Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: dulciana on April 06, 2014, 07:24:30 PM
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I'm worried about my little cat - she's 16 and definitely out-of-sorts these past few days. She seems to be finding it painful to put her right shoulder down when she lies down - the vet had suggested she had arthritis in her right leg a while ago. She's not eating as much as usual, although she is eating a little, quite regularly. Sometimes it looks as though her mouth is a bit sore - she hasn't got many teeth left. This afternoon I took her outside, which was fine, but when I brought her back in (she found it too cold and headed back for the door after only ten minutes or so), she was very reluctant to climb the stairs, which she usually has no problem with.
I know she's old but I hope the vet (who I'm hoping to see tomorrow) isn't going to give her the thumbs down yet.
Unfortunately, we didn't take out pet insurance when we got her, so now I'm really worried about vet bills. :cat88: Our moggie's part of the family and this is cutting me up. :(
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<hug> maybe a regular drop/several of Metacam - it made a different dog of my cocker at age 10! it's done initially on weight and then the pet has a maintenance dose on their grub. 16 isn't old ;) …… my oldest cat was 19, the other 2 18 …… and my dog nearly 14 ………
Let us know how you get on if you take her to the Vet., I expect the Vet. will do a bit of pulling and pushing of joints to see how her joints and muscles are. You can imagine how climbing stairs puts stress and strain on the front legs which may be painful for Puss ;)
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Will do, CKLD. Thanks.
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You are welcome! We can go to the First Aid cabinet when we need medication but our pets need that extra Vet check ;)
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I've just got her to eat a bit of chicken, with some ground-up cat biscuits in it - hubby's idea. Watching her eat, I'm sure her mouth is uncomfortable. I don't think she'll starve but I'm finding this all a bit stressful. It's 'cos I love her. She was a rescue cat, a little tabby and small - probably the runt of the litter. :cat48:
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Get the Vet to have a look. My little cat had lots of teeth out aged 16 and woofed her grub as soon as she was home from the Vets. ::)
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She might need some dental work perhaps? Metacam is good for aches and pains for animals and my sister gave her old dog Devils Claw capsules (broken up and mixed in with her food) which worked well too.
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Moggie's been back to normal (well, for a 16-year-old!) today, eaten much more normally and hasn't looked particularly in pain. I'll try and get her to the vet's on Wednesday, so that I can monitor her and she can just be comfortable for a day.
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A Vet check is essential at this age.
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Hi dulciana
Just wanted too say hope your wee cat is ok I've got a white 12 year old who is so full of life and I just love him too bits as well, maybe just having a bad day and she'll be fine now
X
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Hope your old girl is ok. My old dog has off days & I fear the worst & the next day he is fighting fit. They just like to keep us on our toes sometimes. xxxx
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bev567901 - Yes, that's exactly how she's been this time. That's quite reassuring. Thank you.
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Do get her looked at though :-\
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Yes, I must.
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I don't want to worry you but :-\ .... a Vet will be able to open her mouth to see the state of her teeth and to make sure there are no lumps and will feel the neck glands to check for early infection ;) - make that appt.!
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Oh dear. Our little puss has got be put to sleep. Big C just behind her stomach and in her lungs. Daughter's on her way back up here for Easter and we've got to break the news to her, when we meet her off the plane. Vet's advice is for it to happen this evening. Our little cat's had a long life - she's 16. Doesn't make it any easier, though. Hubby was saying it's quite poignant happening this near to Easter. Yep. You know how a cat usually attaches themselves to one particular person? Me. Thank goodness the wedding I played for was yesterday. :'(
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So sorry to hear this. I know what it feels like but you have to do what is best for her. It's like losing one of the family.
Bramble :hug:
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Dulciana it is the best thing for your cat, even though it doesn't feel like it.
Lots of hugs.
:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
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It's the last loving thing you do for a much loved pet.
:hug:
Honeyb
x
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How upsetting Dulciana, I would be in bits. :hug:
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Thanks folks. It's done and she's not suffering now - I'm just left feeling as if I've been hit by a sledgehammer. She was a complete wee sweety, my wee friend and I loved her to bits. Ah well, life goes on..................
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Allow yourself to grieve and don't apologise for it.....it is so hard,but you did the most loving thing
I have been there and still have sad days
Think happy thoughts and remember the good times while you cry.
BIG HUG
Wombat x
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Thanks Wombat. We decided to go out for an Italian meal, to drown our sorrows and I cried into my pasta pretty much all the time! The waiter was very patient, poor man! :thankyou:
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Oh Dulciana I was so sorry to hear that your little pal had to be put to sleep. Its heatrbreaking but the right thing to do at times. Doing the 'right thing' isnt the easiest path but because you loved her you knew it was the only thing to do for her. She was so lucky to have you and a wonderful life.
Oh boy, I'm snivveling now.! Gonna get a tissue! Sending you a soggy hug.
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:thankyou: Valiant
D.
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Really feel for you, dulciana, I remember crying solidly all night when my little kitten died.
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I feel for you too Dulciana.
I had to have my Cat put to sleep 5 years.
Broke my heart but it's the kindest thing.
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Thank you, everyone. All this helps me cope.
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"If it should be
That I grow old and weak ………… "
She is the 1st thing I thought of when I woke this morning - I had a feeling that something was 'not quite right' by your descriptions. She did not suffer for long because you noticed she was not herself. My little girl had a lump under her chin which turned into a tumour which is why I was concerned about your little cat.
Now at Rainbow Bridge ………. :hug:
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Sorry to hear about your cat Dulciana, it's never easy but it's the kindest thing we can do at the end of our pets lives - she's at peace now x
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Thank you all so much for your kind words. I really do appreciate this, as it was all such a bolt from the blue.
I think I'm beginning to see a bit of the light of day again, although these past few days have been extremely harrowing. Our life spans and our pets' life spans are incomparable. We frequently reach our eighties; cats on average reach their mid/late teens. Our cat wasn't cheated of any years, whereas that poor wee girl at Liberton High School was. I'm not trying to avoid grieving (goodness knows, I've done enough crying to fill a bucket!) but I am just starting to get things into perspective. For 16 and a quarter years, she was fine and happy - we were so lucky to have her. But life goes on - and meanwhile, our artist daughter is going to do a painting of her, from a gorgeous photo we took a while ago. That'll be lovely.
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I made a post here last week when I read about your little cat but I must have done something wrong as it's not here now
I just wanted to say how I felt for you when I read your post. I had to have my own sweet natured 16 year old cat put to sleep in similar circumstances a few years back. Like you, I thought she had a problem with her teeth and so did the vet, so I took her in for a clean up and extraction of one tooth. Then I got a phone call at work to say she was seriously ill and putting her to sleep was the best option. It was such a shock. I made a real fool of myself at work and blubbed for the rest of the day - no-one knew what to say to me.
She was the sweetest little thing, also a rescue cat like yours. She never bit, scratched, made a mess and was always gentle - a real lady :)
I have another rescue cat now but she's no lady! ;)
:foryou:
Ariadne xx
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My goodness, that's a real coincidence, Ariadne. :hug: retrospectively!
Thanks for posting this. It's helped me feel a bit better/consoled about it all.
:thankyou:
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We have the privilege of allowing our pets to be free of pain.
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I've just caught up with this Dulciana - remember that cats go to Rainbow Bridge too. Take care of yourself xxx
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Couldnt have said it better CLKD.
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:thankyou: …….. how ever sad we are at the time …….. we have the right to free our pets from pain
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I'm so sorry.
I lost my 2 boys within 3 months of each other in 2009 and not a day goes by that I don't miss them. I haven't been able to get another pet as it still doesn't feel right. We were incredibly close friends, them and I.
The acute pain eases with time and more of the good memories slowly come back I promise. These days I mostly smile when I think about my boys.
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:thankyou:
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My first 2 ginger kittens, aged 9 months, died on the road outside my house 9 days apart. It was 2 years before I could look at the photos.
My other elderlies were pts 9 days apart ………. they were 18 by then