On aging felines

[drfardook]

Sometime in April my older cat, Pooka, will turn 14.  For a cat this is Really Fucking Old but we shouldn't quite suspect the feline of being a lich quite yet.  That's next year

Comments

[duality]

Having gone through this last year, I can agree that it's never easy but you already know that it's about her comfort over your desire to keep her with you.

[drfardook]

When I got her diagnosed with diabetes the first thing the vet did was tell me that I had to get her off the regular cat food and on a grain free kibble. I had to try a few but I managed to find a brand that they like and they've been on that ever since. It does make a difference.

I'm hoping the cat will last a few more years but she's had some major health issues before so I'll just have to see.

[missv]

We had Lucille on thyroid meds for many years. Major hassle determining the correct dosage, lots of puke, and many extra trips to the vet for blood tests. And it never really did settle into a groove. We'd get her stable for a while and then she'd start harfing all over the dining room table again. But she seemed otherwise content, so I just stocked up on Bac Out and paper towels and tried not to grumble too much when I found myself scrubbing the sofa cushions for the third time in one day. When her time came, it happened quick. She had a few days where she was extra-clumsy and then she just stopped eating. The next day, she was gone. She was 16. That seems to be the way with most older cats. They're mostly okay and then...boom...they're gone.

[spryghte]

My first cat lived 18 years and then her kidneys gave out. My oldest now is 12 and has developed personality changes. He carries toys around the house while simultaneously crying in this mournful wail. He is also cranky in general now and vomited all the time and was losing weight pretty quickly. The vet said that his puking is just normal as he is just drinking too much water after he eats, and he was in good health. She said to give him some gushy food and he'll vomit less. I also switched him to Science Diet 11+ (our cats eat better than we do) and within a month there was a drastic change for the good. He gained weight, his coat got all glossy again, his eyes brightened and he's become much more active and playful. He's still cries for his gushy but only gets it once a day. The other two cats (8 and 8 mos.) eat the senior food too. But I digress...I watch the eldest like a hawk for any signs that he's unwell. They hide it so well.

[spryghte]

Oh! Have you heard of the heating pads for animals? I bought one for the old man but all 3 fight over it. They LOVE it and it really helps with old, achy bones/joints.