I know there are one or two vets and/or people who are more experienced with animals, so I thought I'd ask this question here.

My oldest cat, Lucky, has been worrying me lately. She's lost weight, but not anything unusual for this time of year. But, every once in a while, she lets out a yowl and acts like she's coughing up a hairball. Today I decided to see what's causing it, if possible. I started out 'force feeding' her by putting food in her mouth and rubbing her throat. She did fine. Then, she jumped down and was eating out of my hand, and all was fine for a moment, but then all of a sudden she yowled again.

I am wondering what it could be. I have an appointment with a vet here, but they can't get her in until later in the week. She is using the litter box as much as she normally does, and I believe she's drinking normally (I say believe, because I'm only home in the evenings and when she comes to give me loves, her face is wet from the water).

Any ideas?

many ideas...but all need more testing. Its an older cat? there could be a multitude of things as simple as some arthrtis (making her painful) to things such as kidney failure, liver issues, diabetes, pancreatitis, cancer, heart disease, thyroid issues, hypertension...to name a few. Really it's hard to say. If i were you, i wouldn't wait long to go see a vet. Cats should only be allowed 3-4 days at most of not eating. If there is any vomiting, i wouldn't wait. I would recommend a full blood panel and x-rays of the whole body (most cats will fit on one xray cassette). This will at least give the vet some place to start. You could always call your vet and see if they take walk-ins or ask them if they have a cancelation could they call you. In all honesty, i wouldn't wait until the end of the week. It may be nothing or something mild, but it may be something more serious? You never know with out some basic things. And if it was my cat, I would have her in for blood work and x-rays asap. But since i'm a vet, i know the basic signs to be concerned for. Not wanting to eat is one of them. now it could be something simple..but i'd rather take that chance than wait and have it be something more serious.
good luck and let me know what happens.

Thanks for the advice. I'm actually taking her in tomorrow, since there was an opening. I believe it's a tooth that's bothering her, because she's been eating some wet food without the yowling. I put her by herself in my bathroom with some food and water today so I could see if she really is eating/drinking. She's definitely drinking and the wet food was half gone, with most of the dry food still there.

I'm still going to ask them to do some x-rays and a blood work up just so I know we've covered the bases. She's only 11, but I know from previous pets that things can go very wrong very quickly.

good for you..and 11 is considered geriatric for a cat. My two cats are 11 and 15. Every 6 months i do routine blood work and every year i do x-rays to check for masses that i might not have felt. And yes a tooth may be the problem. If your cat hasn't had a dental in a while (they usually need one every 1-2 years) then she could have an abscessed tooth. But i'm glad you are still going to do the blood work and x-rays. Will help to see if anything else is a problem and make sure she could undergo anesthesia (for a dental cleaning) without complications. Good luck and let me know.

would also like to know what wound up happening with your kittie? hope all is okay...

All the blood work and x-rays came back normal. She's 8lbs, which is down a bit from the last time she was weighed, but not a significant amount. She doesn't have an abscessed tooth, but her mouth still seems to be bothering her. They don't accept payments, so next week when I get paid again, she's going in to be put under to have a complete dental workup.

She's eating wet food twice a day, half a can at a time. That says a lot to me, because she's never been a big fan of wet food. She still has dry food available since I leave it out for the other two cats. Hopefully we'll know more next week.

Thanks again for the advice and for asking about her!

Glad to hear kitty's blood work and x-rays are normal, and no abcessed teeth. FYI...you may also what a thyroid test run if they didn't do it. Might help explain the weight loss..however you may want to do the dental first...and if it clears up...that's your answer...if not a T4 is highly recommended.