I can't quite believe I'm having to even think it - we thought he would last til his 20's. He's been gradually losing weight over the last couple of months (I now realise) and last night didn't come in. I found him this morning sleeping under the neighbours car, and he seemed really groggy and out of it. He hasn't been eating as much in the last few weeks but I jut put it down to him being an older, more inactive cat.
I took him to the vets and she said he is dehydrated but she can't palpate his intestine properly, I think she said it felt like a mass (I can't remember, I don't think everything went in properly) which could be a few things - one of them cancer. I can't quite believe it. He's in the vets now on a drip - they will take blood and then potentially scan him this afternoon.
All I can think about are the times when I've been impatient with him because he's been meowing for food/attention - I feel awful. He's had nowhere near enough attention since the dc have been around. He's such a gentle, laid-back soul - he's been a fabulous pet. I don't know what to do if it is cancer - I don't want to put him through surgery etc but I don't want to just pts straight away. What happens?
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The litter tray
My lovely 16 year old cat has a possible abdominal mass - is this is?
peggotty · 10/06/2013 10:53
Oh, poor you :( Have a hug and a 
from me x
I went through the same thing with my dog. He was a terrier, 17yo, and, to cut a fairly long story short, had either had a stroke or had a brain tumour. Either way, the vet felt that it was unreasonable to treat him due to his age and that the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep.
You need to find out first, however, what is wrong with your cat. It isn't definitely cancer, so don't think about it until you know. I'm happy to talk you through what happened with my pet (it was all very peaceful for him but it was upsetting for me), but I think it's likely to upset you more before you even know what's wrong with your cat.
To be honest, I think you're letting guilty feelings get to you at the moment. Try not to allow that. He's 16 and he's been with you all this time; he's a family cat - and you'll do the right thing by him x
Oh you poor thing 
.
We recently lost our 18 year old cat to cancer and like you, I thought she would go on forever. She had overcome so much.
In our case we knew she had cancer within days of it starting and she lived another 10 months. A sample was taken and we knew within a day so hopefully you will know either way today.
If you have any questions I will be happy to try and help - if of course it is cancer. It might not be.
StrawberryCat1 and 2 have their paws crossed for you.
He's not perked up with the drip . They're going to scan him this afternoon. Bloods are also showing kidney function (something about enzymes) is affected. I went out and bought a litter tray as I'm determined to bring him home asap. I want him to come home whatever the outcome.
Thank you Molotov 
. Yes, we'll hopefully have him back tomorrow a bit brighter post drip and painkillers. He's a really dignified sort of cat - I couldn't bear to put him through too much - I hope I do the right thing. I have a friend who's nickname for him is 'Aslan' - that might give you an idea of what he's like!
Hey, just thought I'd update for Molotov and MissS - blood results for white and red blood cells are normal 
which they'd expect to be abnormal if it was inflammation or cancer! However, he's Hyperthyroid, which can be controlled with medication. The vet says she thinks something else is probably going on as well because of his enlarged spleen however. But I'm bringing him home tonight 
. He's still not eaten and perhaps being at home will encourage him to eat again hopefully. So good news and bad news in a way.. But I'm just so glad I get to bring him home for now.
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