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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

Bit of hand holding

23 replies

RightsaidFreud · 23/09/2013 10:11

Took our old lady cat (19, nearly 20!) into the vet this morning as she's been having head tremors. The vet suggested she have some blood work done, and I've had to leave her there whilst they do it. They have said they will try their up most not to use anesthetic because of her age, but if she becomes distressed they may have to use a little. I'm worried sick, I wasn't expecting to have to leave her there Can phone at 2pm to find out when I can go pick her up.

OP posts:

JerseySpud · 23/09/2013 10:22

Oh hun :(

I'm keeping everything crossed for you that shes going to be ok xxx

cozietoesie · 23/09/2013 10:25

Feels awful doesn't it? Try not to worry too much though Right. I know that for Seniorboy (nearly 19), having blood taken is just the worst of the worst and although he won't claw or bite, he wriggles so much after his shave that even an experienced vet and chief vet nurse can't manage to get more than a teaspoonful or two.

I'm fully expecting that when he comes to have it taken next (probably in a couple of months) the vet will have to use a bit of anaesthetic. Your girl may not get a GA as such, maybe just a little whiff of something to relax her - but they'll likely need to keep an eye on her for an hour or two just to be safe so not a quick in and out.

Best of luck and let us know how she gets on.

Original poster

RightsaidFreud · 23/09/2013 10:35

Thanks Jersey and Cozie The vet nurse did say they wouldn't give her the same stuff as if she was having surgery or teeth out, but maybe a little bit of gas, as you said, to relax her. I guess it's the bit of shock of having to leave her there too. Just hoping the next few hours don't drag, but as with these types of things, it probably will!

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TheWinterOne · 23/09/2013 10:36

Keeping fingers crossed for you. It's horrible leaving your pet at the vets - especially overnight.

My girl went to be spayed last night and I was worried in case I was told she had to stay in overnight. I was told to ring at 2pm and she would be fine. I was on pins till then. 2pm couldn't come quick enough.

Hope all goes well and you get to the bottom of what the problem is.

TheWinterOne · 23/09/2013 10:39

I mean last week not last night

ZebraOwl · 23/09/2013 11:28

Oh blodyn...

Everything crossed for your OLC will be ok at the vet's today (& that the investigations don't turn up anything horrible) & that at tw you'll be getting a call to say she's just grand & you can get her home to spoil her rotten soon after that.

Waiting is hard. Gah.

Original poster

RightsaidFreud · 23/09/2013 12:26

Thanks everyone, time always goes so slowly with things like this! We have no idea about her history, only that she belonged originally to one of our neighbours, but spent 8 years living outside, as she was too scarred to go in their house due to their dogs. She adopted us and our other two cat rascals. We've noticed she drinks a lot, so the vet said not to be surprised if she might a kidney issues, but we're just keen to know so if she needs any treatment we can give her the best. The head tremors he said may be something to do with her balance, or perhaps diabetes, but he said he'll know more when the blood tests are back.

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cozietoesie · 23/09/2013 12:42

That'll likely be a couple of days so getting her back will only ease the tension for you a bit.

You're giving her great attention in her sunset years, Right.

Original poster

RightsaidFreud · 23/09/2013 17:10

Just been to pick her up, and she was a little star apparently, no need for any anesthesia. Think she has the hump with me though, she came home and ran straight under the bed! Managed to coax her out with some chicken and now she's fast asleep on our bed. Need to call the vets in 2 days for the results. Just so glad she home safe and sound. Will update when her bloods are back if people are interested

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cozietoesie · 23/09/2013 17:22

Oh well done her. (More than could be said for Seniorboy, I fear.)

Best of luck for the bloods. Let us know how it goes.

ZebraOwl · 23/09/2013 21:49

Glad she's safely home (& that she behaved so well!) & hope blood results don't show anything ScaryBad: please do let us know

Original poster

RightsaidFreud · 24/09/2013 18:09

Vet called us with her results today (very fast!) and considering her age he's pleased with her results. Her kidney levels are slightly raised, but absolutely nothing to indicate any kind of kidney failure, but it's something we'll keep an eye on. Her thyroid levels are within the normal range, but on the high side of the normal range. He recommend we re-test in 3 months time to see if it's changed or remains the same.

We're just relieved that it was nothing too scary. Her head tremors seem to have totally stopped now, but the vet said if they come back, to take her back.

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cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 18:33

Now that is good news, Right. Shall she be given an extra treat tonight?

Original poster

RightsaidFreud · 24/09/2013 18:58

Absolutely, some chicken and cat milk are certainly in order. and a big cuddle of course

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cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 18:59

TamzinGrey · 24/09/2013 21:21

Great news, you must be so relieved, and how brilliant to know that she isn't suffering from any of the usual old cat diseases.

Our old girl also belonged to a neighbour before she adopted us. She was shut outside with access only to their garage after they had a new baby. She'd lived with them for 15 years, since she was a kitten.

ZebraOwl · 24/09/2013 23:32

Oh RightsaidFreud, am so pleased to hear the results were so much better than expected! I hope the tremors were Just One Of Those Odd Things & that the retests in 3 months go ok too

While obviously it's splendid that your Old Girl found a loving home with you TamzinGrey it makes me so angry that people will treat animals as her original humans treated her. Rawrgh!

cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 23:38

Given her age, Right, I'm just wondering whether her tremors could have been the after effect of a small stroke? Seniorboy had what I now think was a little stroke (about 9 or 10 months ago if I recall) and recovered completely as far as I can see.

timtam23 · 24/09/2013 23:54

Right - glad she is back safe & sound with you - good luck for the blood results

Tamsin - that's awful about your old girl being cast aside, my old cats were & are part of the family, they got much less attention after the babies arrived but it would never have entered my head to turn them out of the house

Original poster

RightsaidFreud · 25/09/2013 17:36

Thanks everyone for your kind comments and support. It's so lovely to have somewhere to come and talk about these things with like minded cat lovers! Cozie I did wonder that, but the vet said there would be no way of knowing without brain scans etc, and seeing as she seems to be ok now, it wasn't something i wanted to put her through. She's been a little timid since she came home the other day, but she's slowly getting her confidence back, chicken is helping!

Tamzin this is exactly what happened with this old girl and her original owners but it was new dogs, not babies. She was so scared to go anywhere near their door, so she lived outside for 8 years. They would put food out for her, but i can't bare to think of her outside never being able to get a good nights sleep and never have a cuddle. She's so affectionate. So glad she chose us.

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cozietoesie · 25/09/2013 17:48

His fearfulness was what alerted me to Seniorboy's problem. He seems to be fine now, though, and my understanding is that cats recover from small strokes incredibly well - even, apparently, fully.

I'd agree that there's no point in investigating, particularly given her age, but thought I'd mention it because if it was, it may never recur - or at any rate, not so as to matter to her.

Glad she's improving.

ZebraOwl · 25/09/2013 23:58

Am glad to hear that she's perking back up.

Absolutely disgusting her previous owners behaved as they did, though obviously am glad for you all that she came to live with you in the end. I find it so sad that there seem to be so many people out there who shouldn't be allowed to be in charge of a wheelbarrow but have pets & fail to care for them properly. Ech.

TamzinGrey · 26/09/2013 07:56

Right - 8 years living outside! That's awful, poor little thing. Ours was banished from her house for about 3 years, and like you I get really upset thinking about what it must have been like for her, as she is so affectionate and talkative, and she craves human company.

Your girl was so lucky to have found such a loving home in which to spend her twilight years. I'm always trying to make up to mine for her bad years, and I'm willing to bet that you're the same!

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