My older cat's fur is rusty and he's irritable. Vet visit needed?

I suggest you schedule a vet visit and blood work for Elskan. Since she is an older kitty she may be suffering from a kidney problem, hyperthyroidism or diabetes. All of these can be ruled out with a blood test. A shaggy coat and accidents also are signs that Elskan is not feeling well.

It looks "unthrifty". This may need a simple brushing or grooming to correct. Sometimes, if a cat is ill or injured, he or she may not self groom as much. In these cases, it is best to have an exam with your veterinarian. A simple blood test can be done to screen for thyroid issues. If results are suspicious, a more comprehensive thyroid panel can be submittted. At Cloud's age, hyperthyroidism is not likely.

Oh no, poor Paddy! Unfortunately without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain if this is something relatively minor. A rash in cats could be caused by an infection (bacteria or yeast), allergies, or insects (fleas, mites). This would also cause fur loss. In a senior cat, hyperthyroidism could cause hair loss. Make sure he is up to date on his flea treatments, giving him one such as Revolution or Advantage if he isn't. You will have to disinfect the environment as well. I would have him seen by a vet for this though, and I can give you a number of resources that may help you afford a vet. He does need a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to check on his overall health, and these tests can help diagnose if he does have hyperthyroidism or not, which is very common in senior cats. Once the cause of his symptoms is diagnosed, the vet can prescribe treatment for him. Affording a vet: You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
 God's Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help.
 The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.
 Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay. IMOM is dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged.


I can imagine that you are worried, given such a sudden change; however don't lose hope. Make a vet appointment for Rusty ASAP. Bloodwork may very well reveal the problem - older cats can often get kidney disease, and the decline is often so slow we don't readily notice it. Other possibilities include pain from arthritis, anemia, heart disease, or even a hormonal disease like diabetes. All of the above can be treated in some way, but diagnosis is the first step.

I recommend to call your veterinarian and let them know what you are seeing at home. The brown urine is very concerning for her liver not working properly. It could also indicate something like a bladder infection or irritation to the lining of the bladder. I recommend to get this examined right away. The brown discoloration on her skin could be related to irritation of the skin or excessive licking of the area. Carefully examine the skin underneath the brown area. It should be pale white. If it is a red or flaky, it could indicate an underlying skin infection. Have the veterinarian examine her skin as well. I hope this helps and best of luck.

I wold be concerned about the lethargy and the vomiting, although vomiting may be related to the change in diet it may also be related to kidney disease. More lab tests would be required in order to investigate the elevated urea and elevated red blood count which may be related to a degree of dehydration at the time of sampling also. A urine (especially specific gravity) and repeat blood panel (fasting at least 12hours) with a view to repeat assessment of urea, creatinine and electrolytes would be important to assess kidney function

He could have multiple things going on here. Itching is a sign of allergies, so I would first check for fleas (they leave behind tint black pepper looking specks on the skin). The purple bumps may be an inflammatory reaction or actual masses, so have these tested through your vet. The wheezing is the most concerning symptom that he has, as this can be early signs of asthma, bronchitis, a mass (an enlarged thyroid) pressing on his airway, or an upper respiratory infection. I would encourage you to schedule an earlier appt for Tobby to address the wheezing as soon as possible. Cats with airway issues are consider unstable and should seek medical attention right away because the lungs are their stress organ, so that means that if they are not feeling well then the lungs can get worse very quickly. I hope that your pet Tobby feels better soon. Best of luck at the vet.