Elderly cat, limping and losing weight

[StillNumb]

Not sure how old the cat is, but at least 16. DH tookhim to the vets a couple of weeks ago as he was losing strength in left back leg, and also looked thin. Other than that, he looks happy enough and is eating.

He had lost 1kg since his last visit and now weighs 4kg. In his prime he was massive, 7kg of muscle.

DH said that the vet examined him, moved his hips around etc, and said that she thought he may be arthritic. She didn't look at him walking on the ground, just had him on the table. She did blood tests and said that if these were ok could prescribe something for arthritis.

Finallly got the results at the end of this week, and she said that they were all good considering his age. The only problem was that he's a bit anaemic . I need to bring him in this week to start meds.

Was going to weigh him to see if he had lost more weight, but he won't entertain it. He is sleeping most of the day, will go outside and sleep in the garden if it's a nice day, does eat but nothing like as much as he did.

He's sat with me now and seems quite happy, but a shadow of the cat he used to be.

I think I am going to try him on the meds for a couple of weeks and see how it goes. I guess I am thinking how do you know when enough is enough, when you need to let them go etc. How do you broach this with the vet etc? She is keen to offer treatment, and to be honest I am not sure that it is in the cats best interest. How do I even broach this a vet, she seems keen on treatment at all costs, but he an elderly cat. It's so difficuult.

[Fluffycloudland77]

He doesn’t sound there yet, obviously it’s a massively noticeable when you’ve had a big cat who is suddenly half his previous weight though.

If the treatment distressed him I wouldn’t continue.

[HardAsSnails]

My old boy is nearly 17, was diagnosed with arthritis 18 months ago, after he came in one day unable to use his back legs, and has been on loxicom/metacam ever since. We've chosen to stick with this (even though there's a risk to his kidneys) as it works and more importantly, it's really easy to administer in treaty food. We've been offered meds that would not risk his kidneys but it means administering tablets daily and I just don't want to stress him out. We hadn't really noticed he'd slowed down as it was over a period of time, but he's really quite spritely now.

So I suppose my experience would say, try painkillers, see what happens. We've chosen quality over quantity of life for our boy and it feels right.

[StrongTea]

Were his teeth checked?

[StillNumb]

Thanks all. My DH is taking him back to the vets tomorrow with a new to start loxicom. I feel so sad when I watch him getting about with difficulty. He still loves treat food! I will ask the vet to weigh him again, and also cut his nails as they are so long now as doesn't really go out.

StrongTea - he's only got about 3 left!

We are supposed to be going on holiday in a couple of months, and I am thinking of postponing. We do have someone who comes into the house several times a day to look after our boys, but a sickly cat might be a big ask. He doen't even use a litter tray so needs letting out often. At least it would be warmer though and our garden is safe. I don't know what to do.

[HardAsSnails]

I would just see how he goes on the loxicom. It's really tough when they suddenly seem old, but hopefully he'll perk up without the pain