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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.

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 05/06/2011 13:45

You poor thing, what a worrying time. She is not only a cat she's family x

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 05/06/2011 13:59

No she still washes herself. I watched her the other day lick her paw then clean her head and ears. So cute. I am struggling at the moment mentally and this is really getting me down tbh. She is my furry comforter.

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SparklyCloud · 05/06/2011 14:49

Ah, see, the washing herself says a lot. You know they go on about quality of life, will to live, giving up etc? Self grooming would say that she has not given up! It shows will to live and interest in life - I would be most happy if my older cat still washed herself Smile They can't do the back end so well with arthritis, but can do the face etc.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 05/06/2011 15:08

I am certain she still has quality of life. She plays with her toy. She swipes at and bites me. She demands food when she deigns to eat. And we still have the daily tussle when she forgets that the right side is my side of the sofa. Even if it does stink of cat pee even though DH has cleaned it.

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Jux · 06/06/2011 09:19

Ah FAB, there is no such thing as only a cat. Cats are people too, and she is part of your family. It is so hard saying goodbye and watching someone decline, worrying that they're not eating; you feel that the least you can do is feed them, but sometimes you just can't.

I think SparklyCloud is right, though. Give her whatever food she'll eat and make her as happy as you can. She sounds like she does still have quality of life. Does she like being groomed? Have you a cat brush? Some take enormous comfort from that.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 06/06/2011 17:05

She did eat her breakfast eventually but she wasn't impressed. I have just given her a Hi Life sachet which she hasn't had before and she has walked off after eating 2-3 mouthfuls.

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SparklyCloud · 06/06/2011 20:02

Oh no Sad
Does she eat a fair bit of dry food? If you look on the packet it says how much an average cat needs a day and it is not a lot at all, like a handful...maybe she is getting all she needs there and if you stopped the dry she may wolf down the wet?

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

The dry biscuits are also renal and she usually just has a small handful at bed time. The vet has okayed them being down all the time and tbh she doesn't have much of them either. DH was eating some left over roast chicken and she was sniffing around for it and had a piece Grin.

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Jux · 06/06/2011 22:20

Treats then, whenever you can. Your chicken, meat, fish etc. give her a bit as and when. She's like most cats, and likes human food!

Don't give up on the Hi Life while you've got it though. She may not have been that hungry, or she may have felt a little suspicious of something new, or she may have been able to smell something better.......

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 07/06/2011 09:54

She has eaten some breakfast. Another cat messed in our garden a few days ago and there is a very strong smell of urine out the front so I suspect another cat is trying to mark her scent and that could stress out FabCat Sad. She asleep on the sofa at the moment.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 07/06/2011 16:12

Chicken and duck for tea, refused Sad.

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SparklyCloud · 07/06/2011 18:20

Do you have the Feliway plug in, willr educe any stress caused by another cat outside.

how about some fresh fish cooked in milk, and some butter spread over it, or some chicken liver cooked until soft. Their sense of taste and smell goes as they age, so something strong to tempt her?

SparklyCloud · 07/06/2011 18:22

Oh and baby food jars, chicken or lamb and veg dinners, warmed gently and licked off your finger, have done that and my old girl loved it. Also thick creamy greek yougurt.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 07/06/2011 18:29

I don't have the plug in. I am trying to reduce her stress by keeping the baby away from touching her all the time and letting her sleep where she wants instead of moving her out of my seat

I am going shopping tomorrow to get her some food and will buy all the suggestions. Thank you.

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SparklyCloud · 07/06/2011 19:02

Its worth a try Smile you might just stumble upon that one thing she loves. My cat would have a third of a jar of baby food at a time licked off my finger.Doesn't seem a lot but stops their tummies being empty.
Out of interest how much renal food do you think she eats in a day? Could it be this she is surviving on?I have never had only the one cat so found it really hard to monitor daily food and water intake due to the others eating some of it.

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 07/06/2011 19:06

She isn't having an wet renal food at the moment but she is having a handful of renal biscuits at bed time. She didn't eat last nights tea but she did eat breakfast today.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 09/06/2011 16:26

FabCat is fickle. After biting me several times she finally took her medication and then refused to eat her tea and had her breakfast instead.

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Jux · 09/06/2011 19:22

She's still got personality then Grin

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 09/06/2011 19:25

Oh yes. I felt very told off when I got back with the kids from school and FabCat was sat up on the drive rather than laid down Grin.

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Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 09/06/2011 20:59

Just watched her go off to bed and she seemed to be walking very lightly on her paws Sad[worried] Probably just normal for her now, yes??

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SparklyCloud · 14/06/2011 20:26

How is she now?

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 14/06/2011 20:47

Hi

Still refusing renal food so we have been giving her normal. The really expensive stuff. Grin. She has just been washing herself and was sunning herself in the garden this morning. Still sleeping a lot.

Thanks for asking Smile.

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SparklyCloud · 14/06/2011 22:18

Aw sounds like she's plodding along just fine :)

Jux · 15/06/2011 00:50

Sounds like she's having a nice time. Of course she'd only have the expensive stuff, she's a cat!

Original poster
TheOriginalFAB · 15/06/2011 12:24

LOL.

She bought her some gold standard food. I'm having salad Grin.

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