Over the past three months, I have noticed my cat losing weight and so I kept track. She is a strictly indoor cat that is now 13 years old. I looked at her old medical records and all together she has lost almost 4 pounds. I have had cats before so my first thought was the possibility of an overactive thyroid gland.
In the last three weeks I have noticed that she has labored breathing. The vet took a look at her and did some bloodwork that showed a low red blood cell count but the thyroid level was normal and then had to stop taking x-rays because she collapsed.
I was referred to an emergency center and they were able to confirm what my vet had suspected, that her chest was fluid-filled. They drained lots of fluid from her chest and now she is home breathing more easily while we await a definitive diagnosis.
What do you think could be going on? They suspect the possibility of cancer even though it was not obvious on the x-rays. She is on prednisone now. Should I be preparing for the end or can she get through this?
I suspect that your cat may unfortunately have a serious condition from which she may never fully recover. Clearly from the bloodwork, your cat is not hyperthyroid, which often is the cause of weight loss in older cats. The low red cell count suggests anemia and the question should be how low is the red cell count? Will the cat need a transfusion at some point?
Tapping her chest for the removal of fluid is allowing her to breath more comfortably for now but without correcting the cause of the fluid buildup, it may likely return. The use of prednisone suggests to me that there is an attempt to reduce inflammation and if cancer is at the root of what’s going on, it may help a bit at this time.
Fluid in the chest can have many causes, such as infection, heart failure, cancer and more. If the fluid is between the lungs and the chest wall, it is known as pleural effusion. This is what it seems you are describing. There is also a viral condition known as FIP or feline infectious peritonitis that can affect the lungs, the abdomen or both with a buildup of fluid, but given the cat’s age and no description of a fever makes it less likely.
You will know a great deal more about prognosis when the chest fluid analysis is completed. Should the cause be cancer, in cats most likely lymphoma or carcinoma, you may need to prepare for the end. I am sure your veterinarian will properly guide you through this difficult situation. Good luck.
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