Poor 15 yr old "Poco"

[dantazaz]

We have a 15 yr old tabby who within the last 4 weeks has become more lethargic and begun "evacuating" (both possible ways) on our bed...now being OLD he's been a cat that rarely moves or "plays" for quite some time...months into the last year or so.
His PREVIOUS habits were typical of cats...if he didn't feel the litter box was clean enough he'd poop right next to it but NEVER on the bed or carpeting...this week he's started urinating on the actual bed, causing of course unmanagable distress and damage .
So why not take him to the vet? He's been the Alpha Male in a home of 2 cats and 3 dogs for years...has always been "feisty" and REFUSES to be placed in a pet carrier...the last time I spoke to the vet (actually a very good man and DR) about bringing Poco in he said"No...it'd be too stressful on the old boy"...i.e. also "too stressful" on him and his staff I believe.

Just to add to it all we have lost our 14 yr old bloodhound a month ago (he had a stroke and couldn't do anything, had to be put down) THEN our 2 yr old Aussie Shepherd got seizures and thankfully is better now on meds.

My wife and I are nearly out of our minds not knowing what to do...does Poco's behavior sound like any disease oriented issues? He has "lumps" but has had them a long time...up util this weirdness was his usual old cranky self but even was playing with a catnip toy last weekend (IF one holds it for him to bat).
HELP

[kk]

Hello,

Your cat is extremely ill and must be seen by a vet right away, and not your old vet. Yes, 15 is old for a cat, but they can live to be much older than that with proper health care. You have chalked his rarely moving and not playing up to being old or to typical cat behavior, when neither you nor your vet knows that is the case. You must get him to a new vet right away and have a complete geriatric work-up done, including kidney disease, diabetes and thyroid. Those bumps must be checked out as well. You do know what to do, and I suggest you do it right now. Good luck, kk

[Tina B and crew]

I would agree with kk....I think when a cat is in need of care, the care outweighs the issue of stress. I have a 13 year old who plays like a kitten at times...yes she sleeps a curls up on the couch alot, but she does take moments to run through the house like a maniac batting a toy around...if she ever got to the point of just lying around and not seeming "happy" I'd get her to the vet (like last week...she was grumpier than a hornet..upon checking her I noticed her ear was bothering her, took her in, had her treated and now she is back to her old self)

I hope for the best for your Poco....

[dantazaz]

Oddly enough or coincedentally I called the vet today...told them about his rarely moving EXCEPT to eat or sit at the window watching the birds.The new vet is going to cal me back(talked to an assistant, helpful but not a Dr.) The initial possibilities they gave me were urinary tract infection, or the like not 'behavioural' and are going to call back with better ideas about getting him into his pet carrier other than the towel wrapping trick...last I tried this it LITERALLY took hours and he "came to life" flying out of the carrier each time as if spring loaded. I know there are many contradicting bits to this situation which is another reason why we're so frazzled...nothing makes sense OTHER THAN I agree, 'something' is really wrong with our Poco...more later...thanks for your responses, sincerely, thank you