At 10 years old, Novak had always been a healthy cat, so when he suddenly became lethargic and stopped eating, alongside vomiting and diarrhoea, his concerned owner knew something wasn’t right. He was brought to our Wells practice, where our team quickly recognised that Novak needed further investigation and hospitalisation. He was promptly transferred to our Shepton hospital for more in-depth care.

Initial blood tests gave us some clues, but no clear answers as to what was making Novak so unwell. He remained flat and anorexic, so we performed abdominal imaging, which revealed that his intestines were significantly distended with gas. This made us concerned about a possible blockage in his digestive system, although nothing definitive showed on the scan.

With Novak’s condition not improving and the possibility of a blockage still on the table, we discussed our findings with his owner. The only way to know for sure — and to potentially treat the issue — was to perform an exploratory laparotomy, a surgical procedure to open the abdomen and take a direct look inside. Novak’s owner gave their consent for us to proceed and give him a chance.

During surgery, we discovered that Novak’s intestines were inflamed and filled with gas, but thankfully, there was no physical blockage. Instead, we found multiple abnormal pockets — what looked like abscesses — scattered throughout his omentum, a fatty, protective layer within the abdomen that helps isolate infections and supports the intestines and other abdominal organs.

There was also infected fluid present, which indicated that Novak was suffering from peritonitis, a serious and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the abdominal lining, usually caused by infection. In Novak’s case, the inflamed intestines were no longer functioning properly, unable to move food or gas effectively, which explained his symptoms.

We carefully examined his intestines for any perforations, which could have allowed bacteria to escape and cause this infection, but none were found. The abscesses were surgically removed, and Novak’s abdomen was thoroughly flushed with sterile fluid to reduce any remaining bacterial contamination.

To support his recovery, we placed an oesophageal feeding tube, which allowed us to provide nutrition directly until he felt strong enough to eat on his own. Over the next week, Novak began to steadily improve. With time, medication, and gentle care from our team, his appetite returned, and we were able to get him home to his family. After a few more days we were confident enough in his appetite to remove his feeding tube.

Lab results later confirmed that the abnormal tissue was indeed omental abscesses, likely caused by a foreign object, such as a sharp item he may have swallowed or a wound sustained during a fight or accident. Another possibility is that it resulted from a healed intestinal ulcer that briefly allowed bacteria to escape into the abdomen.

Today, Novak is back home and continuing to do well. He’s eating, purring, and enjoying his well-earned rest after such a dramatic illness — and we’re thrilled to see him back to his old self.

This case reminds us how subtle signs in our pets can signal something serious, and how advanced diagnostics, timely surgery, and dedicated post-operative care can lead to a happy ending — even in complex cases.