(Video attached on my post in the Facebook group. Please refer to it there, by username Joey Lavwa -- it won't let me upload it here)
Hello. My cat (13 year old tabby, indoor) has started breathing heavily while he sleeps. The noise occurs on inhaling, not exhaling. It started a few months ago, wasn’t that loud and didn’t always happen. I was told by a friend knowledgeable about cats that older cats start snoring with old age so I sadly accepted it. But it has gotten louder, and in the past week it is fairly loud and no longer intermittent – it’s always happening when he’s asleep.
I have brought him to the vet and they suggest:
- a “lab” called “Respiratory Disease RealPCR Panel, Feline Upper” which tests for “Bordetella bronchiseptica, Chlamydophila felis, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) Quant, H7N2 influenza virus, influenza type A virus (includes H7N2, H3N2, H1N1, H3N8) and Mycoplasma felis RealPCR tests” for $484.49 Canadian, plus 13% tax
- a “procedure” called “Radiographs (3 views) including sedation, hospitalization, and 48 hour Radimal report” for $797.73 Canadian, plus 13% tax
Questions:
- I am very low on funds. I can barley afford one of these tests, let alone both. I have expressed this to my vet and they suggest doing the x-rays because “it will provide more information” and because my cat is otherwise healthy – no discharge anywhere, high energy, eating normally. What do you think of this? Am I being reckless not doing both? Which should I prioritize if I have to prioritize?
- They also think the x-rays should be done because I recently moved into an apartment that had mold issues. I believe it is taken care of but I can’t know for sure without pulling up the floor. Either way I am looking into moving from this place.
- My cat has had a small lump under his skin, on his neck near his ear, for many years. My previous vet and this current vet both agree that since it is never growing, and very small, it is not worth opening him up there to check that out. BUT will an x-ray in that area be bad for that lump?
- The vet never brought up that this could be nasal polyps, but Google searches indicate this may be the cause. Would x-rays show this? I feel like they are only going to x-ray his lungs, and maybe his neck, but not his head… right? Also: are x-rays bad for a cat at all? Like even a little bit? Should we be giving respect to the possibility of nasal polyps, and testing for that (somehow?) as well?
- He is also due a couple vaccines. His FVRCP vax was due Sept 25, 2023 (his last was Sept 25, 2020), and his rabies vax was due Nov 11, 2023 (his last was Nov 11, 2022). I had planned to get these by now but, without getting into details, I had to move from my long-time home around this time due to safety concerns (scary neighbours), and as such I also lost my career (reason for lack of funds currently). Could the lack of FVRCP vax be playing into this current issue? Should I get these ASAP, or prioritize the tests listed above? The cost of these is $204.80 Canadian, plus 13% tax (which is roughly 40% of the PCR panel cost).
- Is there any question I should be asking that I haven’t asked yet? Thank you for your time.
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