Tom has pancreatitis and elevated calcium levels. The calcium levels are usually caused by a tumor. It would cost thousands of dollars to treat the symptoms of pancreatitis and more if a tumor is causing the elevated calcium levels.
It looks like we’ll have to put our kitty to sleep. I’m going to talk to the doctor tomorrow to see if there is an affordable way out of this, but it’s not very likely.
So sorry to hear the news. 
Good luck with your upcoming decision.
I am sorry to hear this. I am confused, though, by the quote of “thousands” to treat pancreatitis. In cats, pancreatitis is rarely due to infection, and is almost always secondary to inflammation (usually inflammatory bowel disease). Trying prednisolone to calm the inflammation (and stimulate appetite) as well as an anti-nausea medication such as Cerenia may work wonders. It is also important–vitally so–that the cat eats. If he WILL eat, then it should be a high quality, poultry based CANNED food, because you need to reduce carbs in these cats. Otherwise they end up with diabetes to go along with the pancreatitis.
The calcium elevation may indeed be due to cancer. But cats also get something called idiopathic hypercalcemia, and it does not require treatment.
So while it is quite likely Tom is very sick, and euthanasia would not be a wrong choice, I wanted to make you aware that there are treatments you can try for pancreatitis that do NOT cost a lot of money, and may help. They may not help, either, but I wanted you to be aware of possible options.
I’m sorry.
Hopefully the vet will be able to suggest affordable treatment, but if Tom is very sick, then it’s good you got him to the vet so he didn’t suffer for a long time unecessarily.
The cat isn’t responding to appetite stimulants and he’s currently dehydrated from not eating. The doctor recommended hospitalization and hooking him up to an IV. I think that’s why it would cost more than a thousand dollars.
I’m going to call him again soon to straighten this out.
I see. Has he tried anti-nausea meds yet? But yes, if he is dehydrated, fluids are a must. But it still should not be thousands of dollars. I could see hospitalization running into the hundreds, though. Poor kitty. I am sorry he is so ill.
I had a very similar experience to yours a few years ago with one of mine, who stopped eating after a high fever. I was very financially limited at the time too. Vet decided we could treat the symptoms while waiting to figure out what else might be wrong, and after stinky foods and appetite stimulants failed, placed a feeding tube for the cat. There are two types as I understand, one which runs down the cat’s nose into their stomach, and the other which is surgically placed in the cats stomach though their side. We began feeding every 2-3 hours (yes, waking up at night on a timer), using blended wet food and water. Amount of food per feeding gradually went up, and frequency went down, and then after about a month or so, the tube came out and the cat went back on solid food. It was a lot of work for us, but the cat didn’t seem too troubled by the tube (he was a super-docile laid back trusting cat), and he eventually went on to get a diagnosis of pancreantitis and thyroid disease which was fairly easily managed for another 5 years before he succumbed to heart disease. Just wanted to let you know that there may be hope.
ETA: and yes, the vet said that a soft infant-type syringe would work in a pinch, but there’s a risk of getting food ‘down the wrong pipe’ which could cause other complications- hence the semi-permanent tube was the best risk-vs-reward scenario.
We tried Pepcid AC for nausea. The vet also said that we could try steroids, which I’m going to pick up later today.
Even if we do hospitalize him, we would still have to have tests done to figure out what is causing the elevated calcium levels. All that just to figure out what is wrong with him, and then we would have to treat the condition.
Now we’re just going to see if we can get him to eat again.
Thanks for responding to this thread. I really appreciate everyone’s help on this.
If you read my post history, you’ll find this help with a sick kitty - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board is my first post on the boards here, concerning my non-eating cat Phantom. Although treatment was begun too late to save him, his brother ‘Ghost’ is the cat described (and saved) in the above post. Ghost became sick nearly a year to the day after Phantom’s illness, and because of the awesome vet care he received, stuck with us for a good while longer.
Ask your vet if you can try Cerenia for nausea. It is much more effective than Pepcid AC.
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t get a better diagnosis, Lakai.
I was prescribed Cerenia for a dog with cancer a while back, it did work temporarily. Nothing else did.
Question if FrillyNettles or another vet-type comes back: Is it common for a vet to prescribe steroids as an appetite stimulant, if the underlying cause of the inappetance is unclear? I was under the impression that steroids should be given judiciously and for known conditions, because they supress immune functioning and may lead to primary/secondary infections. I know pred and other steroids can be a wonder-drug for a lot of issues; just wondering how careful one has to be in using it.
Lakai - I also with you’d gotten a better or more definitive diagnosis, but I’m glad you’re doing what you can for Tom.
Just one thought - is there a veterinary teaching hospital in the city? You may get better diagnostics, much cheaper, if you can get in. The animal is seen by a gaggle of veterinary students, but overseen and guided by a licensed vet. And good vet hospitals tend to be on the cutting edge of diagnostics and treatments, IME. Also there’s a chance to get into a clinical trial (free treatment.) I’ve had a couple of dogs at the MSU vet school, and they were fantastic.
No, it is not common, nor should it be. But in this case, if the cat has pancreatitis, it is absolutely a good use of steroids. Cats, unlike dogs, tend to get pancreatitis secondary to inflammatory conditions, not infection, and the anti-inflammatory effects of steroids are very helpful in treatment of feline pancreatitis. It has the side benefit of stimulating the appetite, but that is not why it is prescribed.
It is important to note, though, that cats do not metabolize prednisone well, and really should only be given prednisolone.
I gave Tom his drugs today. He seems more active, but he’s still not eating. He’s been walking back and forth from his food bowl, sniffing the food there, and walking away. He also ate some catnip, but that’s not going to be enough.
I’m going to buy some turkey tomorrow to see if he’ll eat that. He always loved turkey.
Lakia, I’m so sorry that Tom’s this ill.
As others have suggested, have you tried the Humane Society? The Manhattan branch is right around the corner from me, and not only do they have some excellent vets, they’re inexpensive and they offer payment plans for those in need.
Also there’s the ASPCA’s Bergh hospital up on 92nd street. They’re also relatively reasonable, pricewise (though not as inexpensive as the Humane Society) and I believe they too offer a payment plan.
Here is the Animal Alliance for NYC run by the Mayor, with a list of affordable/lower cost/payment plan-friendly veterinary services, plus some financial assistance options for vet care.
My cats Mina, Sophie and Therblig send their best wishes to Tom, as do I.
Thanks, FrillyNettles.
Lakia, glad Tom is feeling better. I wonder if sprinkling catnip into his food would entice him?
This happened to our 12-year old cat about a month ago - not eating, vomiting often, losing weight. A $80 blood test revealed pancreatitis and we were given mirtazapine to simulate appetite and prednisolone.
The vet had us move him to pate-style cat foot (Friskies was fine); the thinking is it’s the carbs in normal cat food that was causing him problems.
A month later he’s eating great (1 1/2 cans per day) and gaining the weight back. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.
Tomas is still alive. He responded to steroids, started eating again, and regained most of his weight.
According to the vet, the steroids are keeping his calcium low, and we’ll have to keep giving Tomas steroids for the rest of his life. This isn’t ideal, but it’s much better than slowly starving to death.
Yay! Go Tomas, go Tomas!
so great to hear!