My cat is 12 years old, not a pure breed. Over the past few weeks,

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My cat is 12 years old, not a pure breed. Over the past few weeks, her appetite for food has gradually declined to the point that she has not had a bowel movement in two days. She has lost approximately 3 pounds. Also, over those last few weeks, her water consumption has increased greatly and thus her liquid waste.

This seems to be her only symptoms as her activity level is the same.

I live in Mexico and it is difficult to get her to the US for consultation. Any ideas? Please help.

Thank you,
Mark and Tabby.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $10

Dear Mark,
What are you feeding Tabby?
Does she go outdoors?
do you have any canned cat food?

Dedicated to Cats and the people who love them!
Please press ACCEPT if my answer was helpful and leave feedback Thank you! Terri

Reply to Terri Riba's Post: Thank you so much for your quick reply. I am quite worried.

I feed her a mix of dry cat food, about 3/4 cups per day. Half Pro Plan Senior and half Hills Science diet Senior. Both have fur ball control (in the early years she had quite a problem with fur balls. I feed her Hills canned food only once a week. She is on no vitamin supplements, only one wheet grass tablet per week. This has been her regiment for the past 12 years.

She only goes outdoors on my patio (4th floor)and does not run free. I do take her to the beach ocassionally on good days and when no dogs are around.

Thank you again.
Mark and Tabby

Dear Mark,
cats only stop eating when they are ill. Additionally, cats are VERY stoic animals. They can take a lot so by the time they feel sick enough to act this way, the illness can be advanced.
At this point, you have got to get food and nutrition into Tabby or she is going to dehydrate and can develope liver failure.
Water down canned cat food to a gruel and give her only one dropper every 15 minutes for an hour. That way you will not overwhelm her system. If she retains it - up it to two droppers for another hour. If she is constipated, you can give her a half teaspoon of mineral oil 3 times a week. That should produce a bowel movement in 4 - 6 hours.
After you get her fed and hydrated, you must find a cause for this. It can be as simple as impacted hair or stool in her system. If that is the case, you can give her an inch or hairball remedy every day. That will move the hair more effectively through her system.
If groomed hair is NOT the problem and she vomits, cannot keep anything down or cannot deficate you are going to HAVE to find a vet because these are serious issues and untreated she could even die.
Please let me know what is going on with her and if she is keeping the gruel down.
If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I will be more than happy to help in any way possible.
very sincerely,
Terri

Dedicated to Cats and the people who love them!
Please press ACCEPT if my answer was helpful and leave feedback Thank you! Terri

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