Conference misery::feline_v1

    I forgot to put in 3010: I searched the directory, didn't find a
    keyword for "aging" or "old" cats; respectfully suggest that this would
    be a good idea.
    
    Lynn

I'll add the keyword "aging".  I could have sworn that I had done
something similar already but can't find what I used.

Pam

    I had a female Siamese cat until the age of 18.  She had lost most of
    her teeth, had arthritis in her hips, and developed cataracts in both
    eyes.  She still ate very good, and managed to jump on counters and 
    other areas she visited.  She became very frail and one day urinated
    in my arms.  It was at this point I knew I had no other choice but
    put her to sleep.  It broke my heart, but I couldn't bear to see
    her suffer.  As long as they are still eating and getting around
    pretty good, I would keep your cat as long as possible.
    
    Good luck!
    Nance
    

    What I would watch for are conditions that might be causing her
    pain.  For example, will she let you examine her gums to see if they
    are inflamed?  If they are, you might ask your vet about Cat-O-donics,
    which are treated gauze squares which you can rub her gums with to
    help this condition.  I would also place 'stepping stones" in strategic
    places so she can reach her favorite sleeping or looking posts
    easily.
    

    Jill Grafton started a note called How to Tell if You Cat is Sick,
    I think.  Anyway, I remembering contributing some things that you
    should watch in an older cat.  I had just lost my Jesse James when
    the note was written, and he was very old.
    
    I would do a mini examination of my older cat every night.  Make
    it part of a grooming session.  Check the eyes for cloudiness, and
    reaction of the pupils to light.  Also check the teeth and gums.
    She may start losing her teeth, and if she loses a lot of them,
    you would want to switch her to a soft diet.  Check her body for
    lumps, bumps, and swelling.  Check her eyes for excess wax, mites,
    and other oddities.  Keep her nails clipped so that she doesn't
    get hooked on the rug when she walks.  You may want to add extra
    grooming since elderly cats have trouble keeping their coats nice
    and clean like they like them.  Also, watch her food intake, her
    water intake, and her litter box habits.  If you notice any increase
    in water intake, and excess urination, you will want to take her
    in for blood work.  I also suggest a blood panel be done now, so
    you will have an idea if there is anything special you need to watch
    for, i.e. liver or kidney problem symptoms.
    
    Jo

    Thanks for all your suggestions.  We have made a "stepping stone" path
    for her, that goes from the hutch to the top of the refrigerator and
    virtually crosses the length of the kitchen.  Grooming her is very
    difficult; she's never wanted to be held, and gets skittish if she's
    patted for too long (will turn around and nip), generally not a "nice"
    personality in a catperson.  We do give her Laxatone to keep the
    hairballs to a minimum, and she is getting soft food.  Vet won't do any
    additional work on her unless something urgent happens; doesn't want to
    subject her to any more stress unless unavoidable.
    
    Thanks again!
    Lynn (for Squeak)

    My Mother has a cat (Missy) who is 12 years old.  Missy has always be
    very healthy, on the thin side but full of energy and always willing 
    to attack anything smaller than her that moved.  Last month she stopped
    eating and doing anything else other than sleeping.  We took Missy to 
    the Vet and he told us that her temp was low and she was dehydrated. 
    We left her at the vet for three days and he got her temperature back
    to normal and fed her by injection.  When we picked Missy up the vet
    told us that her kidneys had become inflamed and caused this.  He told
    us that we had to get her weight up then put her on a low protein diet.
    This will be easier on her kidneys.

    The problem now is Missy wont eat much and is drinking lots of water,
    then throwing up the water.  The vet is not much help he tells us not
    to give her much water but not much else.  We have tried every kind of
    food but she just won't eat.  Does anyone have any advise on how to
    make a cat eat?

    Nausea is a symptom of kidney disease.  Go to another vet!
    

    As quickly as possible!!!!!  These things can't wait in an older kitty
    friend.
    
    

    There are products on the market that will stimulate the appetite,
    but I am not sure that they will be safe for a kitty with kidney
    problems.  If you feel that the vet isn't being much help, go and
    get a second opinion from another vet.  With an older cat and kidney
    problems, you don't want to waste very much time.
    
    Jo

    I urge you to go to another vet.  Kidney disease is not only serious, but
    if not treated properly can rapidly become worse.  Cats with kidney
    disease also need a lot of water to flush out poisons that accumulate
    in the kidneys.  If you can tell us where
    you live, someone can recommend a good nearby vet.
    

RE: 10
    The vet gave my mother a tube of cat calories and we went to a pet
    store and bought all different kind of dat food.  But she just isn't
    eating much.  Just drinking a lot.  Missy is kind of in a bad situation, 
    she need/wants to drink a lot water but when she drinks too much she 
    throws up.
    
RE: 11
    My mother lives in NY on Long Island near JFK Airport she took Missy to 
    the same Vet today and I haven't heard from her yet.  I live in Watertown 
    MA and am the proud dad to Emmy who was discussed by my roommate in
    a later note.
    

    -Bruce
    
    

    If she has kidney disease, some types of food will be bad for her
    because they stress the kidneys.  Kidney disease that is not
    treated properly will be fatal, rapidly.  I urge your mother
    to take her to a different vet;  one way to get a good vet recommendation
    is to call a local humane society and ask them.  (Call a private one,
    the city probably can't legally give recommendations.)
    

    Update on Missy:

    The Vet upon examining her again and taking blood found that she had 
    two problems.  First her Kidneys aren't working as well as they should
    and secondly she had some kind of a virus.  The virus was causing
    her not to eat.  She has since began to eat more normally and 
    hasn't been nauseated for the past few days.  The Vet told my mother
    that Missy had to get her weight up to five pounds or so then she needs
    to go on a low protein diet to help put her kidneys.
    
    Bruce

    Bruce,
    
    I'm sorry it's taken me so long to read your note and respond to it.
    I am much relieved to hear that Missy is doing better, but please
    keep an eye on her.  We lost a cat recently due to severe kidney
    failure and it would be wonderful if we could prevent another cat
    from going through what LandShark went through.
    
    If the kidneys are affected, the cat has to be treated quickly and
    thoroughly or permanent, fatal damage can result.
    
    I do hope Missy is on the road to complete, full recovery, but 
    please keep an eye on her.  I would give anything to have LandShark
    back so I could keep an eye on her, but her kidney failure
    was fatal and I don't have that choice any more.
    
    Best of everything to you and Missy,
    
    Jill

    Jill,
       I was talking with my mother last night and she said Missy was back
    to normal in every respect except her weight.  She has been eating 
    and she hasn't been drinking as much water as she had.  The vet
    told my mother to start to give Missy a Cal-Can low protein food. My
    Mother said that Missy doesn't seem to like it very much.

    -Bruce 

    I'm sure there must be other low protein foods she could try.  Isn't
     K/d, available from vets, supposed to be for kidney problems?
    
    

    Bruce,
    
    I'm so glad to hear that.  I'm still a bit sensitive because we lost
    LandShark so unexpectedly--she was only 1.5 years old and, as with all
    of our cats, we loved her dearly.  
    
    If you get a chance, give Missy a hug for me--I'm so glad to hear of a
    cat that recovered from kidney failure.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Jill