HE IS ALREADY BEING TREATED BY A VET
before anyone says rush the cat to the vet!
However the vet is uncertain what is wrong thought they seem a good vet, have consulted with other collegues and have showed great care and interest in the problem. He is a lovely cat and we really want to help him.
The cat has control of passing solids at a normal frequency but they are very soft followed by a trail off into 'soup' each time he goes and this has been going on for at least 2 months and probably longer at a more minor level. He is also suffering from minor internal bleeding that the vet says must be near the very end of the digestive tract. His stomach rumbles really loudly and he is clearly in pain on occasion, though both of these latter have stopped since steroid injections.
The cat has been wormed, had antibiotics, been tested extensively for parasites, bacteria and virus infections (some done by Edinburgh University Vet Feline dept) and all have come back showing nothing.
The vet is now treating him with steroids to try and reduce the inflammation and speed of the digestive tract. The cat has put on a bit of weight since (he is normal weight, but never gained weight even though eating loads, though he is a very active cat and must use up calories).
The vet is now treating this as either irritable bowel syndrome or possibly cancer though they think the cat is very young to have cancer, so its less likely. Another possibility is that he has some other unknown underlying health problem that is having a knock on effect, but there are apparently lots of possiblities including the cat being born 'faulty' on some level - my words, not the vets.
The vet does not want to do a biopsy as it is risky and the treatment would probably remain steroids whatever the outcome. There have been no scans or xrays, but I don't know if they would help anyway. He could just have an allergy to some item he is eating, but its hard to pick out what it could be. Simplifying his diet seems to have helped a bit.
The cat is a stray we have adopted (the whole area knows the story of his abandonment). He lived rough on what he could catch or steal for about 18 months.
Anyone had similar with their cat and did they find any way to improve the situation?
Thanks. And sorry about the yucky details!
