I am thinking of doing something potentially dangerous with my old girl cat :^(

[GreenPartyVoter]

She is wasting away and has lost muscle mass, and gotten an elevated heart rate over the last few months. I think she has to be at least 2lbs underweight now. If she's 5lbs I'll eat my hat.

So these are the same symptoms her brother (yes, genetically speaking brother) had and he was diagnosed as having hyperthyroid. I know that she might have something else, but if it is the same thing he has and I gave her a mini dose of his pills every day to bring her heart rate down she might make it until late february/early march, which is the soonest I can get her to the vet.

I am just agonizing over this. I don't want to hurt my baby girl but I know for sure she will keep wasting away if I do nothing.

Thanks for hearing me out. :hug: to everyone who replies.

[Sanity Claws]

1. That is dangerous

Please post in the Pets forum and see what responses you get.
Her weight loss could be due to other problems which could be worsened by the thyroid meds.
Have you checked what other symptoms, besides weight loss, go with hyperthyroidism? In humans, other symptoms include an inability to sleep or sleeping less. Anything like that going on with your kitty.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I haven't noticed anything. She's always liked water so I can't tell if she's drinking more or not.

[Texasgal]

2. Oh geez..

I am so sorry.

You are doing your best, and she KNOWS you love her.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. :hugs:

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Thanks! I will call my vet next week. I might try and see if we can work

something out for getting her in there sooner and paying later. (Although I doubt it. They are pretty strict about the whole payments due right away thing.)

[kimi]

5. I don't want to talk you out of calling your vet

but is there perhaps another vet who might be able to see your cat on a cost-deferred basis? One of my former vets would allow me to give them post-dated checks rather than have the care put off. Or maybe there's a shelter who knows a vet who would do something along those lines? I understand that vets have to pay their bills too, but the health of an animal, IMO, should take precedence. Whatever you do, good luck.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Mine has let me do post-dated checks, but for a week, not two months. :^(

[rebel with a cause]

9. If you are low income

some humane society clinics will help you get pet care. Some even have vets who will see your pet for a small fee. Just a thought in case you get desperate. Good luck. :hug:

[Haole Girl]

10. +1

[GoCubsGo]

12. And, as a last resort....

See if your vet, or another will allow you to use a credit card. Mine does, not that I use it there. I agree with the others that you should see a vet, rather than treating your kitty for thyroid issues. Meanwhile, the suggestion of feeding her a good, high-calorie kitten food is a great idea. Also give her lots of treats. I hope you can get her some help soon.

[david13]

7. How old is this cat? Death is a natural occurence. We all go

at some time. If you haven't got the money, you haven't got the money. There is a good chance the vet for money, can still do nothing. Other than take your money.
People and animals have been dying on this planet for a million years. Doctors and vets are a very new phenomena.
It's a sad situation. I just went thru' the same thing last year with an 19 year old cat. And there was nothing the vet could do. I know my cat enjoyed every last minute with me. And then gave up and went peacefully.
But I did want to let her struggle for every last possible minute.
There is an idea perpetrated upon the world by the drug companies, that there is a pill that can cure anything.
There isn't.
Someday we all come to the end of our road.
dc

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. She's 15 but a very sprightly cat you would mistake for one 5 years younger. If she

has what her brother has, we were told that as long as he takes his meds he could have another 5 years or so in him, and he is certainly doing very very well. (Which is why I am hoping she has that and not something terminal. :))

[Flaxbee]

8. I'm sorry. I don't really know what to say - but do

go to the Pets forum.

Call your vet, and see what he or she says. Ask if they can refer you to someone who isn't as strict with payment requirements. See if they'll do a 'layaway' -- if you can even put down $5 or $10 - really hard to do sometimes, I know -- and let you bring her in for a little money up front, more later.

Good luck, GreenPartyVoter. We managed to support our beloved boycat for probably 2-3 months with oral feeding of baby food (WITHOUT ONIONS - get the natural / organic kind, with NO SALT) through a small syringe. We also liquified moist cat food and fed him -- at least he got some calories.

Is she not eating? Or isn't eating enough to maintain weight?

:hug: It's really hard to know what to do, I know.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. She's always been a little piggy. I highly suspect she has the same hyperthyroid issue as

her brother, which caused him to lose so much weight you could almost touch your fingers to each other through his belly sides!

I will call the vet on Monday and see what to do about getting an appt. :)

[LeftyMom]

11. I've had good luck keeping older cats weight up with kitten food.

Definitely make sure you're not feeding senior food if she's prone to thinness, it's basically diet food to keep older cats from getting super pudgy. If the main concern is keeping her from wasting away until you can get her, just making sure she's getting a higher calorie food might help.

If I had the money to give you to take her in sooner, I'd do it, but well, the economy... :( Hopefully you can figure something out.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Thanks, LM! *hugs* The thinness is not good, but it's the revved up heart rate that is most

concerning. :(