Hi,

My Mum's cat is 15 years old, on Thursday it was noticed she was dragging her back legs while walking, she went to the vet on friday, blood tests came back fine, no blood clots were evident, it is likely arthiritis, she was given and injection for pain, and was getting around fine. She was sent home with Metacam, and she had a dose of that yesterday and also seemed fine, not in pain, moving around, eating and drinking.

Today she hasn't got off the bed, she hasn't eaten, she hasn't drunk anything, apart from a small amount of water syringed into her mouth, she doesn't appear to be in pain, she hasn't moved, which indicates that it may hurt her to do so, but she appears comfortable.

My Mum hasn't given her the metacam today because it says it may cause sickness and diareah if not given with food. We were wondering if maybe if we syringed some gravy from her food into a syringe and gave her that, and then gave her the medicine that would count as food? My Mum will be continuing to give her the water throughout today via a syringe to keep her comfortable. If she appears to be in a lot of pain at any time, the vet will be called to the house, not prepared to put the cat through the trauma of a car journey to the vets.

She has a vets appointment for tomorrow afternoon, but obviously at this point, that one will be changed to have the vet come out.

All we want to do is keep the cat comfortable for tonight, until tomorrow.

I just can't believe she has gone from fine to us having to prepare to get the vet to the house in just a few days.

Thankyou so much for any advice.

On Thursday had she been outside. I am just wondering if she has had an injury to her back end. Only I would have thought that the vet would have noticed
She just could have knocked or twisted herself jumping down from something.
Tonight I would keep her warm with litter tray near by and if you have any strong smelling food like sardines you could try her on them, better if you warm them slightly first.
Good that your are giving her water as she needs to keep hydrated.

Hope she will feel better tomorrow.
Having a 17 year old my self I know how worrying it is when they are not well

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She only ever goes out only into the garden, and hasn't jumped up high onto anything but a bed for years. She has been having very slight mobility problems for a while, but just old age things. So we know it's not an injury from a car or anything else. And the vet gave her a thorough examination and there was not indication of injury.

She will only eat certain types of food, it's wet food, the really expensive stuff, it's now on my Mum's bed next to the cat, and even putting it right up to her nose, she had a little sniff and turned her face away.

She hasn't eaten since yesterday morning, she doesn't use a litter box, she always goes outside so we don't know if she urinated yesterday, looking at her I can't see her getting off the bed today, so if she urinates, it will be on the bed and we will see it. Though hoping if she does she moves off the blanket she is sleeping on, as it's her favourite, and though it can be washed quickly, it would smell of washing powder and then she might not like it.

I feel so helpless.

My Mum phoned the vet emergency line, they told her to try and syringe some food into the cat, which she did, not a lot, but a little, and then to give her the metacam, which she did, along with quite a bit more water, so we just wait and see now.

The cat has now eaten some food, which was on another part of the bed, so obviously it got up to eat it

Gameplan has now changed, to hopefully taking her to the vets tomorrow for another injection, the metacam can apparantly take up to 2 weeks to reduce inflammation. Obviously taking it day by day.

I wish animals could talk, or at least I wish we could understand them.

Abie-I'm assuming your cat has not been like this before? Is she lethargic?

I'm actually suspicious the Metacam might be causing the recent symptoms. It can cause acute renal failure in cats. Did she also have an injection at the vets.
Have you noticed any additional drinking or urinating?

I would call the emergency vets again and mention this. I certainly wouldn't give her any more. Acute renal failure is quite serious and she would need to be admitted for fluids at vets.

Have to agree with Ianthi here the poor love ... is the kitty a he or a she btw? and what food is it that is being given?

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It's a she.

She hasn't peed at all today, and she actually seemed a lot better after the metacam, started eating and drinking, although she still didn't get off the bed.

She will be taken to the doctor again tomorrow, she had a blood test friday, and that showed no problems with her kidneys, I will ask my mum to get them to do another one tomorrow, and will ask about the metacam and the kidneys.

This afternoon she was a very poorly cat, I was actually wondering if she would make it through the night to be honest, but then she has kinda started to feel better after the medicine.

If she was that poorly this afternoon then I'm fairly sure it is the Metacam. You need to be very careful with the dosing and renal problems have occured in some cats who've had no prior kidney problems, even with correct dosing.

Additionally, Metacam usually works quite quickly when addressing arthitis etc. so technically she should have been more active etc.

Are you in UK?

Yes I am in the UK.

Her kidneys are definitely fine. I have no idea what happened, the cat I saw laying on that bed yesterday is not the same cat she is today.

She has been eating normally, drinking normally, going out into the garden and urinating normally, she is still a little unsteady on her feet, but apart from that, she is fine.

I said goodbye to her yesterday, I didn't think she would make it through the night.

I am gobsmacked.

And thank you so much for your replies, especially for the advice about the metacam, we will be watching her very closely for any signs of kidney damage, she went to the vets today, and will be going back on friday too.