Expert: Becky - 10/28/2006

Question
Hi Willow a seal point siamese I have had for 16 years in now blind and parcially deaf.Up until recently she has eaten quite well, but has gone three days without touching food but drinking some water - I havent seen a bowl movement for 3 days and can not get in to see the vet till Monday afternoon. I had some laxative cream for her about a month ago that kind of worked but I am worried that she has just giiven up eating and can not be bothered any more? What do you think is wrong, she has gone very thin in the last week or so?
Thank you

Answer
Hi Jayme,
I am very impressed that your Siamese is 16 years old!  How you must love her! Sadly,at her age it could be a number of things.  I tend to lose my cats through kidney failure.  I had one that lived to be 17 and lost her that way.  She lost a lot of weight just very quickly and didn't use the litter box.  When the Vet told me she was in kidney failure, I put her down, which was very hard for me to do but I felt it was the kindest thing for her.  I don't know if the laxative cream will really help, it may do more harm than good. You could force feed her by mixing up a gruel of soft food in a syringe and squirting it down her throat, but you have to ask yourself if that is really worth stressing her out?  Is she dehydrated?  You can pull the skin up around her neck, if it snaps back into place she is ok.  If it tends to stand up, then she is dehydrating.  I'm so sorry that you are going through this,and there really isn't much I can do. If it were me, I would give her lots of love and attention until you can get her to your Vet.  I wish the very best for you.

God Bless,
Becky