Even though I own six cats (all strays I've gathered over the years) I know very little about them. I'm a dog person. They rarely if ever get sick. All are up to date on their shots, spay/neutered and indoor cats. Now my question. I lost a cat about five years ago to a liver tumor. His symptoms were, losing hair, not eating as much and drinking a lot of water. Now I have another cat showing the same signs but, five years later. He has an appointment at the vets tomorrow. I thought at first he was just blowing coat for the winter but, now he is showing bald spots only in the back of his body. He is drinking a lot of water and losing weight. I have been away for about a week and my husband and kids have been caring for the animals. When I saw him I got really upset. Are liver tumors common in cats?
2007-11-09 11:46:02 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Gums are pink and eye clear. Actually it looks like he is shedding long hair and short hair is replacing it. there arent really what I would call bald spots. No actual skin showing. He is a five year old neutered tortise shell gray tabby. He is very large for a cat. Only in the back area he has even lost his striping. He had a beautiful coat very distinct pattern. Now it looks like gray shorter hair very coarse is replacing it? I know this sounds dumb but, as I said I know very little about cats and their disorders. Does any of this sound familar to you?
2007-11-09 12:00:32 · update #1
That could be thyroid, kidney, or MANY other issues. Liver tumors are not all that common in cats. Thyroid and kidney issues are MUCH more common. I would think the chances of another liver tumor are very slim.
Check the area in front of the ears and the whites of the eyes for jaundice. Not always diagnostic, but if the cat is not yellow, it would make me feel better!!
Good luck!!
Really, the signs point to thyroid. I have two old cats that both are on thyroid meds. The male has a "broken" look to his coat. He sort of loses hair in patches and then it grows back, but shorter and somewhat brittle. This happens over and over. He also has some borderline kidney values, but he is 19.
Thyroid and kidney problems often go together, but are manageable. Five is kind of young for issues like this, but not unheard of.
2007-11-09 11:50:24 · answer #1 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is uncommon in cats, more common in dogs over ten years of age. Only 2% in cats and it can be caused by enviromental factors. Exposure to carsinogens, fungi in plants, spoiled pet food, some food additives, pesticides, etc, check your home and get a book from your vet or spca and it will give you a list of things to avoid so your cats can be safe. It normally in caused because these things pass through the liver and if it can't pass then it becomes a tumor and then it can become fatal. Good luck and again check your home- this is very rare among cats.
2007-11-09 20:08:10 · answer #2 · answered by reeree 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
drinking alot and peeing alot along with weight loss are usually signs of diabetes. Is he eating alot more too? Untreated diabetics do not process the food the way they need to
Diabetes is very treatbale, no life span is lost and your cat can live a very normal happy life.
The number 1 cause of diabetes in cats? DRY FOODS as they are loaded with carbs and don't have emough water in them. I would also say the bald spots are because of food allergies from the grains in the foods you are feeding.
I am not a vet and you may hear some contradictions about foods from your vet, but I know what I am talking about.
If your cat does have diabetes, please contact me as I have alot of experience and can help you. Many vets are just not up to date on treatment and some can even prescribe dangerous treatments. If you could afford it, I would strongly consider switching all your cats to canned foods under 10% carbs. This list gives the breakdown
http://www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/canfood.html
Best to you
2007-11-09 19:57:26 · answer #3 · answered by Ken 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Those are somewhat generic symptoms. It could be diabetes, cancer, skin disease, many other things.
My first instinct is diabetes, which is not uncommon in cats. It's treated like in humans (watching the diet, and giving insulin shots). The cat can live a long time with that.
Good luck at the vet.
2007-11-09 19:52:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
More than likely he has the symptoms of diabetes, drinking a lot of water is one of them.Please take him to the vet tomorrow.
2007-11-09 19:56:26 · answer #5 · answered by gg4kk 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sorry to hear about your kitty. I can think of so many things that "could" be, but really don't know. Good luck!
2007-11-09 23:13:24 · answer #6 · answered by Kiki B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
st. lady -- curious. Do you use Advantage or Advantix on your dogs?
2007-11-09 20:13:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋