We adopted ferel 'porch cat' @ a year ago. Before coming inside, he went to Dr Vet for bath, lion-cut, check-up -- besides being obese, Chumley got good bill of health. We could not ask for a better pet from the first day inside! BUT LATELY, he has been drinking huge amounts of water, and peeing in kind. He has lost approx. 7 lbs since this started, 3 weeks ago. Then today my husband found blood in the fresh stool in the box he was changing. He is the only cat in the house. I realize he needs a Vet, but we are unable to get him there for at least another 1o days -- I am looking for any idea of what is causing this condition, and can I help him at all before we can get him to the Vet? Thank you; all answers are appreciated! Nise5280

Sadly we can only guess. Sounds like possible diabetes, or an infection. Are you sure the blood is coming from his bowels?

I don't want to scare you, and I do understand that money is very tight for a lot of people, myself included, but I urge you to find a way to get into the vet sooner. The excessive drinking, and the blood in the stool, is a cause for concern.

Call your vet. Many vets will agree to a payment plan if it's an emergency. If you can pay in 10 days, let the vet know that. He may take you in sooner and let you pay later. Worth a try.

Good luck.

The symptoms are indicative of Diabetes Insipidus.


common symptoms seen in cats with DI include:

Increased urination (polyuria (http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/urinary/c_ct_polydipsia_polyuria))
Increased drinking (polydispsia (http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/urinary/c_ct_polydipsia_polyuria))
Decreased urination – with dehydration
Housesoiling - occasional
Poor hair coat
Sudden weight loss (http://www.petmd.com/symptom-checker?lc=int_mb_1001)



Water Diabetes in Cats | petMD (http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_diabetes_insipidus)

A vet is a must at this point.

Sadly we can only guess. Sounds like possible diabetes, or an infection. Are you sure the blood is coming from his bowels?

I don't want to scare you, and I do understand that money is very tight for a lot of people, myself included, but I urge you to find a way to get into the vet sooner. The excessive drinking, and the blood in the stool, is a cause for concern.

Call your vet. Many vets will agree to a payment plan if it's an emergency. If you can pay in 10 days, let the vet know that. He may take you in sooner and let you pay later. Worth a try.

Good luck.
Thank you for your quick response. In my concern and search for information on a weekend, my brain cramped and it hadn't occurred to me to ask Dr Vet for a payment plan, no matter how obvious it seems to me now. Will do.

The symptoms are indicative of Diabetes Insipidus.



Water Diabetes in Cats | petMD (http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_diabetes_insipidus)

A vet is a must at this point.

J_9 -- Thank you for the list of specific symptoms regarding feline diabetes. Five out of six on the list are more than enough for me. A trip to Dr Vet is in our immediate future. Thanks again. Nise 5280

Thank you for your quick response. In my concern and search for information on a weekend, my brain cramped and it hadn't occurred to me to ask Dr Vet for a payment plan, no matter how obvious it seems to me now. Will do.

When it comes to a crisis our brains often don't think of the simplest solution. We're too focused on the crisis to see it. Been there done that. :)

I do hope it all works out. If your regular vet doesn't agree to do a payment plan, call around. If no one will work with you, call the humane society. Many times the humane society will come through in a crisis, and will agree to a payment plan. After all, it's all about the animals to them. You can call them, or contact them by email. Just look for the closest one to you. I've had success with this for other people many times.

Please do let us know how it goes. I hope kitty is okay.

Took Chumley to the Vet Monday; my Dr Vet will be taking payments on the test costs. He does have diabetes. We will be giving him the best care possible, and learning all I can about this disease, and how it affects cats. I'm sure all will be great again, with a couple of adjustments in our daily routine. Thank you for all responses to this question. You guys are the reason I come here first when I have something truly important I need to know! Nise5280

So glad that you have a diagnosis, and a treatment plan. Diabetes is actually very common in cats. It will take some time to adjust to a new pattern for Chumley, but knowing what's going on is the biggest part of the battle. So you're on the home stretch now.

Thanks for letting us know the outcome. :)