Ageing Cat. Support.

[TabbyTatCat]

Hello.

I didn't realise there was a cat section. My lovely boy is nearly 18 & seems to be ageing rapidly the past few months. He's losing his hearing & has also stopped grooming himself.

Is that normal? He currently has a matted section on his back so I need to get that sorted (it's only small, I noticed it today)

He's very noisy, he's always meowing, this hasn't changed, although he used to hear us coming behind him, hear us opening the bedroom window if we were upstairs & he was at the back of the garden, not facing us, & he'd turn & start meowing... Now he won't notice at all or if we are calling him then he will occasionally start looking around, but he can't locate the sound.

He still follows us down the road to the shops but he just kind of sits there gazing into the distance as he can't hear us coming back now, whereas before, he'd hear us from halfway down the road & come charging, meowing.

He has 3 legs but has always been independent & loves being outside. He gets lots of attention from the neighbours/strangers, because of his meowing & then the 3 legs. He runs in like a zig-zag pattern. I joke that he lays on his side across the path, to show everybody that he only has 3 legs, so that they will give him attention!

I'm not sure what I want with this thread really, just to know that there are others out there maybe, to chat about fellow cat-related issues with! I feel really sad that he seems to be getting old so fast, & can't imagine him ever not being here. I got him when he was 2.

@HazelBite I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s heartbreaking and we are all here with you 💐

I've read back through this thread & it hit me hard. It took me right back to that moment in December. Goodness. Such a dark time.

I hope that everybody is alright, you are all wonderful people for being there for me, & truly lovely cat parents

I was using the thread to check when my boy had his sore mouth, as I have an inkling that it may be sore again.

Anyway, it's May, & he's still here!
We are still living in our new normal, 2 litter trays, although now it's warmer (well, it was warmer for a bit!) he goes to the toilet outside 80% of the time, he has his favourite new spot in the garden where he curls up, & he still has his water bucket.

I've been letting him into the front garden once a week or so, I'll sit out there on the wall & just let him have some time. A few times I've gone to the corner shop & he's stayed in the garden.

He hasn't had a blood test since February so I suppose that is due. Hopefully his mouth is alright & he's just having an off day.

Hi, can I join you, even though it's too late. My 20 yr old tortie Rosie passed away yesterday evening. She had been generally fine, was zooming about everywhere, all very normal apart from being on Thyronorm, and had lost a bit of weight and got a bit more vocal, I think she had gone deaf. But over the last 2 days she stopped eating and drinking and was quite lethargic. She still wanted to go into the back garden, so I let her out but 10 mins later I found her curled up on the grass in the rain. I picked her up and brought her inside and she snuggled down for a sleep. I took her to the vet first thing yesterday and he said she was dehydrated and had a low temperature so they'd take her in for blood test, fluids etc. Her white blood cell count came back as high so she had a infection. She was put on fluids, antibiotics at around midday. Around 5pm the vet called and said Rosie was comfortable. I got another call at 9pm to say she had passed away. Selfishly, I'm glad I didn't have to make the decision to pts but I'm feeling so guilty about leaving her there, to pass away on her own - I thought I'd be bringing her home today. The vet did say that she was of an age where her system likely just decided to shut down. She was a lovely cat - I had her since she was 12 weeks old and she was much loved. Sorry for the long post, I just had to write it all down. I hope all the cats are still doing well.

I'm so sorry, rosyposybluebell How are you feeling? Thank you for sharing your story on here. I'm sorry that it wasn't a happy ending. Rosie sounds lovely, & I know what you mean about having to make that decision.

Me & my boy had a terrible night, he just wanted to be right by my side (right next to my pillow) & he was so restless & uncomfortable. He went to wander off a few times & turned round & came back, like he didn't want to be alone. I don't think either of us got any sleep (which is incredibly unusual for my boy) & he started dribbling so I knew that my suspicions about his mouth were right.

Vets first thing today, he was calm, he wouldn't let the vet & the nurse look in his mouth properly but he wasn't growling or hissing like he usually does. She just weighed him & checked his heart.

He's lost a little weight but not an alarming amount, AB's for his mouth & if he doesn't perk up by Saturday then back we go.

Hi @TabbyTatCat, sorry to hear you both had a bad night. It can be very stressful as I found you are always on edge, looking and listening for anything and everything. I'm ok at the moment, I went to see Rosie this morning and gave the vet 2 catnip mice to put in with her. I haven't moved any of her stuff yet. It really hit me last night as I was going to bed. We'd bought night lights to put in the living room, hall etc. so Rosie wouldn't be in the dark. I didn't know whether to unplug or leave them.....I've left them. There has been lots of tears. I hope you both have a better night. I'll be thinking of you.

rosyposybluebell Thank you. It's kind of you to post. You sound like a lovely, caring person. Take your time & do things at your own pace, there's no 'right' time.

I am glad that you got to go & see Rosie at the vets. I hope that it helped.

My boy is currently snoring away in his usual spot under the radiator, so at least he's getting some sleep & is a bit more rested than he was last night.