Help! Holiday tomorrow and cat not eating

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

We're due to go away for a few days tomorrow and our lovely cat isn't eating. We have a cat sitter booked for twice a day visits but I'm nervous about leaving her. Just called the vet out of hours service and booked to take her in to be checked over first thing tomorrow.

Background: she's 16 and we've had her for nearly 15 years. Has always been really healthy (although def slowing down with old age) until a nasty bout of pancreatitis a year ago. Seemed to bounce back really well from that.

But hasn't been herself the last month or two. Not eating much, not grooming very well, just sleeping really. Took her to the vet, who diagnosed arthritis in her back legs, a dodgy tooth and chronic kidney problems.

Teeth were sorted last week (including one extraction) and she now has pain relief for the arthritis. Kidney test results not brilliant but the vet seemed fairly positive we'd see an improvement. She seems no better to me, if not worse. Hasn't eaten at all today, although has asked for food and then not eaten it. So hasn't been able to have her pain meds. The thing that is worrying me most is she has refused tuna. This has never happened before ever

Hard to say whether this is a complication of the extraction or something underlying/more serious. Poor old girl

We're meant to be leaving for our holiday in the morning and I don't really know what to do. If anyone has any ideas I'd be so grateful.

Should add she's already lost a fair bit of weight so the not eating is more of a concern than it would be with a cat with a bit to spare.

Oh god, what bad timing. I'd be inclined to think that it's a complication of the anaesthetic that has affected her kidneys. In which case she'll probably need to be admitted to the vet as an inpatient if you won't be around to treat/keep a constant eye.

So you've got time to see a vet before you leave for holiday? That's good. I think she'll probably have to be admitted. I hope you've got insurance/deep pockets.

Thank you so much for replying TCN.

No insurance unfortunately. Feeling slightly cross with the vet as I suggested delaying the anaesthetic until we returned from holiday but they said it would be fine.

She seems hungry, has just come and asked for food but then when I put it in front of her won't touch it.

Will see what the vet suggests in the morning. From what they said last week, they seem to think the kidneys are getting worse faster than they expected anyway, so not sure how much time she has.

Thanks again for your reply, I really appreciate it.

Poor girl. What sort of pain meds is she on?

(Seniorboy has been on meloxicam in his supper for some while (for arthritis) and is now also on supplemental as-needed pain meds which go on the soft tissues of his mouth - he's pill phobic. They've been pretty successful because the meloxicam wasn't quite cutting it and he was feeling more than a bit woebegone.)

Sorry to hear this OP. Until fairly recently i had 2 elderly cats & i well remember the anxiety of them going downhill then perking up again for no obvious reason. How did things go at the vet?

It went ok with the vet thanks. She seems quite well hydrated and the vet gave her some injections - more pain medication, an appetite stimulant, vit B12. Her teeth seem fine.

She's eaten a little tuna since we got back.

Our lovely cat sitter has agreed to take her back to the vet on Wed (or before if necessary) - vet will admit her if she needs it at any stage. About as happy as we could be about leaving her.

Vet thinks she still looks pretty perky considering. She took quite a chunk out of the vet's hand this morning. The word feisty appeared in the notes I'm starting to wonder what's the kindest thing to do but the vet seems to think it's too soon for that chat. How do you know if it's time?

Glad to hear she seems relatively OK. My vet talks about quality of life - is the cat eating, drinking, pottering around either in or out of doors, coming for a stroke, reasonably continent etc? If so, then it may not yet be "the time".
I agonised over this with my 2 but in the end it was obvious both times. All I would say is better too early than a moment too late, I left my old girl a day or so too long and I still feel very upset when I think about her last 24 hours with us.