Fister's throat felt normal, the vet said

[Freedom]

I was also thinking thyroid. Do let us know what the vet says.

[Jessika]

Higher up would be the lymph nodes; mid-neck may be the thyroid.

Cats very commonly can have thyroid issues; however, it's normally hyperthyroid, which causes an increase in hunger/thirst with weight loss. That doesn't really fit the bill of what you're describing.

It could also be a mass.

Glad you're taking him in... please keep us updated.

[Bengalz]

Fister you poor baby - this cannot be fun for you or your mommy.
All our paws are crossed for some good news at the white coats.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I sure hope that it's nothing serious. Maybe he just has a sore throat and it's inflamed.

In Feb. of this year, both Alani & Blaze got very sick and my vet ended up diagnosing them with a laryngeal (sp?) infection. They did have coughs though and both of them stopped eating because they had very sore throats. I still don't know how they got this but luckily it was treatable. Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are going out to Fister. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

[Kirsten]

Any news on Fister by now, Randi? Has he seen his vet?

[Randi]

This morning I got up and called the vet, managed to get an appointment at 11:40 and I borrowed a pram, from the people upstairs. Luckily, it was not raining at the time I went.

Well, Fister has lost 1,7 kg since February. He had the normal tests done and also a T4 test, which I won't get the result on immediately. I think they're being done in Germany. The other results he promised to ring about, but he hasn't yet. In 2006, his weight was 7,5 kg. now it's 5,9 kg.

The vet checked Fister thoroughly, also his gums. He had a couple of tetth extracted in February and a cleaning, and the vet could not see any problems there, or anywhere else. except for the weight loss. What I felt in his throat was supposed to be there. He also told me that if cats are dehydrated, you can usually see it on their gums, but his was fine.

I entice him all the time to eat and drink, that means I throw half of it out and serve new portions in a new clean dish. That way, I made him eat a bit more Whiskas wet yesterday. I also did somehting I thought was really smart... I had got some Temptations, which he loves, so I put 5 pieces in bowl with water and he licked it all up! There was 3 pieces left, so I filled more water in and he licked that up, too.

This morning, I saw him drink out his glass for the first time in a week, just a little, though. So now, I really hope he will perk up! Will keep giving him the appetite booster.

Btw, when we came back from the vet, I let him out of his box downstairs, so he walked up to the flat himself.

Hopefully, Fister will be OK, but if not, I will stay home with him and don't go eat with my family on Christmas Eve.

Will let you know when I get the results. Please keep sending positive thoughts to him.

[Catty1]

Positive thoughts and prayers going to Fister. Hopefully it may be thyroid and can be treated with a pill.

[phesina]

Oh, this all sounds promising, Randi! What a good boy you are, Fister, eating and drinking your Whiskas and the Temptation treats mixed with water!

We continue to send along loads of prayers and warm healing energies and loving get well wishes.

{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}} and ~~~~~~~PURRS~~~~~~~ and

[cassiesmom]

Dear sweet Fister, please keep eating and drinking! We you!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

This is just a thought but has the vet checked Fister's eye sight? I have to keep Grandma's water bowl in the exact same place or she can't find it. She can smell her food but I keep it in the same place too. Sometimes though, I still have to stick it right up to her nose before she knows it's there. The smellier the food the better she eats.

She was almost blind before I even knew there was a problem. Of course, she is an old girl now.

[Randi]

Moff, I have thought about that, too, and have checked by moving a finger in front of his eyes. It looks like he can see. The vet did check his eyes and ears, too - and his heartbeat. He has never has his temperature taken, though.

I suppose the next step will be to have him X-rayed, I hope it's not expensive, but I will live on porridge if I have to.

I keep giving him Whiskas pouches with Gelé and extra water. I pour a bit in when I have boiled a kettle for tea.

He did drink a little bit this afternoon, when I sat with a glass of fresh cold water under his nose, but it took a few minutes before he did.

Will give him another pill to boost his appetite in a minute - and parhaps a painkiller, to see if that makes a difference.

Thank you, again!

[ChrisH]

Randi, I think perhaps Fister is getting moisture from his food now and doesn't so much extra. Ebby has a mixture of both types of food, one tray of wet and a bowlful of dry and when I give her fresh water - once a day- her water bowl is usually still a quarter full, sometimes more.

Also, though I know perhaps dogs are different, before I put Alfie on a purely wet food diet he used to drink quite a lot of water but now he doesn't drink much at all, plus I recently had occasion to add dry food to the wet for a short while and he was drinking quite a lot again.

[Randi]

Chris, I know, but he is getting so skinny. I must get him to eat more - and drink. I hate to force it down his throat.

[ChrisH]

I can see how that would be worrying, what does the vet say about the weight loss?