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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 ......).

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Ginkypig · 18/01/2018 13:41

For all of you giving tablets to your ill king/queens can I suggest webbox sticks or similar (there are different brands but all are similar)

I have to give my lovely old lady 3 pills a day one of which gets split in half so 4 and these sticks are good because they are soft and you can break a little off and the mould it around the pill so she then feels she's getting a little treat.

It's a bit hit or miss if she will take it as she sometimes is too nauseous to eat or she will eat the treat and spit the tablet.

Generally they have been helpful though.

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 18/01/2018 14:48

Ginky yes i use those. I couldn't think what they were called. There are also cheap tesco/coop alternatives. I just find the "squiest" type i can find in the shop.

He even reminds me when it is "treat" time.

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Ginkypig · 18/01/2018 15:06

There a bit of a lifesaver queen aren't they.

Tablet time before that was a complete horror show!

Especially in the early days when they are too ill to want to take them but the tablets are what will make them feel better.

HotelEuphoria · 18/01/2018 15:11

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

I said that with my old boy. He made 24.

The old girl is currently at 16 but I don't think she will last anywhere near as long. She eats well and is fairly mobile but her bowels are giving up, fortunately her stools are pretty solid so accidents are easily remedied in a house of solid floors down stairs at least.

ifonly4 · 18/01/2018 15:20

Hotel, 24 is a brilliant age. Does he have any health problems?

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 18/01/2018 16:22

24! Shock

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LittleCandle · 18/01/2018 17:53

24! Good heavens! I am still waiting to hear back from the vet re-something for his limping. But on the plus side today, he actually sat on my knee properly! And not just for a minute, which was his usual thing, but for over half an hour the first time and a good 20 minutes the second time. I have had CandleCat for 9 years and I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he has lain down on my lap, and like I said, a minute was about his limit. It has really made my day, although I would prefer if he didn't show his ecstasy by sticking his claws in my knees...

FartlekNewYearHell · 18/01/2018 19:17

Thanks everyone for the kind messages. @ifonly4 Lottie sounds a lot like FartleCat! I failed again yesterday to get the tablets down her so I'll check out the treat things.
She's the sweetest little cat I've ever had, she used to be happy to be on top of a human at anytime and would cuddle anyone. She's a bit more discerning these days.

ifonly4 · 19/01/2018 12:00

Well I've got to go and brave the cold now, leaving Lottie to sleep - she stretches herself under the radiator in the hope it comes on.

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 19/01/2018 14:29

ifonly4 ha Grumpy does the same ! i have a blanket next to the radiator in the bedroom. Is his favourite spot. He also likes toasting his bottom in front of the fire.

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FartlekNewYearHell · 21/01/2018 09:43

If we put the fire on FartleCat can hear the grate clink and comes running. Poor thing, winter is hard on old things.

LittleCandle · 21/01/2018 12:42

CandleCat never used to be in the house unless the weather was unbearable. Since CandleCat1 went, he only goes out because he needs to (no litter tray) or when my DGD is here. I do miss him being a barometer for the weather. He is looking mighty old these days.

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 21/01/2018 13:11

I must confess, it was easier when GrumpyOldCat was an outdoor cat.... we slowly went from no litter trays, one inside for when he was ill, one inside permanently, and now two litter trays upstairs and downstairs with the cat flap normally locked to keep other cats out.

He is still pulling his fur. I will give it a few more days to rule out stress due to the intruder cat..... but then i might be tempted to get his t4 levels tested.

me and my other OH spotted Patches (our nickname for the intruder, greedy cat) on the back fence squaring off to our neighbours black cat (who used to fight with Grumpy). We were routing for the black cat.... but seems Patches may be the new dominant cat around. No idea who he belongs to. He is clearly a very well fed and in good condition.

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ifonly4 · 21/01/2018 17:02

Queen, both myself and LittleCandle have hyperthyroid cats, so if you want to know symptoms we've noticed with ours which might help you decide if a T4 should be done in a week or two, just ask.

My oldie who appears not be hear that well, was well aware when I walked through the door earlier so I could feed her. According to her she's been starved all day, according to DH he's given her two pouches and lik-y-lix since I left at 7.30pm.

FartlekNewYearHell · 22/01/2018 16:41

FartleCat seems to have rallied and has started to settle down into a routine thankfully. She is back to sitting on our laps of an evening. If it gets towards 8:30 and we haven't sat down yet she starts yowling because it's time for her to go to sleep and only a lap will do. Once it gets to about 10:30 she starts yowling again because it's time for us to go up to bed. Who needs a watch?
I still haven't managed to get a tablet down her so have reverted back to crushing them in her food. She doesn't eat everything but will lick away the juice/gravy so hopefully is getting most of her medication.
DH made sea bass the other night and I think her head just about exploded she was so excited to get some. Too bad we can't afford a gourmet fresh fish meal every night for her.

LittleCandle · 22/01/2018 17:34

I'm glad to hear FartleCat is doing better. CandleCat is trundling on and I'm just keeping an eye on him.

notlob78 · 28/01/2018 19:09

Hello everyone, sorry for not updating sooner. I rang the hospital and got my questions answered re. notlobCat's tumour. The chemotherapy drug was meant to slow the tumour's growth (not shrink it or stop it as I'd been previously told) and the amount it had grown since she started the treatment meant it hadn't worked at all. Unfortunately there isn't any other treatment available for this kind of tumour, so it's a case of 'watch and wait' until it starts causing her problems.

She doesn't seem too bothered by it at the moment, besides rubbing her nose with her paw from time to time, so I'm trying to give her as much love as possible and not think too much of the future for now.

Despite it being bad news I am feeling better since making the phone call and getting some definite answers. Thanks for letting me sound it out here first - I get so anxious about her and about making difficult phone calls!

coldlocation · 28/01/2018 21:58

Been reading and not posting... But I need to now. Senior boy (16.5) has had (suspected) nasal cancer for a while (first noticed a problem with his nose in Aug 2016, he's had rhinoscopys, a stay at the referral vets etc) and he has defied all expectations (wasn't really expected to make it to March 2017) and been in the main his happy, greedy in your face super purry self but over the last month or so the sneezing and snuffling has gotten worse. The last few weeks he's lost lots of weight and has been largely off his food (eating little bits) since Friday. We have a planned vet visit on Tues and going to discuss pts with vet as he's sneezing and snorting more, steriods haven't done much and he's already on long term antibiotics. He's still active and doesn't appear to be in pain but his behaviour has changed.... Sleeping more, listless, refusing favourite treats. Vet said it may be ckd causing the loss of appetite but with so much else going on this he hasn't been treated to date as he's basically on palliative meds and it's all about his quality of life. I think it is finally declining, and exH (he's his cat, but exH moved out 3 years ago) is in agreement that we will take vets advice tues but - unless there's a crisis - delay pts (if that does seem best course) til Thursday when we can both be there. Its soo hard as senior boy isn't totally miserable but I'm at the stage of wishing he'd just fall asleep and not wake up (selfishly so I don't have to make this decision). We have told the kids, who are in floods.

Senior boy's female litter mate is my other cat - they sleep together must of the time. She has an adenocarcinoma in a salivary gland... Its been removed and she's apparently well but the tumor did not have "clearly defined" edges so she may have mets, it may recurr etc. Don't know how she will fare without her companion.

I'm in bits tonight. Senior boy is the neighbour hood friendly cat, he's tailless following an rta 10 years ago.... Everyone knows him.

He came before the kids, his fur has mopped up my tears so many times, there's a bunch of emotional stuff for me as he was exH's cat... Oh lordy I'm just a mess. I just need to write it all down. Not liking adulthood this eve.

coldlocation · 28/01/2018 22:53

Just rtft - huge hugs and strength to all with poorly and elderly puss cats.

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 29/01/2018 13:58

@notlob78 glad you have answers now, though sorry it wasn't better news.
yes - we just have to do our best for them in the limited time they have.

@coldlocation Flowers so sorry senior boy is so ill. Feel free to write what ever you need to. I totally understand you hoping he falls asleep and doesn't wake up on his own...... but we have the responsibility to choose the best for them when the time comes.

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ifonly4 · 29/01/2018 17:32

notlob78, sorry to hear it wasn't better news. Like you say though, sometimes you cope better knowing the situation. Keep us in touch with how notlobCat is.

coldlocation, sorry to hear about Senior boy. My other cat had CKD and he slowly lost his appetite. If it's anything to do with CKD, the vet can check to see if he's dehydrated and there may be a couple of pick me up injections they can give. The news may not be so bad at the vets, but just in case take your time to build up some last memories, simple things like sitting next to your boy and stroking him, watching him sleep.

Lottie has slowly become more senile over the last few months. She was stood in her food bowl yesterday looking for her food. She's still eating, going outside for the toilet which is positive, but it's not nice to see her pacing around the room for ages.

coldlocation · 30/01/2018 17:04

Sadly have had to book Senior Boy in for pts on Thursday. Altho his eating is better he's having to use his tummy muscles to breathe and he had a sneezing fit in the vet and bled from his other nostril for the first time (to date only had one bad nostril). Devastated but vet was so sweet and said she just didn't want him to suffer and us to get to an awful crisis. Gonna miss my lovely daft boy so much. He's here and purring on me right now.

Jassmells · 30/01/2018 21:57

Just came across this thread whilst looking for info.My beautiful boy (13) has not been eating a lot for over a week, all blood tests clear. However they have found a mass in his liver and suspect lymphoma. He is 13 and until a week ago was a lion of a cat. He is losing weight so fast. They are going to do a conscious scan and possible thingy where they insert a needle in Friday if he will let them. He is so placid I think he will.
I'm heartbroken and don't even know it definitely is that yet. Anyone else had similar with the liver? Has it been anything other than lymphoma?

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 31/01/2018 14:18

@coldlocation
so sorry. you are loving him and doing the best for him right to the end.

@Jasmells
Sorry about your cat. I have no experience here. hopefully someone else can advise?

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coldlocation · 31/01/2018 21:01

Thank you. It feels so hard when he had moments of being so affectionate and purry, I've just put my Dt's to bed and through his snorts and snuffles he's been his usual super friendly self and up for last good night cuddles on each of their beds. We are all in floods. Going to miss this puss cat so very much.

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