Cloud of worries

Just got back from dropping our remaining cat at the vet. I got Cloud at the same time as Dancer. He was always the shy one, the one who made other people ask, "Are you sure you have two cats?" Until the last few years, when he started coming out to check out visitors. I was shocked today when the vet put his hand down toward Cloud and Cloud butted his head against it to get petted.

He's lost a LOT of weight lately. I hadn't realized how much. He hasn't been eating this past week--I realized the other day I haven't had to refill his food bowl. And he's looking almost skeletal underneath his fluffy fur.

Now he's at the vet, getting an IV for fluids, having blood drawn for testing, maybe getting an X-ray if it seems warranted. We'll pick him up before they close this evening so he can spend the night at home. Just got a call from the vet, and they really want him to stay overnight for the extra fluids.

Possibilities broached include everything from bad teeth (making it too painful to eat) to hyperthyroidism to diabetes to cancer.

I'm just hoping this turns out better than last September with Dancer. . . .