I think it's time to let Tyger go

[TrogL]

Tyger is a 12(??) year old DSH that I got from the Humane Society, listed as "feral". He's an outdoor kitty that doesn't do well outdoors, constantly losing fights and coming home bloody and torn up. The latest adventure left him with two lacerations in his leg that took awhile to heal. Over the last year he's developed a massive appetite, but is also losing weight. He's stopped maintaining his fur and I've brushed enough out of it to make three more cats. The vet is at a bit of a loss other to mention that his teeth are in rough shape and he may have an abscess.

The last thing is now he's started massive drooling to the point where there's a crust of brown, dried drool around his mouth all the time. Tyger's a great mouser and has left us several presents over the last few weeks. I'm wondering if he's been poisoned with Warferin by somebody trying to get rid of a mouse problem.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. I wish I had answers for the cat-specific questions, but I can at least offer a knowing . . . . .

. . . . . sense of caring.

[TrogL]

2. He showed up tonight

Ate 3 packets of food, let me brush him and massage his sore gums with a paper towel without trying to kill me. No discharge

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Outdoor cats can have so many problems.

It is incredible that he made it to 12 years old. If he is always in fights, and injured, it could be so many things that are wrong with him. My sister had an indoor cat who went outside to lay in the sun on the porch often. Another cat came along and kicked the shit out of him.....and he got feline AIDS from that encounter. You just don't know all the dangers out there.

I am sorry to hear that he is not doing well. I am sure you will do what needs to be done when that time comes.

[TrogL]

4. They did a blood work up because that's what I was thinking

No problems they could find

[Granny M]

5. poor Tyger.

I have had a few cats with temperaments like that - built for love, not war. I wish him well, but if it's not to be, then safe passage. Sending you comforting thoughts.

[KC]

6. I am so

sorry he's not feeling good. I wish
they could just tell us what hurts so
we'd know what was wrong.
Living outside is so dangerous for them.
I had an outdoor cat that adopted me
and I made him become an indoor cat
It wasn't easy for him or me but it was
the only way I'd keep him.
I hope he feels better but you will make
the best decision for him when that time comes.

[hamsterjill]

7. It sounds like Tyger has stomatitis.

Has your vet mentioned that possibility?

[TrogL]

8. I think you nailed it

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/02/06/dr-becker-discusses-feline-stomatitis.aspx

note:

So is lack of grooming because the mouth becomes too sore to tolerate licking and other self-cleaning activities.

[hamsterjill]

9. Our rescue group has several that we successfully treat for this.

Stomatitis cannot be "cured" per se, but it can be managed in some cats.

I'd be happy to share my experience with a couple of cats that I've personally taken care of who have stomatitis with you if you want to PM me. Either way, I wish you the very best of luck with this situation.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. My current cat has/had stomatitis.

It is one of the nastiest things I have ever encountered. It takes a lot of care, and I am not sure you can do it with a totally outdoor cat. First, the teeth have to be cleaned often---real often, like every 6 months. My baby was in for the first cleaning and they found that most of his molars were bad, so they removed them. That may or may not have been the cause. He still has his canine teeth, but has lost most of his incisors---they have just fell out. He was on high doses of steroids at first, and after 2 years, he still is on low dose (twice a week) steroids. He also has a water additive to keep bacteria down. I am not sure how all this can be accomplished if he is not around all the time (or is he). But he has been fine for at least a year now, and doesn't even need his teeth cleaned so often because he no longer has the serious reaction to dental bacteria. I swear by having the teeth removed....it has made his quality of life so much better, and it hasn't slowed down his eating one bit---and he will only eat hard food.

[TrogL]

11. He shows up most evenings for supper

[IrishAyes]

12. So glad Tyger's better

I also bookmark and archive everything I find about animal disease, as one can never tell when such info might be useful or even critical.

So Tyger's a sweety, is he? That's good, despite the downside. My best friend in high school had a beloved gray striped tabby she named Pickle because that was his favorite treat. He was a trim 30 lbs or so, making us wonder what other blood ran in his veins. They eventually had to send Pickle away prematurely around age 6 or 7 because he also hated to be indoors and loved to kill dogs - a German Shepherd was the last one. Pickle hated other people, too, and was not to be trusted around anyone but my friend and I. But we loved him dearly except for his homicidal ways.

[TrogL]

13. Took him to the vet expecting to have to put him down

They confirmed diagnosis above and gave him some antibiotics. He's being sent to a pet dentist. Comment -"oh there's lots of life left in him". I'd already said my goodbyes.

[TorchTheWitch]

14. well that sure is a wonderful surprise!

I'm so happy for you that though you already had prepared yourself for the worst you got the wonderful surprise of a relatively minor problem that can be treated and expect to still have your fur baby for lots more time to come.