Pets
Related: About this forumare these symptoms familiar to another cat owner?
We are going back to the vet tomorrow, but here's what's been happening:
Kitty is about 19 years old. A week ago developed symptoms: going to the litter box often and only producing a trickle of urine. Then she lost her appetite gradually, until now is refusing to eat. Also to drink. Vet tested urine and found signs of infection (no crystals) and put her on antibiotic Orbax--after four days no improvement, only gradual decline. Another visit to vet to check for dehydration, which was okay (last Tues.) Then he put her on Clavamox. After two days on that she was vomiting so I was told to take her off, wait two days and call again--which will be tomorrow. She is also on anti-hyperthyroid medication--has been for about six months and is stable for that condition.
Meanwhile I'm forcing fluids; I have a small bulb syringe and am squirting an ounce water or milk into the back of her mouth every two hours or so. And she's now having trouble walking--is wobbling and stumbling. She goes in the litter box but produces nothing. She's lethargic but still enjoyed being carried out to enjoy the summer sunshine this morning and sit in the grass. (She's an indoor cat but allowed out on supervised walks near the house.)
So is this the end? She is actually my daughter's cat--she has moved overseas and I took the cat. She hasn't seen her kitty for a year and a half and is arriving Sunday afternoon for an extended visit. I'm especially interested in keeping kitty going until Sunday.
Has anyone gone through these symptoms? Does it sound like a kidney infection or failure, or what do you think? I think the vet is going to do some blood work tomorrow.
(she is the calico in my signature pic and her name is Camilla)
CurtEastPoint
(18,656 posts)19 is VERY old and that certainly sounds like kidney failure. The vet may suggest euthanasia if she seems to be suffering.
I'm sorry for this but she is very lucky to have you. So is your daughter. It will be a bummer for her to come home in time for her to pass away but that might happen. Strong wishes for you all!
arcane1
(38,613 posts)But her symptoms were the opposite: drinking and peeing all the time. We put her on a special diet about 18 months ago, and now her kidneys show up as "high normal" so there was some improvement.
Just two weeks ago, she went about 4 days with no poo, and we had her receive an enema and subcutaneous fluids, plus a fiber supplement to soften stool, and that helped a lot. The vet said that constipation happens at that age due to dehydration caused by the kidney issue. I'm also not supposed to give her protein-rich foods like tuna anymore.
Some blood tests and a vet visit sound in order. I realize nothing I've said was likely helpful, but it's rare that I talk to anyone with a fellow feline of that age
lamp_shade
(14,841 posts)was only functioning on part of one kidney. I wish I hadn't let her suffer through those last few months of her life.
RIP Stuca 1988-2007. BTW, besides the symptoms you described, she also stopped grooming herself and her fur developed horrible mats which I was constantly cutting out. The vet said this was not unusual with kidney failure.
You have a tough decision to make, ginny. My heart goes out to you.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)Camilla has indeed stopped grooming herself and her fur is all clumpy. Before she felt sick she would come to me and demand to be brushed after every meal--would stare at me until I did it. But did NOT want anything to touch her hind quarters. Since last week I've been going over her with a washcloth soaked in a mild cat shampoo solution every morning, but she still smells pretty ripe.
I don't believe in prolonging this either. I just want my daughter to have a chance to say goodbye. I had another cat who died at 18 and had a pretty miserable last six months and we probably should have let him go earlier. It is hard to decide when you are in the middle of it, but when you look back you can see it more clearly.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)I had an 18 year old cat die of kidney failure before I could get her to the vet for euthanasia....she was holding her own, and went downhill fast after the vet closed for Christmas. My vet and my family doctor both said the same thing---kidney failure is not something that causes pain and suffering. The toxins that build up in the body actually give a sense of euphoria, in animals and in humans. It was not a painful way to go. Let go of your regrets but not the love you had for your cat.
CountAllVotes
(20,877 posts)Poor old Mr. Flame was not only sad but very very sick.
He'd let himself go and was no longer grooming himself.
In the end he would not eat anymore and he did nothing but cry cry cry cry cry.
He was sick, sad and miserable.
We were told nothing could be done other than hospitalize him for infusions.
We decided not to do this to him as he was not the type of cat that you could do such a thing to easily (had the word CAREFUL stamped on his chart).
If I had thought for one second that he was not in pain and suffering horribly, I would have done more, believe me.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)there were crystals in the urine. The absence of crystals does not appear to be a shutdown of the kidneys. I wonder if it is not just a kidney infection....but at her age, that can be a problem. It is obvious that your kitty is not feeling well for some reason.
I did have another cat who had a hyperthyroid, and his symptoms were also the same....it was called apathetic hyperthyroidism. Instead of eating like a horse, he refused all foods.
But instead of all the guessing, let the vet make the decision and diagnosis. See my answer above regarding kidney disease and suffering....it would not be wrong to let the cat live until your daughter gets home if that is what it is.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)Good advice. We will see what the vet says. And if it is kidney failure, we can keep her going for a few more days, hopefully.
PotatoChip
(3,186 posts)It will be a year this August 1rst since I had to put my 19 year old kitty to sleep, so I can totally sympathize w/you about the decision. These situations are so hard.
In my cat's case, it was a cancerous tumor on her leg. Very fast growing and aggressive. So for her, it was a much more clear decision. She remained fairly healthy w/very decent quality of life for the first month and a half after the tumor became visible. The tumor itself, while it looked terrible, didn't stop her from walking normally, and she didn't appear to be in pain from it.
Vet told me that she could go on like that ok, but warned of how fast moving that type of cancer was. Once it started affecting more then just her leg, it'd be time he told me, and explained what I needed to look for. Sure enough, as he predicted, other things began to happen and in about the timeframe he had given me.. (like vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite). I didn't let her go on very long after that.
As to your cat's symptoms, it sounds very similar to what my dog went through w/his kidney failure, which is harder sometimes to detect. I have to admit that I blew it when it came to recognizing all of the gradual things that were happening until it was too late. I felt a lot of guilt over that at the time. But rarely are these types of conditions as 'cut and dried' as something like my cat's cancer.
So sorry Ginny. I too hope that your daughter will get a chance to say goodbye.
virgdem
(2,126 posts)sound like the classic symptoms of CRF (Chronic Renal Failure). I have had 7 cats in all, and at least 3 of them suffered similar symptoms. At 19, which is a very advanced age for a cat, it is not unusual at all for the kidneys to start to really fail. Has your Vet said anything to you about the fact that CRF might be the problem? What needs to be considered at this point is quality of life issues (is the cat enjoying life, as far as eating/drinking normally, not in pain, etc.). If quality of life has declined significantly, then you have to make the ultimate decision to end suffering. Hope this helps and I wish you the best in making that decision.
CountAllVotes
(20,877 posts)Same symptoms, same story, same age almost (18).
I had to have her put down just before Xmas and I'm still heartbroken about it.
After that her pal, Mr. Flame who was so very sad about her being gone went into kidney failure and I had to have him put down about 2 mos. later.
It is awful.
We get so very attached and then the time comes to let go and let God I guess I'd say.
I'm sorry to read this and I hope you'll do the right thing soon.
In Old Kitty's case, she had a tumor it seems and I was told it was hyperthyroidism that was the cause which is sadly quite common in old cats.
Hang in there and please, take care of yourself.
HeiressofBickworth
(2,682 posts)I'm assuming you have kept her abreast of kitty's health. Does she want you to prolong kitty's life until she get home? Does she think that if the vet gives a bad prognosis you should help kitty end her suffering now instead of waiting?
I hope you have discussed this with your daughter. I think it would be an awful shock to get home and be told either that kitty died or that kitty is fatally ill.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)We have been keeping her updated--didn't want anything to come as a surprise.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)The vet felt a tumor at the base of her bladder which was blocking passage of urine, which then backed up into her kidneys and then it was just like kidney failure. And nothing they could do because they couldn't flush it out with a lot of IV fluids like you usually can. Very high levels of toxins in the blood. He emptied the bladder so she'd be more comfortable. We took her home with some pain pills yesterday to try to keep her going for just one more day, until my daughter could get here (she is arriving this afternoon.) Gave her a bit of water with a syringe and kept her comfortable.
But Camilla died during the night. By evening she had lost the ability to move first her back legs and then her front legs. Could only move her head and look at us in a kind of daze. I'm glad she is out of her suffering, but sad for my daughter. We will have to tell her when we pick her up at the airport. She's a grown up (mid-30s) but single without kids and this cat was her link to earlier happier days.
In 2003
HeiressofBickworth
(2,682 posts)You did the best you could with her. She was loved. Sorry for your loss.
sinkingfeeling
(51,470 posts)TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)I'm so sorry your poor kitty couldn't make it until your daughter got home to see her one last time. What a gorgeous kitty she was and no doubt brought much love to your home. Such a very sad loss.
That's a great photo though. A perfect one to have blown up and framed.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)she at least got here in time to see her before we buried her out back. She got to be a part of that, and I am sure it helps a person work through grief to be able to do something for the departed one. She is here on a previously scheduled visit: it just worked out this way.
uppityperson
(115,678 posts)Response to uppityperson (Reply #19)
ginnyinWI This message was self-deleted by its author.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)Stinky The Clown
(67,817 posts)Our Scardy Cat died this morning.
I am so sorry for your loss.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)It's especially hard when it happens out of the blue. You know they are old, but think they have no reason not to go on a bit longer.
uppityperson
(115,678 posts)CraftyGal
(695 posts)We lost our Smokey 3 weeks ago, still can't think about it without tears. I know what you guys are going through.