Poorly old cat | Mumsnet

CottonPyjamas · 2023-03-16T16:50:39+00:00

I'm hoping to pick some brains here, please. My cat is just about to turn 17 and since December we've noticed a huge change in him. First he began yowling in the evening, then gradually became more ravenous. A blood test is January came back all clear, so the vet treated him for worms. Since then, he's got worse. He occasionally yowls during the day as well as the evenings, has started trying to eat food off our plates (while we're eating), jumping onto the hob while I'm cooking, and he's losing weight. Another visit to the vet this week showed that he'd lost nearly 20% of his weight in two months, he's now 2250 grams. A blood test showed slightly raised lipase, a urine test showed raised white blood cells, and his heart rate was 200 which is the higher side of normal. The vet has now given us antibiotics to try and rule out a urine infection, but admitted that wouldn't account for most of his symptoms. Has anyone had any similar experiences? I'm just wondering if there's anything I should be bringing up with the vet?

Original poster

CottonPyjamas · 16/03/2023 16:52

I should add, tests have come back clear for hyperthyroidism, diabetes and kidney problems

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Choconut · 16/03/2023 17:00

I think it might be worth running the hyperthroidism test again in a few weeks as it does sound a lot like that,

Occasionally, a cat suspected of having hyperthyroidism has a TT4 level within the upper range of normal. When this occurs, a second test, usually a free T4 by equilibrium dialysis (FT4 by ED) or a T3 suppression test, is performed. If these tests are not diagnostic, a thyroid scan (thyroid scintigraphy) can be performed at a veterinary referral center, or the TT4 can be measured again in a few weeks.

Florissant · 16/03/2023 17:31

Dementia? Cats can develop this condition.

Original poster

CottonPyjamas · 16/03/2023 17:48

Choconut · 16/03/2023 17:00

I think it might be worth running the hyperthroidism test again in a few weeks as it does sound a lot like that,

Occasionally, a cat suspected of having hyperthyroidism has a TT4 level within the upper range of normal. When this occurs, a second test, usually a free T4 by equilibrium dialysis (FT4 by ED) or a T3 suppression test, is performed. If these tests are not diagnostic, a thyroid scan (thyroid scintigraphy) can be performed at a veterinary referral center, or the TT4 can be measured again in a few weeks.

This was our first thought but he's just had a second blood test. Both are clear. The vet's now trying to rule out smaller things before going onto scans and x-rays

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Original poster

CottonPyjamas · 16/03/2023 17:53

Florissant · 16/03/2023 17:31

Dementia? Cats can develop this condition.

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure if that would explain the weight loss in spite of voracious hunger, heart rate, white blood cells and lipase. I'm off to have a look...

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Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/03/2023 18:41

My last old cat at 20 was like this, weight loss and the constant howling towards the end of his life. My immediate thought when I read your post was dementia too.

I'm very sorry but you might need to consider that 17 is actually a very old cat. Others here may disagree but personally, given his age and his symptoms I would be reluctant to do too much investigation (with concomitant vet visits) to try to extend his lifespan. I'd just spoil him rotten while he's still got a decent quality of life.

Silverlog · 16/03/2023 18:54

My cat was very similar. Sadly you are close to the end. Time to make him comfortable and keep an eye out for the right moment to call the vet. Sorry xx

Cookerhood · 16/03/2023 19:01

Was the 2nd test definitely free T4? Our cat had normal T4 on the first test (raised but not hugely so), the free T4 was off the scale. After treatment he is so much better - not constantly begging for food, yowling etc & has put on weight. He'd also lost 20% of his body weight.

Original poster

CottonPyjamas · 16/03/2023 19:16

Cookerhood · 16/03/2023 19:01

Was the 2nd test definitely free T4? Our cat had normal T4 on the first test (raised but not hugely so), the free T4 was off the scale. After treatment he is so much better - not constantly begging for food, yowling etc & has put on weight. He'd also lost 20% of his body weight.

I can't say. The vet just rang to tell us the results and said he was all clear for hyperthyroidism.

In response to those say I have to prepare for him being close to the end... That is unfortunately something I've considered. I won't let him suffer

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Nsky62 · 16/03/2023 19:46

My dear old tabby, who was 13, had a sort of reaching cough, sometimes, lost weight, put on antibiotics, no improvement two later vets again.
Kept-in overnight heart failure , put to sleep, too young she was

Original poster

CottonPyjamas · 23/03/2023 16:23

UPDATE: After no change in his condition following the course of antibiotics, we've been back to the vets this morning. He's now booked in for x-rays of the chest and abdomen next week, and the vet has said we can feed him as much as he'd like to try and get his weight back up. She did admit that if the x-ray shows anything, we may not have him for much longer. My poor boy has been so hungry he's been trying to eat from the pans while the gas hob was on, has even taken boiled potatoes, and was trying to eat from our plates while we're actually eating. Just to state the obvious, we're now shutting him out of the kitchen while we're cooking.

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Iamacatslave · 23/03/2023 17:09

How are his teeth?

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 23/03/2023 17:18

My Charlie went through exactly the same at 17. The yowling in the evening is supposedly cat dementia - they get confused. The bottomless hunger turned out to be IBD. He ate and ate but his gut was unable to extract nutrients, so he never felt full.

On the other hand, my 11-year-old recently dropped over a kilo. The vet did all the investigations we can think of and found nothing. Her weight has now stabilised and she seems fine, so we probably aren't going to get to the bottom of that one.

Another of my past kitties got very skinny when he was in kidney failure, mostly because he hated the renal food.

Basically there are so many potential reasons for weight loss, some serious and many not. I hope your vet can figure it out. He's a very handsome boy.

Original poster

CottonPyjamas · 23/03/2023 18:42

Iamacatslave · 23/03/2023 17:09

How are his teeth?

His remaining teeth are all good, thanks. He's only got half a set. Some were removed two years ago and others came out due to age

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Original poster

CottonPyjamas · 23/03/2023 18:44

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 23/03/2023 17:18

My Charlie went through exactly the same at 17. The yowling in the evening is supposedly cat dementia - they get confused. The bottomless hunger turned out to be IBD. He ate and ate but his gut was unable to extract nutrients, so he never felt full.

On the other hand, my 11-year-old recently dropped over a kilo. The vet did all the investigations we can think of and found nothing. Her weight has now stabilised and she seems fine, so we probably aren't going to get to the bottom of that one.

Another of my past kitties got very skinny when he was in kidney failure, mostly because he hated the renal food.

Basically there are so many potential reasons for weight loss, some serious and many not. I hope your vet can figure it out. He's a very handsome boy.

That's interesting, thanks for sharing. How did they diagnose Charlie's IBD?

So far, everything's coming back saying kidneys are fine.

I'm completely biased, but yes he's very handsome 😆

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HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 23/03/2023 19:15

It was a few years ago so take with a pinch of salt, but I think something showed up on his blood tests and they did an endoscopy (or something?) and found thickening in his bowel. They could then have done a biopsy to determine if it was IBD or lymphoma (?) but the treatment for both was the same so I didn't go for that. He had chemotherapy and steroids.

It was pretty expensive, especially as he needed a hospital stay to stabilise him from the anorexia. I think the bill for that and the investigations was about £2,400.

Original poster

CottonPyjamas · 23/03/2023 19:40

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 23/03/2023 19:15

It was a few years ago so take with a pinch of salt, but I think something showed up on his blood tests and they did an endoscopy (or something?) and found thickening in his bowel. They could then have done a biopsy to determine if it was IBD or lymphoma (?) but the treatment for both was the same so I didn't go for that. He had chemotherapy and steroids.

It was pretty expensive, especially as he needed a hospital stay to stabilise him from the anorexia. I think the bill for that and the investigations was about £2,400.

Oh the poor thing. We've had two blood tests and the only result from those was raised lipase. I'd like an answer as to what's wrong, but I'm also fearful of what it's going to be

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