Sorry this is long..
Wondering if anyone has any advice or can suggest something we haven't yet tried?
Our cat is 19, still enjoying ( I hope) a quality of life, will potter around, enjoys cuddles, looks for attention a connection with us, will try and catch half dead /injured insects on the floor. Will sit outside in the garden or go for a short stroll around it. Loves lying in the sun.
She is dearly loved and we have had her since she was a tiny kitten.
She also has arthritis, has daily pain relief for this. Is much more vocal than she used to be, is more confused.
The biggest practical issues is that she has tummy trouble, excessive loose stools that are outside of the litter box much of the time, now appearing in random places too when shes always been a clean cat.
She often stinks ( sorry cat) too.
Vet has ruled everything out, thinks IBD We have tried so many different types of diet for prolonged periods. Probiotics, etc.
Part of the problem is that she seems to associate whatever she last ate with having a sore tummy and then will refuse to eat it ( she would literally rather not eat)
She is also sick fairly frequently.
She is very thin but her weight has stabilized.
We are at wits end with the mess which tbh is really impacting on our sleep and the hygiene of our house. We can't really have anyone over without some one being on cat poo duty ready to manage what might happen. I think a lot of the time our house stinks, or feels like it does, which is miserable.
We do wipe her bum, but invariably sometimes not quickly enough and are constantly washing things she comes into contact with
She will often wake at night, demand attention, ( she still has numerous creative ways of doing this) yowl.
I don't know how we are a going to be able to go away and leave her as there will be so much poop to clean, who would want to do this?? I can't imagine the state our house would be in.
I don't think I could take her to a cattery as she would get confused and has such a close bond with me would become distressed.
The last couple of years things we have managed by having a really close, tolerant friend house sit. Friend has now moved abroad so not a goer. Things are also now much worse
Typing this out has made me realize what I'm asking is a) is there anything else I can try b) how is it possible to contemplate the idea of having a beloved family member pts when they are still managing ok but such a big commitment... It's not like she worries about personal dignity!
Any
thoughts? please be kind.
Also has anyone ever been able to get a cat to keep a nappy on?? Is this an option?
Wwyd?