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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

Support Topic for those with elderly or ill cats?

219 replies

QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 03/01/2018 11:48

Is there any interest in a topic for those with elderly or ill cats?

GrumpyOldCat is 19.5y, and is currently fighting to get over suspected stress(christmas)-induced cystitis. (on top of his other acquired issues - hyperthyroidism, blindness, arthritis, bad teeth).

He is so skinny now, but now on pain-meds, he seems to be comfortable and back to being inquisitive (and happy?) again. His appetite has completely returned.

Every time he is ill, i start thinking "is this it?" "are we being cruel?", but then he starts to cat about like normal. And being his normal (albeit slower) inquisitive cheeky self. And now i feel mean for even considering it.

I suspect this is his last year (though I have said that for the last 4 years ......).

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ForgiveMeFatherForIHaveGinned · 04/01/2018 21:05

So glad to have found this thread! And sorry to hear about everyone’s poorly kitties ☹️

My cat Betty has an overactive thyroid and is now on lifetime medication. She also has a cyst that needs operating on but she’s currently too weak for surgery. Which means the cyst bursts every now and then - creating the most foul smell! She’s currently lying on my lap having a hot saline compress on the burst cyst.

I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that she keeps on going a while longer yet!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 04/01/2018 21:08

I don’t have any children either, I found Mumsnet when I was looking for cat advice!

I hope your boy gets on ok at the vets, let us know.

They are such a worry, Harry was there three times over Christmas and that’s impressive even for him!

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 04/01/2018 21:46

Same here llyer

ForgiveMe GrumpyOldCat is also on thyroid meds. T4 test every 3 months.
Hope Betty gets stronger soon.

Do your cats always time there illnesses for the best timing? About 10pm new years eve is when GrumpyOldCat started peeing blood. When no one is able to drive him anywhere. Luckily 7am new year's day, the roads are very quiet when I take him to the expensive 24hr vet hospital.

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PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/01/2018 09:24

Harry hurt his leg on Christmas Eve. Had it been a normal Sunday I would have kept an eye on him and taken him to his normal vet on Monday. We ended up at the out of hours vet where he proceeded to jump UP on the table when the vet put him on the floor to try to get him to walk!

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 05/01/2018 09:29

Sorry pink that made me laugh!

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SagelyNodding · 05/01/2018 10:34

Harry is a superstar! Over here the sharting seems to have stopped with a diet of plain white fish and a return to his special sensitive stomach kibble... He decided to spend the night outside and refused to come in this morning-I think he was trying to impress his new cat friend from over the road Hmm

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 05/01/2018 11:00

Great news Sagely!

question for @summersgoneaway (hopefully i've done the link thing right there....
Did you cat lose his eyesight quickly ? has he adjusted well? I think GrumpyOldCat eyesight is even worse now..... he makes us panic whenever he tried to jump down from the arm of the chair (he still likes climbing up their though Hmm. He often "paws into space" , and bumps into things often. But he mostly navigates well.

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Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 05/01/2018 13:09

after a few blood-free pees...... blood still there during the last one Hmm

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WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 06/01/2018 10:15

Joining this thread for a hand-hold. Our beautiful boy cat 15 was diagnosed with pancreatitis last Xmas and has been on a special diet and medication ever since. Sadly his health has continued to decline and he's been vomiting two or three times a week after meals. Now he won't leave his bed, yowls if we try to pick him up and wants to be left alone. He won't even look up when we come into the room.
We took him to the vet's just before this Xmas when he vomited blood but their view was keep him on the medicine because he didn't have a temp or a distended tummy. Anyhow, last night he brought up his tea again and looked utterly miserable and we realised it may well be time.
So we're off to the vet's at noon - she's kindly booked us in for the last appointment of the morning, so we won't be rushed. We're all utterly heartbroken and I feel so conflicted - I'm in tears writing this - but I also know it would be selfish to continue treatment when he's obviously suffering. I just hope we're doing the right thing. Sad

Toddlerteaplease · 06/01/2018 10:51

So sorry to hear that Oliviapope. One of my cats got pancreatitis almost a year ago. She was critically ill and wasn't expected to survive. Amazingly she made a full recovery. But it was awful seeing her so Ill and in so much pain. She was on morphine and ketamine. Hand hold and ThanksThanks for you, but it sounds like the only thing you can do.

ForgiveMeFatherForIHaveGinned · 06/01/2018 10:52

Olivia so sad to hear about your poor boy. Sending you my best wishes and hope that the vets can still help Flowers

WhatWouldOliviaPopeDo · 06/01/2018 14:09

Thank you for your kind messages Forgive and Toddler. On examining our boy today the vet found a lump on his pancreas that she was certain was a tumour, so we made the decision to let him go rather than force him to endure more invasive tests. We are utterly heartbroken but appreciated being able to say goodbye properly with our DD8 (she stayed outside with me during the final bit while my DP was with him). I can't stop crying but am trying to remind myself he's no longer suffering.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/01/2018 14:25

I’m so sorry Olivia Flowers

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 06/01/2018 15:20

So sorry Olivia. He is at peace now, after the wonderful life you gave him.

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user1471465047 · 06/01/2018 15:33

Sadly we have just lost our 21 year old cat this morning. She was blind and lost the use of her back legs last night. She had a good quality of life pretty much right to the end though.

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 06/01/2018 20:40

So sorry userFlowers. 21 years is a good age, but doesn't make the loss any easier.

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PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/01/2018 21:11

I’m so sorry user Flowers

Toddlerteaplease · 06/01/2018 22:37

So sorry to both of you. I'm sure you both gave them wonderful lives.

Emmeline50 · 07/01/2018 01:05

So sorry to hear Olivia and User. I am also sure you gave them wonderful lives.

Weedsnseeds1 · 07/01/2018 01:31

You are best placed to know when your cat has had enough. Old girl was PTS new year's eve two years ago, she was heading for 21, had been old, doddery, a bit senile, struggling with litter tray, but basically not too bad for an ancient cat.
She stopped eating, turned into a furry rag within 24 hours and really, nothing I could do. She needed to go with dignity.
How do you honestly think your cat is? If enjoying life with a few restrictions, all well and good. If struggling and there's no possible medical intervention, then you need to make the hard decision to be kind.

Weedsnseeds1 · 07/01/2018 01:39

Blindness, I think cats, in the whole adjust quite well. They have whiskers and guard hairs, so it's not quite like a blind human.
If your cat seems happy and well in herself, then play it by ear.

TheSpottedZebra · 08/01/2018 14:13

Anyone have experience of cats not perking up after a debate op? My cat had 5 teeth out last Tues, and he picked up, but then went downhill. He's barely eaten yesterday and nothing today. He's just sitting on his own, looking REALLY down.

We're at the vets at 5, but I am wondering if anyone has been here before and can give me any advice, or more truthfully, hope? I lost his brother a few months ago. He's 16.

Toddlerteaplease · 08/01/2018 16:34

There was a post about this a couple of months ago. I think it turned out that the cat had a kidney issue that had been made worse by the surgery. I think he was ok in the end though. Hope he gets better soon.

LittleCandle · 08/01/2018 16:50

CandleCat2 is taking thyroid meds. I wish my bloody GP was as accomodating as my vet, as they are messing about with my thyroid meds and ignoring everything I say! My old boy is 15 now and I had to have CandleCat1 put to sleep in November, completely out of the blue. 2 is grieving and sometimes is so desperately needy that it breaks my heart. He started on Metacam the other week and it make him puke (that's a problem already, so this was bad news). I rang the vet today and they advised me to stop giving it (already had stopped) and they are going to look for an alternative tomorrow. my bloody GP told me to get more bloods done

I suspect that CandleCat2 might not have that much longer to live. He's all right, but not himself. Perhaps when he is over grieving, and the weather is better, I might see an improvement. Right now, I am not overly hopeful.

TheSpottedZebra · 08/01/2018 19:47

Oh CandleI feel like we're in similar situations. Hope your boy picks up soon.

I went to vet - he was dehydrated so has had some fluid, he's had an antibiotic, a painkiller and an appetite booster (antihistamine which does this). He said to try him on food in 1 hour. He ignored his food Sad. I'm now not feeling very good about this, and I am very worried.

If he's jot eaten overnight, then it's not pain from his dental op (not debate as I typoed before).

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