Sick kitty and exhausted owner!
 

We are at the end of the road with our vet, and I guess we are going to have to spring for a trip to a specialist, even though it is not in our budget. Our cat has been vomiting regularly (nearly daily) for 3 weeks. Over the last year this problem has been coming on, but she had months between episodes of vomiting and constipation. (Blockage? Nothing on x-ray) But over the last couple months we seem to be losing the battle. And today she has vomited 5 or 6 times (I am losing track, along with energy from cleaning up after her every couple hours or so) . . . so . . .

I guess tomorrow we take her to the local cat specialists, and see if they indicate we have to go further.

And in the morning my partner, who works graveyard, comes home following a meeting at work in which she will find out if she is facing lay-off or not. Not a good time for expensive vet bills.

We could use some prayer . . .needless to say . . .

sixk kitty
 

Hi,

I am sorry about your sick kitty. Do you know what type of specialist you are taking your cat to? When you do take your cat to the specialist make sure you take the x-ray that was taken from your regular vet and any tests your vet did for your cats condition and your vets notes to the specialist. Good luck with your cat. I will praying for your animal and for your partners job. Please keep me updated.:grouphug:

Kate

Sort of sounds like it could be a hairball. But....constipation and vomiting do sometimes mean a blockage of some kind. Have you tried the OTC hairball remedies? They make a paste that you put on the kitty's foot and she licks it off. Hartz makes it and you can find it at your local grocery store.

Explain your financial circumstances to the vet. Most likely they'll accept some sort of payment plan or even reduce the fees for you. I've done it - and they readily offered me a discount. They're jut glad that you're taking care of your pet.

Good luck....I hope your kitty feels better soon!

I'm so sorry your cat is sick. We always had cats until a few years ago, when the last of our's passed on from old age. I know what it's like to have a sick animal at home, so I do understand both your worry and your exhaustion.

I hope this vet can give you an answer, and I also hope it won't be too much of a strain on your budget.

Praying that your partner's job remains safe, and that your cat improves soon.

This is tough. I understand completely :hug: . We have 3 cats, and understand barfs pretty well.

I'd change the food first off. Our oldest cat did not do well with corn based kibble. Eukanuba was much better for her. She almost died 12 yrs ago from a mystery illness that was never diagnosed, and now she is 22.

Also cats will vomit if their teeth hurt. Also if they have ear pain.

Chemar has a post about the food she makes for her cat.. I'll see if I can find it.

I hope you can resolve this soon. Vet bills have become extremely expensive!

Okay, I found it:

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post #14

Something to think about.

((lefthanded)) How is it going? How is the kitty and what did your partner find out?

I came looking for an update....how is she? Doing better, I hope. It's so stressful when a pet gets sick. I really hope things are better for both you and your cat. :hug:

We took Blitzen to a cat vet . . . and will be changing vets, as the office experience alone was less stressful. Waiting for the vet to call today with lab results, and to see if we will change the strategy. However, (knock on wood) our kitty seems to be slowly making gains.

MrsD . . we feed her only non-grain human quality pet food. Changing her diet is not in the cards, as a prior vet had us changing her food all the time trying to get some weight off, and nearly destroyed her trust in us. We worked with Blitzen until we found a variety of highly recommended food that works for her. She eats only canned food, as she was one of those cats that did not chew her "crunchies" but instead would vomit them up whole.

Kitty . . . we have not only had her on a regimen of Laxair (hairball remedy) but also Reglan, a liver support medication, and even Lactulose. The lactulose has seemed to help move her along some.

The vet is looking at it as possible feline IBD. My first thought was "Oh, goody! Cat and I have the same digestive system disorders!" I have Crohn's . . . so I understand how she feels when she is really ill. . . .

Should know more in a few hours. . . .

my cat does the same,,,shes 14,,,,,,,,,i dont know how old your kitty is,,but they throw uo alot when they get old,,and keep her on the same diet,,,,same food every day,,,and no people food,,,that will make them sick,,only when they are older,,,,,even a young cat digestion track doesnt do well with muliple foods,,....hope this helps,,,,,,,,,,,,,,bobber plus science diet cat food has a nice line of foods pm me if you need any specifics

((Lefthanded)) Anxiously awaiting an update, though it does sound like maybe she is turning a corner. I have a cat who regularly vomits but...I haven't yet caught who is doing it! Though I have my suspicions. They like a little bit of canned food in the morning than eat dry the rest of the day. They are so hung up on one dry food in particular.

You poor thing, Crohn's. I've had ulcerative colitis for 33 years now. These diseases are no picnic for sure. :hug:

I'm so glad you found a vet that you like. That's half the battle. I hope you can get things straightened out....it's so stressful when one of our furbabies is sick. They can't verbalize how they feel and it's a guessing game. Hope things get better for you and Blitzen. :)

Well, Blitzen is now on Zantac and Cisapride (which stimulates gastric emptying and intestinal movement). We are also continuing to use the Lactulose to keep her loosened up. We are turning all of her food into puree-style. . . like baby food. Next, and soon, she needs dental attention and at least one molar pulled. Poor thing. . .

Poor us. . . we will hit over $2500 in vet bills this year easily. . . .


A checker at the grocery store tonight asked how our kitty is, so I shared with her. All of a sudden the bag boy was chipping in his two cents worth . . . "it's only a cat" and "at some point you have to let them go" brought abrupt and stern rebuke from me. You can mash my fresh bread under my asparagus and ice cream in the bottom of my "green" canvas grocery bag . . . but don't you DARE insinuate that my cat is not worthy of a little extra effort. Not until you walk a mile in my shoes . . . .

. . . or come home from a 10 day vacation and have this happen right away

.

Don't ya just hate that attitude? :rolleyes:

I got it once from a vet, of all people! Our Heinz cat (you know the type.... 57 different varieties!) had been hit by a car and had multiple fractures, in fact it was surprising that he survived at all. He was in the vetinary hospital for 2 weeks, including ICU for the first 3-4 days. The vet was surprised that we were prepared to pay all those bills for a non pedigree cat. It wasn't cheap, but we were both working, and hey! He was part of our family!

He was probably 2 years old then. He finally passed on due to old age. at 15 human years, withour ever needing any further extra-ordinary care.

Your cat looks very similar to the brother of the one i was describing. Our's like your's was called Esky.

What a sweet picture!! :) They know just how to make you feel loved (and guilty!). When I lived at home - before I got married - my cat curled up in the bathroom sink while I was taking a shower. I'd been gone for several days and had just gotten home.....she wasn't going to let me out of her sight!!

I know just how you feel about the vet bills. It'd be the last thing I need right now but I'd find a way to pay it. My pets are part of my family and I'd go hungry before they did. They depend on us....and contrary to what some people may think.....they're not disposable. I'd do whatever it took to afford the bill...including pleading my case to the vet!

I hope she feels better soon! Thank you for taking such good care of her. :hug:

Blitzen is absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing that. Looks exactly like one of my best friend's cats!

I hope this medication works well, and as far as the bag boy....:p

I've gone through some vet bills myself this year, and it was just be the grace of a friend that I could get one of the surgeries done. My cat, Chewie, ate an entire spool of dental floss and by the time I discovered it, the floss had worked it's way through his digestive system. The other end was hanging out of his mouth stuck on a tooth.

Major surgery and my vet was shocked that he lived, but he did! You can see my Chewie here, not his best picture, but you can see how huge he is next to my Bruna. My vet had to cut away a ton of fat to get to his intestines to start working to get the floss out! Chew had an incision from stem to stern!
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The college vet clinic quoted me $3000 to do his surgery. My vet did it for $1100. Sigh. :rolleyes:

BearBear
 

We topped $4,000 for my BearBear....Chihuahua mix.....we've got it ALMOST 1/2 paid.....lets hope I can get the rest paid quick~