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Lovely old cat - advice

4 replies

shggg245 · 13/01/2016 00:46

My old lady Tab is nearly 20 and is the loveliest cat. She's only got 3 legs and half an ear after getting stuck in my car engine when she was a kitten - horrific as you can imagine. She's coped really well and is my best friend, which sounds mad I know.

She's got thyroid problems and Ckf, although she's still eating and her weight has maintained. She has an insatiable appetite and meows constantly - but an attention meow iykwim. She just looks at me and meows.

I took her to the vets 10 days ago as she has an ingrowing claw which caused lameness and infection. Antibiotics given and twice daily salt baths.

She's pooing and weeing in the house and is not very mobile. I don't want her to suffer but don't want to rush into putting her to sleep either, not until I have to. However, I want do the right thing by her. When will I know when the time is right?

Her paw has improved slightly but still smells a bit so the infection must still be present.. The vet wanted to see her again on the 29th Jan.

Sorry for the long post - but I thought I'd know when the time has come. I'm so conflicted.

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cozietoesie · 13/01/2016 06:55

It doesn't sound mad at all - some cats can be very special indeed. ( And I have a very old boy who is starting to fail so I know where you are.)

Is she still happy and cheerful ( despite her problems) or is she starting to become tired and dissociated from life? As far as you can tell, of course, but you know her so well.

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shggg245 · 13/01/2016 08:48

Thanks for responding. She's still cheerful I think, just limping and meowing. She spends most if the day staring at the radiator, I imagine she gets cold.

Think she gets also a bit disorientated as you'll often hear a distress yowl when she's not in the same room.

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cozietoesie · 13/01/2016 09:16

The pooing and peeing inside the house, the lack of mobility, the limping - everything in fact - might lead me to think she's actually in pain. Did the vet give her any pain relief?

It's difficult. As with humans, changes are so gradual that you don't always see them. You know her age though. Do you have any pictures to compare her as she was with how she is now?

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shggg245 · 13/01/2016 11:56

No he didn't give pain relief. Think I'll take back to the vets as the foot must be hurting and I think that is why she's not using cat flap.

She's a bag of bones with patches in her coat. Definite deterioration in the last few months, but as you say they hide it well.

Thanks.