Cat lovers: PLEASE HELP - Sick cat, and what to do...

[jab105]

Currently we are caring for my husband's mothers cat...he is 18 years old...she was in Hurricane Ivan, and her home was destroyed, so we have been caring for the cat since September...

When we got him, he weighed about 12-13 pounds...he was fine through Chirstmas, about February...he started losing weight and fast...but he was still eating...we took him to the vet when he seemed tired one day (not acting like himself)...the next day, we took him to the vet (probably about 2 weeks after he seemed to be looking skinny)...and they diagnosed him with diabetes...he weighed 8 pounds...

So, we started him on insulin (a shot in the morning, and a shot at night), and he got better to an extent...but he still wasn't acting like himself...instead of coming out to be with us, he would sleep in the corner...

We then got him on fluids, a subcutaneous needle, about once a day...because he was dehydrated all the time...still, he always looked so sad...not himself...

Last weekend, we called in to get him another vial of insulin, but he didn't have any refills remaining, so they had to wait to call the vet to get him more, so even though he was still on his diabetes food, and getting his fluids, he missed a few shots (we got it first thing on Monday morning and gave it to him)...

He seemed back to where he was...ok, but not himself, still looked sad...then Thursday, we came home from work, and he was sprawled in the middle of the bedroom, and couldn't get up, could barely move at all...we rushed him to the vet, and his temperature was 96 (which is very low)...and he was yellow (ghandis- my spelling is wrong on this one)...they thought his liver wasnt working...and they felt a mass on his organs that could be a tumor...but his blood sugar was normal (which was good)...

So, they did blood work (biliruben was very high, liver was bad), and IV fluids all night...we told my husband's mother what was going on (this is her most beloved cat, and she has had a rough year anyways)...and she came down...

On Friday, he was better, temp was 101 - normal, he could walk a bit, still not eating very much (he weighs 7 pounds)...and my husbands mom came down...we took him to our regular vet, and she said to take him to the emergency vet...so they could monitor him during the weekend...cause he wasnt stable (still yellow)...

So, he had IV all night...today, she wanted to spend time with him...so we went to get him...his temperature was back down to 98 degrees...and we took him home, got him a heating pad, and some shrimp...he's so sad and tired, and still...he slept all day...and we are trying to decide what to do...

She lives 5 hours away, and the vet thinks that its his time (his organs are shutting down), that he maybe has a month left at the most...they also think he might have cancer (because of the rapid weight loss)...

So, we can either get an ultrasound on monday to see what the mass is and if he is stable get a biopsy...

or we can let him go...while she is here with him...

It is very hard, because she cant take him back with her (her home isnt fixed yet)...but, he might not make it that long anyways...and quality of life isnt so great right now...he sleeps, and get poked at all the time...

What are your thoughts? Should we find out about the cancer, and try to keep fighting all of his other problems with the fluids/insulin/ and now liver pills also...he's 18...

Its really hard (I've never had to deal with this before)...

[CatWoman]

1. *sigh*

my neighbor's dog, Midnight, who was a vivacious little scamp only five years ago is now 17 and damn near cripple with arthritis.

It breaks my heart.

My point is, the cat is 18. Which makes him pretty much a senior citizen.

That's a very hard question. But you have to consider his age, and just how much longer he has to live.

[Kali]

2. Sorry for you and really sorry for Mom

but its time. Kitty is really suffering. Let him go. You did the best you can. Mom is strong she will get through it. Let her be there.

[burrowowl]

3. 18 is pretty old for a cat

if quality of life is not good. Put him down or let him die naturally if not too painful.

[Bryn]

4. Oh, I am so sorry

I know how much this hurts. I've been there with my 16 yr old beloved cat that died from FIV a year ago. I, too, did everything I could to save her with vet visits and treatments.

Sounds like he's fading away and getting ready to go to Rainbow Bridge. He may not want to go unless your mother in law is there with him, then he'd be ready to go. I wish there is anyway I can help to make him better. :( Many hugs to you for taking care of him

[jab105]

8. He actually has FIV as well...on top of everything else!!

thanks :pals:

[MADem]

5. The vet bills will be enormous, and even with intervention

...you have to consider the quality of life issue, as well as the 'time left' aspect. If it were me, I would take the decision to let the cat go. Spend some time, say goodbye, do the grieving, and perhaps, at the right time, head for the shelter and find a new little friend.

[jab105]

12. We have spent $600 in the last three days on vet bills...

I dont really care much about that...the problem is that he hasnt looked happy since he got sick...

This cat is my husband's moms...we actually got a little guy ourselves Smudge (- the sick cat) is the only one who can boss our little one around, he thinks he's the head of the house...

This is our guy (in the bag), he's goofy...


I dont have a picture of Smudge on here...we have been taking some today...but, I'd rather not remember him as he is now...

[MADem]

19. If you can keep him out of pain

...you might want to try that for a bit, but to go any further with surgery and chemo and so forth at his late age and stage is probably not going to buy you much in the way of time, and make the poor thing miserable.

Whatever you decide, best of luck to you. It's admittedly a tough call, no matter how old they are, especially if they have a special place in your family.

[roguevalley]

6. My dog was diagnosed with Cushings and had agony. I took him

in for another pain patch and they told me he was terminal for another ailment that we hadn't detected. It was agony but we put him down March 28th. Your baby is suffering probably more than she can stand and the only loving thing might be to do what you know you must. Just comfort yourself that you did everything, above and beyond. I am so very sorry but your baby is telling you something. Please let me know what you do. This hurts so much but its the loving thing to do. Cancer is terrible on a cat.

My baby is the first dog in the picture. The second one is him with his twin brother and the last one is him, my Tippy. Hug your mom. Do what you think is right. A month of pain and suffering is not worth the misery to everyone. Have good thoughts of this baby in your head, not endless reels of his suffering.

Bless you all.

RV, been there, done that very recently.

[jab105]

14. He's adorable...my dog (a poodle) is my baby...and this cat is his

mom's baby in the same way...

I just wish that we could keep him going until he could get home to his real house...everything sesems rushed now becaues she lives 5 hours away and all...


That's the question...a month of pain and suffering...yea...

[KittyWampus]

7. Think Palliative Care... Sounds Like Kitty Is Getting Ready To Go.

Whatever is necessary to ease the pain.

[Jamastiene]

9. If your husband's mother can stay down a little longer,

it might perk him up a little or at least make him more comfortable. With diabetes, they tend to waste to some degree. but he sounds like he is getting a little on the skinny side. Cats don't like change very well and that may be why he's not himself. Having his "momma" nearby would really be good for him right now. Another reason he may be acting differently is because cats are easily embarrassed and getting sick is embarrassing to a cat. I know it works that way with my cats. They feel bad physically just like we do. The difference is that they have that independence thing going on psychologically. That would cause them to feel embarrassed if they have to rely on people. I'm just saying that a lot of cats seem to act that way about it. I feel bad for you, because I've had a dog and a cat that had diabetes. The dog lived a long life, although he did get skinnier. The cat wouldn't take to the shots (fought me and quit letting me get near her actually) and I couldn't watch her suffer any longer. Unfortunately, I had to have her put to sleep.

The decision is up to you though. Someone else can't make the decision on whether to let him go or see if he can be treated. If the vet says there is hope that he can make it, then I'd go for it. If the vet says it looks like it's a so-so chance he'll pull through, I'd try to treat him. If they vet says it doesn't look very hopeful at all, I'd have to think about his quality of life. The vet can give you the best odds. They know how the certain medical conditions will play on the cat's system. That is what I would do. I'd ask the vet for an honest opinion. My vet is real good that way. He'll tell me straight up what is best for the animal and what the odds are and when I can quit worrying. Actually, my vet is the one thing I'll miss about this town if I ever get to move. I may travel back just for the sake of my cats, so they won't have to move and find a new doctor to get used to.

I hope the kitty gets better even if it looks pretty grim right now. I always prefer to hope instead of giving up until everything the vet can do has been done. Ask the vet. That's my advice.

[Scout1071]

10. Definitely sounds like it might be time to start saying

goodbye. I'm sorry to say. I just went thru a similar incident with my beloved yellow lab. Sadly, I had to let him go as well. I don't think that his quality of life will be good with treatment and it will only minimally extend his life because he is already 18.

My heart goes out to you and the family.

[meti57b]

11. My thoughts are this.....

I'm so very sorry to hear your little cat is so sick.

18 years old is very old for a cat. Some may live longer but I think if your cat lives 18 years you are indeed fortunate.

My cat has cancer. He is five years old ... very young. He had rapid sudden weight loss from 10.5 lbs down to 7 lbs. He had a huge mass that filled his entire abdomen. But even when the vet showed it to me on the x-ray, it felt like normal cat stomach muscle to me.

He has lympho-sarcoma of the digestive tract. She did a surgery to remove the mass. Only a small part of the mass was the cancer. He gets chemotherapy. The prognosis is that he will live two years. He cannot survive this cancer according to the vets.

All of this started out very very expensive. Now, his chemotherapy is once every three weeks. The cost is now much less.

My point: The surgery is very expensive. The chemotherapy is very expensive. He is a sick and dying cat. (He feels fine now and is enjoying life, but he won't survive).

Well, I didn't answer your question really, but perhaps that is some context for your situation.

It might be time to let your little cat go. You might want to get your mom another little cat. Another cat will never take the place of the one she lost, but it will keep her company so she won't be alone with her grief.

[GardeningGal]

13. This is always a tough call

It's a personal issue as far as I'm concerned. I think you have to weigh the cost of additional tests to the piece of mind of your mother in law. From my experience with an older dog, it doesn't sound very good, but I paid more for tests so that I could feel comfortable with my decision. (I did eventually have to put my pet out of misery due to kidney failure, but it was very difficult to make that decision.)

Good luck to you, it's very tough to make these types of decisions.

[Coyote_Bandit]

15. Do What You Think is Best for the Cat

That may sound harsh but in reality it is his life, his health, his illness, his pain and suffering. It is selfish for us to make them suffer unnecessarily for our own gratification. And, yes, losing such loving and faithful companions who accept us without condition is painful. The vet most likely will leave any decision to you and may even refuse to make any recommendation. However, assuming they have done the diagnostic work and know what is wrong with the cat they can give you an idea of what to most likely expect.

I have a juvenile renal failure dog that spent a week in doggie hospital with IV's at five months of age. He was in pain, he was throwing up this nasty yellow bile looking stuff, he would not eat and could not keep water down, he lost over 30% of his body weight in a very short time, he had such bad breath that it actually smelled like somthing inside of him was rotten and decaying. He got sick suddenly for reasons that still remain unknown. He also got a second veterinary opinion. One vet was not very optimistic about his long term prognosis and really thought I should consider putting him down. The other vet took a wait and see approach. Over half of the dogs with his particular diagnosis die within a year. He is a long-term survior and will be three years old in June. I have to be very careful with his diet and activity and exposure to heat and cold. He eats prescription dog food and takes Pepcid everyday. And his bloodwork for the past year has shown his renal function to be within upper normal range meaning that his kidney function is somewhat insufficient and impaired but still within levels that do not require medical intervention. I care for him deeply - and differently than I do for my healthy dog. It still seems like everyday that he is healthy is a gift. I know his disease is progressive. He is not cured. There will come a time when I will have to choose how best to care for him and how to give him the best quality of life. I hope that I can follow the advice I have given you.

[serryjw]

16. As you may know I lost Einstein on 3/29

He was 16 1/2 and he was only in pain the last week. Your mother in law is so fortunate that they had each other for so long. It is never easy to say good bye. When mom arrives I think it's time they do say so long to each other. He is waiting for her to arrive so he can say good bye. I cherish the last 6 hours of Einstein's life. I know he knew how much I loved him. I'm sure the farewell will be equally as beautiful.

[shesemsmom]

17. If he were mine

I'd skip the biopsy. Why put him through it. It sounds like he is going to die and he would only be miserable from the surgery. I'd love him while I have him. And let nature take it's course. That may sound bad. But why cause him more pain. It sounds like he's been through enough already. Bless his heart. My thoughts are with you.

[Lorien]

18. So sorry, but I think it's just his time

I wouldn't put him through anything more if he were mine. I did that two years ago with my beloved kitty Peewee, and I always regretted it. He died in the vet hospital, frightened and without me. When my 17 year old kitty Jasper started failing last year (kidneys, FIV and cancer) I had him put down, and I stroked him and spoke to him while he drifted away. I think that Jasper's death was far more gentle than Peewee's...I just couldn't let go of Wee because I loved him so much. Please consider allowing nature to take it's course-the vet's office can be so traumatizing for a kitty, and there isn't much more you can do for him. It will be far kinder in the end. (I think if your mother in law comes to visit, he may cross to the Rainbow Bridge on his own; he may be holding out for her).

:hug:

[Demonaut]

20. I wish you the best, you've really tried to help this cat but

he's a very old cat, I know its hard but you should let him go, it will only go downhill from here and more suffering for him and you....I wish I had better advise but I went through this in Nov.

[jab105]

21. UPDATE: We let him go today...it was peaceful...

am worn out right now...

[Bryn]

22. My Deepest Sympathies

Many hugs to you and your mother-in-law. :hug:

I am glad it was peaceful for your cat when you let him go to Rainbow Bridge. It is always very hard to let go. He sounds like he was a great, beloved cat. He had a good long life with people who loved him.

[Blue Diadem]

23. I'm so sorry,

Hugs to you and your family. :hug: