Aged Pussy Cat Query - Don't know what to do?

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millimoo

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I know this is really for Equine matters, but in the asence of a Cat section thought i'd post here.
I have an 18yr old cat who I nearly had PTS last year as she was losing weight, vomiting etc, and really looked terrible. She has had regular blood tests for Thyroid & Kidneys etc, and all normal. She has been on Steroids now for 12 months due to persistant vomiting which has stopped (starts again without Steroids) - we (Vet and I) suspect she may have a tumour, but I don't believe it appropriate to investigate when the treatment for a tumour would be steroids anyway.

We have got on fine, with a check up every 3 months to check her weight (which improved and stabilised for 8 months) and clip her claws etc.
However i've reached a cross roads with her.
She's like a walking skeleton and doesn't groom herself anymore - I've tried to brush her, but she won't let me as I suspect its uncomfortable for her (I can do her back gently though and she likes this). If I was using this as a basis for PTS, she would have been done weeks ago.
However, she is eating well - always comes down for Breakfast, lunch and tea, although only eats smallish amounts at a time. Sorry to be graphic, but what comes out the other end clear indicates she's eating. She has a quiet bed to herself under the radiator upstairs, but often comes down in the evening and joins us for half an hour.
She is also sometimes still hops up on the worksurface to access my other cats food via a stool (she has a seperate feeding station away from my Semi Feral who thinks every meal is her last).

I know you're meant to know when its time, and with my other cats I have... but for Milly she is imaciated, stiff in her elbows, but coming down everyday to eat, use the little tray and see what else is on offer.

We're going to the vets again tomorrow for another check of her weight and to discuss options with the vet, but i have a horrible feeling he'll say she's purry and interested so not time yet (and it's not a money thing, as the Steroids are cheap)

Has anyone been in this situation - I feel guilty for considering the PTS option, but I have a horrible feeling she'll hang on and on and on.....? and I could do with some other opinions as my mum just says PTS (but that's easier said than done)

I am also in the 'better a week to early, than a day too late camp'.

Cookies and Chocolate if you got this far!!!
 
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Sorry to hear about your cat, I've been hear before, twice...

If your cat is essentially herself just thin then I think you can feel happy about carrying on, however if she has changed dramatically then maybe you should be looking about doing something more.

You say the steroids are keeping the vomiting under control, does she have any other pain relief? If she has a tumour or other long term problem she is likely to be in some pain or discomfort. Speak to your vet to see if you can give her something else too, or she may well benefit from some acupuncture. Quite often if you give cats (or dogs) some decent pain relief they pick up remarkably well.

Animals live in the moment, they have little concept of 'tomorrow', if you are already thinking about PTS, and you have explored other possible options then maybe it is the right time. It is never an easy decision, however I believe it is the bravest one an owner can make.

Good luck and I'm sure you will do the right thing.
 
Have to say I;d be thinking that I'd rather let her go know before the day that she is not wanting to come down and eat her food. If she is not grooming that is a bad sign in terms of comfortableness and if you just book an appointment for the vets to pts, they will be unlikely to make any arguements, they will be guided by what you want as she is in a bad way.
 
Our old "lady" kept us hanging round for years wondering whether the time was right. She was very thin, looked awful and she smelt worse, but her spirit was very strong. Every so often she'd go off her food and we'd struggle to tempt her appetite - the thing that always worked was freshly shot rabbit, cut into 1cm cubes and lightly fried in butter until the outside was warm but the middle still cool, fed from a flat plate placed on top of a catfood tin to get the right height (and we suspect because all the other cats used to get so excited when the catfood tin came out - she had that sort of humour). We really did go to those sort of lengths for her and after a couple of days she'd perk up again and get her cattitude back. And as you are waiting for (in the nicest possible way) one day she looked up at me and the light in her eyes had gone out, she'd had enough and she was pts within the next hour.

With your old lady I'd be asking the vet about giving her some Metacam each day - I know it damages their liver but let's face it that is long term damage and we are not talking about a long term solution for such an old girl. That may perk her up for a bit more but realistically any time that YOU feel is right is the best time for you to make the decision.

I do know how hard it is. I can't thank my old girl enough for making the decision for us and showing me so clearly. I'd have loved for her to have just not woken up one day but she didn't make it that easy.

Best wishes to you for when you do have to make the decision.
 
I always think that once you are thinking about it more than you're not, then it is time - if that makes sense.

One of my old kitties was much the same, still eating and doing the 'biz' and seemed happy enough. One morning she toddled outside to follow me when I went out to feed the ponies, but when I came back to the house, she had collapsed in the utility room and made a mess of herself. I took her straight to the Vets and had her PTS, but I always felt guilty that it happened. She looked so startled and hurt that she'd made a mess for the 1st time in her life. I know I couldn;t have predicted it, but I had been thinking to myself just a few more days.
 
*hic* said:
Our old "lady" kept us hanging round for years wondering whether the time was right. She was very thin, looked awful and she smelt worse, but her spirit was very strong. Every so often she'd go off her food and we'd struggle to tempt her appetite - the thing that always worked was freshly shot rabbit, cut into 1cm cubes and lightly fried in butter until the outside was warm but the middle still cool, fed from a flat plate placed on top of a catfood tin to get the right height (and we suspect because all the other cats used to get so excited when the catfood tin came out - she had that sort of humour). We really did go to those sort of lengths for her and after a couple of days she'd perk up again and get her cattitude back.
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Click to expand...

Was that slightly salted or unsalted butter?

I hope you don't think I am making light of this terrible situation.
I am in fact deeply moved by both hic and the OP.
18 is a terrific age. My heart goes out to you. Keep us cat lovers posted. We'll be here for you.
 
Thankyou so much for taking the time to reply...
The trip tomorrow isn't one way, it's to discuss options, and i guess PTS is always at the back of my mind because i genuinely thought her time was up 12 months ago and I'm surprised she's still with us at times.
Regards the pain relief, we did try metacam last year as she is arthritic in her elbows, but my vets says they can't have it alongside steroids.
She has kept a good appetite on the whole, but its almost as if her body doesnt absord any goodness, and yes been there too and have resorted to chicken breast and even a fish (minus batter) from the chippy to get her appetite back in the past.

I think the hardest is that she still purrs away when you stroke her, and when I had my tea tonight she wanted it and was hovering and round my feet.

I will do right by her, just finding it difficult to balance the state of her health versus her mind.

Thankyou again, i will let you know how the vets went... I think the key measure will be how much weight she's lost as we have a good and regular record over the last 12 months, and the last trip was not very long ago
 
Abitodd, that's funny... I'm actually ok as she's such a good age. I lost a cat to kidney failure when he was 5yrs and another at 11yrs to stomach cancer many moons ago, and they were really hard.
Millys much loved, has outlived everyone and has a very cushy life - apart from the inconvenience of 3 other younger cats, and a very tollerant Labrador.
She gets every first and her her own special bed where no one would dare to tread.
So no offence taken, it sadly goes with the territory, and if I can get any of the others In the clan to her age I'll be thrilled x
Anyway, she's not gone yet... So we'll see - I'll also ask whether there's alternative pain relief too
 
I have lost two to the road. One at 9 months old,one at 9 years old.
I moved house because of it(double rent,double milage,but safer for cats!)
I also had an ex feral who made 17. So like you, I aim to give them a good innings.(The ex feral would have been very distressed by a trip to the vets or even a visit from the vet,so I had to allow her to die 'wild'. I don't think she suffered,but I would have preferred to see her slip away quickly and peacefully with me at her side.)
You obviously have a good relationship with your vet. A good vet will know if there are options for a bit more time.
My thoughts will be with you tomorrow.
 
So sad OP, but we had our old cat Jenny, on steroids for a long, long time and a special diet cat food. She became very thin and then incontinent.....I found some photos of her and how I let her struggle on for as long as I did, I really don't know. I will never do it again. We had to call out the vet one Sunday morning and she could no longer move and was very distressed.
Your old lady is such a good age so please think about letting her go with the dignity she deserves.
Kind thoughts.

D x
 
I'm sorry to hear about your girl :( I lost one of my Persians a couple of months ago she went the same way as yours very thin there was a bit of blood in her urine on and off but she wasn't vomiting we suspected kidney failure as its quite common in Persian's. Me and my partner agreed to leave her be until we thought she was suffering at which point we would have pts. She gradually got thinner and thinner but like yours was eating well and was still happily playing with her son.

And was enjoying being groomed and then one day I went to groom her and she was meowing complaining like she wasn't enjoying being groomed so I left her and thought I will have to take her to the vets the next morning as she was obviously in discomfort and was preparing myself to have her pts.

I came down in the morning to find she had passed away peacefully in her sleep. Even though I was expecting it i still found it very upsetting but i'm glad I kept her until the end and she didn't suffer she had a long and happy life with us and passed away peacefully. I think your cat will let you know when she's had enough I always said that if Zena (our old girl) stopped eating/drinking then she's obviously giving up but luckily we didn't have to put her through the stress of travelling to the vets. I would leave your girl as she is and keep a close eye on her if she shows any sign of being unhappy not eating/drinking or not getting about then have her pts. But if she's happy even though its not nice to see them when they get so thin then leave her be she might go peacefully like my old girl did.
 
Oh abitodd how awful for you... My 2nd youngest managed to get knocked over in the summer and came home with liver damage (£700 of tests and treatment - there was an out of hours appointment in there too), and we live in a quiet village.. They can be so careless shooting over the roads but understand you moving. When I bought my house I was very specific about where I lived, with the cats at the back of my mind.
I'm so with you on the ex feral dilemma. Mine was dumped on the roadside as a kitten of about 4 months (I posted at the time about whether to give her a home). She's lives in the house, adores my 2nd eldest, but was much wilder and frightened than I realised. She goes out if she wants (although still won't use the cat flap), and only in the company of the dog or other cats will she let me stroke her. This in itself is progress as she was terrified of hands and feet, hisses on the stairs and if she feels cornered still pants in distress still, so like you the vets is a no no ... Although I still feel guilty that she's not had her vaccinations, but the only way I'll get her there is to trap her, undoing any trust we have. It's such a shame, because when she does let you stroke her she loves it, purrs like mad, and dribbles, but she's just so flighty and is off at the drop of a hat. I'm resigned to her using me for bed and board as she definitely likes the idea of limitless food and a warm bed in the house - I can even leave the door wide open and she'll sit looking out, then run back in if I get too close. (she is neutered and I can deflee/worm just.
Anyhow, slightly off topic :)
will update you all tomorrow....speak of the devil, my old lady has just walked in having eaten sone food and has jumped on my knee purring - think she's trying to tell me something :)
 
*hic* said:
Our old "lady" kept us hanging round for years wondering whether the time was right. She was very thin, looked awful and she smelt worse, but her spirit was very strong.
Click to expand...

I had my old girl put to sleep in the spring of this year. She had had many extra years as I kept thinking is it time, is it time. She was so skinny, lame, dull fur, deaf and a little bit stinky but she was as bright as a button. She was over 20 when I had her put to sleep and I'd chatted with my vet about it and he came out and put her to sleep. If I'd taken her into a Small Animal Vet they'd have probably had heart failure! But my vet knew her she had been a great stable cat for many many years. She was a dear old girl and so beautiful with the largest knowing eyes. Those who are FB friends will have seen her photo's.

My lab is 15 and lives on Metacam and Vivitonin and still goes for short walks. She's bright in her eyes, a bit skinny (but better than being fat) and I keep looking at her thinking if she'll make it to Christmas. I know that when she isn't at the garden gate wanting to go for her little sedate stroll that the time will be right for her. She's also not in any pain due to the meds that she's on and she's doing pretty good.
 
Ask your vet if the vomiting could be pancreatitis. Mine has it and it can lead on to weight loss and diabetes. I've discovered that (luckily) her favourite food is the one that she is least likely to bring up. I thought she might prefer different flavours but since she has stayed with the chicken and turkey one, her vomiting has decreased by 90%. She is eating me out of house and home but has fairly recently lost quite a bit of weight. She looks well, just isn't the big solid cat she was. I don't know how old she is as she was a sort of rescue case, but I'd be fairly confident she is 16 or maybe more. Deaf as a post now, bless her.

You are clearly a knowledgeable and caring person. Good luck with the vet.
 
My old cat was 27 when he went he was a walking bag of bones but active in his old age he became a thief even stealing bacon out of the frying pan while cooking the day he didnt go to the fridge when opened he was pts. You have got to do whats right eighteen is excellent age for a cat I still have a cat and hes nineteen and still going just. Very hard decision.
 
Hi any news ?
l
had my old cat put to sleep earlier in the year. The time came that he couldnt get up but was still trying to eat. I knew when enough was enough but like a lot of people had ummed and arged for quite a while. I am happy that when he had had enough I knew and have no regrets although I do stil miss him of course
 
Hi

Sounds like an overactive thyroid. Does the cat seem to be awake all the time and scrounging for food but still staying thin? Can be cured for a bit by removing one of the thyroids (the overactive one) but after than you will need daily pills.

Good luck
 
My mum cats is about 20 ish plus we think as we dont know his exact age but he is as you descibed skinning doesnt groom himself very well but then again he has not teeth as they have all fallen out over the years but that doesnt stop him from using the littler tray, eating biscuits nicking food of your dinner plate then your not looking, and then ambling away with it he meows at the open fire, snuggles up and sleeps about 22 years a day, stiff to walk sometimes but we had him to the vet recently with the same thing in mind and as our vet said it is quality of life that is important if he can still eat, sleep be cheeky (he gummed the vet) then let him be only when you have concerns that he cant use the little tray and has stoppping eating and changes in his "routine" mood etc then we'll look at that but until then let him be happy so we have he gets spoilt rotten chicken, beef, salmon, you name it he gets it got my mum wrapped around his smelly little feet he has lol
 
Our old moggy is 19yo now, and a bag of bones, he eats very well and is happy, purry and friendly as he has always been, he loves cuddles but stroking him upsets me because i can feel all his bones, If anyone that didn't know him saw him they would think he was a neglect case, So although he's not been poorly like your little one, I genuinely believe they will let us know when time is up for them
 
I had the same dilemma as you with my cat - she was blind - eating well - getting around ok but in a bit of a mess - we used to cut all the fur balls out, clip feet etc and wash when need be. About a month ago she also started to go wobbly and off her food with little coming ot other end - when I offered her food in her bed and she took one big mouthful and then rested head in it I called vet and got them out to PTS - they lifted whole bed out of porch into sunlight in back garden and did it there - she didnt even move. She had hung on years after we thought she would.

Yours will tell you when its time - dont feel guilty about making the decision though
 
Well I lost Smokey 6 weeks ago - 17 yr old - she was thin and been suffering with Renal failure - she had been a little quiet and then one day back end went and was rushed to vet - and pts. Wish i had done it sooner so she hadnt had to suffer. My other girl 17yr as well (had both since kittens) we had PTS on monday. she had very similar symptoms to yours - possible tumor and was on steroids, also had renal failure as well. She was very quiet over weekend and we have just not been able to get weight on her at all. - We decided that monday was to be the day. She was never easy to inject in the leg so I had already asked for an ACP to sedate her so it would make it easier - she had this 1 hr before going and vet was wonderful, really made it easy and peaceful for her. I am obviously devasted about losing both of them in such a short time but I do feel a sense of relief for Abbey as she went before getting so ill that her body gave up. I wish i had made the decision for Smokey.

My vet says that the mind is fine but when thin and not putting weight on the body just gives up on them and the organs just fail.

If she were my cat i would be looking at choosing the day - I only say that as i have experienced both ways of them passing on.

So sorry for you as i know its so hard. especially when they so purry and seem ok in their mind - its so unfair.
 
So hard isn't, hugs! :(

I lost my old boy who was 20, in January this year, he had terrible arthritis and 5 years on Metacam - he was stone deaf but other than that doing well , although lost all his muscle mass from the arthritis but still ate ok and had a good belly on him.

A week before last Xmas he got very constipated and I had to rush him in the vets on Xmas Eve just before they closed, I was in a terrible state and convinced I was losing him but they fluhsed him out and gave him some medication to keep him moving and he perked up well over Xmas and we got to spend lots of time together which I am very grateful for.

Sadly in late Jan the constipation came back and he started to act very distressed, hiding under the bed, not eating much and the light had gone. He was pts then as I knew it was his time, vet injected him straight into the kidney and he went very fast and very peacefully. I feel I got the timing right so felt no guilt although it was still a very hard time.

I knew immediately when it was time, which I was glad about. I had the scare before but there was something very different about him when it was time to go :( Weirdly I had done all my crying by then too.
 
Hey all, Been a little teary reading all your experiences... We really do love our animals so much and would do anything to make them comfortable, safe and happy. Thankyou so much for sharing as I'm sure it made you all feel sad, especially those who've lost them so recently...
I'm actually feeling a bit if a fraud today.
Milly has decided to eat everything put in front of her (same again today). She's been after my food again tonight and sneaked up onto the kitchen worktops again looking for what I was having.
She even sprinted up the stairs today??? She hasn't done that for a while (must be the food).

Events also overtook me this morning and I had to collect / look after my brothers kids this afternoon, so had to cancel the vets appointment.
She will be going for a check up in the next few days as want to ask about other pain killer options as I've reduced her steroids over the last few weeks due to her size (on advise, plus she's not vomiting and managing)
Therefore she lives to fight another day, when she's like this it's definitely not her time and it's easy fir me to know she's happy in herself.
I will be having the discussion about her weight and PTS options in the future (probably at home) as part of her check up, but for now she is ok - although skinny, but you guys have helped me know that it's fairly common in oldies.

I will let you know what happens in the future, but for now I shall enjoy my time with her... She's with me again tonight lying at my feet purring her socks off (think it was the fresh warm chicken - I shared my tea, she so deserved it)
 
OOOhhhh good news for once, thats lovely and she sounds like she is still enjoying life.

My little girly was blind for the last year or so - many was the morning I came downstairs to find her in the bed eyes wide open but not moving and I would start to say "ooohh no, I think Molly has gone in her sleep bless her....." only to go over stroke her and get a meow that scared the life out of me. Good trick the sleeping with eyes open !

If you get to the stage where you need a cat litter tray I would recommend a puppy training tray - much deeper and saves the cat litter being shoved out the sides
 
Millimoo - try "Missing link" It is a high vit and min supplement with rice bran in it. Also if you can get hold of some homeopathic Aloe (forget strength - but can check if interested.)

I have a cat who has a very sensitive tum. Amongst other things the vet put him on Missing Link. He was doing better, but still losing a bit of weight so the vet advised trying the Aloe. (tiny little pillules) And that seemed to help. The steroids will increase her appetite but not help her to digest / effectively use the food.

I warn you now that Missing Link is not cheap, but for the amount you use, it will last you AGES...

Bless you for sticking by your little girl. I know it is not easy. Strength to you and gentle hugs for your little lady. xxx
 
Meesha - how freaky for you... must admit Milly has a bed under the radiator by my bed, and she sleeps very soundly (deaf), and sometimes i find myself leaning over the bed to see if she's still breathing - especially if she hasn't come down at mealtimes.

Festive Fresian - thankyou for the suggestions I will look into 'Missing Link' and the Aloe.

Thanks again everyone else too, i'm really glad I posted, my mum would have had her PTS 6 months ago - it's threads like these that make this forum such a wonderful place, and it's so nice and reassuring when everyone's so kind ... must be us cat lovers :) we need an all about cats section!
 
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