Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 12/11/2011 07:49

The vet didn't want her on the higher dose if it wasn't helping. To me, she has had no change and has had one period of pooing in her room (unheard of for her) and one lot of being sick which was bile.

She is really really good at the vet. She never minds anything and only jumped last week when she was in pain when he touched her leg. This morning I dropped one of her tablets and she ate it off the floor like it was a treat! What she does do in reaction to going to the vet is she ignores me for a while once home and sleeps a lot.

Your cats resting place sounds lovely. I don't know what we will do with FABCat when she has left us. DH doesn't really want her ashes in the house as he thinks it will be too upsetting for everyone, though my cat so my final say.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 12/11/2011 11:23

The vet has left a message. I am to drop the metacam to 2.5 and he will phone me on Monday. The plan is to stop the metacam for a couple of days and start her on once weekly injections for 4 weeks. He said if he did that there would be a quick deteriation in her Sad. How can I agree to that? To me, no change whether she is on 2.5 or 5, still ripping up paper for unknown reason. Have no idea what to do for the best. She is a stoic cat. She had a stroke and adapted without us knowing. She walks even though he knees look bowed. She plays. I am worried I am doing too much medicinely with her.

OP posts:
Jux · 12/11/2011 15:37

2nd opinion time, I think, FAB.

Is he saying that he advocates giving her weekly injections as that will bring her closer to death than if he doesn't? I am a little shocked by that.

Definitely try another vet and see what they think about proposed treatment.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 12/11/2011 16:14

No, he doesn't want to do the injections to bring on her demise. He is just saying that is the plan to help with her back legs but the consequences are it will cause a problem with her kidneys. As she is doing well with her kidneys he is saying we have more leeway which I assume means she will deteriorate but we do have room to take it.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 12/11/2011 16:16

She was her old self this morning. I came out of my room and she miaowed at me to follow her. She went down one step and then stopped and looked behind to make sure I was following her Grin. I had to tell her I was coming but she would have to move or I couldn't go downstairs.

OP posts:
Jux · 13/11/2011 01:54

She was checking you were keeping her train out of the mud!

I think I understand the vet thing.

So, her kidneys are behaving quite well so there's leeway for them to deteriorate a bit. What happens if they do?

Meanwhile, her back legs are a problem which he can give her injections for, but which will act adversely on her kidneys.

That is a tough choice.

If her kidneys do deteriorate under the injections for her legs, what can he do? What are your options then?

If he doesn't do the injections, are there alternative treatments for her legs which he hasn't yet tried, and what adverse effects might they have?

Anyway,I think I'd still go for a second opinion; sometimes it's just helpful to get a different pov, and is no reflection on the vet you normally see or the treatment he advocates.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 07:39

You are spot on amd thank you for the questions, I will ask the vet those when he rings tomorrow. I get the impression the injections are the only other option and the vet has been loathe to throw too much at her due to her kidney problem. I am in the mindset of winging it for a bit with her as I am worried the paper thing isn't pain and we are giving her unnecessary problems. There isn't always a second vet available but I will bear it in mind, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 13/11/2011 18:04

FABCat just peed in the corner of the lounge Shock. She hasn't done that in years.

OP posts:
SnowChains · 13/11/2011 18:06

could well be a kidney problem if she has not done this for years.

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

Her kidneys are failing but DH just said the door to outside was shut so it could just have been that. Normally she would ask though unless she did and no one was there.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 15/11/2011 10:09

Just seen the vet. I have to take her in in a few days to start her injection course. She will have bloods and kidney tests too. She is playing with a leaf at the moment Grin.

OP posts:
Jux · 15/11/2011 11:00

Aaaw, sweet.

Ours are all basking in the strong sunlight coming through the windows. Well, actually, MadKittenAlienCatcher is annoying the other two through the medium of their tails. There'll be tears before bedtime! Ah, tears now! And much growling... Grin

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 15/11/2011 11:13

Cats really are great vlue for money, aren't they?

FABCat is asleep now. It has been a long day.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 15/11/2011 11:14

She plonked herself on my laptop on my knee earlier so I stroked her. She then bit me and scratched me and I have now come out in lumps from her scratch Hmm.

OP posts:
Jux · 15/11/2011 22:57

So, she's given you a couple of injections of her own. She knows your plans

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 16/11/2011 11:18

It is quite possible! She has been weird today and very demanding....

And wet Hmm.

OP posts:
Jux · 16/11/2011 12:28
Grin
oopslateagain · 16/11/2011 16:42

I didn't realise they could do the injections; Oopscat is on metacam too, his dose is 3 at the moment but the vet said it could be put higher if he needs it. It's good to know there is an alternative if needed.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 16/11/2011 16:47

It has given FABCat an upset tummy and no improvement in the increased dose so no point having it. I have to go off licence though for her to have the injection.

OP posts:
Jux · 16/11/2011 22:50

Oh, poor old thing. Not nice, upset tummy. (if she were human I'd prescribe live yoghurt; does it work for cats too? They're mammals after all, similar systems surely?)

I don't know about going off licence. Does this mean you have to get it from sinister figures hiding in the bushes next to the playground? Seriously, surely the vet would deal with all that?

Ah, brain just kicked in again. Like getting single vaccinations instead of mmr, you pay for the drug? No, you pay for it anyway at a vet. They don't do animals on the NHS, more's the pity. I'm wittering, sorry.

Must go to bed, my eyes won't stay open and my brain is definitely not around atm.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 17/11/2011 12:26

The drug is licensed for use with dogs but is used for cats too. Thankfully we are insured so get a lot of the expenses back. Actually I think FABCat might think she is a dog as I threw some screwed up paper into the bin and she went to get it HmmGrin. She has ripped up FABBoy's mask so he won't be happy but was told not to leave paper on the floor.

OP posts:
serotoninbutterfly · 17/11/2011 13:34

Just wanted to add my thoughts on FABcat... She is so lucky to have you! You sound like such a lovely mum Smile

I lost my 18 year old in November 2009 and it still pains me Sad he had kidney failure, went blind, ha arthritis and was, up until the end, the best and most amazing friend I ever had. I had him for as long as I could remember, and I still miss him now. He was pts when I was a few months pg and I was with him in the end... And he was so peaceful at the end, like all the problems had gone away. I still think of him playing in that daisy field and it makes me Smile

FAB, some very un-MN hugs for you.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 17/11/2011 14:08

I am sorry you lost your furry friend Sad. I cried when our hamster died Blush so I am dreading what I will be like if FABCat has to be pts.

OP posts:
Jux · 18/11/2011 21:42

Grin Half dog, half cat. It's when she brings it back, drops it at your feet and waits for you to throw it again that you have to worry.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 19/11/2011 09:19

That would make me laugh Grin.

Vet today. She is having bloods taken and probably an injection. She doesn't improve when on the meticam, the vet says the injection is bascially the same thing but cats respond better to it in injection form, so I am not convinced I am doing the right thing by her having it. I will be asking lots of questions today as I don't want to be medicating FABCat too much as well as the stress for her of going to the vet. We are going to a different surgery today and she will know.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread