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 ......).

Home from work now & have treated her to some sliced beef

I only got new meds last week, but they were short of the antacid by 45 and I clean forgot to pick them up when I went in the other day. Other than that, I remember his thyroid pill days by how my thyroid pills are - I have them coordinated!

Can I join? I had some bad news about my 16 year old girl this week. She's been under the care of a vet hospital for a tumour she had removed last year. Unfortunately it's started growing back and there's nothing more they can do. She's ok within herself at the moment but I have to monitor her for comfort levels. I broke down during the consultation and didn't take in everything that was said. I want to ring back and ask more questions, but I keep putting it off because I'm frightened. Can I sound it out here first?

Oh, notlob sorry for your bad news. I have no experience of cat tumours but plenty here will, I am sure.

Little how is CandleCat doing?

really sorry notlob

of course you can sound it out here. write what you need to , and we will help you get a clear list of questions to ask. You can then ring in with your questions prepared on a piece of paper in front of you.

Oh, notlob, I'm so sorry. Of course sound us out until you are ready to phone back.

CandleCat is much more himself. He got his Ranitidine again today and the vet is going to scratch her head to see what else they can give him for the arthritis or whatever he has got. He's now due his annual injections - I've been there so often recently the practice manager knows my name!

Hi, can I join? Lottie is 18 and over the last few months is showing signs of old age, can't hear very well, has stopped getting on laps and bed, pacing, appearing senile.

She has hyperthyroidism and a recent test has shown her levels are off the record, despite the fact I've seen no changed symptoms at home and physical symptoms on examination by vet appear normal (both myself and vet would have expected loss of weight, increased appetite, change in behaviour, heart irregularities, all of which has been symptoms in the past).

Fatty escorted me from the shower to my bedroom again today. She's not done it for a couple of months and it was worrying me a bit.

ifonly it is hard when your animals show signs of slowing down. I know that I am ultra-protective and worry more over CandleCat now than I did before I had his brother put to sleep. it is the hardest thing about pet ownership. I hope that you are able to get a handle on the thyroid problem. We have that, too (and I suffer from it as well!)

Thanks, LittleCandle. How long has your boy had hyperthyroidism? Lottie has has now been treated for 20 months, although, thinking back she may have had it a year or so before.

We lost her brother to fast progressing kidney disease last year - it was awful at the time but at least he lived life to the full up until his last few hours. I hear Lottie won't have that quality of life during her last few months/year.

notlob, sorry to hear about your girl. I know it's not easy, but sometimes better to get the facts and know what you're dealing with. Hopefully you can also get some support here.

CandleCat was diagnosed this time last year. He also has a heart murmur but it has improved as his thyroid has been treated. Plus the vomiting, which is pretty much under control as long as he takes the antacid. Then he is pretty stiff and both the metacalm and the Tramadol have disagreed with him. He is quite a sensitive cat anyway, so it doens't take much to upset his stomach and he is still grieving (as am I) for his brother, who I had to have PTS very suddenly in November.

ifonly GrumpyOldCat has been treated for hyperthyroidism for 2 years now. Apart from a t4 test every 3 months, it doesn't effect him. I think in old cats, they collect conditions, and one condition may mask the symptoms of another.

I think i am guilty of misdiagnosing the fur pulling. I thought it was discomfort due to his cystitis. Turns out we have had an intruder cat coming and eating his food. Bad cat servant!

catflap is now locked. Given the weather, i don't think he will object too much to being locked inside the house. Normally he has access to our yard. He can't get out the yard, but other younger/fitter cats can come in.

Our rescue cat is now somewhere around 19 -20 and is beginning to show signs of age. She's lost a lot of weight (although she was 9Kgs at one point) and vet has said to give her more food. Think she's beginning to go senile and genuinely forgets whether she's been fed or not. She has arthritis in one leg but has for several years now.

She just keeps on going and going. Do cats lose their fur as they get older? She's moulting really badly which is unusual for this time of year....

Still, one positive since she's got older. She used to be really bad tempered and hated being stroked - now she is happiest sitting on our laps or cuddled up next to us.

fatbird poor fur condition and weight loss could be sign of hyperthyroidism?

My vet also told us that as cats get old, they are not so good at absorbing nutrients from their food. We were advised to add chicken or tuna to Grumpy's diet to keep his weight up (increase in protein).

Thanks everyone. I hope this doesn't sound too garbled.

She has a fibrosarcoma on her nose that was removed last year because it was blocking up one of her nostrils. It seems to be growing differently now and spreading across her face. When the tumour returned they prescribed a chemotherapy drug (I was happy to give her this as I could give her a capsule at home that has no side effects in cats). In the original consult I was told the drug wouldn't shrink the tumour, it would either stop it growing or slow its growth. However at the second consult I was told the drug was meant to shrink the tumour or stop it growing, neither of which had worked.

I'm really confused now about what the chemotherapy was meant to do and I feel like I want to ring back and ask what happened / what was meant to happen, but I don't want to come across like a pushy cat owner. I've had conflicting information from this place before, and I seem to get a different person each time which makes it worse.

The other thing is that the first vet told me if / when this drug stopped working they could try another drug, but the second vet said there's nothing else that's suitable for her. She did explain why but I was really upset and didn't take it in. I don't want it to come across like I'm arguing with them, it's more that I want to understand what's happened.

LittleCaudle, it doesn't get easier after losing them, but I have to admit I still miss Toby coming down the stairs as soon as he used to hear me come in. I had to have him pts last March after first progressing CKD.

Fatbird, funnily my old cat Toby softened up in his old age. Is your girl eating a lot? If she's eating a lot but still losing weight, ask your vet to check for hyperthyroidism. They just can't take in enough food to keep the weight on. Fur loss can be a symptom of this as well.

notlob, you're perfectly entitled to check your understanding of the treatment. Also, going back to them might clarify if there's any other treatment that can be offered.

@notlob I think there are 3 questions you are trying to ask.

1. can you explain the purpose of drug1? Was it to stop the tumour from growing or to shrink it?
2. has drug1 done anything?
3. what other treatments are available?

When you speak to the vet, break the questions down. try to go through one at a time. I make lists of questions and topics for work meeting all the time. have a pencil and paper with you, and don't be afraid to make notes as you go.

Queen, just been going through everyone's posts in case I've missed anything. How's GrumpyOldCat's cystitis now? Lottie had it about six years ago. You're right it can be caused by stress and it's possible that an intruder may have been the cause.

Hi ifonly , I think it is all cleared up now. he had his last antibiotic last night. I am slowly weaning him off the metacam. I really was thinking "this is it".

we have had intruder cat before, but given his blindness and arthritis, i think it bothers him a lot more. He is already too scared to go out beyond the yard due to another cat fighting with him (and winning).

In his prime he was 5.4kg and hunter of rabbits and top cat in the neighbourhood, happily seeing off cats and dogs. He is now 3.1-3.2kg, and really is skinny, but he is happy pottering around. Loves his lap-time, fresh chicken and when we have the fire lit.

New years day (when he was rushed to the vet hospital he was 2.9kg )

Hello everyone, so sorry to hear of those whose cats are not feeling well. Our old girl is 17.5 and was diagnosed with bowen's in situ carcinoma (like skin pre-cancer) and then she lost weight and started peeing gallons. She's only 2.5kg at her best and went down to 2.2kg. This was 2 years ago and she was stable for ages after gaining the weight back. Now her skin lesions are getting bigger and she keeps licking it so it's constantly infected. I have to clean it out and put antiseptic on it every night, which she hates. She's not finishing her wet food which has her benazapet and blood pressure tablet crushed into it so We've had to start pinching her mouth open and shoving it down her throat. She hates this and I feel like I'm torturing her.
She didn't cope well with Christmas as we had to move furniture and had family over. She now won't settle on either of our laps in the evening. She cries to be let in the lounge then she cries to be let out. I just wonder if she's losing her marbles a wee bit or if she's distressed.
Phew, sorry that was long. Dh and I agreed that we would not prolong her life beyond her capacity for enjoying it and I think we're close but I can't bring myself to call it. It also doesn't help that she only hits her litter tray 50% of the time, she vomits weekly and wakes us me up in the night meowing or trying to get under the covers. She's hard work but we still love her.

Sorry, missed out that she has kidney disease

Fartle that sounds tough. My childhood cat had kidney disease and I finally had to call it as she was pooping everywhere and I had a toddler. I have to give CandleCat his tablets by shoving them down his neck because the dog eats his food given even half a chance! He's a gem about it, but there are some days I just cannot get those pills down him first go. Then I get the stink eye.

Queen, glad cystitis has cleared up - it must be a relief.

Fartle, my girl stopped sitting on my lap about six weeks ago, I guess it either gets painful or if hard to just jumping down as their senses deteriorate. Also, I think it's fairly common in old age that they don't know what they want. Lottie is presently pacing into the kitchen, around the back of the chair, out again, standing still and she will then start all over again - she'll go on like this for ages. She still chooses to go outside to the toilet, wants food etc, but it's hard to know when enough is enough.

Fartle Grumpy is my first cat. I have always been told that "you know when it is time". I am hoping this is true.

for her medicine, can you give her the pills with a small amount of food first? or with treats?

I find lik-y-lix the best for making sure Grumpy has his bp pill which can be crushed and his metacam. He will usually lick the bowl clean. vidalta (thyroid) that can not be crushed goes in a treat (either meaty treat or cube of cheese). But i think i am very lucky that Grumpy takes pills exceptionally well. the risk