older cat all of a sudden sick and I'm worried?

Question

My cat is 15 years old. He has been fixed, all his shots up to date and a indoor cat only. 5 days ago, he started acting slugish, Sat and Sunday started coughing and acting like he was choking, not eating. Took him to the vet first thing Monday morning, had blood work done, no problems other than "a virus". All he does is sleep, still losing weight, not drinking water now. Took him back to the vet this evening, different vet in the same office says "virus" I'm worried, poor old guy looks horrible and you can tell he is miserable. Is there a cat virus going around?

Answer 1

What kind of virus? What bloodwork was done? What medication did they put him on? I think it may be time to see another vet clinic; get copies of the bloodwork and any other labwork that was done and take him to another vet.

Has he been tested for feline leukemia and FIV? Are his kidneys functioning normally? Has he been tested for heartworms? There are a lot of cat viruses out there; you should ask the vet to be more specific. And if he's not drinking he may need subcutaneous fluids or even need to be hospitalized.

Old age is not a disease--it may be that your cat's time has come, but you need to get more details on what his problem is and whether it's treatable, and it may be that he will have several more good years with you.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I'm with Penny Pod on this one. If the cat is not drinking, it should have been given some subcutaeous fluids. That's what my vet did for a couple of my cats when they were sick at different time. They also put them on antibiotics when it was an upper respiratory thing. Did they do any x-rays to see if there was a mass or something. Did they show you how to force fluids if he won't drink?

I'd sure want a whole lot more done than that. Do you have another vet you could call maybe? I've got one who is 20 and another who is 21, and they still play. 15 is not the time to die of something as vague as old age. I'd want a better vet if I was you.

Answer 3

His shots should have protected him from "viruses" and since he is indoors where would he pick up a strange cat virus? Doesn't make sense to me if his kidneys, liver, and thyroid check out as normal. That would show up with blood work.

There are several flower essences you might use to help heal his spirit and boost his desire to fight the physical problem. Get stock bottles of Borage, Self Heal and Wild Rose. If these are not available in a local health food store or pharmacy you can order by going to www.fesflowers.com.

You need to prepare a dosage bottle. Get a one-ounce (30ml) glass dropper bottle and fill with good bottled water. Add a small amount of brandy (1/4 of the bottle), then add about four drops of each of the three flower essences.

You "treat" the cat by shaking the bottle really well and putting three to four drops of the liquid on the fur between his ears. "Regular use of the flower remedies builds the strength of their action. Potency is increased not by using more drops at one time, but by using them on a frequent, consistent basis. Apply in the morning, at noon, before he eats dinner, and at bedtime."

The essences are energetic in nature and cannot harm the cat in any way.

Borage - lifting the spirit of an animal that may be depressed because of illness or old age.

Self-Heal - add to any combination to stimulate inner healing forces, awaken vitality and will to live.

Wild Rose - for apathetic, listless animals.

Answer 4

Awww, I really wish your cat was doing better.
Your cat is really old. You are blessed that he is still with you.
But you need to understand that your cat is really old for a cat.
And it sounds like maybe your cat is just getting to that point in life when the rubber band has stretched just about as far as it can stretch.
All I can say is to spend as much 'personal' time..just the two of you. With each other. Hang out next to him and let him know that you know that he doesn't feel good and that you love him.
Don't get real emotional. The calmer he is the better ...and it's best for you too.
I hate to say it but do you think that your cat is going to make it one more year?
It's a wonderful thing that you have cared for him and been his loved one. Not many cats make it to the age of 'natural causes'.
Hopefully he will pull out of this virus and have many more days and months left to drive you crazy with.
I wish you both all the best.

Answer 5

my cat did the same thing and i had to take him back to the vet three times total , he's on the mends now. you should buy gatorade and mix it with water 50/50 and force feed him or he will dehydrate. you will need to use a straw or a vial without a needle ( don't know what it's called, sorry). we also had to mix prescription cat food high in calories and feed him 12cc six times a day for almost 8 days, now he's eating on his own. the vet told me when a cat gets sick and don't eat you have to deal with fatty liver disease and he won't be able to eat right for many moons. viruses can last weeks or months and then come back in a different form of virus. but any how, you need to force feed him for now and force his intake of water and the gatorade has sodium and will help hold the water in.
good luck!

Answer 6

seems like when they cant find a problem its a virus like in people if cant find a problem it ends up as stress.I would ask for a urine test and heartworm check. also put a little oil on front paws to lick off in case he has any hair balls he is trying to cough up and get his heart checked out as coughing can be caused from an enlarged heart or congestive heart failure. how long is this virus supposed to last?????? Did they say? u have a right to ask all and any questions deemed nesessary to help your cat. thats what they get paid for. your cat is old.I lost my 16 year old from stomach cancer they thought was a virus but he threw up alot of brown stuff and lost weight. when they went in for surgery they found it. So keep on asking and do not give up if it means going elsewhere for another opinion

Answer 7

I would take him somewhere for a second opinion. You should ask to have some x-rays done. He might have some problem with his chest like asthma or some sort of infection. You shouldn't wait long if he's not drinking, because they can get dehydrated very fast. Make sure they have checked for a thyroid problem. If you can get some water or food into him, you can probably wait until the morning to take him somewhere. But if he is not drinking, won't eat, or is vomiting up water and/or food, he should go somewhere tonight.

Answer 8

Poor old cat, and poor you. I can tell you love him a lot. You took him to the vet twice. Good for you for being a responsible pet owner. I hope your cat can live another year or two, but I think you know that at 15 yrs old, he is on borrowed time. I am not saying this to cause you pain but rather to spare your poor old cat any pain. If he keeps deteriorating, I think he would be grateful to you if you put him to rest rather than let him suffer. Poor old Kitty. I hope he gets better. Good luck.

Answer 9

Sounds like Cat asthma very serious did the Dr take a chest XRay check out the site below sounds just like your cat.
Hope this helps. Diane

http://wvcats.com/diseases_cats_can_get.htm#Asthma

Answer 10

Just wait, your cat has lives a good long life and if its his time its his time. If the doctor says hes ok just wait. He might just be sick! Wait it out.