Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 9/10/2010

Question
Hi

I wonder if you can give me your opinion, as I'm so worried about my cat.

He is coming up to 11 years old and he has been having some problems
recently. He began staying out of our way a couple of weeks ago, usually
he loves being on our laps but during this time he has bothered to sit on
us much less. When he did sit on us he would suddenly swipe at us with
his paws when I stroked him under his chin. Although this is very out of
character for him I assumed it was due to the fact that we also acquired a
new kitten at the start of these 2 weeks.

However yesterday discovered that he would even go for me when the
kitten was nowhere to be seen, and I decided he was in some sort of
pain. I basically convinced myself he has a throat tumour and worried
myself silly about taking him to the vets as I was terrified I wouldn't be
bringing him home due to not being able to afford treatment, I was terrified
of having to have him put to sleep. However i eventually took him and was
told it is possibly either a throat infection, something lodged in his throat or
a throat tumour. There are no bumps to be felt anywhere. Symptoms
yesterday were; a change in the smell of his breath, retching as if he were
going to vomit, drinking much more than usual, saliva coming out mouth,
trying to eat but seeming to be struggling with swallowing, hitting out when
stroked under chin,  (really hitting hard even when he has jumped down,
hissing and growling, very out of character for him) hiding in corners,
again out of character for him, he Is a very loving lap cat usually. 

Anyway the vet gave him an injection of antibiotics and injection of
painkiller, this was yesterday. Today he is now allowing me to stroke his
neck again without any aggression, and is even purring again, but I am still
worried sick about him. The salivating has cleared up and he is eating
Tuna well although that is his favourite. He's still swallowing noisily but no
more retching. He doesn't seem to be gulping water down now either. I've
been given enough antibiotics to last til next weds to see if it cures him,
but I really want to know, is it likely this could still be a tumour? The vet
said even if it clears up it could still be an infection on a tumour, if
nessicary I will pay next week to have an x ray done, although I am really
struggling for money, but I'm hoping so much that this isn't something
awful. Is there a good chance this could be just a throat infection, or
maybe even an ear infection? He does get a lot of problems with wax in
his ears, I think this has made him quite deaf so I did buy and use some
otodex ear drops between 2-4 weeks ago. Could this be related to these
symptoms? Could this have caused wax to impact and cause these
symptoms? Previous to this I was also rubbing his ears as he seemed to
get relief from it, they itch a lot I think. Could some wax have moved and
have caused these symptoms? I believe ear nose and throat are all
connected? 

I'm really worried, don't want to loose my best friend, can you offer an
opinion or any advice on this please?

Thanks for your time

Sally


Answer
Have the vet anesthetize the cat and do a good, deep throat exam to see if there is any problem there.  While that cat is out, they can also flush all of the material out of the ears to see if the eardrums are normal or if there is some type of ear problem causing the pain.