Expert: Becky - 7/29/2006

Question
My cat is an older cat,we are guessing around 10 or 12. I took her in when her owner died and no one could tell me how old she was. But she has always been frisky and bossy with my other cats. She had the problem of hairballs so i have been giving her an oily medication from a tube. We were on vacation and when i came back she was acting sick..couldn't seem to pass her urine.I took her to the vet and they did some tests on her urine and checked her over . I took her home and she seemed to improve..but now she won't eat very much of anything..she isn't throwing up hairballs anymore and i haven't given her her medicine like i was as i was told i may be giving her to much. She has always been a thin cat but she is very thin now and lethargic. I don't have the money to take her in for alot of tests.The last visit was over 80.00 and i don't work. I really love this cat but i wonder if it is just the aging process? Or could she have a hairball clogging her digestive tract? Thank you for any input you may have. srharoldson@yahoo.com

Answer
HI Sandy!

You didn't say what the results were from the tests run by the Vet on her urine. I presume everything was ok?  This may have nothing to do with hairballs, actually I doubt it does.  Older cats will sometimes go into kidney failure or numerous other ailments.  I guess you could say that it is part of the aging process, but many times a little extra help such as meds will help.  You realize that I cannot help you, don't you?  I am not a Vet and I cannot see or touch your cat through a computer.  I realize that the visits to a Vet are very expensive but you are not going to get any answers unless you do so.  We "experts" can only do so much.  Your cat needs the help of a professional. If she is losing weight and lethargic, it could be a very serious problem, not something solved over the internet.   I'm sorry, I wish I could do more, but it is impossible for me to do anything other than suggest you have her checked out.

God Bless,
Becky