Sick with blood, messing in doors & spraying

[Stewy]

Hi all, we seem to be having lots going on with our cat Squeak at the moment.

Squeak is 12 years old & had the snip. Generally he is overweight/big cat but over the last 4-6 months he keeps being sick, it's mainly bile & foamy, sometimes his food in it but we think there is blood in it too as it's very red and we don't think it's his food. He has lost 1.2kgs which is obviously a lot of weight.

We have spent £400 at Vets, who ran blood tests which have come back normal, did an x-ray and ultrasound and they cannot find anything. We thought when we took him in that morning that they would carry out an endoscopy but as they didn't see him to really late that day and it would have meant an anaesthetic and they didn't carry it out. They have said we can go back for that but my husband really is against it as he wasn't right when we got him back after being sedated, it really affected him so we are worried about putting him through an anaesthetic only for them to find nothing again.

Then very recently he has started spraying, peeing and pooing in the house, he has never done this before unless it's pouring with rain and we know the signs and chuck him outside. Yesterday, he was sick, followed by a spray then a poo

I do find if I feed him small and often it helps a bit, we did try him on Omeprazole to see if it was too much acid in his stomach, we thought that was working as he wasn't sick for nearly two weeks but it's started again.

I know it's very hard to determine what the problem is with cats being sick but any advice would be welcome.

[Lilith]

Then very recently he has started spraying, peeing and pooing in the house, he has never done this before unless it's pouring with rain and we know the signs and chuck him outside.

I think in view of his age and especially as he's poorly at the moment, the time has come for him to have a tray indoors, if you haven't already given him one.

Sorry to hear he's so unwell, poor guy. I'm not an expert on these matters but it does sound to me as if the endoscopy might shed some light (or rule out possibilities) re his condition. Something's clearly wrong. Anaesthetic makes everyone, cats, humans, poorly for a while; I can see why you're reluctant but sometimes it's unavoidable.

Hopefully someone might be along soon who has experience of nursing a cat with a similar complaint and who can advise you further on this; you must be very worried, but for the time being I would get him a tray set up (hopefully less mess in the house and even if he's not accustomed to a tray he may well accept one now) and, if practicable, keep him in or only let him out under supervision - just a precaution with a poorly cat.

Get well soon, Squeak, and all the best

[Crewella]

Like Lilith, I suspect that you may have to go the endoscopy route if he's still poorly and you can't get to the bottom of this any other way. I also think a tray is a good idea if he's starting to go in the house - at least it's easier to keep an eye on him.

Little and often does sometimes help cats with a build-up of acid, so I'd stick with that. I'd also try him on a 'sensitive' food and see if that might help him - I find the Purina One sensitive dry is good with some of my oldies that are prone to digestion issues.

Good luck, I hope you are able to help him.