Ninja and the Vet

When Ninja came to live with me, he weighed 11 pounds, He was 8 years old. It wasn't long before he fattened up and weighed 13 pounds. That's when he got too heavy to jump to the top of the armoir where I fed the kittens full calorie food.

Ninja and chubby Bambi had a lower perch for their weight loss diet food. This worked out quite well. Though Bambi doesn't seem to have lost weight, Ninja began to turn into his old svelt self. It wasn't long before he could jump up on the armoir and that was the time I let him eat the same food the young cats ate. They were no longer kittens and just on regular diet by this time.


Lately, I've noticed Ninja not being able to hold down his meals.

At first I thought maybe hairballs, so I gave him Petromalt weekly. Still he continued to up-chuck a bit of his food. Then he began to up-chuck a watery foamy stuff. Now it's happening every day.

Suddenly, I've noticed when I pick him up he is lighter than any of the other cats. I became alarmed!

Diabetes? Kidney Disease? A tumor blocking his intestines? After reading up on all the possible symptoms, all the treatment options, and warnings to get him to a vet and not wait until he is too weak, I called the vet and made an immediate appointment.

Ninja really didn't complain too much about putting him in his carrier and he was quiet enough in the car, and such a GOOD BOY during the weigh in not complaining or struggling.

I felt horrified when I learned he only weighs 8 pounds 4 ounces.

With tears in my eyes I told the vet we had weighed him two weeks ago at home. He had weighed 9 pounds 8 ounces.

And that was what triggered my researching and making the decision to see the vet.

The vet thoroughly examined Ninja. I'm really worried now. Apparently he only has one functioning kidney, and it is huge. The other one has deteriorated down to a nub.

He has also lost muscle mass. Not a good sign at all.

I know he wasn't always this way. The vet would have noticed it on previous exams. At this point, he is not saying Ninja has kidney disease. He's saying that might be the most obvious possibility. But, he could also have diabetes. Or Thyroid disease. Or a combination.

I hope it's Thyroid disease! The vet says that is the easiest and least expensive to treat.

The vet has ordered blood tests which cost me nearly one quarter of my month's income.

If it is kidney disease or diabetes, I may have to make a very painful decision.