Bella

[Dunnoburt]

Here is my 16 year old girl....her coat is amazing (I never brush her.....she hates it (furminator) but thankfully she genuinely never needs it)....her bum is always clean....she still plays, eats etc. etc. But I KNOW there is something wrong......I think she's on her way out.....she's been vomiting more, constantly smacking her lips and maybe I'm just being paranoid but i think her tummy feels distended..... my partner hates cats....and although we've had her since a kitten he still calls her "It" he doesnt get why I'm so upset....she was insured up until about 2 years ago when I claimed for some thyroid tests (negative) then they wanted to put payments up to 100 a month that I literally can't afford....so I've gone with some kind of 28 a month yearly thing that to be honest I don't even understand...... I'm so sad.....she's my one and only cat, I'm a responsible owner (neutered etc) but I feel like a shit person for ignoring the fact I KNOW something is wrong but I'm too afraid of the vet bill etc.... please be kind.... just wanted to get my words out and maybe have a bit of advice? Xx

Have her eating and drinking habits changed? Her grooming habits? This is the time of year when cats are shedding their winter fur and so they can ingest more of it. Btw, your bf/husband is a dick and Bella deserves better.

May be because it's hairball season, with the winter coat coming out.

But if you have a monthly pet plan with your vets, depending on the vet/plan you took out etc, you should be getting at least a couple of free consultations a year along with all her regular jabs & worm/flea treatments etc. Even if one of those consultations is taken up by the annual jabs/MoT check, that should leave you at least one more to use when you are concerned like today.

Check the details of your monthly plan asap. Unfortunately it's the Easter weekend so you can't get your cat booked in for anything bar a total emergency until at least Tuesday, but have a look & see what you can get that's already included & go from there.

Thank you so much for your replies, and yes, you are right, it's hairball season and she's got the most stupendously long coat so that could be contributing. I just can't put my finger on it, she's eating, drinking, grooming normally, like I said, clean bum so no sign of diahorreah (outdoor cat).....its just little behaviours that are out of character, vomiting more often and the constant lip smacking which to me suggests nausea.....I will check my plan to see if I can get her in for a MOT..... this is the horrible side to pet ownership isn't it.....the impending loss 😢 x