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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.

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Original poster

Cat losing weight and smelling a bit of wee

19 replies

Auntimatter · 27/02/2014 21:46

My darling 15-year old Thomas hasn't been right for the last few weeks. He has lost weight, is lying around a lot, not eating his usual food or with his usual enthusiasm.

Took him for his jabs at the vet in the week and se said there was nothing obviously wrong but I could bring him back for kidney blood tests if I wanted.

He is using the litter tray just fine. May be weeing more but I don't know because he's always gone outside before. He is smelling a little (not a lot) of wee.

What can I feed him that will make him happy? Whiskas in jelly is quite popular but he's licking off the jelly and not making much headway with the actual food. And the usual food of combined Go Cat and Iams senior isn't being demolished with any enthusiasm either.

He's my darling and I want him to be happy and well. Can anyone help?

OP posts:

Lonecatwithkitten · 27/02/2014 23:13

I have had a couple of cats with similar symptoms who were diabetic so I would suggest bloods sooner rather than later.

HazeltheMcWitch · 27/02/2014 23:47

I'd echo getting the bloods done.

Of course, the stink might also just be as he has lost flexibility a bit and can't clean himself as well as he used to.

thecatneuterer · 28/02/2014 00:12

Yes bloods sooner rather than later. And to encourage him to eat - I tend to have success with Gourmet Gold Pate, any of those little Applaws tins, roast chicken and pilchards.

Original poster

Auntimatter · 28/02/2014 12:12

Thanks. He's booked to have blood taken on Monday.

I'll have a look for other cat food (and feed it him out of the way of the other cat!).

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 28/02/2014 12:23

Best of luck with him.

Original poster

Auntimatter · 02/03/2014 17:24

Poor love has constipation now! Lots of straining, some brown drips around the house (yum) and one tiny, dry offering.

He's shut in the bathroom with food, water and litter tray until the morning appointment. Very glad he is booked in.

OP posts:

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 02/03/2014 17:32

Our vet recommended heating up food slightly to make it smell stronger when our old lad's appetite wasn't great. Fish poached in water smelled then cooled till it was warm enough to flake by hand seemed to more appetising and easier to digest than tinned food too. I hope the blood tests get to the bottom of the problem and Thomas feels more like himself soon.

Original poster

Auntimatter · 03/03/2014 17:25

Thomas had an enema today. Fortunately he was asleep at the time. He's still a bit foggy but should certainly feel much better when that wears off.

They've taken blood and are going to call me with the results. Hope we can avoid a recurrence and have him put his weight back on.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 03/03/2014 18:31

I'm not surprised that they gave him an enema - that brown drip was likely a signal that he had some dried poo sticking up there (with some liquid poo escaping round the edges.) That should hopefully ease him and might even help his appetite with his innards not all being backed up.

I'm wondering if the vet might give you some laxative/stool softener for him? (Seniorboy is on that because his arthritis makes pooing a bit difficult and because he's getting on now.) Is he to see the vet again soon or is it all depending on the bloods?

Original poster

Auntimatter · 03/03/2014 19:03

Depends on what the bloods show. Expect I will be back there even if he isn't!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 03/03/2014 19:07

You're right. He's at that age now where the visits tend to work out more frequent than before.

Original poster

Auntimatter · 04/03/2014 20:29

Dodgy kidneys it is. Not unexpected.

Have been prescribed renal diet food for him. Which will be great when he feels well enough to eat a bit more. His poor bottom is still so sore, though, and still leaking pooey/enema'd brown stuff. Which I am wiping off, though not with 100% success.

Poor boy; he won't even purr.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 04/03/2014 20:42

Poor boy. Yes - dodgy kidneys won't help his inner workings. (I think any related dehydration can cause dry stools which are more difficult to pass.)

Are you using a moistened cloth or tissue to wipe his poor sore bum? the dampness might make things a tad better. (Not a whole lot, sadly.)

Original poster

Auntimatter · 04/03/2014 20:55

Yes: kitchen roll damped with warm water.

And yes to the dehydration/poo problem. Hope this new food works the magic he needs.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 04/03/2014 20:57

Fingers crossed for him. Let us know how he does?

Varya · 04/03/2014 21:00

Feel for you OP, with beloved Thomas not feeling well. Varya XXX

Original poster

Auntimatter · 08/03/2014 10:22

Thomas died on Wednesday just before bedtime.

Very quickly and peacefully in his basket. He went downhill very quickly in the evening, which he mostly spent in his basket. Got out to go and make faces at the other cat but couldn't walk back, started shaking his head and then he couldn't even stand and fell over when he tried. I put him back in his basket, made a vet's appointment for the morning - because I thought he was just dehydrated and wasn't expecting him to go - and left him to sleep. Went back down just over an hour later and he had gone. Just went to sleep and didn't wake up.

When I took him to the vets in the morning, I said they could have a look and see if they could find a cause of death - but I suspect his kidneys were really almost gone and the unblocking was just too much for him.

He was the most wonderful friend for 13 years. I will miss him very much, but I am glad he went so fast and so peacefully, in his basket at home, cosy and loved.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 08/03/2014 10:33

Poor lad - but Yes. To go quickly, warm and loved in his basket is better than many. My own Darling Twoago died in a similar way from kidney failure.

So sorry, Auntimatter. Have you planned a place/way to remember him by?

Take care.

HazeltheMcWitch · 08/03/2014 10:39

Oh, Anti - sorry for your loss.
I hope that you continue to be able to take comfort from the fact that he would have been a lucky cat with a lovely life to have been yours (that comes across in your posts), and he went as most of us would wish to - with our loved ones, in our homes, in our sleep.

Seconding the 'take care'.

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