I’m betting kitty has hepatic lipidosis. Her liver is most likely congested with fat, because she’s been rapidly losing weight. If the cat is overweight at all, the liver just can’t process it all in order to eliminate it.
My oldest cat (she’s 9) and I went through this over the winter. I changed foods, and she refused to eat. She was very jaundiced and lethargic. She spent a week at the vet, with IV fluids, and potassium. She was given cyproheptadine to stimulate her appetite, and was force fed throughout the day.
After she had regained enough strength, I took her home, with the appetite stimulant, kitten kibble, and countless cans of various kinds of wet food. I force fed her three times a day for over two weeks. I smeared food on her paws when I left for work, and let her lick it off while I was out. We went back to the vet every three days to keep an eye on her hydration. She received subcutaneous fluids on these visits, so that she would get extra hydration for the next few days, while we worked at home on the eating. It was hard, hard work, but we made it through, and Toonses is more full of beans than ever.
Margarita is definitely past the stage of actually wanting to eat. She might be past the stage of recovery, as well. But all hope is not necessarily lost.
If your friend would like to email me for more advice, I’d be happy to help. You can fish my addy out of my profile. Wish your friend good luck for me, and give scritches to Margarita for me, please.
If those are the only alternatives given- I agree find another vet. But maybe have your friend talk to the vet, clearly tell him that she wants to be aggressive with this and have him fully explain the options. After working for vets for several years, I’ve found that sometimes things are not understood by the pet owner initially. Also I’d have to ask- the vet said the liver was feeling the “affects” of not eating but what about the kidneys? Was a full blood panel offered (if not definitely go to another vet) and if so what were the results? If the owner declined a full blood panel that may explain why limited options were offered. A vet can’t treat what the owner won’t allow diagnosed. A 10 year old cat is by no means old- if she is in kidney or liver failure its likely (hopefully) early stages and there are many things that can be done. Did the owner clearly state she wanted to treat the cat and could afford too? (I realize how that sounds, and even if people can’t do it- the options should be offered to them)
I always understood fatty liver disease was a bit different than this scenario- more of a rapid onset when a fat cat stops eating. A result of not eating, not a cause of it. Also, how are the kitty’s teeth- sometimes sore gums and infected teeth can be enough to stop this kitty from eating? There are medications that can enhance appetite- if she is having any kind of liver or kidney failure she should be on Sub Q fluids at least 2-3 times a week, if not more. There are foods that are especially tasty and designed to rehabilitate cats that no longer want to eat.
Good luck with the kitty- I hope it turns out ok.
Jaime
Not a vet-works for one.
Gazelle has said that the cat acts normally in every way except not eating, at her friends house that is. She has not mentioned weight loss or any other outward, physical symptoms. It seems to me then you can rule out her having the same thing as the cats of those who describe them as lethargic, etc.
Quote {b]Gazelle** “She doesn’t seem to be in any pain; she ** acts completely normal** [bold added] other than not eating.”
You didn’t mention if the cat had blood tests. My cat who we got as an adult from the shelter has difficulty eating at times and has been diagnosed with many, many troublesome things…he still seems to be relatively happy, so we’re still just going with it…
He had problems and was diagnosed with hepatic lipidosis and pancreatitis. We treated him for that and he was good for a few years and he recently was diagnosed with diabetes, so we’re trying to regulate him.
I find that some vets aren’t as aggressive as (I think) they should be in care and in conveying the seriousness of a situation. I think a cat not eating is very, very serious and if she doesn’t do something soon with an aggressive vet, she’ll end up either paying a lot in terms of money AND pain, or having to put the animal to sleep. Of course, letting it starve to death should not have even been presented as an option.
One thing I don’t think was mentioned was sometimes heating up the food will help if it is related to sense of smell.