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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

£1200 spent and cat still not well. Don't know what to do.

77 replies

Worriedkittycat · 21/10/2023 20:17

At the beginning of the week my cat had vomiting and diarrhoea and not eating. After 2 to 3 days I took him to the vet. He had pain relief, anti sickness, fluids and blood tests.

Only inflammation showing on blood tests. He came home and ate something so seemed positive.

He went back into the vet the next day for the same treatment, more fluid and pain relief. That was yesterday. He didn't eat anything at all yesterday. But he's had no vomiting and his poo is starting to slowly get more solid.

Today he went back again for the same treatment. The problem is he's still not eating anything.

But the three days of treatment has cost us just over £1200 which we've put on a credit Card. Dh is saying we can't keep paying more. Cat is due back to vet tomorrow morning but if he still hasn't eaten anything the vet is going to recommend further treatment including possible x Ray, etc.

We're down 1200 that we didn't have in the first place, my cat still isn't eating and we still don't know what's wrong. It could even just be stress and the fact that he's been poorly that has put him off eating or it could be something worse. I just don't know what to do.
:( any advice

OP posts:
Thehonestbadger · 22/10/2023 17:23

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Lonecatwithkitten · 22/10/2023 17:37

As the PP has an FpLi test been done for pancreatitis as this definitely sounds suspicious of this or the more complicated version triaditis which is pancreatitis, IBD and cholangiohepatitis occurring together.
Steroids may not be the most appropriate treatment and some of these cats need feeding tubes for extended periods before they will eat again. Ultrasound would definitely help with identification of the problem.

margotrose · 22/10/2023 17:39

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/10/2023 16:33

I dab lick e lix on my fingers and shove some round my cats mouth so he has to lick it off. I've also used a syringe of cat soup at the back of his mouth when he was very poorly once. Worth a go.

This is a good shout. Wiping lick e lix on their paws works as well as they have no choice but to lick it off.

Claysta · 22/10/2023 17:54

Went through a similar thing earlier this year - spent the best part of £1600 as my cat was constantly being sick and not eating. Ended up paying for a scan (she was insured) and various blood tests - they found nothing ! She eventually got better herself after a few weeks! We did the anti sickness jabs, antibiotics, special diet (hated it), scan, tests all to find nothing! She didn’t stay in though overnight. Hope you cat gets better soon x

Original poster
Worriedkittycat · 22/10/2023 19:53

HES HAD SOME WATER AND A CAT TREAT 🥳🥳

OP posts:
margotrose · 22/10/2023 19:58

Oh that's excellent news OP! I'm so pleased Grin

Doveyouknow · 22/10/2023 20:26

Our cat had this. He would stop eating and drinking for a bit and we would head of to the vets and after and IV treatment and some appetite stimulants (£££) he would be as right as rain....until the next time. In the end we paid for the ultrasound we had avoided at the first appointment and they found the cause was a reoccurring infection. Quick op and all sorted. The bills we would've saved if we had paid for the ultrasound! Sometimes it is worth paying to get to the bottom of these things.

Potentialmadcatlady · 22/10/2023 20:40

Have you tried applaws? It’s not a complete food but I have yet to find a cat ( I have had a lot!) who won’t eat it… Put it on one of your dinner plates, pretend to eat it in-front of her and accidentally walk away leaving it sitting to see if she ‘pinches’ some of it.. same for fluids- leave your glass sitting with water in it and see if she will be ‘naughty’, leave the tap dripping in kitchen…
I have used the rub it round their mouth/on nose/face trick to good effect- messy but it works cause they hate being dirty.
I have also sat with a cat before who was a completely shut down rescue ( abandoned and miserable) and literally wet my finger and rubbed it around her mouth, repeatedly hour by hour.. it worked enough to keep her hydrated until she came out of herself enough to start eating..
Fingers crossed.. then get them both insured.. it’s just not worth having no insurance any more

Beamur · 22/10/2023 20:42

Worriedkittycat · 22/10/2023 19:53

HES HAD SOME WATER AND A CAT TREAT 🥳🥳

Such good news. Fingers crossed for you.

Original poster
Worriedkittycat · 24/10/2023 18:22

He's still being sick. About once or twice per day. White foam stuff.

All we can get him to eat is a handful of dreamies and cat soup(though he doesn't eat the lumps). So he isn't eating nearly enough :(

OP posts:
Lenax · 24/10/2023 18:30

Get him back to the vets and hope they suggest an ultrasound and prescribe an appetite stimulant?

margotrose · 24/10/2023 18:33

Inflammation markers on his bloods as well as white foam would signify some kind of infection or irritation in his system.

Can you try a new vet and "start afresh" as it were?

Original poster
Worriedkittycat · 25/10/2023 10:39

Have an appointment at a different vets this evening.

He's still not eating much. And I noticed a very small shiny black stool in the litter tray. As well as 1 - 2 times a day white foam vomit.

My poor baby ❤️

OP posts:
Stresa22 · 25/10/2023 10:47

Try him on a raw diet. It sounds like his food was making him sick. Mine eats PurrForm.

Kittensat36 · 25/10/2023 11:01

Good luck with the new vet, that's an outrageous amount. I paid £800 for a 4 day inpatient stint

Original poster
Worriedkittycat · 25/10/2023 17:27

Ultrasound is the recommendation.

We are waiting on the appetite stimulant to arrive tomorrow but vet thinks it'll only Mask symptoms and not deal with the actual cause. Vet mentioned PTS if finances were an issue in relation to further diagnostics, ultrasound, etc.

But am currently in contact with a local charity who has a low income veterinary clinic to see if they can help.

He's still only eating dreamies and licking the Gravy off of food. Though we did get him to eat a couple of lumps of cooked chicken earlier.

I can't/won't even consider PTS yet. Not when we don't even know what the problem is. I can't lose him.

OP posts:
MushMonster · 25/10/2023 17:40

I feel for you OP.
I am in a similar situation with one of ours regarding the finance, but your cat situation and the timeframe are much more pressing for you and I do understand the stress and worry you are under.
Not eating at this point is not so worrying IF they are drinking.
You mentioned diarrhea. Maybe they ate something off and not eating until all the resulting problem is out is a good strategy indeed.
If they are lethargic, confused, not drinking, that is a different issue.

MushMonster · 26/10/2023 16:08

How is your cat doing OP?

honkersbonkers38 · 26/10/2023 17:58

My cat is back in the vet's now - pancreatitis. Fluids, anti -sickness, liver medicine (?) and painkillers. Another £900 for two days. I'm also thinking of changing vets as this is not affordable.
Apparently he's much better though - I'll see when I get him home.
Hope your cat improves OP - it is heartbreaking when they're ill.

Lenax · 27/10/2023 09:03

I'd say push for the ultrasound, it's all so very expensive :( but should have a good chance of seeing what the matter is. Our cat has chronic vomiting for 6 months and we had a lot of back & forward at the vets before an ultrasound found the issue. I unfortunately our cat had a tumour, which I am not saying your cat has, I'm just saying an ultrasound sound was the best thing for us & I should have pushed for it much earlier. We have a happy ending now because my cat has been happily in remission for a 16 months now. I really hope you find out afar is making your cat sick 💕

Toddlerteaplease · 27/10/2023 11:35

I think the late Magic's ultrasound was about £250. She didn't need sedation though. It did give us the answers though.

Original poster
Worriedkittycat · 30/10/2023 10:08

MushMonster · 26/10/2023 16:08

How is your cat doing OP?

He's doing really well. Haven't had the ultrasound. Just suddenly he started eating again, being sociable, no longer hiding, normal poos, etc. So going to keep an eye on him and see how he goes. Hopefully whatever it was, that's the end of it. But if any of his symptoms come back, we'll get the ultrasound.

OP posts:
Twillow · 30/10/2023 10:13

Aw that's great! I was coming on to say for a nervous cat all the visits are probably hindering as much as helping, and to suggest a syringe feed (I had to do this once, it was hilariously messy!) Sometimes time is the answer once the obvious things have been ruled out.

Beamur · 30/10/2023 10:18

Good news. Hopefully kitty is better now and it was just a blip. Luckily both of my cats that pulled the not eating stunt turned out just to have a bit of an upset tummy and didn't need any treatment beyond the basics.

MushMonster · 31/10/2023 06:47

Those are great news OP!
I hope he keeps well and all gets back to normal!