Help! need a Vet's advice!?

Question

I have a cat and for the past several days she has not eaten anything. (I have been force feeding her tuna fish a little at a time and give her water with an eyedropper).

I don't know what's wrong!

I know that she is hungry because she will walk by her food dish and cry out but she will not touch it if you try to feed it to her (she is not just "being picky"). With her water especially...
she will go to the water bowl and then put her paw into the dish, splash it around a little then put her face into the water dish and kind of sneeze a little but she won't or can't drink it.
(It's almost as if she's forgotten how to drink) so I've been force feeding her a little at a time and giving her water with an eyedropper.

I also got her 3 or 4 differant kinds of vitamins that I have also been giving her to try to give her enough vitamins.

She throws up a lot too. (Mostly bile)

She's an old kitty (at least 12 to 15 years), but that can't be the problem.

I know I should call a vet but here's my problem, I am on disability and unemployed so don't have a lot of money. Plus, I am new to my neighborhood and don't know where a vet's office close to me would be.

I need help but don't know where to go or what to do, please help!

What could be wrong with my kitty?
I am thinking that it's some sort of obstruction in her throat.

Answer 1

She needs to go to a vet. If she has stopped eating, there is something seriously wrong with her. I understand about not having money but you have to call around and see if there is a program in your area that can help with your situation. If you wait too long, the only option for your kitty may be to put her to sleep. Please get her checked out so she can get well. I really hope you can find her some help and she gets better quickly.

Answer 2

Anything could be the problem, but she is definitely sick if she is throwing up a lot. First, no more tuna fish. It is not good for cats. If she drinks a little of the juice, that's fine, but it doesn't have all the vitamins cats need.

When I adopted my cat she would not even go near her food or water for days...she was deathly sick and I spent so much money on vet bills trying to keep her alive. I force-fed her as well, but it was a special food mixed with water in a syringe..not easy and very messy.... but it kept her alive. I also force-fed her water until she eventually drank and ate on her own. BUT this was with a LOT of antibiotics and several shots of nutrients/water injected directly into her by the vet.

It is highly likely your cat is already dehydrated, and that is a very serious situation. My advice to you, if you absolutely can not afford the vet, is to offer her different kinds of food, both wet and dry, just to see if she will eat anything at all. If you have to keep force-feeding her you'll definitely need a bigger syringe, because she'll need more nutrients and water than an eye-dropper can deliver. If you can find a vet's office, you can buy Science Diet A/D (it comes in a can like wet food), and you can ask the technician there to explain how much and how often to feed it to your sick kitty.

Keep in mind though, that if she has an obstruction this will not help the situation and she will need surgery immediately.

I'm sorry she's sick and really hope she gets better...and I know how hard it is to not be able to afford good care. Call around and get opinions, at least, and definitely continue being proactive with the force-feeding. Dehydration is not kind, and should be taken care of even if you don't know what's wrong. I would highly recommend having a vet inject her with fluids...should only cost about $10...and it will give her a much better chance at fighting whatever is ailing her.

Answer 3

My cat did the same thing, and come to find out he had a sore throat! Yes, kitty's can get this, especially if they have sign's of a cold before hand, such as runny eye's sneezing, or mild coughing. Some times a cold can do this to, they just temporarily lose there appetite, and sometimes it also can be to a sore tooth, or a mouth infection, look inside her mouth and check for any sores or any redness, even on the tongue and gums. She will come around, and don't force feed her, this is why she is throwing up, if her stomach is upset, then you are only making it worse, cats are smart, they know when they want to eat and when they do, when you are sick with a cold or whatever, you don't like to eat either, and would probably throw up too, if someone forced tuna down your throat! Watch her urine output and watch her bowl movement, make sure it looks healthy, (no sign of any parasites) and also not watery. I hope she feels well soon, it took my cat about a week before he stared to eat normally again, so just give it time.

Answer 4

You definitely need to get the cat to a vet. If it's that old of a cat, maybe it's teeth hurt. try very moist food. but if it's not drinking water as well, there could be another problem. Most will work with you on payment issues.
If you can get online, you can do a search for the nearest vet office, just use your zip code and it will give you several listings.
Good luck, and I hope your kity is feeling better soon! This is your "kid". Would you not take your kid to the doctor because you couldn't afford it?? :)

Answer 5

The cat isn't eating because there is a problem somewhere in her digestive tract or she is sick. Either way, you have to go to the vet. Try your local SPCA, they will provide subsidized care for people with financial difficulties and work out payment plans or even look at her for free, depending on your situation and income bracket. You need to go ASAP though because I am thinking your cat has a twist or obstruction in her bowel which will kill her without attention. My friend's cat had the same symptoms and needed surgery or would have died. Look up the SPCA, they can help and contrary to popular belief, they won't try to take her away from you, you are trying to provide necessary care. Also, stop force feeding her anything!

Answer 6

Is she using the cat box? What is in it?
I do know that if cats don't eat their organs can start shuting down, so this is something you need to get solved now. call the animal shelter and ask if htere is a vet that is lower income type, or if the animal control officer can help you. Some of them are vet techs.

Answer 7

I'm really sorry to have to say this, but you need to get your cat to a vet. You shouldn't be feeding tuna, because it's pretty high in sodium. I could be wrong, but I can't imagine that sodium is a good thing for animals.

If several days have passed like this, you can get her to a vet, ask about a payment plan, or wait to see if she eats.

Answer 8

I'm thinking mouth sores, a broken tooth or an infected tooth. If she was outside, possibly caustic burns in the mouth (we took in a cat who did the same thing--wanted to eat but couldn't do that or drink)and he had the caustic burns on his tongue and mouth. He needed a cortesone shot.

Yours does need to have her mouth examined. Check in your phone book and find a vet near you. Schedule a checkup. Work with them for payment. It's possible the simple checkup will show exactly what's wrong and you can work from there.

Answer 9

I don't t hink it is such a good idea to be giving a cat vitamins unless those are vitamins specifically for use by cats. You really should take the poor thing to the vet. She could be suffering from fatty liver, or kidney failure or something else.

Answer 10

it sounds like it could POSSIBLY be pancreatitis which is fatal to cats.
Some vets make housecalls, please call, if the cat is throwing up bile that is a BAD BAD sign..please don't let the cat suffer