16 Year Old Cat

I have a cat named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

On Jul 26, 3:02 pm, wrote:
I have a cat named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'd take him to another vet. Have a full blood panel done, including
testing for hyperthyroidism. Thyroid problems are quite common in
elderly cats and are treatable with medication (or radioactive
treatment). While he's a senoir kitty he certainly could have many
more years ahead of him. "Old age" doesn't mean that his quality of
life must suffer.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a cat named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?


New vet
a cat can dehydrated extremely easily at that age

"Rene S." wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jul 26, 3:02 pm, wrote:
I have a cat named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'd take him to another vet. Have a full blood panel done, including
testing for hyperthyroidism. Thyroid problems are quite common in
elderly cats and are treatable with medication (or radioactive
treatment). While he's a senoir kitty he certainly could have many
more years ahead of him. "Old age" doesn't mean that his quality of
life must suffer.



Agreed! Just as with people, "old age" is not a disease. There are often
treatable conditions that are missed if someone just dismisses everything as
"old age."

MaryL

wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a cat named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?
-------
Someone was telling me just the other day, if your doctor ever tells you
your medical complaint is "due to old age," it's time to find another
doctor. The same would apply to veterinarians. What you are describing could
be the signs of early renal failure (just for one thing). There are things
you can do to treat some of these symptoms. If your kitty is nauseous, for
example, ask your vet about giving him 2.5 to 5 mg of Pepcid, which may
reduce the nausea and improve his appetite.
You definitely need to switch vets. Please take your cat to a different vet
and let us know what the new vet says. Even though this is usenet, we all do
seem to take a very personal interest in each other's cats, and it is
important to us that you share with us what happened.
We're all rooting for Sammy!
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

On Jul 26, 3:18 pm, "cindys" wrote:
wrote in message

ups.com...I have a cat named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

-------
Someone was telling me just the other day, if your doctor ever tells you
your medical complaint is "due to old age," it's time to find another
doctor. The same would apply to veterinarians. What you are describing could
be the signs of early renal failure (just for one thing). There are things
you can do to treat some of these symptoms. If your kitty is nauseous, for
example, ask your vet about giving him 2.5 to 5 mg of Pepcid, which may
reduce the nausea and improve his appetite.
You definitely need to switch vets. Please take your cat to a different vet
and let us know what the new vet says. Even though this is usenet, we all do
seem to take a very personal interest in each other's cats, and it is
important to us that you share with us what happened.
We're all rooting for Sammy!
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

Wow, thank you! I did not know that. When my husband comes home, I'm
going to show him all of the comments! We will for sure be getting
another vet!

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jul 26, 3:18 pm, "cindys" wrote:
wrote in message

ups.com...I have a cat
named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

-------
Someone was telling me just the other day, if your doctor ever tells you
your medical complaint is "due to old age," it's time to find another
doctor. The same would apply to veterinarians. What you are describing
could
be the signs of early renal failure (just for one thing). There are
things
you can do to treat some of these symptoms. If your kitty is nauseous,
for
example, ask your vet about giving him 2.5 to 5 mg of Pepcid, which may
reduce the nausea and improve his appetite.
You definitely need to switch vets. Please take your cat to a different
vet
and let us know what the new vet says. Even though this is usenet, we all
do
seem to take a very personal interest in each other's cats, and it is
important to us that you share with us what happened.
We're all rooting for Sammy!
Best regards,
---Cindy S.

Wow, thank you! I did not know that. When my husband comes home, I'm
going to show him all of the comments! We will for sure be getting
another vet!


I might be wrong about the aspirin ... but do be careful with it. Hope your
old sweetie feels better.

On 26 Jul, 21:02, wrote:
I have a cat named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

Plenty of suggestions.
1: Every piece of advice that I have seen here so far, is wonderful
advice. Please heed it?
2: The milk advice is vital. Please don't give him anymore. it has far
worse effects than good ones. I know that he has had it since he was a
kitten..But like small children, sometimes you have to do things that
are not easy. (ie: taking a dummy away from a small child, can be very
hard), but ultimately, you know that you are doing the right thing,
because to continue would invite bad teeth positioning when they get
older. The same is the case here. milk can kill your cat, so a bit of
tough love is required here.

3: wet food is best for him right now. Give him a little, but often.
This might help him out. a small amount fed in this way, gives hi a
better chance of absorbing the nutrients he needs, & far less to
loose when he does vomit.
4:If he is drinking plenty, this is good, but we need to know why. It
is possible that he has a thyroid problem, or diabetes, or even
chronic renal failure, to name but 3 possibilities.

5: Change your vet, Pronto!! @16, Sammy might require help with his
arthritis, but to tell you to give him Aspirin is downright
neglectful. it is poisonous to cats, & could be the cause to some of
his present problems or predicament. He might be a senior cat-izen,
but he deserves better advice to that you have been given

Sammy deserves better care than that which he is being given via your
current vet's recommendation. Your vet is very irresponsible & you
need a second opinion. You don't need a reason to justify taking him
to another veterinary practise, & Please do take him to one that a
friend might be able to recommend in your local area. it is clear to
me that you love your cat dearly (who wouldn't after 16 years?!!)
Once you get there, tell him/her what you have told us, & I think that
you will find that they will agree with most of what has been said
here.. Sammy deserves better- Please ensure that he gets that care, &
we would love to hear how you got on, please? Best of luck!
Thanks in advance,
Sheelagh "o"

On 26 Jul, 23:39, "Sheelagh o"
wrote:
On 26 Jul, 21:02, wrote:

I have a cat named Sammy, he is 16 years old. I have noticed in the
last few days that his fur is ruffled and he is not eating as much as
he used to. He is thinning out and throwing up his food, and a clear
foamy liquid. The vets have told me that it's just old age. I'm
really worried about him!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

Plenty of suggestions.
1: Every piece of advice that I have seen here so far, is wonderful
advice. Please heed it?
2: The milk advice is vital. Please don't give him anymore. it has far
worse effects than good ones. I know that he has had it since he was a
kitten..But like small children, sometimes you have to do things that
are not easy. (ie: taking a dummy away from a small child, can be very
hard), but ultimately, you know that you are doing the right thing,
because to continue would invite bad teeth positioning when they get
older. The same is the case here. milk can kill your cat, so a bit of
tough love is required here.

3: wet food is best for him right now. Give him a little, but often.
This might help him out. a small amount fed in this way, gives hi a
better chance of absorbing the nutrients he needs, & far less to
loose when he does vomit.
4:If he is drinking plenty, this is good, but we need to know why. It
is possible that he has a thyroid problem, or diabetes, or even
chronic renal failure, to name but 3 possibilities.

5: Change your vet, Pronto!! @16, Sammy might require help with his
arthritis, but to tell you to give him Aspirin is downright
neglectful. it is poisonous to cats, & could be the cause to some of
his present problems or predicament. He might be a senior cat-izen,
but he deserves better advice to that you have been given

Sammy deserves better care than that which he is being given via your
current vet's recommendation. Your vet is very irresponsible & you
need a second opinion. You don't need a reason to justify taking him
to another veterinary practise, & Please do take him to one that a
friend might be able to recommend in your local area. it is clear to
me that you love your cat dearly (who wouldn't after 16 years?!!)
Once you get there, tell him/her what you have told us, & I think that
you will find that they will agree with most of what has been said
here.. Sammy deserves better- Please ensure that he gets that care, &
we would love to hear how you got on, please? Best of luck!
Thanks in advance,
Sheelagh "o"

is cat milk ok though? lower lactose levels and all that?
anyway, i agree with all the advice about finding a new vet, your
current one is a n imbecile if he just sends you away 'just old age'
as a diagnosis.
in my view 16 is NOT old, he is merely just a senior citizen who may
need a bit of help with things now a again, but since cats now are
living until they are 20 + years there is no reason to write him off
just yet.

i got my jasper when he was about 15 or 16 and he brought us joy and
furry love for another 18 months, jessie my current furry mistress is
older than your sammy and she is very rude health and rules the roost
here. I expect to be her human slave for a good few years yet.

best of luck with finding a new compentent vet, bookie

"Sheelagh o" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 26 Jul, 21:02, wrote:

2: The milk advice is vital. Please don't give him anymore. it has far
worse effects than good ones. I know that he has had it since he was a
kitten..But like small children, sometimes you have to do things that
are not easy. (ie: taking a dummy away from a small child, can be very
hard), but ultimately, you know that you are doing the right thing,
because to continue would invite bad teeth positioning when they get
older. The same is the case here. milk can kill your cat, so a bit of
tough love is required here.


Milk cannot kill your cat. They can get diarrhoea from it if they are
sensitive to lactose. Some cats are not. "Cat milk" which the OP says she
gives her cat, is quite safe as the lactose is reduced to a safe level for
cats.
Do be careful what you post as true.