u/eatyourgreenspls

Historically perfect, cuddly angel cat.
Thu: Squirmed/panicked when picked up for nail trim.
Fri–Sun: Main owner out of town. Sat: Hissed/snapped at sister when moved. Sun: Greeted owner, but bit, yowled in pain, and hid when picked up.
Mon–Tue: Severe hypersensitivity to touch (screams/yowls if bumped or petted anywhere except head). Barely moving, crouched stiffly in corners. Only eats wet food if placed directly in front of him. Peed on self in carrier Monday en route to vet Monday and once in makeshift low litter box today.
Latest Symptoms- laying on side, trunk of body twitching, leg spasm, rapid breathing, eyes widening/squinting (pupils not noticeably dilated) for ~30 minutes

Has not drunk water or passed stool since at least Friday. (Is eating small amount wet food)

Vet Findings & Diagnostics:
Physical: Initially had a hard abdomen.
X-rays: Clear (no foreign objects, small bladder, minimal stool; not reviewed by radiology).
Bloodwork: Normal kidneys/pancreas; slightly elevated glucose (likely stress).
Meds: Gabapentin (1ml 2x/day)—reduces crying, howling/ severe pain but sensitivity remains with whimpers and extreme sensitivity to touching/hovering.

I’ve been told next step would be an ultrasound but he would have to be on his back for it, which I can’t imagine in his current state. Otherwise take him to animal hospital to have specialty care. I don’t have the money for this, but trying to look into options. Weighing whether I should pursue further diagnostics. It is making me miserable to see him in such severe pain.

Not a minor. posting from Texas, USA. Went to urgent care vet and advanced care vet. 5.5 yr neutered male bobtail. Cannot afford much more vet care.

TLDR; my normally sweet cat rapidly developed severe pain, extreme sensitivity to touch, and aggression when handled. X-rays were clear and bloodwork is normal (kidneys/pancreas fine, glucose slightly elevated). Gabapentin helps with the crying, but he now has muscle/leg spasms, back twitching, rapid breathing, and eye widening.

Long version:

Hi everyone. Wanted to see if anyone could offer any advice as the vets have felt entirely unhelpful. My cat who has historically been the cuddliest, sweetest cat for the past few years has declined very quickly. On Thursday I went to trim his nails and when I picked him up he squirmed out of my hands like I scared him. I thought it was weird but didn’t think much more of it. Then I left for a trip Friday. On Saturday my sister went to move him and he hissed at her and snapped but overall still seemed normal. Unsure of his actual behavior over the weekend as I am his main owner and was out of town. Then Sunday he seemed normal and scurried over to greet me as soon as I got home. He went to climb on me so I went to pick him up like I always do and he bit me and flipped out and started yowling in pain, hiding, hissing etc. vet said his abdomen was hard. We got x-rays done and those came back clear (did not send to radiology) but no foreign object ingested, bladder was small, had a little fecal matter present but not much. Got sent home with 1ml gabapentin 2x day. Did not eat or drink at all. Then the next day he had not drank any water and had not urinated (but did eat some wet food) and was wincing at the slightest pet or anything touching him. He would bump into something and scream/yowl in pain. so I took him to the regular vet. He peed on himself in the carrier but I was just glad he peed. He got bloodwork done that just came back this evening and vet said pancreas markers are normal kidney is normal, just slightly elevated glucose. Gabapentin has seemed to help him not cry in pain but still sensitive to touch and will whimper if I am hovering anywhere on her fur but his head. I was at work all today, so not sure of behavior, but he was in the exact same corner crouching where I left him in the morning. He ate a little wet food (only eats when I put it directly in front of him) and peed. Very slow moving but was waiting by the back door to go outside on the deck. Since Saturday he has just been loafing with his bed down and body stiff, but as soon as he went outside he was twitching a little and he laid in this chair and started having larger twitching and leg spasm up, rapid breathing, wouldn’t say pupils are dilating but eyes are widening then squinting then widening. Still has not drank water or passed bowel movement since at least Friday, maybe before then.

5.5 year, 11lb American bobtail neutered male rapidly declining. TX, USA.

Please help.