Support Topic for those with elderly or ill cats?

[QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares]

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 ......).

My 17 year old lady had 4 teeth out and very sadly went rapidly down hill and was pts,!cried buckets!

Oh no, lyn that's sad to hear. Did you find out what had gone wrong? Was it the operation, did she rally at all?

Zebra i hope your guy picks up. CandleCat2 is eating and drinking, but he's not got a great appetite. He seems okay in himself, but his behaviour is not the same. He never used to be in - now he's seldom out.

Our lady fat cat was originally diagnosed with lymphoma (bowels) after an ultrasound. But then she improved on the palliative care we were giving her, so vet now thinks inflammatory bowel disease.

She had radiotherapy for thyroid a few years ago. I was giving her injections every other day, but we've moved to tablets.

But tonight she's vomited all over the kitchen. So much vomit. Not sure of she's absorbing the anti-sickness tablet properly.

So looks like back to vets again this week. She's 12.

Zebra, if he won't eat. Could you get some Royal Canin recovery formula abs syringe feed it to him. I had to do it with Snorg when she was ill. Until she had a feeding tube fitted.

Our little guy seems to be picking up a bit. He’s got much more of an appetite, though he does lick up all the gravy and then only later eat his food. I’m pretty sure he’s gained weight too so that’s a relief. I’m still worried about him and we are going away for two weeks so that’s stressful as well. We are going to get him to the vet before we go, and he has a cat sitter coming each day we are gone. I feel so guilty when we leave!

Fx for all the poorly cats. Vet has just prescribed antibiotics for GrumpyOldCat. But he is eating well now and his weight has gone from 2.9kg to 3.09kg in a week. Part of that would be dehydration though. He started pulling his fur out, so although better not completely out of the woods.

When GrumpyOldCat doesn't want to eat we resort to:

1. Hand feeding him, even if it is getting him to lick pate or gravy from our fingers.
2. Microwaving small portions- only needs 10-15 sec.
3. Open fresh packets, the smellier the food the better.
4. Poaching a chicken breast for him(gently simmer for 10 minutes, then leave in pan for another 10 minutes. Cut in to small pieces, but also offer him the poaching water to drink.

The chicken test is the ultimate test of how ill he really is. He absolutely loves it. You can do the same for salmon or trout, but be careful with bones.

Queen good to hear that your boy has put on a bit of weight - great sign!

Grotto sorry to hear about the vomit. When are you back at vets?

My cat didn't improve overnight unfortunately. He ate nothing, so the appetite stimulant /painkiller combo didn't do it. We had another app this morning, and he's now had to go to the vet hospital for fluids and another blood test. If it's not just sore mouth, it could be hepatic lipidosis from his not eating, or pancreatitis. I'll be honest, my hopes of him coming home are very low.

It's awful. First time in decades that I've not had a cat at home. It feels very quiet and empty.

Zebra

wishing the best for you. 4 years ago, Grumpy was rushed to hospital for severe dehydration, no appetite, lethargy, and drooling.

after a drip and antibiotics, it was found to be a bad tooth. he pulled through the surgery, and we did have to slowly persuade him to eat agin, but he pulled through.

2 years ago, Grumpy decided not to eat for best part of a week. No apparent reason found by the vet, who concluded it was a virus. We did every thing we could to get him to eat anything. We were measuring it in tea spoons of food per day. Day 6 he suddenly decided he was hungry again.

My point is, they scare us, and they can't tell us whats wrong. But don't automatically think of the worst.

Best wishes to you all and your furry overlords

Queen, glad to hear that Grumpy is putting on some weight. Even if it’s just reversing the dehydration, that’s a very good thing

Is there kitty equivalent of sudocream that you you can use on raw skin where they have been pulling their fur out? If he doesn't stop soon, it might get quite sire

Or sore even

Zebra how is your cat now? So sorry to hear he didn't improve.

LittleCandle thank you so much for asking. I had to say goodbye to him a few hours ago.
I'm gutted. It was the right thing to do, but it is so so sad.

We lost his bro in October, and already the house feels so empty. I hope CandleCat2 rallies and that you have much happy and healthy time together.

I am so sorry Zebra

I'm so sorry, Zebra. It is so difficult. CandleCat1 went in November and he hadn't really been ill before hand, just not quite himself and a bit thin, but nothing out of the ordinary for his age.

CandleCat2 has just started on Tramadol tonight, so we'll see if that helps him at all.

Can I join?

I've just registered with the nearest Blue Cross vet as I'm currently receiving benefits and two of my cats are having ongoing digestive issues. I can't afford to go to the regular vet anymore as one of my cats constantly has something wrong with him - he's had two ear problems with them swelling up and needing constant draining

I'm taking them next Tuesday to register and be checked over.

Zebra so sorry to hear about your cat. And all the other poorly cats on here. It's a constant worry isn't it? I've had cats all my life, they've always been sickly, I seem to be very unlucky. And I've always fed high quality food, researched what I fed them, low grain etc But I love them to bits. I became a single mother two years ago and have struggled to afford them (plus finding rental properties that will accept them!) But i wouldn't be without them.

Poor old CandleCat2 is stoned out of his skull! He is utterly unable to settle and his eyes are dilated, which is weird, as they never normally dilate at all. I suspect he might be seeing things as well. I don't think I'll be giving him Tramadol twice a day! I foresee another phone call to the vet!

CandleCat, Grotto, Llyer how are your furry ones today?

I think I am gonna say it..... I think GrumpyOldCat is back to normal. No visible blood in pee since Monday, and I think he stopped pulling his fur on Wednesday.

I hope he is happy for adding years to my life....., he will get chicken tonight.

The only issue recently discovered, is I am fairly sure an intruder cat has been in the house in the night eating his dry food. Ah well. We have both coped with that before.

Hi, my cat is only 10 but dying of sarcoma in her chest cavity, I'm giving her steroids & liquid paraffin every day.

So she's still quite lively, peeing pooing & eating, I'm not letting her outside now as she's too vulnerable though.

Basically she's very skinny with a large tumour & im monitoring her closely for signs of pain.

It's so sad as she helped me through depression & is my reason to get up when I'm not at work.

I'm glad GrumpyOldCat is feeling better, but I'm so sorry to hear your cat is very ill, latara.

CandleCat2 was finally able to settle into his basket yesterday morning after 8. I suspect he had been up all night, pacing the floor. His eyes were still dilated when I got up. I haven't given him any more Tramadol and will ring the vet on Monday afternoon (was in work all day yesterday). He was utterly exhausted yesterday but seems better today.

Sorry to hear about your cat latara, she is beautiful.

It sounds as if today, she is a happy cat.

Fx for CandleCat.

Here (hopefully) is a photo of GrumpyOldCat. I wouldn't call him a beautiful cat ! But he still has his cheeky personality, even if he is a lot slower and creamier than he used to be.

Creamier????? Creakier!

Aw, he's sweet, too. I perhaps spoke to soon about CandleCat. He's just been sick (the bane of my life) and I have to assume its because I am out of his antacid tablets. I had forgotten they were short of some and since I give them to him first thing in the morning, I am not terribly awake and didn't notice. It is not easy keeping on top of his issues at the moment.

I have a pill organiser. One split in to am/pm for 7days of the week. It helps me to keep track of his meds, and when they are about to run out.