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The litter tray

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Original poster

Would you investigate (Old boy)

57 replies

Bubblepanda · 23/07/2023 14:03

Hi, just after other opinions. Our gorgeous boy is 19 years old and suddenly has lost so much weight. He is still asking for food, possibly drinking more than usual and has started peeing outside/next his litter tray. If I thought for a second he was in any pain I would take him to the vets draught away, however the journey stresses him out so much. I have spoken to the vets who have said they can do some bloods and investigations but I think he is just reaching the end of the road. How much would you have them poked and prodded at 19 or would you just keep them comfortable until the time came to make a decision. Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

OP posts:
mumtoboys12 · 23/07/2023 14:04

Sorry to hear all this. Unless he is in pain and not drinking or eating then let him be at home. 💘

Original poster
Bubblepanda · 23/07/2023 14:15

Thank you for replying. That's my gut feeling just keep him comfortable and spoil him

OP posts:
VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 23/07/2023 14:15

Sounds like kidney failure. The blood work will tell you how bad it is and give you an idea of how long you have and if it's worth treating him. We had a cat who died at nearly 22 after five years on kidney meds.

GoldLacewingOrpington · 23/07/2023 14:18

Cats mask pain. That level of change in condition & behaviour should be investigated. Your vet will be able to give you a realsitist assessment of what pain your cat is likely to be in. If travelling is that traumatic for them then you could enquire about home visit? All the best.

GoldLacewingOrpington · 23/07/2023 14:20

You can ask for the investigation to be about ensuring your cat is comfortable and not suffering rather than diagnosing.

JobMatch3000 · 23/07/2023 14:28

I watched an episode of Cat from Hell and they determined the cat was peeing outside the litter tray because it was too painful for the cat to climb in. They took the side off the tray so the access was at floor level and that solved the problem.

Can the vet offer a home visit?

RosesAndHellebores · 23/07/2023 14:32

You need to take him to the vet. It's a no brainer. His health is deteriorating and he may be in pain. It may also be thyroid.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 23/07/2023 15:04

I'm very sorry OP but at 19 I wouldn't put a cat of mine through any invasive series of tests. I'd just keep them going while they still seem comfortable and active and are still eating well.

Original poster
Bubblepanda · 23/07/2023 15:14

Thank you all for your thoughts, I keep second guessing what I am doing to make sure it's the right thing for him. I have put in another litter tray which is much lower and he still pee'd on the floor. I think he is going in the tray but not turning round and just going over the side although pooing in the tray. I need to catch him in action to see what he is doing. I will call the vets again tomorrow and see if they do home visits. I was just worried I would get him there and they would say he is old and we would have put him through the journey for nothing. He is still jumping and asking for his evening treat which is making me think he is ok at the moment. He is such a big part of the family can't imagine the house without him

OP posts:
janeyredlion · 23/07/2023 17:25

@Bubblepanda I could have written your post. In fact I did, please scroll back in the litter tray couple weeks and there is my post which references my 19 year old in the title.... sorry I'm Useless with tech or if link! Someone posted a quality of life link in the thread. I know it's so hard when they can't tell you Flowers

Original poster
Bubblepanda · 23/07/2023 17:51

@janeyredlion thank you. I had read your post previously and have just redone the quality of life test. He isn't showing anything alarming on the list. Did you go to the vets? He has been very quiet today so may have to go tomorrow.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 23/07/2023 17:58

I wouldn't investigate for a 19 year old cat. You will know when it's time.

janeyredlion · 23/07/2023 18:13

@Bubblepanda we didn't take her but we are on standby for a home visit if she deteriorates. I'm worried the vet will say err on the side of caution and let her go, but in so many ways she's such a happy, proud cat, loves food and cuddles, so responsive. I am such a coward but I hate the thought of making that decision and her looking me in the eye indignantly as if to say "how dare you, I've plenty left in me!" If only they could tell us how they're actually feeling 😢

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 23/07/2023 18:46

I’d go to make sure pain relief wasn’t needed.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/07/2023 18:51

If it was just a blood test I would do it but no more.

My cat was diagnosed with heart failure last year aged 17 and he had blood tests and a heart scan but it was on the condition that he didn't have to be sedated and it didn't distress him.

Original poster
Bubblepanda · 23/07/2023 20:43

Exactly the same dilemma I am in. every time I think, right time to go, he springs into life and looks like a kitten again. Holidays are coming up and I am dreading leaving him. He has always stayed at home with 2 people coming in throughout the day. Both very experienced responsible cat owners who spoil him but I don't want to leave him. Glad your cat is still about and keeping you on your toes. Really appreciate your posts thank you

OP posts:
GiraffeDoor · 23/07/2023 20:50

You can always try some kidney specialist food. It's expensive and not very tasty though. If it is kidneys (likely) then you want low protein - some people online recommended goose fat(!) as a tasty treat to fatten my boy up, but he hated it.

Realistically, if you're going away for two weeks, I would want a clear sign that he was perking up, or I would be making a difficult decision before I went. They can go downhill so quickly at that age (but I know this is such a difficult decision when you're actually living it xx)

GiraffeDoor · 23/07/2023 20:52

Ps I also refused to take mine to the vet at that age - no way was his last hour going to be spent crying in a cage. When we finally made the call, I had the vet come out to the house.

Wolfiefan · 23/07/2023 20:57

Weight loss could be thyroid. That’s treatable.
Litter tray. Could be pain making it difficult to squat down. That’s treatable. Also as they age they can find sharper litter uncomfortable. Worth switching.
I wouldn’t be putting a 19 year old through complicated surgery but a physical exam and simple blood test may well be worth doing.
Our old girl masked her pain from arthritis. We had no idea.

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 23/07/2023 21:07

Same happened to my little boy, only his appetite rapidly decreased and his back right leg swelled up massively. I took him to the Vets and he had severe kidney failure which was also causing stress on his heart. He had a heart murmur as well although nothing that ever needed medication. He was 16 and I made the difficult decision to have him PTS. In the few days before I said goodbye to him he couldn't stand up in his litter tray and would lay there until he either summoned up his strength to walk the few feet back to his bed or until I picked him up and carried him back to his bed. He also rapidly lost around 6kg.

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 23/07/2023 21:12

GiraffeDoor · 23/07/2023 20:52

Ps I also refused to take mine to the vet at that age - no way was his last hour going to be spent crying in a cage. When we finally made the call, I had the vet come out to the house.

That was how I knew mine was ready to go. Usually any car journey he would make it known to all and sundry that he didn't much like going in the car. His last 2 visits to the Vets he never once miaowed. Although he did manage to snarl back at my Sisters Cat after she hissed at him through the bannister.

Original poster
Bubblepanda · 23/07/2023 21:15

We lost his brother to Kidney failure aged 8. His brother wouldn't touch the v.expensive food but this old boy would happily trough it. I will get some this week for him. Really good point about the litter being sharp I use Catsan so quite hard big pieces. I will look at trying something else. I knew this was the place to come for tips to keep him comfortable. We are only away for a week but know how quickly they can go downhill, would hate for him to be without us or that decision being left with someone else. Will give the vets a call tomorrow and see what they say. Thank you all

OP posts:
summerstyle · 23/07/2023 21:27

Sounds very similar to my cat. She's now 18 but last year dropped loads of weight and was constantly hungry. Took her to the vets - she had some blood tests and we found out she had an over active thyroid and her kidney function was low. She's been on the thyroid medication for a year and is thriving. The change in her is amazing.

We decided not to do anything about the kidneys - she definitely wouldn't eat the kidney friendly food and to me her kidneys starting to decline is a natural part of aging, but the thyroid thing was easily sorted.

Initial blood tests cost about £220 and then she had to have a further set of bloods 6 months later to check the dosage of the meds was ok (another £220). The meds cost approximately £280 a year and that includes the 2 x vet visits we need for a quick check up and to get the new prescription).

My vet is very practical and has said now she is stable there's no need to do further blood tests unless she rapidly declines.

I'd say it's well worth doing a set of bloods to see what's going on and then you can decide if it's worth pursuing further.

Original poster
Bubblepanda · 23/07/2023 21:41

Just looked at thyroid symptoms, some are a definite possibility. Looks like blood tests are the way to go but will draw the line at that. Thought 19 was really unusual for a cat, sounds like there are a fair few about

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/07/2023 22:27

We were told that Harry had kidney disease and he wouldn’t eat the renal food so we used to sprinkle ipakitine powder, which is a protein binder, in his normal food. It must have done something as his readings never got much worse.