I recently found this forum and have read many interesting topics so I am hoping someone has advice for me. I have a two female cat household, both rescue cats. One from the shelter and another from a stressful environment with a terrorizing dog. The shelter cat has always been the sicklier of the two. They are both up to date on their shots and have recent check-ups at the vet. The shelter cat had a uriniary tract infection about a year ago and has never been right since. The vet has checked her ph three times I have brought her back and they have done blood tests and everything is normal. I have been finding a lot of throw up (all liquid but the color of the food) and it is like projectile (all over the place!) She has lost a couple of pounds over the last year and she looks skinny. She also has had some teeth pulled and the vet attributed the weight loss to her trouble eating solid food so I should feed more wet. But there is more throw up when she gets wet, and maybe that is because she is not eating the dry? Tonight I caught her drinking water and then she threw it up! I cannot really afford the vet again right now and I was hoping someone had a home remedy I could try. I dont know how old she is but is probably about 10-13 years old. Your help is appreciated!

-- Andrea Galler (agaller@worldnet.att.net), December 11, 2001

Answers

Sounds like she has a hairball. My cat does the same thing, i'll give him hair ball medicine and when he gets rid of the hairball then he's fine for a week or so. He's almost 12years old and has done that since I got him when he was 8 weeks old.

-- Ruby (mcfays451@aol.com), December 12, 2001.

Andrea, have the vet check her blood for sugar, sounds like she has or is developing diabetes. My 21 year old cat had many of the same symtoms for over 2 years before me and the vet thought of checking for diabetes, which is very common in older dogs, not so common in cats.

The excessive water drinking and reluctance to eat well are classic signs, as well as the vomiting frequently, it is NOT just hairballs, please see the vet as soon as possible!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), December 12, 2001.

Get thee (and the cat) to the vet please! Could be a hairball Could be diabetes Could be cancer Could be ..... any number of things. Your pet will be grateful. Please post vet's findings. We care

-- HarleyinFL (cruisindog@juno.com), December 12, 2001.

Harley put it well. If you can't afford that, my alternative would be a .22 to the back of the head, which is cheap and quick and not unkind - obviously Harley's answer is better.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), December 12, 2001.

Since she has been on an antibiotic and not done well since, the bacteria in her digestive tract may be in bad shape. Acidophilus found in health food stores would help if that would be the problem. You can empty a capsule and she will likely lick it up. Yogurt has the same bacteria (if you get one with "live" cultures), and they usually like that, too.

-- Nina in nj (Ninasinthegarden@aol.com), December 12, 2001.

sounds like a thyroid problem to me.My old cat did this and now she is on thyroid pills, 70 bucks for 2 months worth, keep asking my self why I do it, but then she comes up and head butts [ kisses ]me ,and starts drooling when I pet her and makes it worth while. No buddys purring can relaxe me better then kcs.True confessions of a animal lover.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), December 12, 2001.

Hi,

I can't begin to tell you what could be wrong with your cat, but after taking the cat to the vet so many times, I would tend to question whether or not your vet is a "Cat" vet. No screaming please, we have four vets in our area, two have great success with cat deaths - no matter what is wrong with the cat, take it in and it will die. One Vet will only see a cat if it is a dire emergency and the other vet is a bona fide "cat vet". Kinda like having a vet who does horses. Either they do it well or they can't really do it at all. Our Mr. Biggles will be going to see the "cat vet" rather than the farm vet to be neutered this week. The farm vet is really great at horses, cows, sheep and goats and dogs. Readily admits cats are a mystery to him. We love the farm vet but recognize that a single vet is rarely great at all things. Could that be what you need? A second opinion by a "Cat Vet"?

Please note I am not knocking your vet - just posing the question as some people never question whether their vet would be capable or as experienced with a certain type of animal. If you are asking us to diagnose the cat, I'd certainly not hesitate to get a second opinion as by your "Cat Vet". We are just fortunate to live near a vet school so any really tough questions can be answered there.

Hope everything works out, Cindy

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), December 12, 2001.

All answers so far are thoughtful and well intentioned. I commend everyone for trying, and second the opinions favoring Vet (cat vet!) care. Meanwhile, something we've found works for simple upset stomachs in cats - a tsp. of arrowroot powder (available in spice section of any grocery store) mixed in milk or water. They love it & it's like kitty pepto-bismol. However, I have a diabetic cat who went through similar symptoms. He was so boney and ill that we nearly gave up hope. How he is the fattest cat we have and we can't get him to stop eating! 2 shots daily run us about $10/mo (needles, insulin,etc.) This does not include vet exams, but usually it's only costly in the beginning while the vet works to determine correct dosage. After that, 6 months or yearly checks are okay. Shots are easy too - once you get used to it. I hope its not diabetes or anything serious, but if it is, you can get through it. Let us know!

-- Deborah Stephenson (Wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), December 14, 2001.

Our 11-year old cat displayed the same symptoms, losing about half her body weight before we realized that thhis was something more serious than hairballs and taking her to the vet. She has hperthyroidism and must take a pill for the rest of her life; we are hoping that she will improve and not continue to deteriorate. The vet told us that this seems to occur more often in older, female cats. Good luck with your cat.

-- Carla James (tfl4715@montana.com), December 15, 2001.