a 2nd opinion from different vets. They did some x rays (not done before!) and have spotted a "mass" in his chest, around his heart etc
Not great. Could be a couple of things so next step is to sample the cells or something.
Not really one for "emotions" but I'm feeling it today.
TX.
Got a 2nd opinion from different vets. They did some x rays (not done before!) and have spotted a "mass" in his chest, around his heart etc
Not great. Could be a couple of things so next step is to sample the cells or something.Not really one for "emotions" but I'm feeling it today.
TX.
Ours (12) went through similar, from low 5s down to high 3s in a short space of time.
Currently being treated for an overactive thyroid which oddly can sometimes reduce appetite rather than increase it.
Imagine that's been ruled out with the tests in your case, but if you haven't already, try to get hold of some Mirataz and Purina Pro convalescence food. Great for bulking, until they go off that too...
Hope it gets sorted, not fun worrying about them.
Currently being treated for an overactive thyroid which oddly can sometimes reduce appetite rather than increase it.
Imagine that's been ruled out with the tests in your case, but if you haven't already, try to get hold of some Mirataz and Purina Pro convalescence food. Great for bulking, until they go off that too...
Hope it gets sorted, not fun worrying about them.
Terminator X said:
^^ good suggestion.
Got a 2nd opinion from different vets. They did some x rays (not done before!) and have spotted a "mass" in his chest, around his heart etc Not great. Could be a couple of things so next step is to sample the cells or something.
Not really one for "emotions" but I'm feeling it today.
TX.
Really feel for you TX. Got a 2nd opinion from different vets. They did some x rays (not done before!) and have spotted a "mass" in his chest, around his heart etc
Not great. Could be a couple of things so next step is to sample the cells or something.Not really one for "emotions" but I'm feeling it today.
TX.
The good news is that a potential cause has been identified. Fingers crossed it can be sorted. Keep us updated.
BlackTails said:
Terminator X said:
^^ good suggestion.
Got a 2nd opinion from different vets. They did some x rays (not done before!) and have spotted a "mass" in his chest, around his heart etc Not great. Could be a couple of things so next step is to sample the cells or something.
Not really one for "emotions" but I'm feeling it today.
TX.
Really feel for you TX. Got a 2nd opinion from different vets. They did some x rays (not done before!) and have spotted a "mass" in his chest, around his heart etc
Not great. Could be a couple of things so next step is to sample the cells or something.Not really one for "emotions" but I'm feeling it today.
TX.
The good news is that a potential cause has been identified. Fingers crossed it can be sorted. Keep us updated.
Simpo Two said:
Get it done asap, and if you don't understand what the vet says, ask for clarification.
Time is pressing; beyond a point the cat will be too weak for any operation that may be required. Good luck.
Yes agreed, he is booked in for next week at a specialist. They are all so slow though, very frustrating especially as they all know he isn't eating much.Time is pressing; beyond a point the cat will be too weak for any operation that may be required. Good luck.
The new vet has given us some pills to hopefully improve his appetite.
TX.
The mass in the chest does sound a bit like FIP (ours had mass around his kidneys), although it could be other things.
I would ask the specialist if they think it's FIP - our vets initially didn't consider it because he's quite old to get it, and yours is older.
The pills sound like Mirtazapine.
I would ask the specialist if they think it's FIP - our vets initially didn't consider it because he's quite old to get it, and yours is older.
The pills sound like Mirtazapine.
tribbles said:
The mass in the chest does sound a bit like FIP (ours had mass around his kidneys), although it could be other things.
I would ask the specialist if they think it's FIP - our vets initially didn't consider it because he's quite old to get it, and yours is older.
The pills sound like Mirtazapine.
Agreed as the vet said it does come in a gel too that can be rubbed in to the ears (see your other post above).I would ask the specialist if they think it's FIP - our vets initially didn't consider it because he's quite old to get it, and yours is older.
The pills sound like Mirtazapine.
I will mention FIP to them.
TX.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff