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Message |
    
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 358
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 8:28 pm: | 
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For the past two days my normally friendly lap cat has been hiding under the bed. Until this afternoon he has been eating and drinking, this evening he has not touched his food or come out from the bed.
I took him to the vet this morning. He looked at the cat, took his temperature, felt around and said the cat was constipated but couldn't find anything else wrong with him. The cat is 13. What could be wrong with the cat, am I being an alarmist, or do they have weird mood swings as they get older? |
Heather
Citizen
Username: Heater33
Post Number: 21
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:12 pm: |
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No - you are not an alarmist. I'm sure you're worried about the cat because in it's 13 years of life it has never acted like this. I had a dog that did the same thing - perfectly fine, swimming, running, eating one day and the next, he just stopped. My vet knew his personality and saw that the dog I brought to him was not my dog. He had me admit him to a animal hospital for an over-night observation and tests. Turns out he had cancer - everywhere. He was just living through whatever pain he was having until one day he coldn't take it anymore. Did you vet draw any blood? And if it is just constipation, did he tell you to use a softener or anything? Look into it further if your cat does not improve. |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2270
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 10:33 pm: |
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It's time for that long kiss goodbye |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1082
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 12:27 am: |
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Any work going on in or near the house (workers, noise, etc.)? Anything new at all (furniture, food bowl, cleaning product, person)?
If he is constipated, he probably just wants to isolate in his stuffed misery.
No, you're not being an alarmist. You know him better than anyone.
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CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1978
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 8:28 am: |
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I'm certainly no expert, but given that you took him to the vet and he couldn't find anything I would guess that your cat is afraid of something. I had a cat disappear like this (no food, no potty, no drink) into the back of a deep closet when I brought a stray dog into the house once. Constipation could be just because kitty is too scared to leave his hidey-hole long enough to "go."
I know this is going to sound funny, but - might you have mice? (or Heaven forbid, other rodents) Some cats are actually afraid of mice. Or if he saw an aggressive unknown cat through a window, he might have been freaked out (if he's a very sensitive kind of guy).
Or, as las said, if there is construction work or anything else loud or scary to cats going on in the neighborhood - this could also cause problems.
If you can't determine a fear, and kitty doesn't get better in a few days, take him back to the vet - because the other reason could be pain as somebody said here. A cursory examination wouldn't necessarily pick everything up. But I do generally trust the vets to know when to test and when not to. If your cat seems otherwise healthy, he probably is. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 359
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 8:38 am: |
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He actually seems a little better this morning. He is out from under the bed and under a coffee table (which is where he sometimes likes to hang out anyway).He also seems to have used his box. He has eaten a little and looks generally more alert. I don't think anything around the house has changed - he didn't seem angry - he seemed sick. Perhaps he was having pooping anxiety. Hopefully he will continue to improve and be back to his normal friendly self soon. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1083
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 9:23 am: |
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Great news, Campbell. Heck, we all suffer from a malaise now and then. Glad he was able to steal away for the rest he needed. |
irl
Citizen
Username: Irl
Post Number: 210
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 8:34 pm: |
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WOW. My cat (around 14 years old) started vomitting, not eating/pooping too, for no apparent reason. Vet did blood tests, etc. and couldn't find anything wrong. The difference is, she's never ACTED ill. She still plays, hangs out in her old haunts, climbs in my lap, as though nothing's up.
I've started giving her "sensitive stomach" food, and only give her a half a handful at a time (about every three hours or so).
The vomitting has abated some, but if she gets too much or gets any of her old food or treats, she starts vomitting again.
Maybe it's something that happens to old cats? |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1111
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 10:38 pm: |
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irl, are you getting Hills Science Diet from the vet? Way expensive, but my 15-year-old pooper/puker keeps it down. |
JerseyJen
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjen
Post Number: 31
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 7:07 am: |
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I have had two cats behave like this. In both cases, it was fatty liver disease. One cat was six and the other was 11. Sadly, we didn't catch it early enough with the six year old and she passed away. We recognized the symptoms with the 11 year old when she got sick three years later and were able to nurse her through it. The treatment was forced feeding of Hills Science Diet wet food through a syringe to help move the fat out of the liver. We also administered subcutaneous (sp?) fluids for several days. It was unpleasant and messy, but she got through it and is now almost 14. Of course, I'm not sure if this is what is happening with your cat, but I wanted to share my experience in case this is possibly what is making your cat sick. I've known of at least two other cats who have had fatty liver disease and were treated just as ours was. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 73
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 2:18 pm: |
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What Veterinarian did you go to? Keep an eye on your cat. If the improvement continues, don't worry. If he starts acting "off" again, return to the vet for further examination including blood work. It doesn't hurt, and could be helpful as once a cat reaches its teens the more likely problems are to occur.
I've been owned by cats all my life, currently have eight, and have done rescue work for years. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 365
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 9:38 pm: |
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We are going back to the vet tomorrow and I am going to ask for bloodwork. Although, there have been some days where he has come downstairs, mostly he has remained under the bed. I still feel he is not doing well. He has been sneaking out from under the bed at night to eat and use his box but his appetite is decreased, and he is not social at all - although he does purr if I pet him while he's under the bed. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1140
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 9:55 pm: |
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Make sure they check his urine for infection. Most vets want you to capture it (not in my world), but some will extract it.
Good luck tomorrow. Keep us posted. |
Crazy_quilter
Citizen
Username: Crazy_quilter
Post Number: 211
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:22 am: |
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maybe it's something in the water in our neighborhood! |
wunderdog
Citizen
Username: Wunderdogny
Post Number: 70
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:56 am: |
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As of Thanksgiving we had two wonderful older cats (14). They both caught a viral infection, according to the vet we used at the time, and one was also anemic and couldn't fight off the infection so we had to have her put down after a stay at the vet's. HOWEVER, I feel if we had been using the vet we are NOW going to, this would not have happened. After we had to put our first cat down (it happened SO quickly...she lost weight, became lethargic, hid), we took the second cat to another vet, Dr. Sepulveda at Milburn Animal Hospital. He diagnosed this cat with diabetes, kept him there a few days to monitor correct insulin level and now we have a NEW cat. He's running and jumping and acting very kittenish. I'm convinced the vet made the difference. Thank God we changed. Oh, vastly increased water intake was a clue that our cat was diabetic, as was the neuropathy in his back legs that made it hard for him to get around quite suddenly. Apparently feline diabetes is quite common. Hope your kitty gets better soon! |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 366
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 9:53 am: |
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The blood tests are back and even though his blood sugar is elevated, he might not be diabetic. We will be going back on Thursday for another blood test. He does have a urinary infection which he is taking antibiotics for, but other than a slightly elevated glucose and lower white blood count, the cat is ok. At least if he is diabetic, it is a managable disease which is a big relief. I hope that the antibiotics make him feel better, so he can come out from under the bed. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1159
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
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Great news on the urinary infection front, campbell! (so to speak) You'll see: within a day he'll be back to his old self, despite what the other blood tests may or may not show.
Congratulate yourself on not accepting the constipation diagnosis. Just proves yet again that no one knows your cat like you do. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 79
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 2:21 pm: |
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Was he tested for thyroid disease? Hyperthyroidism is common in geriatric cats. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 369
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 3:57 pm: |
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Yes - I saw the vet physically check his thyriod, and it was also included in the lab tests. Liver, kidneys and thyroid were all ok. The only questionable items were blood glucose (urine glucose was high) and white blood cell count. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 371
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 12:22 pm: |
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Now the cat has been on anti-biotics for 3 days, but has shown no signs of improvement. We go back tonight for another blood test - hopefully we will be able to fix whatever the problem is. He does eat a little - but he hasn't used his box since yesterday. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 614
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 6:18 pm: |
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Perhaps an xray to check for/rule out any tumors? (Hopefully not your cat, but that's what got my 10 yo Kitty!)
Good luck! |
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