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Cats/13yr cat not eating acting sickly

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Expert: - 1/16/2011


Question
HI. My 13 year old cat Bubbles has not being acting normal for about a month not. The last 2 or 3 weeks he has gone way down hill. I took him to the vet dec 17th. Dr took blood and stuff but couldnt find anything out of normal. So he gave him an injection of something. After he came home he was doing better eatting very well for a day or so but then again he slowly started not eating again. Sleeping a lot and acting like his body hurts. Took him back to the vet on jan 14th and Dr said hes not quite sure where to go. He gave him another shot and gave him some appetite things called cyproheptadine. So far he has not really eating anything. Ive been giving him water and his pills but he just wants to sleep. I have no idea what to do. It seems like it hurts him to move. Like his body is in pain. Please help me. Not sure where to go from here.

Answer
Tara,

Clearly lab tests haven't uncovered why Bubbles is so sick, maybe he needs further testing like x-rays or ultrasounds to see if there's anything abnormal happening in his body ranging from arthritis to more serious health issues. Ultimately you know your boy Bubbles better than anyone else (vets included) and you know in your heart that Bubbles isn't okay so don't be afraid to ask your veterinarian to perform further tests so that you can find out what's wrong. Right now it sounds like Bubbles' quality of life is seriously impacted by whatever's going on so the sooner he can be diagnosed and treated the better. If it's necessary to be a bit more assertive than you'd normally be don't be afraid to go to your vet with Bubbles and tell the doc that you don't want him to release your little guy without a diagnosis. I really wish that I could offer something more useful than suggesting further tests but clearly something more serious is going on here that needs to be diagnosed and treated. Please feel free to send along updates about Bubbles and how he's doing as I'd be interested to hear what the final diagnosis is. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns I'd be more than happy to do whatever I can to help you and Bubbles.

Regards,

Ali

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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