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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:
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Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 07/02/2018 21:07

So sorry to hear your news Jass.

Jassmells · 07/02/2018 23:05

Thank you all. Please can I ask if you know if a lump is felt surely it should be scanned/tested ? However in our case it was bloods first and they said they would scan later. Is this normal policy to do bloods first even if there's a whopping great lump on a Vital organ?

Orlandsundry · 07/02/2018 23:15

Hi All, we're first time cat owners, and our rescue cat is anything between 8 and 13 years old, although they don't really know for sure. A few months ago I took her to the vets because her nails kept snagging on the blankets and she looked uncomfortable, turns out that she had pus and dirt under her nails which the vet cleared out and he also gave her a shot to clear up any infections. Since then she has been ok but, recently she has got very bony. Her paws look ok, but she is very slow and a bit tentative, her coat is also a bit clumpy looking. Is this just her feeling her age, or do you think something else might be wrong? She is still eating and using her litter tray, and is still pretty vocal when she wants something. She's never been an active cat, more of a portly lazy snoozer. This sudden drop in weight has worried me a bit. Should I take her back to the vets? She really hates going, which is why I don't want to put her to the stress of it, if this is just old age.
Any advice?

Jassmells · 07/02/2018 23:17

@Orlandsundry can you get a vet to come to the house? If you're in the midlands look up St George's. Sounds like age but worth getting checked out.

Orlandsundry · 07/02/2018 23:20

I'm not sure about that Jassmells I'll check. Very sorry to hear of your loss today by the way, I hope you are doing ok. x

Want2beme · 07/02/2018 23:39

Orlandsundry it sounds like she's still unwell. She could have a thyroid problem or something else. I'd be inclined to take her back to the vet. I know she's not keen, but they'll be able to put your mind at rest.

Orlandsundry · 07/02/2018 23:56

OK, I'll take her in tomorrow if I can get an appointment.

Original poster
QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 08/02/2018 10:56

did you get an appointment?

OP posts:
Orlandsundry · 08/02/2018 12:14

Have one tomorrow- have noticed that she looks a bit like a cow - boney but with a big tummy. Am worried what they’re going to say. Poor puss. She seems perkier today though.

ifonly4 · 09/02/2018 16:02

Little Candle, so sorry to hear about your loss. It's not an easy decision to make but somehow you know it's the right thing to do. Your little cat had many happy years with you, so try and hold onto that.

I haven't been on here for a couple of weeks, but also sorry to read of your loss Jass. Try and hang onto the happy memories and not focus too much on the issues surrounding his passing as it'll eat away at you.

Orlandsundry, how did the appointment go?

Lokisglowstickofdestiny, my Lottie is definitely showing signs of dementia. She doesn't want a lap, rarely purrs, I'm not sure she even likes being stroked any more and when awake is constantly pacing as if she doesn't know what to do with herself. I've held onto the fact she still knows she wants food and chooses to go outside for the toilet, but the last week it looks like she's finding it hard to find her food, is tripping over her bowl and not eating so much. Even though she's worse, funnily enough she looked at me and meowed last night and today has been purring and seemed to enjoy love. She has a vet's appointment next week for her hyperthyroidism, so am planning to discuss when's the right time to let her go.

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 09/02/2018 22:58

ifonly, mine goes from wanting a lap all the time to not wanting to know. I've taken to putting him in our study at night, with a night light, bed, litter tray and food. He uses the tray fine but cries a lot but I don't want him wandering around at night. Am going to have to have a chat with our vet very soon I think.

ifonly4 · 12/02/2018 15:29

Lottie now has appointment on Thursday. for blood test and general check re: her hyperthyroidism. They've given me a slightly longer appointment to discuss her present condition and to review what's fair going forward. When my boy had CKD, I totally knew when the time was right to let him go. I think it's going to be hard with Lottie while she shows signs of being in the present day.

She slept all morning, so I had to insert her liquid medication into mouth while sleeping. She didn't even react, so yet another sign things aren't good.

notlob78 · 22/02/2018 22:49

Hello everyone, haven't posted here for a while. Just been reading to catch up.

Hugs to coldlocation, LittleCandle and Jass. So sorry to hear about your cats, and I hope you are doing ok Flowers

Notlob cat continues to do well, though her nose tumour has grown bigger. I'm taking her to the vet's tomorrow to have it examined, as they recommended taking her every 6 weeks.

The tumour looks awful now and has disfigured part of her nose and lip, but she doesn't seem too bothered by it and is eating well and going about her business as normal. I'll have to make a decision sometime and I've been trying not to think about it as it seems so awful. I'm comforted by the fact that, at present at least, Notlob cat doesn't seem aware there's a problem! I'm in the house a lot at the moment and have been enjoying spending time with her.

I've booked a double appointment tomorrow as she has some other conditions and I want to talk to the vet about them too, to make sure I'm keeping her as comfortable as possible in the last stage of her life. I'm very nervous about the appointment but have forced myself to get it over with tomorrow.

Hope everyone else's cats are ok.

Jassmells · 22/02/2018 22:59

@notlob78 thank you. Just wondered if your cat a ginger by any chance (just all the pens with facial tumours ive come across have tended to be ginger) my remaining cat is a ginger. Hope he/she isn't in discomfort x

FannyFifer · 22/02/2018 23:00

Hi everyone, I've a young cat with CKD only found out when he took very unwell before Xmas & was in the vets for 4 nights, he nearly didn't make it.
He's doing ok for now, although it's made him rather needy, he meows to get us to accompany him to go to his litter tray, have a drink etc.
He does manage when we are out so we are def getting played. Grin
No idea what his prognosis is so just taking it day to day.

ifonly4 · 23/02/2018 10:36

notlob78, hope the appointment goes okay. I suspect the decision won't be so easy with my girl, but I just knew when it was the right time to let my boy go. He had CKD and vet advised he only had a short time, a couple of days later I just looked at him and couldn't think of anything positive he'd got out of the day so I knew it wasn't fair to let him go on like that.

Fannyfifer, sorry to hear about your little cat. How old is he? My vet suggested renal food for my old boy, he eat it for two weeks and then wouldn't touch it. In the end I just gave him ordinary wet cat food and always had water available for him, as they get progressively worse they're kidneys process liquid a lot quicker and they can get dehydrated, so it's important to keep up liquid intake.

FannyFifer · 23/02/2018 20:32

Hope appointment went ok today notlob78.
My cat is only just 4, he eats the renal dry food no problem & licks the jelly of the renal wet food. Drinks loads so no worries there, he's on a potassium supplement as well.
He's a house cat as tbh he's too daft to manage outside safely although will have a wee wander in garden with us.
Unwell pets are so stressful.

notlob78 · 23/02/2018 22:11

Thank you for your good thoughts everyone.

The appointment went well today - there were no other patients waiting, so the vet gave me an extra long appointment. I took a notebook and list of questions with me and I was so nervous I was nearly crying when I first went in! We had a really thorough discussion about notlobcat's prognosis and overall health and happiness as she ages. Re. the tumour he seems to think it's not causing her discomfort at the moment (despite cosmetic appearances) but asked me to photograph it every week and return in a month. He said the decision would be entirely up to me as I know her best and I'll know when her quality of life starts to deteriorate.

Notlobcat doesn't like the vet's and grumbled her way through the consult. I gave her some tuna when we got home (I think she's forgiven me now).

@Jassmells she is actually tortoiseshell and white, with a completely white face. I got the idea in my head it's a white faced cat thing, as when I was looking up pictures of the operation she was going to have, all the examples had white faces!

Jassmells · 24/02/2018 18:26

@notlob78 well puts my theory to an end then! Glad the vets wasn't too bad.

Orlandsundry · 09/03/2018 08:07

Hi everyone, I forgot to update you, sorry. Pussycat is not very well, vet found cancer in her spleen which has matasticised (sp?) to her lungs, so she's not going to get any better unfortunately. He has given some anti-inflammatory drugs P__ no label on the bottle, which luckily she will eat hidden in cheese, which will apparently stop the cancer spreading any further and stop any pain. He said that she has a couple of months. It's all horribly upsetting, not knowing whether we are keeping her alive for us, or for her. DD is really upset about it.

Want2beme · 09/03/2018 09:17

So sorry Orlandsundry. It's a very upsetting time for you. You're taking great care of her and I'm sure she's happy just being with youFlowers

tryingtobethebestican · 09/03/2018 17:15

So sorry for everyone with poorly cats and those who didn't get better 😥 my lovely Pepsi was diagnosed with kidney disease only a couple of weeks ago but has gone downhill badly over the last two days and not been eating or drinking as much as he should. Took him to the vet again this morning and found out this afternoon that his readings are off the scale, he has anaemia, his temperature is only 33 and his kidneys have pretty much completely failed. He is at the vets on a drip and heat mat. The vet said he could try more fluids for another 24 hours to try but he is almost comatose so he doesn't think it is going to make a difference. We have to go in in about an hour. I know that it is the kindest thing but feels so final and like I am ending his life when he doesn't get a say in it 😢😢

Orlandsundry · 10/03/2018 07:34

@tryingtobethebestican so sorry to read your post. It's so heartbreaking isn't it, they bring love into our homes but only stay for a short time. I'm trying to weigh up whether the pain we feel now is outweighed by all of the joy they bring.
My cat was on my lap last night, and I kept thinking that we only have about 8 weeks left (according to the vet). I think I preferred it when I didn't know. 'It's better to travel in hope' and all of that! Will know that the end is near make it better when it comes? I'm not so sure.
I do know that she is enjoying the roast lamb I hand feed her every day, and the cheese I hide her pill in, and the cuddles on the sofa, so I guess that is a boon. I'm just not sure what we're all going to do without her. Having a cat love you is a really special thing isn't it.

tryingtobethebestican · 11/03/2018 09:08

Well I can honestly say Friday was one of the worst days of my life so far. My poor beautiful cat. I know we made the right decision for him. We went and spent time with him stroking him, kissing him and talking to him beforehand but he was so poorly, so tired. He looked peaceful and we stayed with him still stroking and kissing him afterwards too. We miss him so much but I know he had a happy life with lots of love and I am so thankful that we had the privilege of being owned by him for the last (almost) seventeen years.

tryingtobethebestican · 11/03/2018 09:12

@Orlandsundry I'm so sorry you don't have good news about your lovely cat. If she is enjoying food, love and company then cherish the time you have with her. I think you will know if a decision finally does have to be made but for now focus on the love you share. It's so hard though.