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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

[gulp] It may soon be time to say goodbye to SoupKitten

207 replies

SoupDragon · 29/05/2013 14:21

She has a fair amount of fluid on her abdomen - according to the vet there are a few possible causes and pretty much all of them are bad.

She was found in a gutter as a tiny kitten with cat flu, eye infections and mites which left her with a few problems but has spent nearly 5 happy years here with us and FatCat.

Waiting for the results of £250 worth of blood tests but have primed toe children that she is unlikely to be with us much longer.

[wail]

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABear · 31/05/2013 19:48

You gave salmon to one cat and not the other! You are soooo mean.

CajaDeLaMemoria · 31/05/2013 19:50

That's good, it'll make controlling her pee when she's on diuretics easier.

Does she have a cough yet?

If not, they may well drain the fluid and use diuretics to keep the water off, and something to treat whichever organ isn't working well.

If she's sleeping well, still cuddly etc, that's really good.

I've been here a lot :(

Oh and lower her salt levels, if you can. Salt encourages water retention.

MissStrawberry · 31/05/2013 19:59

Still hope then!!

Original poster
SoupDragon · 31/05/2013 20:17

She doesn't have a cough. Do they put salt in cat food?^

ExitPursuedByABear FatCat is a little portly and had already had his food for the day and had a go at the dog's dinner too. He got spoilt with freshly cooked chicken after an op last year. :)

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 31/05/2013 20:19

I'm not convinced there is a whole lot of hope, MissStrawberry, but at least the nasty viral/infection things were ruled out which means I don't have to worry about it being something FatCat could also be nurturing.

OP posts:
fackinell · 31/05/2013 20:21

Soup, my boy had similar symptoms, fluid in the abdomen and also an enlarged heart and pleural effusion. He totally rallied on diuretics and looked like a new cat. He sadly developed a neurological problem and we had to get him pts Sad
In October.

For meds, try squeezy cheese (primula ham works well) on your finger or the tube of liver pâté from the pet shop.

Go on Soupkitten!! You can do it!!! Envy

ExitPursuedByABear · 31/05/2013 20:26

Come on Soupkitten!

cozietoesie · 31/05/2013 20:35

Envy has no memory, SoupDragon - but if FatCat is a little portly it will do him good!

Grin
Rikalaily · 01/06/2013 09:46

Forgot to mention in my post that my cats blood tests were completely normal but as you already know that isn't conclusive for FIP. As long as she is comfortable and not in pain spoil her loads and hopefully this will resolve itself.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 01/06/2013 09:53

FIP seems like a useless blood test really doesn't it?!

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 01/06/2013 09:56

She's lying on the kitchen windowsill in the sun - maybe she'll evaporate Wink

OP posts:
greenhill · 01/06/2013 10:04

What lovely pictures, I love the way that a cat will always be in the warmest part of the house too. I hope soupkitten is happy today x

Original poster
SoupDragon · 01/06/2013 10:05

Well, she has just voluntarily waddled out through the hole in the back door catflap

OP posts:
MissStrawberry · 01/06/2013 14:30

That's good.

tedmundo · 01/06/2013 17:04

The vet drained my cats abdomen twice and it made a huge improvement to his life. You could ask them to try this?

It sounds like soup kitten still knows how to enjoy himself!

ClaraOswald · 01/06/2013 17:49

Hope she's doing alright this evening?

Original poster
SoupDragon · 01/06/2013 18:31

She's asleep, which has always been her preferred activity :)

The worry is that she's painfully thin apart from the fluid. Drain that and there'll be nothing left of her :(

OP posts:
ClaraOswald · 01/06/2013 18:37

Maybe without the extra fluid she will be able to eat better?

Original poster
SoupDragon · 01/06/2013 18:47

Not sure as it was the thinness that came first... I was going to take her to the vet because of that, I assumed it was a dental problem or maybe because we were cutting back FatCat's food.

OP posts:
greenhill · 01/06/2013 18:48

Yes clara it must be compressing her stomach etc.

I went to the vets once because I was worried that my cat was sleeping for more than 18 hours a day. The vet was charming, but must have thought I was a bit daft not to know how long cats can sleep for!

Original poster
SoupDragon · 01/06/2013 19:01

only 18 hours a day...? :)

OP posts:
MissStrawberry · 02/06/2013 08:02

Yes, the swelling could easily be the reason she doesn't want to eat or can't. Can she have a scan?

Original poster
SoupDragon · 02/06/2013 10:52

She's booked for a scan tomorrow.

OP posts:
Daisybell1 · 02/06/2013 11:22

Just seen this, thinking of you and Soupkitten. Have got everything crossed!

CajaDeLaMemoria · 02/06/2013 11:34

The weight loss is to be expected if her heart is failing.

Is she insured?

In all likelihood, that's what they will tell you. They will be very careful not to offer too much hope, but a lot of cats do improve significantly on diuretics and meds.

They'll drain her, and then your job will be to get her eating to put on weight. She may develop a very fussy appetite! Try to keep salt to an absolute minimum. If you can prevent fluid from building back up for a while, that'll be excellent.

Good luck tomorrow. I hope it's early stages, but even if it's not, the prognosis isn't terrible. Heart disease is terminal, but she may have a good few years left before it starts affecting her too badly, if her meds can be sorted.