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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 · 31/05/2011 10:44

FabCat has had a stroke SadSadSad.

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PinotGrigiosKittens · 31/05/2011 11:49

Oh God FAB. How is she? Is she home with you?

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 31/05/2011 12:12

I just went crazy as I couldn't find her anyway and she is out the front in the light rain.

Yes, she is home. The vet did lots of tests and said she has had a stroke but has learnt to adapt and as she is a small animal she is doing okay. It could be linked to her neurological problem but we don't know.

He has given her an antibiotic in case she has cystitis which is causing the leaking of urine and I can take her back in 2 weeks if she is no better. He was actually quite pleased with her and doesn't need to see her for 2 months as long as she is okay.

She has lost some weight but not too much.

I feel devastated that we didn't know she had had a stroke but I can't watch her 24 hours a day. I have been known to bring her inside but she likes being out so it seems mean to do so.

I have just been doing loads of housework as I would be googling strokes in cats and scaring myself other wise. I can't believe we didn't know SadBlush.

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PinotGrigiosKittens · 31/05/2011 12:17

Oh FAB! Phew. My cavalier had a stroke and we didn't know - I was told they have them in their sleep, so nothing to see I don't think. Our cav has made a full recovery on that front anyway, so fingers crossed for her. DONT GOOGLE.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 31/05/2011 12:33

I won't. I wish she would come in though. I think she is confused as it is the school holidays and she gets thrown out of her routine.

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Jux · 31/05/2011 23:27

FAB, I'm so sorry, and I've been so busy with half term and an assignment due that I have hardly been on the computer at all for days.

Don't google, I once googled uveitis as I was suffering repeated bouts; I found a support site and they all said that if you didn't have the treatment you would go blind, but that the treatment caused blindness anyway. I was almost hysterical, and when I went to my next appt a few days later, I was crying so much I couldn't even tell the ophthalmologist what was wrong. He sat holding my hand and stroking my shoulder for over 10 minutes before I could speak. Needless to say, it was all bollocks!

Don't guilt-trip yourself.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 01/06/2011 08:39

I did google as I knew my thinking would be worse and it was quite hopeful and not scary. Strokes in cats are a lot milder than in humans and cats usually recover in a few weeks. As FabCat has arthritis as well I think she might always have trouble with her legs but tbh she is getting about okay and only occasionally needs help so I think she will be okay. Just her other problems to deal with Sad.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 02/06/2011 10:12

Sad I had to lift FabCat up onto the chair this morning as she couldn't work out how to get up. Having to prepare the kids more and more. FabCat is sleeping lots and this morning she scared me half to death when I saw her on the floor in a position and place she doesn't normally sleep. DH cleaned the sofa last night so we have covered it in stuff to keep her off it until we know for sure she isn't leaking urine. Come on FabCat, we need you with us.

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Jux · 03/06/2011 11:48

Sad so sorry FAB.

Can you cover the sofa with a throw or something so she can still lie on it and you wash the thing if necessary?

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 03/06/2011 16:06

I need to get one. She is on the sofa next to me now as I can't bear to put her off until I get a cover. DH has cleaned the sofa but it still smells a bit. She eventually ate her breakfast today. She didn't eat her tea yesterday.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 03/06/2011 21:26

Why does my cat smell? She never used too Sad.

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SparklyCloud · 04/06/2011 19:55

Cats in kidney failure can smell.
My worry from reading the whole thread is the not eating. I let my old girl eat what ever she wanted near the end.
If she hates the renal food, I would drop it, honestly, let her eat what she likes. This stuff is fantastic, my cat would only eat eat this at the end www.hilifepet.co.uk/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/192

Also, Pets at home sell this food , another high quaklity food that fussy cats love.I would be trying her on these foods. They are full of great quality meat, and I have never know a cat refuse them.
Sometimes vets go by the book without looking at the full picture.
If she were eating the renal diet - great, it would be doing its stuff. But she is not and does not like it.

If she were my cat, I would be feeing her good quality normal diet, and not stressing her by giving the meds. Once she is tempted and eating I would be then slipping the fit tablet into the food.

You would hate to look back on the last part of her life, spent messing her around with different foods, some she hates, and stressing her with trying to force tablets down her.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 04/06/2011 20:03

Thank you for posting Smile.

My vet agrees with me that a shorter but happier life on normal food is better than longer but stressful for her and missing meals.

Currently we are buying normal - high end - food and not worrying about renal food and have given up on 2 of her 4 tablets. She really needs the other 2 tablets so we get those in her but one we put on her plate and leave it up to her. The other one we don't bother with until she has refused 2 meals on the trot.

I love her. I can't bear the thought of her dying. I love her. She means every thing to me. I left my ex and left all my stuff and just took her. She saved me. I love her Blush.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 04/06/2011 20:09

She hasn't eaten much of her posh Waitrose tea Sad.

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5inthebed · 04/06/2011 20:25

Oh Fab :(

Just saw this thread in active and read through it. Hope Fabcat pulls through ok.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 04/06/2011 20:26

She is asleep at the moment. She does that a lot. She won't get better. It is all about managing her. Thanks for your good wishes.

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SparklyCloud · 04/06/2011 21:13
Sad Have been where you are. Its awful. Like you, mine were there through everything, the one constant. Try the foods i linked to. just because she is leaving the Waitrose one doesn't mean she will leve everything.

I tried almost every food available, until I discovered Hi-life. Also, I used to buy a ready cooked hot chicken every 2 days, and give that as well as the high life. And small pieces of frozen cod/haddock cooked in the microwave and smeared with butter. Oh, and mine went from 2 meals a day to several. Sometimes once an hour if I was at home. Just a small desert spoonful on the dish, warmed slightly in the microwave to take the chill off. Also the warmed food smells more and tempts older cats more as their sense of smell and taste has reduced.
Do you warm the food at the moment?

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 04/06/2011 21:26

I am not warming her food. I think we did a long time ago and she hated it. I will bear it in mind though if she goes off her food again. I feel like crying.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 04/06/2011 21:27

She always has biscuits down in case she gets hungry when I am out.

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SparklyCloud · 04/06/2011 21:31

God its just so stressful isn't it?

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 04/06/2011 21:48

It is and I feel so stupid as she is only a cat. I mean, I have had 2 miscarriages but she means everything to me. God that sounds so bad.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 04/06/2011 21:48

Is she smelling because she is near the end?

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SparklyCloud · 05/06/2011 13:20

I wouldnt necessarily think thats the first reason. The kidneys flush waste from the body, if they are not working 100%, waste will come throught he skin and breath. HAs the vet checked her teeth? I would have thought that was one of the fist things the vet did check, as bad teeth make cats not want to eat, and can make them smell.

And she is not 'only' a cat. Thats what people who are not like us, say Smile

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 05/06/2011 13:38

Hello

Yes, the vet has checked her teeth and said they are in really good condition for a cat of her age.

She is asleep on the kitchen chair and as I cleaned around her I could smell her.

She has eaten her breakfast though Smile.

She is sleeping most of the time now.

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SparklyCloud · 05/06/2011 13:42

The sleeping is normal for older cats. Has she stopped grooming herself altogether now?