Expert: Jessica - 8/22/2010

Question
Hi, I have a 17 year old cat who recently started vomiting brown liquid, with a very intense odor. It almost smells like feces. She also has diarrhea. She seems to only vomit and have the diarrhea once per day, generally in the evening. She is not lethargic, and walks fine, and still jumps well. She has a big appetite, but over these past few days she has dropped ALOT of weight and can keep nothing down. She has become so thin, so quickly and i have tried feeding her different things, but she vomits it all up. I am going to take her to the vet this week, but I can not afford for them to run a ton of tests, and I wondered if you have any clue as what this could be. I also found a small lump on her underbelly, but can not find any information on a cancer that would cause a tumor there. She is an indoor cat, if that helps. I have had her since she was a kitten, and it is killing me to see her starving like this. Any information that you can provide me would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Dawn,

This is very disconcerting.  I can't say I know what's wrong with your kitty, but I would be concerned about something major with the digestive tract when she is vomiting up what may potentially be fecal matter.  It's possible she's just got some very severe inflammation due to an infection, and antibiotics/anti-inflammatories could help with that.  But Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or gastrointestinal lymphoma may also be a concern.  Sometimes vets can feel palpable masses during a physical exam if cancer is the problem.  X-rays can also detect irregular massses sometimes.  

Inflammatory Bowel Disease tends to be diagnosed when other treatments such as an antibiotic or mild diet don't help, but blood tests that show a high count of inflammatory cells can also suggest that IBD is present.  Some vets prefer to do an exploratory surgery to confirm IBD is the most likely explanation, but this is pretty invasive, and since a trial period of a treatment for IBD will usually determine whether the cat has it, it's typically not necessary.  

One of my cats even had these symptoms after swallowing a bottle cap.  He was hospitalized and given a steroid with some IV fluids.  Fortunately, he was able to pass the cap on his own with some supportive care, and after a scare, he fully recovered.

Your vet may want to do some blood work to check on your cat's organ function, because pancreas, liver and thyroid problems can be responsible for these symptoms (although with the exception of thyroid problems, most cats lose appetite with these diseases).  I would recommend going ahead with these lab tests because your cat is at an age where these diseases become common.  Many cats also have some kidney issues, which could explain rapid weight loss.  Most blood tests run about $80-$150.  You should discuss your financial abilities so that your vet can determine the most beneficial test package to run.

I would recommend trying to get your cat to the vet tomorrow, as I'm sure she is probably dehydrated at this point and will probably need some fluids under the skin.  Letting dehydration go too long can cause serious complications leading to collapse, shock and death.

As for the lump on her belly, mammary cancer is somewhat common in cats who had gone into heat before they were spayed, but quite rare in cats who were spayed as kittens.  However, anything is possible, and other cancers are possible in the belly area.  Having said that, some cats develop fatty tumors and sebaceous cysts that are not dangerous at all.  Your vet can check out the growth when you go in for her visit.  The vet might recommend removal, but many times, they are able to differentiate between dangerous and benign growths by the texture and location of them.

I hope it turns out to be something very treatable, and she's feeling much better soon!

Jessica