Warning: Long OP!
My cat, TC, is about 19/20 yrs old (he’s a rescue so unsure of exact age). He has something going on with his mouth. I noticed he was eating less, drooling and constantly opening and stretching his mouth. He was also looking thinner.
I took him to the vets 3 weeks ago and the vet tried to examine him but TC was fighting too much for the vet to get a proper look. He’s a good natured cat but gets very aggressive when he’s scared.
Vet said most likely, given his age, it was gingivitis or possibly a tumour under the tongue which is not uncommon in older cats. The only way to be sure would be to examine him under anaesthetic which she is reluctant to do due to his age. She prescribed antibiotics and a painkiller which did help at first.
A few days after the medication finished the symptoms came back but this time much worse. TC was hardly eating anything and started clawing at his mouth. He ended up cutting the side of his mouth and tongue.
I took him back to the vet and she tried to examine him again but apart from being able to get a brief glimpse of the wounds to his tongue and side of his mouth, still couldn’t see inside properly. He has lost 0.3kg in the past few weeks.
The vet remains reluctant to give TC a general anaesthetic and I agree with this. She has prescribed more antibiotics and painkillers which I give with a syringe. The painkillers are to continue indefinitely.
The painkillers have stopped TC from clawing at his mouth but he’s still not completely comfortable and struggling to eat and drink. I’ve given water with a syringe but TC struggles a lot and finds it painful/distressing. We have tried all types of soft cat foods but he refuses everything. He ate a small amount of Turkey and also cream yesterday so I’ll be getting plenty of supplies in.
Without a proper diagnosis I, and the vet, don’t know if this is a temporary problem that will improve or if he will continue to decline.
I’m so worried about his lack of fluid intake. I can keep giving him water with a syringe but this is very distressing for him.
Has anyone had experience of a similar situation with an elderly cat and got any advice on what else I can do to help TC?