Brandi is losing too much weight.

[Miss Z]

Checking for worms like Karen suggested is a good thing to rule out. I would hope that for a young cat her kidneys would be OK, and certainly her disinterest in drinking doesn't seem to suggest that she's in renal failure.

I have seen a cat with early-stage heart failure presenting similar symptoms to Brandi's, although I wouldn't let this alarm you as there could be many other explanations. I am sure that if your vet suspects anything of this sort, then they would take the appropriate tests.

Good luck, and I hope you get to the bottom of it!

[Catguy]

More information. Brandi was given meds for worms. So that is not the issue. That was one of my first thoughts as well.

Also I notice I said we thought she had FIV but it should have say FIP.

I also have gotten several kinds of kitten food to feed her hopefully one of them will work.

Also on examination her heart and lungs sound fine.

Another thing I forgot in my first post, is that it appears to me, she may have problems eating. Seems to drop food out of her mouth a lot. But again we check her mouth for problems and found none. It doesn't appear that she is having problems swallowing. I am just starting to look for problems that aren't apparent in the mouth such as broken teeth, red gums or bleeding gums. But I haven't found anything yet.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Miss Z]

It is indeed strange that she drops food and yet her mouth appears healthy. Does she salivate more than normal, or have bad breath? There could be something further back in the buccal cavity/oesophagus that is contributing to the problem. I can't claim to know any awful lot about this type of feline disease yet, your qualified vet is the best point of call!

[Lizzie]

I was so sure you were going to mention FIP, that that's what I read, not FIV. Nasty disease and in its dry form can cause such a variety of symptoms it's not easy for vets to diagnose.

I've seen cats do what Brandi is doing many times. I should add here that I've fostered sick and hospice cats for the clinic of a local sanctuary for about 7 years now, as well as caring for my own cats throughout their, usually, long lives. To me, when a cat picks up food and then drops it, it indicates the cat feels hunger but then feels nauseated by food, any food. I've seen it with cats who are fully recovered from lipidosis when they are starting to eat by themselves, and I've seen it in my CRF cat, Sam, when she's recovered from a virus. That's why I feel you are doing the very best thing by force feeding Brandi, she needs to get used to having food in her stomach to get over the nausea. Cats don't have to drool, gag or throw up when they are nauseated; sometimes they don't do anything except drop the food back in the bowl or simply not eat. I don't give drugs unless I absolutely have to, but in your place I'd give Cerenia (if your vet will agree.)

[Catguy]

Thank you to every one who tried to help. But Brandi died this evening. She was 4 years and 7 days old. It looks as though she went peacefully. I will post something in pet memorials.