Been to Vet, Specialists, Next Steps?

[Arthur]

For the past year we have been trying to solve or get in the right direction of our cat Mort’s health issues.
Around a year ago he started having softer stool and it turned more tan in color. We worked with a vet to change the diet to limited ingredients and thought chicken was the culprit.
Poop returned to normal. 2-3 months ago he started having coughing attacks. It started at the beginning of spring so we thought of allergens. We took him to our vet and they referred us to an allergy specialist who did blood tests and came back with all negatives on the test.
Poop returned to more diarrhea a few weeks ago and just tonight it was yellow. Another coughing fit as well.
Any suggestions on where to turn to next?

We thought we had addressed the diet. We got air purifiers for the home. Got blood and stool tests as well. He also had a steroid shot during his initial coughing fits.

 

[neely]

Welcome to TCS! Love your cat's name, Mort. Is your present vet a feline specialist? If not, you may want to get a second opinion from a feline only specialist. A veterinary medical university affiliated specialist would then be the next step but from your description of Mort's problem a feline specialist should be able to help. Just out of curiosity, did your present vet mention IBD? Although we are not vets and, therefore, cannot offer medical advice this could be a possibility or contribute to his health issues.
Here's a recent thread that might have some helpful information for you:
4 year old newly dx with IBD

Best of luck, I'm sure other members will weigh in with their thoughts. Please keep us posted on Mort's progress.

 

[fionasmom]

All I can add, with the exception of your diligent care of your cat, is that seeking out a specialist is often the shortest route to a solution. Yes, many charge a higher fee than ordinary vets, often a fee just for the consultation, but they also know what should be done to get an answer to the problem. This saves you, in the long run, time and money as you return repeatedly to your regular vet for another attempt at a proper diagnosis.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Coughing can be a sign of asthma, or even heart disease. Was Mort checked for either of those things?

As for the new yellow diarrhea, that suggest he needs another Vet visit to me. As mentioned above, to someone who specializes in cats, if possible.