Elderly cat in hospital

[Jxtina86]

Hi, first post on this area on MN but just looking for a bit of comfort/knowledge from anyone who's experienced similar.

Our 15 year old cat has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in the last 2 weeks - he'd been losing weight (he was a chunky thing but now weighs less than 3kg). He's on meds but it's early stages of trying to find the right treatment/get it under control.

This morning DH gave him his pill and when he put the cat down, his front legs gave way and he face-planted the floor (the cat not DH!) He then started panting with his mouth open - we've had this before so called the emergency vets and they told us to bring him in. Took him in and the vet said he was critical as his temp was down and he suspected fluid on his lungs.

Just had a call - they've drained 300ml of fluid off his lungs! And also suspect gall stones. He's stable but if he deteriorates they are going to run some more scans to check his heart and so on.

Just all seems to be escalating quickly and whilst I know it's expected with an older cat, I just can't believe how fast this is happening. DH has had him since he was a kitten and I've known him for 13 years. We also have two other cats, one of which we've had for 10years. She's all out of sorts because he's not here and I'm just fearing the worst. Our other cat is a new addition so that she would have company in this situation but we've only had him for a few weeks so it's still a bit touch and go with them getting on/tolerating each other.

Sorry, massive brain dump but just needed to get it out there whilst DH does the sensible things like phoning the insurance company!

Oh god - my paragraphs didn't work in my OP. Apologies for the wall of text!

Hand hold for you. It's awful when they are ill. Does the vet think she's in heart failure? My cat had it and was completely asymptotic. It can be managed. Although she was much younger have had no other issues.

Poor little love, it sounds as if the hyperthyroidism is terminal I'm so sorry. My cat was misdiagnosed and the hyperthyroidism was missed, he ended up going into cariac failure and £3000 later (luckily insured) he died. It needs to be picked up early. I have another cat who was diagnosed early and is fine. I am taking her for radiation treatment soon when she is stabilised - also 15 years old.
It's very serious when they need fluid draining off and usually results in cardiac failure.
Could possibly be cardiomyopathy also.

Thank you both. Yes they suspect possible heart failure too so it's good that he's in the right place just in case.

It's a hard one with the hyperthyroidism. We had noticed the weight loss but put it down to having moved and letting him outside so he was being a lot more active. He was due his jabs next month so we were going to raise it then but then we noticed really erratic breathing so took him in for peace of mind. The vets seemed to think that we had caught it early enough and were talking about further treatment such as radiation once stable. The animal hospital don't think today is related but a bit early to say.

So despite draining the fluid yesterday, they had to do the same today and xrays showed that there was more and had spread to around his heart too. It feels so harsh writing this but we had decided last night that perhaps it was best to do the worst and put him to sleep if things got worse. So we got the call earlier and decided that it was the right decision. We got to hold him and cuddle him beforehand and stayed with him afterwards for almost an hour. I know it was for the best, but it felt so horrible. I'd gone up into town to meet a friend to give her a birthday present for her son and got the call from DH. I was a wreck on the tube all the way back to the vets and now I'm the same lying in bed shattered but can't sleep for thinking about it. Our female cat just knew when we got home and just curled up in a ball for an hour between me and DH (highly unusual- she's not exactly a cuddly cat). She keeps looking for him though and it's heart breaking.

So sorry for the massive brain dump and thank you again for the messages yesterday. Will miss him massively.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is but you did the kindest thing for him

So sorry to hear your sad news, it was the last kindness you could show him take care .