Cat not "quite right" can anyone advise

[ellebelli]

My cat is 12yrs old he was slightly overweight,loved his food and lazing about in the garden.
A few months ago he suddenly stopped eating, managing about half a pouch and a few biscuits a day, this is a cat that would have 7 or 8 pouches of meat plus biscuits a day(and go into next doors and pinch their cats food too!)
He had visibly lost weight and I could feel all his spine, when we took him the vets they weighed him(4kg-he was about 6kg we think before)
It turned out he needed his teeth cleaning and had three removed.
He still was not eating much more even after the oral surgery, and in fact had lost even more weight so had a steroid injection to increase appetite plus bloods taken.
This does seem to have worked as he is eating more now-however strangely now only wants biscuits and barely touches the meat when we give it.He still is not eating the recommended amount.
He is also coughing up fur balls and the occasional bit of food.
We got the results of his blood test back today-thyroid slightly low,white bloods slightly raised and liver is raised, they are saying all this could be an indicator of either something oral( hes just had oral surgery) or intestinal, though they are not sure so want to do an ultrasound at £260.
We not long ago had to have one of our dogs PTS after lots of tests and med's which didn't work,all at a cost and now all this!
Could anyone offer any suggestions?

If they were my cat and I had the money I wouldn’t think twice about having the scan. Find out what the issue is and then decide.

I think I'd also have the scan.

Do you have insurance?
My cat has pancreatitis and that has paid for the scan. The diagnosis came from bloods rather than the scan though.

I think he need the scan. Twelve isn’t an especially old cat, he could have years ahead of him, if there is something that really needs treatment then waiting will only make things worse.

He needs to either be investigated or you need to have him PTS , you can’t just let him carry on being ill. Unfortunately animals are expensive and often you spend lots of money for no good outcome , especially when they are getting a bit older .

Well, you really only have two choices.

Pay for the scan and see what the underlying issues are, or have him PTS if he's miserable. He can't go on like he is.

If he was my cat I would pay for the scan. Twelve isn't that old for a cat and it could be something easily fixed.

Have the scan!

My 14 year old cat also had dental surgery and then got an infection. His food choices have definitely changed since then. It took him a month to bounce back, but he did.

Thanks all.
We had the scan today and they found a huge mass which they believe to be cancerous and do not recommend surgery.
We are trying him on steroids and a b12 injection..if no improvement in a few days(if it works the improvement should be clear)then we have no choice but to pts.
Poor mittens!
I just hope he isn't in any pain,though he must be miserable .
Feel sad it was only 3mths ago we had to have our 8yr old dog pts because of seizures and a expected brain tumor.
I want my pets to live a good long life.

Our cat had a similar medical history to yours. Poor appetite, weight loss, low thyroid levels... It turned out he was diabetic and improved on a special diet.