My cat went to the vet last week

[something2say]

Hiya,

Just want to chat really and maybe pick up some advice.. I have a gorgeous spbritish blue shirt haired cat. Myself an an ex got him when he was two. He was not socialised and quite shy. I split with the ex and he married and had three children. His new wife didn't like the cat and they asked me to have him.

He came to live with me about four years ago. He is an indoor cat which I don't agree with, but that's what he is. I do open the door and he comes out and I lesbe it open but he is always back in when I turn around.

Anyway as time has gone on I have noticed that his mobility is reducing. I made him two steps for the bed and gave him the supplement for arthritis. But then he started poo ing outside of the box.

Began to worry, also when I take him to get his nails clipped, they weigh him and he has lost weight each time. So they said I had to bring him in. I can't afford to insure him. That's a whole other story.

Anyway the vet said that he has a heart murmur and she advised a very expensive series of blood tests which I paid for. She kept mentioning tumours tho. Many times during the appt and the call for the blood test results.

He does not have diabetes which is good, but he does have kidney issues and I am going to get the right food for him for that. He I always uses his tray for a wee and sometimes for a poo, but mostly not now. I feel that I ought not to leave him overnight at any point. Am worried about Xmas. And also he is getting old.

Sorry for such a long one but I guess that at 14.5 he is getting on a bit. He is so beautiful tho. He has a new igloo and if I stick my hand in, he licks it. He follows me around, loves everyone, sleeps on my feet or against my legs. What on earth will I do without him. I know that we all pass away but this will be my first time with someone I have lived with this closely. When I stroke him I keep thinking is there Cancer in here?

[Mitzimaybe]

I have just gone through this. It's horrible. You just have to ask yourself (and the vet?) is he in any pain, and does he have any quality of life. And make sure any decision you make is what's best for him and not what's best for you - but sometimes it's difficult to know, because we just don't want to lose them.

Thinking of you.

[RubbishMantra]

Ah, didn't want to read and run. You're obviously very bonded, and taking the utmost care of him. But the fear of them not being here forever...

I'm sure there'll be other posters along soon, hopefully Cozie, who lives with an elderly cat.

[something2say]

Hiya thanks for the posts. Yes we are very bonded. He is a lovely little animal and I am lucky to live with him and to have shared a part of life with. She said the tests were inconclusive aside from the kidney issues, and she got the heart murmur from listening to him, she couldn't say that he definitely has a tumour but she said it a few times and that that may well be the reason for the weight loss. He not showing any signs of illness aside from that. He sleeps a lot but he still follows me and wants cuddles and so on. I guess this is just what happens, i hadn't wanted to face it.

[RubbishMantra]

Re heart-murmur - it's entirely possible he's had this from kitten-hood.

I've always been of the belief that as long as your cat recognises you, can get to his food bowl and toilet on his own and is given pain relief, then quality of life is good enough.

[cozietoesie]

I have an older cat also - Seniorboy was 14 when he came to me and not really expected to live more than a few weeks after my Mum's death. (He was very bonded to her.) He started doing the odd poo outside the tray when he was about 17 and his vet, who is very active for older animals, immediately diagnosed arthritis.

Here's something to read on it - some bells may ring for you. I think with the poo that they just start to find it difficult to do the high poo squat in their tray so end up going anywhere when they finally can't hold it in. They don't like that though - they're naturally clean animals and much prefer a tray.

Seniorboy went on meloxicam and lactulose (both delivered to a schedule in wet food) about two and a half years ago although he's turned out to have a constitution of iron and has no problems with them. Since April/May he's also been on supplemental pain meds as needed (given by me) because the meloxicam couldn't entirely cut it any longer.

His vet care, including meds, is probably about £50 a month now. (I mention that only because you hinted that you have financial issues which are, of course, a very real consideration.) Neither does he have kidney issues.

Maybe have a chat with the vet about pain relief? I suspect you'll find that it will make one heck of a difference to him.

[cozietoesie]

PS - he's also had a heart murmur for years but as he's nearly 20, we all ignore it.

[something2say]

Hi. Thank you so much for that.

Re the arthritis, she told me to stop giving him the supplement. I almost had anyway because when I mix it into his food, he doesn't eat the food. When they said they were concerned about weight loss, I immediately worried about him not eating, so stopped that. So I need to think about pain relief don't I, in a different way than the anti inflammatories. I will ask the vet about that.

She told me not give the, any,ore because of the kidney failure potential. So I have to get him the right food now and also consider another method of pain killers.

He's gone in his tray yesterday as well so that was good.

Thanks for the financial info too. I can manage that, I couldn't live with myself if I did not.

I will navigate this journey the best and most graceful way I can. He has been one of the best companions I have ever had and he makes my home what it is.

Thank you again for your posts.