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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 ......).

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Jassmells · 31/01/2018 21:09

@coldlocation so sorry poor you and poor cat so sad x

LittleCandle · 01/02/2018 22:51

Oh dear, it seems like bad news all round. CandleCat has been vomiting again and has done so twice today. While it isn't like the vomit that signalled the end for his brother, he is on meds to prevent this and they are clearly no longer working well enough. I have made the decision to take him to the vet on Saturday (working tomorrow all day and no guarantee to be home when the vet is still open) and have him PTS. He is unhappy and not eating well and looking very frail. My heart is breaking already. I know it is best for him and he'll be with his brother again.

So sorry for everyone else who is going through this shit journey.

coldlocation · 01/02/2018 23:09

Oh I'm so sorry about candle cat.

Senior boy went so peacefully today, vets were lovely and he was sedated so his noisy breathing stopped. He had two hours of non stop purring and cuddles wth me and exH prior to us going to the vets. Its so sad but you know its the right thing.

Someone sent me an extract from a cheesy poem that breaks my heart but also made us all feel a bit better:

"I'll not be far, I promise that,
and hope you'll always know
that my spirit will be close to you
wherever you may go.

Thank you so for loving me.
You know I love you, too.
That's why it's hard to say good-bye
and end this life with you.

So hold me now just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you'll let me go today"

I'm finding it so odd being at home without him to check on, medicate etc. Senior girl is here and I've no idea if she's even aware he's not here.

Hugs and strength for all in this situation.

Want2beme · 01/02/2018 23:54

So sorry for all your losses. It's such a hard decision to make, especially when they still have moments of affection and purring. It's truly heartbreaking. I miss my old fellas so much. FlowersFlowers

BuckingFrolicks2 · 02/02/2018 00:09

I'm so sorry Cold, it's so sad. Yes the poem is cheesy but also so poignant and heartbreaking 😭

My lovely girl is in hospital tonight, she had a tumour on a nipple, as well as hyperthyroidism. They didn't do the operation on the tumour as planned today, as her liver tests were bad. So she's on a drip overnight, operation pending again tomorrow.

She's well in herself, it's so sad to put her through a hospital stay and op, when she actually seems very happy and healthy.

LittleCandle · 02/02/2018 06:47

CandleCat has the most amazing purr. His brother could hardly purr at all, but he did purr as I held him at the vet's. I felt so sorry for the vet because I was distraught and she was very young, as was the vet nurse who came in to help. My housemate had a chat with the vets on the phone last night and they said if I am upset, we just need to go in, say we are there and then wait in the car and the vet will come to get us when they are ready.

The poem was cheesy, but they are often the ones that get to the heart of the matter.

BuckingFrolicks2 · 02/02/2018 08:26

littlecandle it is so hard to know when to let them go partly because we know we are going to have to face the grief.

It sounds as good as you can expect, to be with him as he purrs, in that way. It's a damn heartbreak tho.

BuckingFrolicks2 · 02/02/2018 08:35

Vet called at 7am. My cat is hissing at them and is v stressed and having arythmia. They said the op to remove the small but growing tumour on her mammary gland, may trigger liver failure or heart failure.

I'm waiting to hear from them again. The tumour was not causing her any trouble atm. She was an incredibly happy cat at home. I don't know if it's the right thing, to put her through an op that means she may die on the op table, will have 2 weeks indoors (she loves the outdoors and hates litter trays), and may hasten her death by buggering up her liver. I think I'd rather she had whatever months she could, happily at home, then when she becomes unwell from whatever gets her first - thyroid, heart, liver, tumour,- she gets pts without having 2 days in the hospital stressed off her head and thinking I've abandoned her

She is a rescue cat and I have promised her so many times that I will never abandon her. I notice there is no icon for crying buckets ...

coldlocation · 02/02/2018 08:42

Oh bucking frolicks that sounds so hard. Heart goes out to you.

I am so in need of the crying buckets emoji too.

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 02/02/2018 08:49

Can I ask if anyone here has a cat with dementia. My old boy has been showing signs for about a year and is increasingly acting more confused and seems distressed. He cries a lot at night and wanders around, goes to his food bowl to look for food even when he has just been fed. He waits for me to put down food and I then have to coax him to eat which he does for a few seconds, he stops then looks at me again and I have to coax him to eat again - he seems to forget the food is there.
I'm worried he is suffering mental distress but how do you know when enough is enough? He also has kidney disease but eats well enough and still likes a lap.

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 02/02/2018 09:00

so sorry @LittleCandle

@Lokisglowstickofdensity I sometimes wonder if mine has the very early signs. He sometimes appears confused, but the next day he is ok again. Does he eat if you are out the house? Does he enjoy his favourite food/treats?

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BuckingFrolicks2 · 02/02/2018 10:48

Loki, yes an old cat of mine, long since gone, had dementia. She started using the bath as a litter box. We had her pts as it was clear she was feeling "lost" and anxious. It's so difficult loving animals:(

LittleCandle · 02/02/2018 19:17

Oh, bucking frolics, I'm so sorry you are also facing this dilemma. I also need a crying buckets icon.

I came in from work tonight and managed to stand on CandleCat. He's not hurt, just indignant, but as I was freeing a trapped claw, I noticed how coarse his coat feels and it was always so silky. I am dreading tomorrow morning.

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 02/02/2018 19:28

Queen, yes he does eat when we are out but mainly when we are there and still loves Dreamies. His appetite doesn't seem diminished but I am worried about his increasing wandering and crying. I think he is suffering mental distress. They do break your heart!

Jassmells · 02/02/2018 19:31

Sorry for everyone's bad news. It's not a good day all round. Further tests today and the results are worse than they thought. My boy has a tumour in his kidney but not as they had hoped. They hoped for lymphoma but think it is something worse and harder to treat. It is putting incredible pressure on his insides. We have to decide whether to have his kidney removed which is very rare in cats and pretty major or have him put to sleep. They fear the type of tumour would not respond to medication.
I am torn between not wanting him to suffer and seeing my lovely boy who has so much more to give. He was the runt of the litter not expected to survive and he's now 13 and until last week pure muscle. So I know he's a fighter.Feel so torn.

LittleCandle · 03/02/2018 10:13

I am not long back from the vet. Hector purred right up until the last few moments. It was very peaceful for him. I know it was the right thing to do for him, but it hurts so much.

Want2beme · 03/02/2018 10:55

So sorry for your loss LittleCandle. It's so hard to let them go. We do it to be kind to them. Hector will always be with you Flowers

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 03/02/2018 11:53

So sorry LittleCandle Flowers

Loki My cat crys out a lot more now. He has this "where are you?" cry. I think it is related to him losing his eyesight though.

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LittleCandle · 03/02/2018 12:06

Hector cried a lot more in the last few months. It was definitely 'where are you' but it wasn't me he was looking for. I feel a bit better knowing they are together again.

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 03/02/2018 12:10

Oh dear, I hope mine isn't losing his eyesight, he is already deaf.
Little sorry for your loss.

BuckingFrolicks2 · 05/02/2018 16:38

candle I'm so sorry to hear that. You made the right choice though and put your care for him above your need for him.

I brought my cat out of the hospital as she was apparently not fit enough for the op to remove growth on breast. She sulked or was in trauma, for 2 days, poor old girl. She's fine or back to herself now, however fine that is. I will be very happy if she has one more good summer.

Jassmells · 06/02/2018 20:44

Lost our gorgeous boy today. He went for his op and died as soon as they put the anaesthetic in him. Absolutely heartbroken. Situation massively worsened by the vets consistently messing us around on the money side (including doubling the price of his operation as we were allegedly misquoted originally, and over charging us on some of the bills) am so upset and angry that people supposed to be helping you add to your stress at such a difficult time.

Want2beme · 06/02/2018 21:03

That's so sad Jass. I'm very sorry for your loss Flowers

Jassmells · 06/02/2018 21:31

@Want2beme thank you x

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 07/02/2018 17:02

So sorryFlowers

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