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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

I am worrying about my cat again [sad].

684 replies

TheOriginalFAB · 19/04/2011 12:27

She just took ages to get half up to then settle down and didn't seem to know what to do with her front right paw. Then after a minute she got down off the sofa and went out of the room.

She is 16. Her kidneys are failing, she has arthritis and has hypoestesias. She is on 4 tablets a day and special food. I am taking her for an extra check up this evening as she wasn't very well at all last week and had lost weight. She looks like she might have lost more Sad.

The vet said we are not at that point yet but part of me worries we are but he doesn't want to say as he knows how potty I am about her. She did play a bit yesterday though and is eating the new food we had to buy her after refusing to eat anything else.

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Jux · 25/10/2011 20:43

Don't panic!! We find those lying around quite a lot. I think it's normal, and just part of grooming. None of our cats ever seem any the worse for it, anyway. I have a few kept in a safe place - same safe place as I keep locks of dd's hair. Worst place to put anything is a safe place. It's so safe you wind up with no idea where it is.

Don't feel shit about staying with the bastard even though he kicked her. What's important is that you are both out and that is way way behind you. She's having a wonderful life with you. You could be angry with yourself if you'd left him and left her behind, but you didn't.

She will, FAB, I won't lie to you; but not today.

Onemorning · 25/10/2011 21:13

Hello FAB
Oscar discards the nail things everywhere, like Jux said it's entirely normal.
Can the vet give you anything for FABcat's runny bum? The late Jas suffered horribly on chemo until the vet gave us something to sprinkle on his food. Poor FABcat and you.
Big hugs xx

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 25/10/2011 21:33

I have never seen her bite her foot like that before. Maybe that is cat pedicure??

Off to put her to bed now. She wants hger biscuits Grin.

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suzi2 · 25/10/2011 21:45

I haven't read all this thread. But my thoughts are with you. We had our elderly cat put to sleep a couple of months ago - suspected kidney failure despite blood tests always saying otherwise. It's hard to watch them deteriorate and to not know what to do for them. Dare I say there was a point when I knew he was on a fast decline and we had to let him go. I think you'll know when that time comes.

Sorry, depressing post! But hope you can enjoy this last while with him and my love to you both.

Jux · 26/10/2011 01:46

I have seen all of ours spread their toes and really bite into the pads and in between the toes. Was that what she was doing? I'm afraid I find it hilarious, and it reminds me of the black cat from my child hood who was doing that with her other her hind leg up in the air; I heard this really strange growly sort of noise, looked round and there she was with her back paw stuck in her ear Grin she really couldn't get it out! I will never forget it.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 26/10/2011 13:05

Thanks suzi2. Sorry for your lossSad. Will you get another furball?

FABCat seems fine today. She has eaten some breakfast and ripped up some paper while we were all out Hmm. She probably was nibbling between her toes and if I wans't so obsessive worried about her I probably woulnd't notice or as bothered about every little thing.

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suzi2 · 26/10/2011 13:35

There's a little kitty coming very soon Smile. I always said never again - those elderly years are hard work with a lot of worry, then the death of course is so difficult. But I'm a 'cat person' and there has been a big hole in my heart and house since he left.

Marlinspike · 26/10/2011 13:49

Suzi, we too lost our old lady in June, at the grand old age of 22. After being so certain that we would henceforth be a cat-free house we now have 2 delightful 12 week old sisters gallivanting at top speed around the place. They are lovely, and a reminder of what old Marlinpuss was like back in the day.

Fab I have been following FABcat's tale with interest, nodding with recognition at certain points. Yes, the worry and the realisation that you will lose her someday is hard, but it sounds like there's life in the old girl yet. It will be hard when the time comes, but you have given (and are continuing to give) FABcat a fab life. Good luck!

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 26/10/2011 13:51

Good luck with your new kitty Smile. I have already told DH that I can't be without a cat. He wants a dog but I have told him, not yet.

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Jux · 26/10/2011 22:41

It is hard not to helicopter parent when your cat's ill, and things which are commonplace become incredibly important.

My ambition is to be a cackling old madwoman with 93 cats who scares all the kids, lives on the road that leads to the only pub so I can sit on the porch and screech incomprehensible insults at everyone passing on the way to their pints. (I don't know why I want to do that; seems silly to me Hmm)

Jux · 26/10/2011 22:44

suzi2, sorry for your loss. You can't say never again, because it simply boils down to life with a cat in it being better than life without a cat in it. Good luck with the kitten when s/he gets to you.

Marlin, sorry to hear about yours too. 22 is a fantastic age. Hear that FAB? FABcat's only 17....

Onemorning · 27/10/2011 11:36

"life with a cat in it being better than life without a cat in it"

This. A million times. Even with all the worries and the (eventual) pain.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 27/10/2011 14:41

I told DH about MarlinCat but he doesn't think ours will live that long. He thinks we will have 6 months if not 6 years.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 27/10/2011 14:42

if but

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 01/11/2011 13:31

FABCat has really gone to town on ripping up paper and has been grooming herself for ages. She shouted at me when I stroked her and she will stop if I try and distract her but she just bared her teeth at me and lifted her paw to me when I touched her. Is she in pain? Sad[worried].

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Onemorning · 01/11/2011 14:21

FAB, she may be. I'd suggest ringing the vet for advice.

Big hugs x

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 01/11/2011 14:32

I have to go to school soon so will have to ring later. Whenever I ask DH he just says she is fine and her grooming isn't excessive. I just filmed her as she seemed to be doing it differently to send him but it won't work. I will show him at school and then we can ring when we are home if we think we need too. She means the world to me.

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Onemorning · 01/11/2011 14:41

((((FAB)))) fingers crossed it's nothing at all. x

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 01/11/2011 17:48

She is doing okay now so it could have been a one off. If she does it again I will be straight on the phone to the vet. I just can't prepare myself for the worse.

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Onemorning · 01/11/2011 18:11

Glad she's feeling better Fab. x

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 01/11/2011 18:13

She has had some tea and is asleep next to me at the moment. I have everything crossed.

Thank you for your message Smile. I would have thought everyone would have had enough of FABCat by now since this has been going on for months Blush.

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Jux · 01/11/2011 18:42

Can't have enough of FABcat! I lost this thread temporarily - fell off the bottom of threads I'm on, couldn't remember what topic (duh!).

When you say "it didn't work" do you mean the filming or the sending? If you've got it recorded, then you can take it to the vet when you go in, whether it's today or next week or whenever. That way they can see what you're worried about. You could do that for any behaviours you find worrying.

On the other hand, if your dh says it's fine, then - unless you have cause not to trust him - let it reassure you, at least a bit.

Have you had much experience of death, in your life, FAB? Try not to spend all FABcat's remaining time worrying about her. Take pics, pet her, play if she's up to it, lay down good memories.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 01/11/2011 19:15

I couldn't send the recording to DH's phone but he has seen it now. She seems settled. She has eaten Smile and is sleeping next to me Grin.

A boss of mine died a few years after I left working for him and my Nana died a few days before ds2 was born. I have no family (they didn't want me) and have been known to cry over soap deaths Blush.

I know I am OTT with FABCat but I have had her for 17 years and a month, since she was 5 weeks old, and she was more than company for me when I left my boyfriend. She is my first pet and I have had her longer than I have known my husband. I just love her so much and she is just so pretty. I wish I knew how to take a photo on here and upload it so you can see her.

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Marlinspike · 01/11/2011 19:31

Fab, I was like you, fearing how I would react when Marlinpuss died - I haven't really experienced loss either, and Marlinpuss was around for half of my life - she predated my DCs and was as old as my marriage.

Anyway, when the time came, it was not half so painful as I had feared. I just felt that her time had come, she passed away quietly and peacefully at home, and it was all very dignified and somehow right. You will of course be sad, but I hope you will recognise that Fabcat's time has come when it does, and that it really will be for the best.

Keep posting - you've lots of support and friends on here!

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 01/11/2011 19:37

I am scared to get it wrong and she is PTS too soon, but I am also terrified of her being in pain and me prolonging it as I hadn't realised.

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