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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

Waiting for the vet to ring...

72 replies

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 09:59

Beloved moggy has spent the night at the vets, trouble with her liver, yesterday it wasn't looking good.

She was doing all her usual stuff up until Friday, only noticeable symptom has been an increasing finickiness about food (but she was still jumping up on the bed and units and being her usual self) and a slight cough. I only bumped up her appointment from Thursday because she is such skinny minnie anyway and couldn't afford to lose anymore weight (at her last check up vet wasn't concerned).

Vet was supposed to ring at 9.30 and hasn't. I'm going to ring at 10, can't wait any longer.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 10:04

Keep calm. They may have had an emergency in the surgery.

leylandii · 24/09/2013 10:06

oh poor you, poor mog. Fingers crossed all will be well.

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 10:31

Finally got hold of the vet, no noticeable improvement in her jaundice since yesterday, but she is eating (she's on a drip and an anti emetic), they can give her another 24 hours and they've seen some (vet's emphasis) cats in a worse state recover but it's up to us whether to give it a go or call it quits now.

She's 14, has a HUGE purr, sleeps on either my DD or I every night and screams in our ears (part Siamese) in the mornings when she wants her breakfast.

I love her.

Waiting for the vet to call back again as after conversation with DH I want an idea of how likely it is she could die alone at the vets in that 24 hours. If it's a strong possibility then she's coming home this PM so we call all say goodbye properly here then back to the vets this evening to be put to sleep.

However much I love her I am not having her drag on for days on a drip.

OP posts:

leylandii · 24/09/2013 10:41

Sorry it is not the best of news, I think you are doing the right thing in making a decision based on not wanting her to suffer. Hard as it is though. BUT hopefully the ver thinks it is worth a 24 hour wait if he feels she could improve, and then decide rather than drag it out if the outcome is inevitable.

cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 10:45

Your vet doesn't sound hugely sympathetic, I must say, if that's a word for word of what they said. Did you get no indication of how they would recommend you proceed?

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 11:28

Cozie no that wasn't word for word what she said, that was my anger coming through because she kept skirting around the issue. I asked how many days we could keep our cat on the drip before we would have to accept it wasn't working, her answer was, "we have to look at each animal on a case by case basis." Probably true, but not helpful when I'm crying my eyes out trying to decide whether to give my cat (who they told me should be showing improvement by now) another 24 hours or not.

Basically she didn't recommend anything, it was all we can do this, or do that, but no prognosis.

Trouble is I've been here with a dog, dragging backwards and forwards to the vet trying all sorts of foods and diets until one finally said that we should put him down because he was suffering and had been for some time. My trust levels are not high.

I asked when I could ring back for an update, "Oh, you want regular updates then?"

Yes. Yes I do and I'm not sorry if I'm being a pest (I am slightly sorry if my emotions are leading me to read to much into her words).

Thank you to all who have replied, I'm going to have to go to work but will be back this afternoon.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 12:05

Of course you're not being a pest.

Have they actually said what is wrong with your girl ie the underlying problem and what they are aiming to do by treatment?

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 13:49

They're just trying to stabilise her jaundice cozietozie and they know her liver is impaired from the blood work, if they can get her jaundice under control then the first vet we spoke to said they would try and figure out if this is a sudden crash or something more long term and what could be done about it.

My gut feeling is this has been brewing for a at least a couple of weeks, we were taking her in on Thursday for a check up because despite eating pretty well (until Friday when she started being picky) and being her usual cheery self she was definitely getting thinner.

OP posts:

leylandii · 24/09/2013 15:50

Any news yet Five?

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 15:59

Hi Leylandii no change in her Jaundice but she's started trying to bite her way through her drip tube.

That is so like her it's silly (she likes biting through things, once chewed through a computer mouse cable), so if nothing else she is feeling better, but her Jaundice needs to improve. I'm ringing again tomorrow morning (wondering if we can pop in for a visit tonight, I've never had an animal in for this long, it's always been in for one day/night and out again) when apparently I will have to speak to vet #3 as neither vet#1 or vet#2 are in.

OP posts:

leylandii · 24/09/2013 16:23

Oh that is good that she is bright enough in herself to cause mischief! Always a good sign. Yes, you should be allowed to visit, I have visited my cats and dogs when they have had to stay in at the vets. Keeping everything crossed for you.

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 16:36

Thanks Leylandii, when she is hanging upside down from the roof of her pen by her claws bellowing "MARAWR!" I will completely relax, but it is a positive sign.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 17:03

I'd definitely go this evening. It will give the par of you a chance to see each other - and you a chance to talk to the vet nurse on duty.

Best of luck to her.

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 18:16

I will if my husband gets home in time (he's got the car), regardless I'm going to go and see her tomorrow morning whether she is on the mend or not, after that we'll see. If I have to face putting her to sleep then my plan remains as agreed with the vet, take her home for an afternoon of cuddles and spoiling with her favorite tit bits before taking her back.

If she's going to go I want her to go with me holding her and stuffed full as she can hold (probably not much) with prawns and salmon.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 18:31

I appreciate your reasoning but if she's feeling lousy, is there any point in making her undergo two car journeys (home and back again) ?

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 18:55

That's a fair point, the Vet was happy with the idea when I brought it up this morning. I'll discuss it with them, if necessary, tomorrow morning.

I really want her to come home, but not if it's going to cause her more distress than staying.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/09/2013 19:01

All the best, anyway. I'll keep my fingers crossed that she rallies. Seniorby is a bit older than her and he's hanging on in there.

LaundryFairy · 24/09/2013 19:07

We paid our vet to put our much-loved cat to sleep at home. I couldn't face saying goodbye to her in the place she hated most! Might be worth asking your vet if they could do the same for you, so no trip back to the vet.

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 24/09/2013 19:28

LaundryFairy, my MIL's vet has come out to do it for her before (she fosters and adopts for Cats Protection and has a lot of cats) but it hadn't even occurred to me. I will definitely ask if it becomes necessary.

Thanks for mentioning it

OP posts:

timtam23 · 24/09/2013 21:23

So sorry to hear about your cat. It's a really difficult decision to make. I had to have my 18 year old cat put to sleep last week after she started to go downhill (kidney failure) - fortunately the 2 vets who saw her towards the end were both very caring and not too "clinical" in how they spoke about her. She was PTS at the vets as we have other pets and small children at home & I worried that they might be upset by the vet turning up. After it was done and she had died, I think it was in fact easier to stroke her & say my goodbyes to her at the vets and then leave - I would have hated it if she had been at the house & someone would have then had to take her body away from me.

I hope the news is better for you & that you are able to make the right decision at the right time for her

CatOfTheDay · 24/09/2013 22:36

Poor cat - any news?

My kitten had hepatitis when she was 6, she decided to come down with it on a Friday evening on the bank holiday weekend so lots of emergency vet fees followed - she had really bad jaundice and went from normal to death's door in a matter of hours.

She had to stay in on a drip for nearly a week - she loved it when I visited and meowed really loud, the vet nurse said it was the only noise she made apart from purring! She also charmed all the vet staff to bits, they missed her when I eventually brought her home.

She made a full recovery (after lots of pills for a few weeks) and is now the same age as your girl - really hope yours is feeling better xx

ZebraOwl · 24/09/2013 23:16

Everything crossed that your girl does respond well to treatment & you don't have to face having her PTS yet

Original poster

FiveExclamations · 25/09/2013 07:24

Hello all, lovely of you to be keeping an eye on my thread.

No news until 8.30am at the earliest and I'm hoping I can get in to see her later in the morning.

timtam23 We have a big garden so we always bring our pets home and bury them in the garden, so one way or another she will come home. It's very much a what works for your family thing, I have friends who leave them there and others who have ashes. So sorry to hear about your cat, but I'm glad that your vets supported you well.

CatOfTheDay I'm so glad your cat recovered. The Vet has been a bit "how long is a piece of string" about how long my cat could be on the drip. We are going to have to balance her age against the likelihood of recovery and how she's coping with being at the vets. It is hellish, the last cat we lost was 18 and was clearly shutting down so we definitely knew we were doing the right thing. It will come down to what the vet says when we talk at 8.30, after that I'll have to make the decision as she is primarily my cat.

Thank you again all.

OP posts:

Putitonthelist · 25/09/2013 07:28

Thinking of you and hoping you get some positive news today

LaundryFairy · 25/09/2013 08:21

Also thinking of you and hoping for good news soon.

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