Elderly cat losing weight and dribbling gunk/mucous

[NicoAndTheNiners]

Cat is 15yo and I've noticed over the last few weeks she's losing weight. She used to be a bit tubby and I kind of assumed it's normal to lose a bit as she gets older. But stroking her yesterday she seems quite thin now.

Two days ago I stood in a little wet patch on the carpet which wasn't wee and I assumed dd had spilt some water. Then last night coming up the stairs I trod in bare feet in slimey gunk...I honestly thought I'd trodden on a slug but no sign of a slug. I told dd who said it would be from the cat and that she's started dribbling a lot and leaving wet patches if she sit in one place too long.

We're going to the vet this afternoon. Is it likely to be bad news? What do I do if it's dental problems and the vet suggests a GA? Would a cat her age survive? I had a young dog during a dental years ago.

I'm just worried the vet might suggest pts if she's in pain because of her age? She's eating ok'ish. She fusses for food in the morning and eats, but I don't think as much as she used to. Do I need to prepare dd that she might not come home?

You may well already be at the vets but it could well be dental related. Cats are very good at hiding pain.
I would think the vet would likely want to do bloods prior to a GA. In fact they may want to do them anyway. I would see what the vet says first and take it from there.

Not at vets for another 2 hours. Have just realised the gunk is dribbling out her bum. It's yellow. She doesn't look very happy.

It's kind of clear, jelly like stuff with dark yellow streaks. Ive got some on a tissue and bagged it to take with me.

Not sure if it's coming out her bum or vagina?

She was spayed as a kitten.

Oh, no.

Sadly, I believe that in senior cats, unexplained weight loss is cancer until proven otherwise. This is true in humans.

Your cat is getting up there. 15 years old is about 76 years old in human years. I'm so sorry, but you may well need to prepare DD for the fact that kitty may not come home. If that ends up being the case, you might speak to the vet about memorial options. Our vet does a paw print plaque for animals that are PTS, if the owners would like.

Sadly, I believe that in senior cats, unexplained weight loss is cancer until proven otherwise.

That is not necessarily true in cats. The most common causes of weight loss in elderly cats are actually overactive thyroid or kidney disease. However given the symptoms could well just be a tummy bug of some sort. Hope you get on ok OP.

Obviously at such an age insurance got too much so she isn't insured. I could afford maybe £200-£300 but much more than that and I'd struggle to pay but also struggle justify the cost at her age. Is that awful?

Weight loss can be caused by many things. That doesn't sound good if it's coming from her rear end. Certainly changes my (albeit non veterinary) thoughts. They can get blocked anal glands but I have no idea if there is a discharge from this or not.
Is your DD old enough to understand your cat might be very ill and she may pass away?

Yes, dd is a teenager.

I hope you got on ok

Thinking of you

It doesn't sound good. Cat had a quick abdominal ultrasound which shows free fluid outside but near the bladder. Had a blood test and vet has just rung with results.

So she's anaemic. He thinks her body is attacking her red cells.

Her white cells are very high so she could have a bacterial or viral infection. He also thinks something is wrong with her liver because of something in her bloods. She has bile in her system, elevated bile acid?

He isn't sure what to do so is going to talk to someone and ring us back tomorrow.

I suspect due to her age the best thing would be to have her pts? She doesn't look very happy. Obviously if they decide some antibiotics #,etc could sort it that's different.

But I don't want lots of treatment or surgery for her and to be honest I'm not sure how much more investigation I can afford. The blood test was £137. He did say something before we had the blood test results that further investigations might inc a more indepth ultrasound under a GA. But it's all going to add up for a 15yo, poorly cat....might be different if she was younger!

Oh and she had quite a high temp at the vets as well.

Ive been googling and all those symptoms sounds like it might be pancreatitis or peritonitis.....neither of which sound likely to have a good outcome.

Poor kitty. It may not be as bad as it sounds. Cats can get liver issues; our old girl did but then had other issues
If it is elevated liver parameters then there is medication which can help. It did help ours for a time but she had a stone and sludge in her bile duct which required surgery at a referral vets so ££££. She also had pancreatitis and IBD and everything was all connected. She was 12 at the time rather than 15 and at 15 I probably wouldn't have put her through the surgery.
See what the vet says tomorrow and take it from there.
Thinking of you, it is hard.