I ahve booked my 17 year old cat into the vets on Saturday morning. She is having problems with her bowel movements and poo is dripping out of her all over the place. I ahve had her since she was 5 and have never had need to bring her to the vets before (please, please if you feel that I have been irresponsible, that is fair enough, but it won't help to criticise me)
She has never been a big cat and has been getting thinner over time. She seems to be ok in herself - slower, sleeping a lot more but still eating, driniking and enjoying the sun etc.
I would like to know if anyone can advise me on what questions I should be asking at the vets, or general advice.
My understanding is that physical examination should take place, blood tests, thyroid test & maybe blood pressure.
I am realistic about the outcome as she is an old cat, I do not want her to have invasive tests, she's going to hate going to the vets enough as it is, I just want her to be comfortable and to know that I am doing the right thing.
Sorry for the essay. Can anyone offer advice, support....?

Hello and welcome to the pf.

You are certainly doing the right thing and tbh no cat likes going to the vet. But sometimes one has to be a tad cruel to be kind. In addition to the blood test inc thyroid and the blood pressure as well as a general examination I would ask them to do a stool test. It could be that she picked up a parasite or two.

Does she usually go for a poop outside or does she do her business inside? Could it have been going on for a while but it has recently gotten worse?

Good luck and let us know how you get on. Fingers crossed for your old girl.

Thank you for reply.
She normally goes inside in the litter tray, in fact she can be outside all day and want to be let in to use the loo. poos in tray are quite soft, it seems like she doesn't know when she has finished or doesn't know when it is time to go and therefore is dripping before and after.
It is something that has been going on for a while, but has got worse.
I have been resisiting vet visit because I think that it is the beginning of the end.
She has always been quite a grumpy, but affectionate cat and still is.
I have 2 other cats and am fairly certain that this is not an infection, but something more serious/age-related.

I can see why you would avoid taking her to the vets, sometimes it is hard to accept that the cat you have loved for so long might be getting old

I would take a sample of her poop with you in a container but they may want to take a sample of anything that is "dripping" out of her back end as you said

I really hope everything goes well for you and your little furry friend

and it's not irresponsible to not have taken her to the vets before if she's never needed to go so don't worry

oh and also keep us updated on what they say

Yes, I have one like that too. Loves to go out but comes in for his business. Funny creatures but a blessing for my neighbours.

Oh, I am a great one for sticking my head in the sand too when it comes to my own health but I am very conscientious when it comes to the health of those that rely on me - i.e. my cats.

TBH, though, if it has been going on for a while but you didn't get it investigated earlier than you don't know now if they do diagnose her with something terrible (though it could still be something manageable such as hyperthyroidism, parasites or even something dietary) whether it would have been treatable if you had acted earlier. So, you might have hastened that which you fear the most by not acting.

Anyhow, take her to the vet on Saturday, let them do their tests and see what they say. And update us of course.

Good luck for Saturday.

I'd be a little worried about dehydration, specially with the warm weather, if she's drinking alright then maybe she's not too bad, you can check by gently pulling up the skin at the scruff of the neck, if she's hydrated it will spring back down, if its slow or stays in a peak then she needs more fluids.
I'm thinking this is an ongoing thing, sorry if I read it wrong, if its sudden and she's losing lots of fluid I'd be straight to the vet, vet will have an out of hours number on their website or answermachine.
Hopefully its something simple like age related incontinence, there are incontinence pants you can get for her and theres likely something homeopathic or herbal that may help to strengthen the muscles, might need a holistic vet for that.
If you are not happy with the vets attitude or treatment options remember you can go elsewhere and get another opinion.
Try not to worry too much and if she looks like she needs to go to the Vet before Saturday just insist that its an emergency.
Fingers crossed for you both.

Cant offer you any advice because im not well up on this type of thing, but just wanted to say good luck and i hope shes ok xxxx

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Thank you all for concern. I will certainly update.
Cookiemom - I'm as certain as I can be that she is not dehydrated, drinking well, maybe too much..
Hobbs2004 - I know I may have hastened what I fear, but the end is inevitable at some point, and I did not want medical intervention unless necessary. I do not want to keep her alive beyond what she can reasonably sustain without too much outside intervention, she has had a good life and I just want her to not have to suffer towards the end of her life.
I'm hoping that whatever the vet says, I can do the best for her.
Medical model is not something to be lived by, but to take advice from.
I hope I will be able to improve the life that she has left and care for her as best as I can. x