Cat excessively drinking water.. seems lethargic

[helpcomputer]

11 Year old female american shorthair, vaccinated while young (not sure against what)

For the last few days she's been acting lethargic, moving slowly, drinking excessively and eating strange foods (Salty stuff, mostly) and she has lost weight.
My mother and I plan on taking her to the vet this weekend, we think its feline diabetes, but of course we cannot be sure until then. Is there anything I can do until then?

Please help

thank you

[GSDOG]

You really should get her into the vet now...it sounds like diabetes, but it could be that along with other issues..and I cant imagine she feels well at all...The sooner you get her looked at the sooner she can hopefully start getting treatment.

[Lizzie]

Cats don't show they are sick, for the most part, until they are very, very sick. I don't think there is a member of this board who would wait until the weekend to take in a cat with these symptoms. If it is diabetes, she could crash suddenly. If it's renal failure, the sooner she is put on treatment, the greater the likelihood that you will have years more with her. I believe she is eating salty things because the large intake of water, and peeing it out, has thrown out her electrolytes and she is trying to balance the losses.

You say she had some kind of vaccincation when young. Has she not had to see a vet since then?

[jennielynn1970]

Well said above.... Get the cat to the vet ASAP!!! The weekend may be way too late for the poor thing!

[emilysgk]

I agree that cats dont show illness until its pretty severe. They hide it so well, the weekend is just to far away if she is that ill.

[columbine]

Definitely get her to the vet right away to minimize permanent damage to her kidneys or whatever's not working in there! :eek:

Love, Columbine

[Randi]

I agree with the above posts, so please get her to a vet as soon as you can! At least call one and tell about the symptoms. It's true, cats don't show sign off illness until it's very bad.

Sending positive thoughts.

[Freedom]

Don't wait, too long to the weekend. Get to the vet, get some tests, and then the treatment can start. Some treatments take 2 to 5 days to kick in, depending on what this is. It sounds like diabetes but it could also be over active thyroid. Or a few other things, or a couple mixed together. The cat is ill and not feeling well.

[helpcomputer]

No, she hasn't been to the vet since then.. I do not know what she was vaccinated with. She's up and moving around, she seems more affectionate and active than usual this morning... she still looks skinny and is drinking alot. Will get her to the vet ASAP

[kb2yjx]

Welcome aboard!!!
Has not your cat been vaccinated since she was young? I have to agree with the above posts. Your cat could be seriously ill, with either diabetes ot kidney disease. Hopefully wyou will get her to the vet ASAP! Please keep us posted....

[helpcomputer]

They were brought to the vet when they were about.. 3 or 4 (Her and her sister) I don't know what for.

We're taking her to the vet tomorrow.

[Karen]

Oh good, do let us know what the vet says, and I hope your kitty will be okay!

[helpcomputer]

We brought her to the vet earlier today, she said it is not diabetes. It could be renal failure, but we have to wait on the blood analysis to be sure. The vet found high amounts of bacteria in her urine, indicating a possible urinary tract infection- she gave (sold) us some antibiotics which the cat hates.. she also seems more active than she was 2 days ago.

[Freedom]

Wow! Let's hope it is a UTI, those can be treated although it is a challenge sometimes.

Let us know the blood work results!

[jennielynn1970]

Hopefully that's all it is, a UTI. Make sure she takes the meds though... mix it in with canned food if you can if it's a pill and can be crushed if she's hard to pill.

Let us know what the blood tests say. Hopefully it's not kidney failure. Poor thing! Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[kb2yjx]

ANy blood work results yet??

[Barbara]

If it should be kidney failure (and that is what I was afraid of when I heard the symptoms) it must not be the end.
She'll get sub-q fluids and this may make her act healthy for quite a long time to come.

There are excellent websites for that.

If you have blood results there are many people here who have experience with it.

[helpcomputer]

It's not kidney failure! We're waiting to see if its FIV, which I and the Vet doubt. The antibiotic the vet gave us is in an eyedropper, we have to give her one dropper full daily.. which is a task in itself, she spits it everywhere. Is there an easy way to get this to her? We could put it in her food, but she shares a bowl with her sister.

She seems ALOT better since we started giving her the antibiotics.

[barncat]

I've had cats for the last 40+ years... some are just hard to get the medicine in, but what works best for me is to sit the cat on my lap or on a table. If the cat is really uncooperative wrapping the cat in a towel (sort of swathed like a big bib and the towel help tight so that front claws can't be used. Then open the cat's mouth by pressing firmly against the back hinge of the jaw. Quickly put the eyedropped behind the back teeth and squirt it in.... It takes practice. The plus side is that even if they spit it out, they do get most of it when they wash their fur in disgust at what was done....

Sometimes vets can perscribe the drugs for cats in a cream form that can be rubbed into the skin of the ears... but not everything can be made like that.

I am glad she is improving. I would let her have the odd foods she craves. Animals often know what they need and as long as it isn't something harmful I would let her have it. (My bunny was recently very ill with constipation and craved Pringles...It was the only thing he would eat without being coaxed/forced... Whether it was the grease or the salt, I don't know. I did what the vet said too of course, but for about two weeks Henly threw things if he didn't get a couple Pringles at night. He stopped wanting them and if fine now...)

[Medusa]

I'm glad you're taking her to the vet tomorrow cuz the wknd may be too late. Please keep us posted.

Blessings,
Mary

[Barbara]

I am so glad to hear the antibiotics kick in. I am not a specialist for pilling cats. If you read the thread about Starr who is very difficult to pill you may get some ideas.