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Original poster

A question about very old cats..

47 replies

S1ur · 01/01/2009 09:12

Basically.

I think my cat might be about to die

He is acting really oddly. I found him wedged inbetween the waa and the bookshelves, I pulled him out and tried to stroke him but he staggered away, oushing his head down to the floor and pushed/fell behind the chair. I went to give him a blanket to lie on at least but he once again staggered away.

I can see him and he is breathing but is he on his last legs do you think? He very ancient, and generally not well anymore.

I am wondering if I should perhaps be trying to give him a more calm, warm place, somewhere where the kids won't try to 'stroke' him.

Does death sound plausible or is there another likely cat disease involving weird behaviour?

OP posts:
LucyEllensmummy · 01/01/2009 10:16

I do think you will have to take him to the vets, sorry, i would be trying to avoid the vets too if i were in your situation, not because of the expense (cos it will be expensive today im afraid) but because of the trauma of moving him.

The thing is, it doesn't sound very positive, he sounds like he is in pain, the hiding his head and purring (purring often indicates pain and a very sick cat, which is against the norm). In the meantime, i would just keep him quiet, in a darkened room and leave him, be there, but don't keep disturbing him.

18 is a fantastic age - you must have been doing something right. Sorry you are having to deal with this today.

Original poster
S1ur · 01/01/2009 10:19

ah right, that's useful to know LEM.

okay vets it is then. Will rouse DP in a bit.

OP posts:
LucyEllensmummy · 01/01/2009 10:35

Sorry that i couldn't be more positive Slur. If i were you I would see if you can get some advice over the phone to avoid trapsing him there, but to be totally honest, he will be quite happy in a basket, if you have an open wire one, put a towel over it to keep him in the dark. He sounds like he has pain, and purring often as i said indicates a very poorly puss but it could be something treatable, which is more positive.

Good luck x

cheekysealion · 01/01/2009 10:37

poor cat and poor you...

my cat is 13 and i also dread the day she no longer breathes...

hope the vet can help

aDad · 01/01/2009 11:11

oh sorry to hear this, not a nice way to start the New Year. And the decision to go to the vet's is definitely the right thing to do.

I'm sorry to say that this is exactly how my much loved elderly cat behaved in her last few days only a few months ago, just sat in a corner facing the wall and eating next to nothing. BUT it could just be a sign of pain from something simple, and vet is best placed to answer that question.

All the best...

MarlaSinger · 01/01/2009 11:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
S1ur · 01/01/2009 13:56

UPDATE

I'm afraid Boris the cat died.

There have been some tears from DD and DH and confusion from DS.

DH took him off to the vets, who took one look at him and injected him immediately. Apparently it was like a swtich being flicked - I think that shook DH up most of all.

Anyway thank you all for your advice, and sorry it ended with bad news, but trust me he had a long industrious life and career as a cat of mystery and debauchery.

OP posts:
NAB3lovelychildren · 01/01/2009 13:57

Oh no!

So so sorry.

What did the vet say was wrong?

It must have the hardest thing to do but the kindest for the cat.

So sorry.

Original poster
S1ur · 01/01/2009 13:59

I don't know Nab, but yes kindest really and he was a very old thing. tch.

I am going to post a poem I have always liked. Fitting though seemingly tasteless, but honestly that fits our house

OP posts:
Original poster
S1ur · 01/01/2009 13:59

An Unusual Cat Poem

My cat is dead
But I have decided not to make a big tragedy of it.

-- Wendy Cope.

OP posts:
NAB3lovelychildren · 01/01/2009 14:00

My cat seems to just eat and sleep and then occasionally goes all kitten like and looks very funny.

Starnge how we love them so much, isn't it.

Hope your DS. DD, DH and you are all okay.

differentID · 01/01/2009 14:01

I'm so sorry slur- but you did what a responsible cat servant does. You will miss him, but he sounds like he has left wonderful memories for your whole family.
RIP Boris.

PinkPoinsettias · 01/01/2009 14:12

oh slur....

for what it's worth when my little guy died a few weeks back i made a huge tragedy of it and sobbed like a child for days (preg hormones might have been responsible for some of that)

brace yourself for the kids to keep bringing it up at odd moments, that's what i found hardest in the first few days as i'd be feeling ok and suddeny a little voice would pipe up with 'mommy, i miss scruffy. is he deaded now?' ds even asked me why i didn't kiss him better.

i'm glad ye have years of happy memories though, it sounds like ye gave him a very warm and loving home for a long time

oxocube · 01/01/2009 14:58

Am very sorry Slur. Loved your poem though - it kind of sums up what I felt after one of my old cats died a few years back. She had been ungrateful, incontinent (deliberately so I feel ) and unaffectionate for most of her life. She was a rescue cat who never seemed particularly pleased that we had rescued her. Before she died, she went missing twice and ended up in the local shelter costing us a fortune in pet ambulance fees ...... and then she died. And the stupid thing is we all really missed her

At least poor Boris had a peaceful and painless end.

oxocube · 01/01/2009 15:01

a cat of mystery and debauchery

Gotta love that! How I wish someone would be able to say the same about me when I die ....."She was a woman of mystery and debauchery"

Sadly, I think not

JollyPirate · 01/01/2009 15:15

Sorry to hear your news slur - it's so hard when a much loved cat dies (or any pet fopr that matter). I was devastated when I lost my 15 year old cat 2 years ago. We then took on 2 kittens and one of them was hit by a car at 6 months and died. Hideous. Pets become such a part of the family that it's a bereavement when they die - an empty space. But you gave him a really good home and he was "a cat of mystery and debauchery" I love that. What an epitaph.

watsthestory · 01/01/2009 16:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

countingto10 · 01/01/2009 18:26

So sorry Slur.

We are playing the waiting game with our old cat at the moment. He will be 20 in March. DS1 is cooking him some fish now to try and tempt him to eat. He is diabetic and needs to eat. I think his kidneys are failing as he is drinking loads (his sugar levels are fine) and there was blood in his litter tray. The vet said we should wait until after Christmas to see how he is.

It's really horrible when they have been part of your life for so long - mine's seen me through 2 marriages and 4 kids.

I keep hoping he will just go to sleep somewhere and not wake up ie go peacefully but I've got the feeling that I will have to take him to the vets

bella29 · 01/01/2009 18:54

Sorry to hear this, slur.

You did the right thing x

LucyEllensmummy · 01/01/2009 22:56

So sorry, you did the right thing taking him to the vets, there would have been no pain for him i promise you that - it is very quick, they literally just go to sleep.

I love that poem too - Wendy Cope is my favourite poet, her sense of irony is acute.

I smiled to read that he had a mysterious and debauced life (and thats just the bits you know about!!!).

GivePeasAChance · 01/01/2009 23:03

Brilliant poem

Lovesdogsandcats · 02/01/2009 00:05

Sorry to hear about your cat. You did the right thing.

This is the hardest part of owning pets

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