Very Serious Cat Problem.......Could Use Advice ASAP UPDATE

[jjthink]

Lots of good info already provided by folks.
Allergies came right to mind when I read your post.
So did an air purifier for you - easy, inexpensive and will get rid of a lot of the stuff floating around that is in irritant to your breathing.
A wise holistic vet would likely be able to solve the problem for your cat. If you don't know of any you could try calling one not in your area (e.g. Animal Healing Center in PA at 215-493-0621 - - they're very busy so summarize your story in 2 sentences) and see if they know anyone in your area. Kitty may benefit from a treatment known as NAET - noninvasive and deletes allergies - can be performed on humans or nonhumans.
Any dietary changes - make over a several day period gradually introducing the new food or kitty will have digestive troubles. I have the best success with nonsupermarket brands like Wellness or Wysong. Conventional vets prescribe products like Hills and Science Diet - they seem to have a lot of junk in them. Holistic vets won't recommend them.
I hope your cat is feeling better soon!
JJ

 

[FrenchHen]

In the mean time, would she tolerate a cone collar? Petco sells soft ones that don't interfere with much.
It would immediately stop the problem while you focused on the cause.

 

[Catalina]

My cat just passed away in Dec. she was 17 years old.
She had hyperthyroidism. Constant licking, vomiting, excessive food and water intake, hyperactivity, excessive vocalization (meowing in the middle of the night) and running around the house (unusual for her).

I wish I had taken her to the vet sooner! They started her on thyroid pills, but she had already lost so much weight and was so uncomfortable with raw licked bare spots on her body. It was too late for her.

Hypertyroidism is very common in older cats.

Hope you can find out what is wrong with your cat.

 

[Catalina]

I just wanted to mention that I tried switching her food, because I thought it might me an allergy, before I took her to the vet.

Before they did blood and urine tests the vet said it "could be" an allergy, but the high thyroid levels eliminated that option.

*sigh* I still miss her.

 

[mtnhomechick]

Now that I think of it I doubt the Benedryl would be a good indicator since although it's for allergies..........it is also used for sleep. It might just have knocked her out and then I won't know if it helped her or just made her tired enough to sleep. DUH!

 

[Pupsnpullets]

Quote:
Weight control cat food is a sure path to feline diabetes and increasing neurotic behavior. The only way they lose weight on weight control cat food is if you severely limit their intake. You basically starve them. What little food they do get is mostly corn.

Cats are carnivores. The need MEAT. Their entire body is designed to run off of meat and fat. Carbohydrates make them fat and sick.

Excellent point! Here is a summary of the old Pottenger Cat Sudy:

http://therawfoodsite.com/cats.htm

 

[PitterPaws]

As soon as I read this I also thought Thyroid, I had a dog once that licked himself so much he ended up with almost no hair, the vet I was going to also said Fleas, my dog didn't have Fleas!
I would suggest getting a second opinion from another veterinarian maybe in a differernt building?
Right now I have a Cat with Hyperthyroid she's on a daily medication now and she is fine, she was licking herself and getting sick also but I caught it in time before she caused any hairloss or sores.
Please don't give up on her yet, she needs you now more than ever and since she can't talk start eliminating one thing at a time for a week, and if that doesn't work then move on to the next thing to see if that is the problem.
Also she might have dry itchy skin maybe put a Teaspoon of olive oil on her food, it will make her fur/skin less dry and flaky and she would stop licking so much.
Good Luck! Hope you figure out what it is.

 

[FrenchHen]

I read a vet once who recommended baby food meat with occasional veggie treats for a cat. If it's a grain allergy, that would be a sure way to not get grain in the food.

 

[mtnhomechick]

Well, I gave her that half pill of Benedryl and she slept............but then cats always sleep. But when the builders finished our addition today she came to see it in her usual curious fashion. This is a big step bc before now she wouldn't have stopped licking long enough to care.

I mean really she's been on a licking marathon for months. So, it was hopeful to see her show an interest in something other than licking herself for awhile.

Right now she's at my feet begging for more food. This will be her third bowl of food, Sheesh!

I'm going to give her the other half of the pill before we go to bed to see if she can just sleep....so we all can just SLEEP! Tomorrow's another day and I will surely get her some food to see if it makes a difference.

Thanks for all the suggestions........will keep you all posted.

Mary

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Great news! Switch her food gradually to avoid tummy upset... 75% old food mixed with 25% new food for 2 days, 50/50 for 2 days, 25% old food mixed with 75% new food for 2 days, then 100% new food on day 7.