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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Ragdoll cat kidney disease

75 replies

whatalifethisis · 27/02/2019 07:38

Hi, have posted in the Litter Tray too but posting here for traffic as I have to call my vet in a few hours .

Our 10 year old ragdoll cat started behaving strangely at the weekend, spending the entire time curled up at the back of my wardrobe. The first thing I noticed was her miaowing loudly to be let into the bedroom which she has never done before, she'll go in there if the door is open but never asks.

Took her to our lovely vet on Monday . She weighed her and she has lost almost 1 kg since October and is now under 3kg (she has always been very small) so that's nearly a third of her body weight. I feel bad that I didn't notice but to be honest I hardly ever pick her up as she's just not that sort of cat that likes being picked up. Our huge boy ragdoll is picked up constantly, because he's constantly in the way!

The vet took bloods which showed advanced kidney disease. She said the main thing we need to do is get her to eat (our cats share a food bowl so I had no idea she wasn't eating) She's never been a big eater but now she won't eat at all.

The vet gave me two different tablets to give her to try and stimulate her appetite but it's made no difference at all, I've tried cooked white fish, cooked chicken, salmon, wet food, cat treats.....she will not touch it.

She is just spending her days under the bed now and looks very unwell. her miaow has taken on a very strange sound that I can't explain.

The last two nights she has lay on top of me in bed which she never does but last night she would not stop trying to climb on my face, This went on for a couple of hours as every time I started to fall asleep and stopped holding her she would start again.

I'm sorry this is such an essay and I don't really know what I'm wanting, I guess just any suggestions or anybody had similar experience with their cat? I am at a loss and heartbroken.

Thank you

OP posts:

TheLollipopShoes · 27/02/2019 20:06

I'm so sorry for the loss of your precious girl. Hugs for you. Even though you know it's best for her it's still so painful to say goodbye.How lovely that you have her paw prints though. I hope that your memories of her will be a comfort to you once the initial grief becomes a little more bearable. She sounds as special as she was beautiful.

TheLollipopShoes · 27/02/2019 20:07

Apologies for the double post.

PookieDo · 27/02/2019 20:18

Oh she’s so so cute
Sorry for your loss

I have lost 2 ragdolls and can’t bring myself to get another because they are such lovely cats and hard to lose. They are just so affectionate and beautiful

I lost one through a very quick and never diagnosed disease. I had been on holiday and MIL was cat sitting I got back and he was not right. He was PTS 2 days later as he went blind suddenly and wouldn’t eat. My big older boy I lost through heart disease. He was a big big cat and started coughing and had a lot of fluid on his lungs, he was on medication for a long time for it but we lost him and he was about 8yo

UtterlyDesperate · 27/02/2019 20:23

Oh, what a cutie! So sorry to read the update, OP--they're so small but have such a big impact on our lives. Hugs to you and your family

SaucyJack · 27/02/2019 20:34

What a beautiful cat.

I’m so sorry for your loss. Take comfort from that you were brave enough to do it sooner rather than later, so she didn’t suffer any more than she had to xx

IStillMissBlockbuster · 27/02/2019 21:46

I'm very sorry op.

You did the best for her. She couldn't have carried on like that.

Give your other cat lots of kisses and cuddles.

Que0 · 27/02/2019 21:56

They really are the most special cats OP. I love them so much and I’m tearful reading your update. She was beautiful. You should have no regrets about the wonderful life you gave her.
Also, Thankyou so much for posting because I’ve been a little worried about one of our Persians whose weight is up and down. I’m not sure if it’s because he tends to hold back until the others have eaten, or if it could be something that needs checking out. Your posts have spurred me to get him to the vets, just in case it’s something that may need early treatment.
I lost two cats to kidney disease years ago and it’s so hard. We have also had two cats run over. It’s so tragic when you lose them, but they do bring such joy and your cat was one of the very lucky ones. Take care x

user1473878824 · 27/02/2019 22:13

I’m so sorry for your loss OP. It is the hardest, kindest thing to do. They make such a huge impact on our lives and I’m sending you loads of hugs. She was gorgeous and clearly very well loved xx

Santaclarita · 27/02/2019 22:44

Really sorry for your loss, but you've done the right thing.

I know what you mean by the look they give you. I got that look from my cat when he had cancer. Just knew he wanted to go. Hardest decision ever since I'd had him since I was 3 and he slept on my bed every night. He was and still is the laziest cat I've ever met. Think he slept 23 and a half hours a day, didn't feel the need to catch mice even if they were in front of him, was actually scared of the dark too. I think he was part wild cat as he was huge, so was his sister and she had the markings of a wild cat. Neither of them could lie on your knee they were too big.

Cats are great pets despite what some people think. Got lots of great memories with the cats we've had over the years. Think we've only ever had one cat that was a stereotypical cat that thinks it's too good to be around anyone. But she is also possibly the prettiest cat we've had do understandable. She despises us mere mortals.

SpringForEver · 27/02/2019 22:57

I am sorry she has gone, she would have known she was loved and is free from pain.
You did the right thing for her.

pearldeodorant · 27/02/2019 23:06

I'm so sorry for what you have been through today. That photo! Gorgeous girl!

As others have said, this is one of those threads where I've absolutely been in that position and there are few worse decisions you have to make in life. As I'm sure you know, it does ease with time and slowly the happy memories overtake the sadness of the immediate loss.

Thinking of you, Tilly and your family tonight. What a lucky girl to have been so loved

VampirateQueen · 27/02/2019 23:26

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my cat 4 years ago, she suddenly started wetting herself and then having seizures, we took her to the vets who told us it was either kidney failure or over failure. She said they could do tests, as it could be an infection, but she didn't think so, and because she was 16, they wouldn't operate on her as she wouldn't survive anyway, it was a tough decision between giving her a chance or having her put to sleep. In the end we did what was the kindest, and I know I made the right decision because she curled up on the vets table, snuggled her head into me and purred, which she had never done before as she hated the vets. I was heartbroken.
OP please whatever you do, don't let anyone minimise your pain at loosing her because she was a cat, as I did when I lost mine. It made the grieving process so much harder for me.

VampirateQueen · 27/02/2019 23:26

That should be liver failure not over failure.

AwakeNow · 28/02/2019 06:02

So sorry for your loss. You did the kindest thing. RIP Tilly.

Original poster

whatalifethisis · 28/02/2019 07:38

Thank you all
VampirateQueen I really don't think that people who don't have pets get it? They are part of your family not just an add on that's disposable!

Sometimes when we are watching TV there are 6 of us in a row on the sofa. Cat on each arm, partner and me in the middle with a dog either side. We are (were) a family of 6.

My heart is very heavy even though I am 100% sure it was the right thing to do.

The vet said she had gone downhill even since Monday. They allowed me to cuddle her while it was done and she just fell asleep peacefully in my arms.

Que0 I hope your boy is ok, It's hard to tell what's going on when you have more than one animal.

Our big boy George isn't going to be impressed. He needs to lose a bit of podge but we haven't been able to put him on a light diet as Tilly would have faded away. Couldn't use the individual microchip cat feeders as Tilly would have been a nervous wreck at the sound of them opening. She was a grazer so needed food available.

So, George will be introduced to the lighter version of his cat food...and possibly a treadmill!

Thank you all again.

OP posts:

crazycockerlady · 28/02/2019 08:05

The most poignant thing I've heard about pets is it's better to let them go a week early than one minute too late.

Sorry for your loss but you definitely did the right thing by Tilly.

Coronapop · 28/02/2019 08:08

I used to liquidise food for my cat towards the end of her life, she could only lap not actually eat.

WBWIFE · 28/02/2019 08:14

OP i have read this thdead with tears in my eyes. We also HAVE 2 ragdolls and 2 dogs. I absolutely adore them and they are family. My 1 year old loves them too. It is heartbreaking and i hate that as they get older this all becomes a worry and we have to say goodbye.

People without animals just don't get it. If i was offered a million pound or the option to have a lifetime with my animals, I would choose the lifetime.

So sorry for your loss xx

proton · 28/02/2019 08:48

Ah so sorry OP. I could have written your post myself as that is exactly what happened with my last cat. Very upsetting to read your post as it brought it back. Sorry to say this but when our cat had reached what sounds like the same stage our vet insisted on putting her to sleep. She died with her head in my palm. We all howled but we knew she was free from pain . Does your cat constantly drink water? Ours did and we used to think it was cute, this sudden fascination with the bathroom sink as we only found out she was very ill at the end stages of kidney disease. We have another cat now. I would recognise the signs immediately. Best of luck op

proton · 28/02/2019 08:57

So sorry op. I responded after reading your first post. I hadn't read through to page 3. So sorry for your loss. It's very hard I know. We had to get another cat a few months later as the house seemed so empty. It did help. Xx

recrudescence · 28/02/2019 09:33

So sorry to hear your Tilly couldn’t be treated successfully. You were right to end her suffering but that doesn’t make losing her any easier. Very best wishes to you.

theWarOnPeace · 28/02/2019 12:10

What a lovely girl she was, I’m so sorry you had to let her go.

theWarOnPeace · 28/02/2019 12:14

Vampirate yes I agree you can’t let the attitude of people who just don’t get it, get to you. I remember when my little love was put to sleep, I was so devastated, people were saying things like “oh I know someone who has a cat and she’s having kittens, why don’t you get one?” Or “it’ll be easier for you now when you go in holiday!” Honestly people just don’t understand.

Original poster

whatalifethisis · 28/02/2019 22:28

Thank you all once more for your kind words and thoughts.

Even though we have three other fur kids the house is not the same without her

OP posts:

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