Aww! Poor wee laddie.
My little cat Geoffrey is really showing signs of age now. Well, he is 25 or 26 now.
He is in a decline. It's rapid and depressing. After all these years I was hoping he could go on for another five.
Last year, he wouldn't eat. I took him to an emergency vet who after so many blood tests etc diagnosed kidney failure with a bleak prognosis and a prescription for pills and a special diet. Geoffrey wouldn't take the pills at all, and wouldn't even lick the new food. Though he has always allowed me to give him pills in the past, he wouldn't take these at all.
I didn't persist with the regime because it seemed cruel - he ran away from me when he thought I might force a pill down him. Eventually he just got better and now eats with gusto and indeed, greed. As he has always done. Yay!
Soon after we got our Labrador Stan, it became obvious that while Stan was happy to even sleep next to Geoffrey when Geof. was in bed, he chased him whenever he walked across the room. Not in a cute way either. More like he chases after rabbits and pheasants in the fields. As the dog is a rescue dog and we don't really know what he might do to a small animal if he ever caught one, I thought it prudent to keep Geoffrey in my bedroom with food, water and a litter tray when I'm not in to supervise.
Ever since that decision Geoffrey has been in decline. I think it's more to do with lack of exercise than anything else. He has become so weak on his legs and finds it difficult to get up from his bed, though he is fairly steady once standing. After another emergency vet and blood tests showing liver failure this time - another prescription for pills and special food which he simply won't take.
He really is old but I blame myself for getting a dog. Maybe Geoffrey resents having to stay in my room and use a litter tray when he was the king cat down here before. I just can't risk the dog hurting him though. I also love the dog now - he is just a massive cute puppy!
Sigh. Most cats are old at 17. Geoffrey is at least 25. I have been lucky to have him for so long. It's been a 'special' relationship from the beginning and I have to face the fact that he will die soon. At the same time I know what a brave and tough cat he is and am hoping he will rally round. I can't ignore the muscle wasting and how thin he is or his weakness and sudden episodinic bouts of incontinence. The vet says I have to think about euthanasia. Well I have thought about it but to me he just seems no different to old people. He is weak and incontinent (occasionally) but doesn't seem in pain or suffering. So my decision is to nurse him to the end. If he becomes distressed then of course I will consider putting him to sleep, but untill then I hope he can keep going a bit longer.
You see, he loves life and I love him.
He is in a decline. It's rapid and depressing. After all these years I was hoping he could go on for another five.
Last year, he wouldn't eat. I took him to an emergency vet who after so many blood tests etc diagnosed kidney failure with a bleak prognosis and a prescription for pills and a special diet. Geoffrey wouldn't take the pills at all, and wouldn't even lick the new food. Though he has always allowed me to give him pills in the past, he wouldn't take these at all.
I didn't persist with the regime because it seemed cruel - he ran away from me when he thought I might force a pill down him. Eventually he just got better and now eats with gusto and indeed, greed. As he has always done. Yay!
Soon after we got our Labrador Stan, it became obvious that while Stan was happy to even sleep next to Geoffrey when Geof. was in bed, he chased him whenever he walked across the room. Not in a cute way either. More like he chases after rabbits and pheasants in the fields. As the dog is a rescue dog and we don't really know what he might do to a small animal if he ever caught one, I thought it prudent to keep Geoffrey in my bedroom with food, water and a litter tray when I'm not in to supervise.
Ever since that decision Geoffrey has been in decline. I think it's more to do with lack of exercise than anything else. He has become so weak on his legs and finds it difficult to get up from his bed, though he is fairly steady once standing. After another emergency vet and blood tests showing liver failure this time - another prescription for pills and special food which he simply won't take.
He really is old but I blame myself for getting a dog. Maybe Geoffrey resents having to stay in my room and use a litter tray when he was the king cat down here before. I just can't risk the dog hurting him though. I also love the dog now - he is just a massive cute puppy!
Sigh. Most cats are old at 17. Geoffrey is at least 25. I have been lucky to have him for so long. It's been a 'special' relationship from the beginning and I have to face the fact that he will die soon. At the same time I know what a brave and tough cat he is and am hoping he will rally round. I can't ignore the muscle wasting and how thin he is or his weakness and sudden episodinic bouts of incontinence. The vet says I have to think about euthanasia. Well I have thought about it but to me he just seems no different to old people. He is weak and incontinent (occasionally) but doesn't seem in pain or suffering. So my decision is to nurse him to the end. If he becomes distressed then of course I will consider putting him to sleep, but untill then I hope he can keep going a bit longer.
You see, he loves life and I love him.