Cats care slipped and weights been lost, help?

[CatCareDisgust]

Name change as I’m ashamed

I’m a single parent and I’ve slipped recently with my cat care.

I’ve noticed she’s lost weight, she’s about 9. Realise she wasn’t eating at all and I’m not sure when she last had a full meal. I can feel her spine, and she’s very light to carry.

She’s always been a grazer, I used to give 2 pouches of wet food supplemented with dry food in the bowl for her to graze on but then the hot weather kicked in and she stopped emptying her bowl so I only left dry food and water down and switched to 1 pouch of wet food a day which she hasn’t been eating really.

I’ve now switched her food to a different one that I know she likes more (switched from Sheba to Whiskas which I know is hated on here but it’s all she’ll eat) and she’s eaten quite a bit but there’s still wet food and dry food in her bowl.
I always leave water down and my DC is good at checking that.

She’s booked into the vet next week (earliest appointment I could get even after explaining on the phone). Is there anything else I can do between now and then to hopefully get a bit more weight on her?

As I said I am completely ashamed of myself for letting it slip and not noticing she’s basically been starving, I love her and she’s like my other baby after my DC.

That's good - hopefully she'll be fine until then.

She's eating small amounts, she won't take it by hand but I'm leaving small amounts of chicken, dreamies and wet cat food on a plate next to her then leaving her, when I go back after 30 minutes most of it is gone. So I think UTI is a good call.

Bless her, I hope she's on the mend soon 😘

It’s not good news.

Vet thinks it’s more than just a UTI and is running blood tests but think its likely to be her liver and kidneys. She’s severely anemic and should weigh 1.5kg more than she does.

I didn’t get a flea issue under control as I treated her with the 3 month stuff but it obviously didn’t work and that could be the cause although the vet is doubtful that alone has caused the issue - she says lots of animals are suffering with fleas this year as they just seem to be resistent to even the vets treatments. Vet thinks its age related or cancer and she’s maybe 2-3 years older than I think – she was a rescue so there’s a good chance she is older. So she's closer to 11/12 than 8/9.

I’m not holding out much hope that we’ll save her, I’ve not stopped crying since we came home. And I keep jumping every time my phone beeps.

I’m blaming myself and wondering if I can’t even look after a cat how can I be left with my DC?

Just waiting for the inevitable phonecall. I won't let her suffer and will let her go if I have to

Try cat soup, for more fluids.
Also, I had to put a bowl of water in bathroom to get my old cat to drink, some cats don't like drinking in the same area that they eat their food.

@Breakfastisjustporridge She's been to the vet and its not good news (see above).

She's drinking water, lots of it.

Sorry I think I crossed posted with you.
Fingers crossed for you.

I'm so sorry it's not good news :( Please try and stop thinking that this is your fault, if she has cancer then nothing you could have done would have prevented it.

It could be thyroid? Hyperthyroid, easily treated with meds.
mine lived a good 6 years with it ( he was VERY old when he passed in his sleep, not related to it,0

@9thlife Vet ruled out thyroid and diabetes as well.

She's gone over Rainbow Bridge.

She had some sort of fit and was rushed to the vet, not 2 minutes after we got there, she just went.

I've yet to tell my DC as they are at school.

Very sorry to read your update, OP. 💐

Same happened with my older cat and it was her tooth. One had broken. She'd been twice before and they'd misdiagnosed as an ear infection...

I gave super mushy tuna in water
The mushy gravy type meals
I even bought her cat soup..!

I'm so sorry. I've had cats for years, and I hate this day.

I had a very sweet little girl, who suddenly dropped a bit of weight. The vet ran tests and gave her a good check over and said she was just getting a bit older (probably only 12yo). A month later we had to have her PTS. Cats become unwell very rapidly IME.

I don't think you neglected her, or missed anything. I think your Dcat did the rapid decline I've seen a few times. She was fine, right up until the point at which she wasn't.

So sorry OP. She'll be looked after and they'll do their best to help her, just as you have. Her ill health is very unlikely to be caused by you. Her signs of illness were not obvious and had she not lost weight you wouldn't have known. Please be gentle with yourself, she is loved and you did nothing to intentionally harm her x

I’m so sorry for your loss. Be kind to yourself and let your tears run free. 🌺

(((Hugs)))

Please don't be harsh on yourself. Cats, like humans, sometimes go off their food when it's very hot. It doesn't mean you did anything wrong. You loved your cat, you noticed her decreased appetite and you looked after her.

I am so sorry for your loss. Cats are so independent that they often don't show us when they are poorly. You did absolutely everything you could.

We took our cats to the vets as we were concerned about one and when the vet examined them both the other cat was very poorly and we had not noticed.

We were devastated to say goodbye to them both so understand how you feel.

Very unmumsnetty hugs xx

I’m so sorry x

Our elderly cat was underweight. He will eat from the sachets but leaves lots from each pouch. Same with dry food. he'll graze it but not eat a lot. We upped his weight with tiny snacks. Now he has shreds of chicken if we have it, or bits of minced beef, omlette or finely chopped roast lamb - not a lot - a teaspoonful or two but he enjoys eating what we eat. He also licks butter from a saucer and drinks milk or cream but he is a cat who is fine with dairy - most cats aren't so I don't recommend that unless you know your cat can process it.He also likes the cat soups a PP mentioned.

Oh so sorry - just seen your update. That's so sad.

Or hyperthyroidism or any number of other conditions that can cause an older cat to lose weight.

I really wish posters would read the whole thread before posting !

@CatCareDisgust you have done nothing wrong ay all , cats are very good at hiding illness .
You reacted as quickly as you could as soon as you realised there was something wrong and did the best you could.
It's heartbreaking when they die .

(((Hugs)))

@CatCareDisgust I'm sorry for your loss. Cats hide illness so well until they can't and you did your best by her.

I'm so sorry. It sounds like he had a serious underlying health condition, and that's why he lost weight and was looking dishevelled - it's nothing that you did or didn't do. Cats are very good at hiding illness.
Take care xx