Dementia in senior cats?

madget_2

Thanks for the update, zippychick. What a trauma you and she have been through!

I've never experienced those kinds of symptoms with any of my cats so far. I do know, however, that heart conditions can cause the lungs to fill with fluid, making breathing difficult. It could be to do with that or with her blood pressure maybe, but I'm no vet. Definitely let your vet know all of the details about what happened when you see them tomorrow. Obviously, they'll be able to tell you better about what's happening than any of us can. You must have been terrified and incredibly worried, though.

I went through a few times of thinking that it must be the end with my little girl. After her first grand mal fit, which was horrendous, I thought she'd died - but then she came to after a while and sat up! They don't half put you through the wringer, these blummin' cats!

I'd wait and see what the vet says, if I were you. I do hope, though, that the medication kicking in might make a big difference to her. Cats are stubborn and incredibly brave little bu88ers. She may pull through yet and surprise everyone.

I know what you mean about not wanting to keep her alive for your sake. I felt the same way with my girl. Enjoy this good spell at the moment with her and try not to torture yourself - easier said than done, though, I know.

See how she goes. You might not have to make that tough decision just yet if her condition improves or can be kept under control by the medication. I'm still keeping my fingers tightly crossed.

Please do keep us up-to-date with how she's doing when you get the chance. (I understand that sometimes it's difficult to talk about things like this, so just when and if you feel able.)

madget_2

I've just read SnowyOwl's post - wise words there.

I sometimes ask the vet (if they're someone whose judgement you trust) what they would do if it were their own beloved cat. I also try to imagine what my cat would want me to do.

I think this quote from SnowyOwl is definitely worth considering, too.

If Mags gets like she was on Saturday again what will you do? Will the vet visit you as it sounds like your getting Mags to the vet would be totally impractical if she was in that state? Perhaps you could ask this when you next speak to them and let that help you reach a decision.

zippychick

madget wrote: »

I've just read SnowyOwl's post - wise words there.

I sometimes ask the vet (if they're someone whose judgement you trust) what they would do if it were their own beloved cat. I also try to imagine what my cat would want me to do.

I think this quote from SnowyOwl is definitely worth considering, too.

i hadn't looked at it like that actually- thank you. It's not that it's impossible to take her, its just a taxi away really - not much more difficult than a car journey. It was just a lot to all happen at once, and i felt taking her to the vets for the 4th time on sun since thurs - would/could shock her to death, and i didn't want to put her through any trauma. She was trying her best to be active but couldn't so i made her a bed up on the sofa from my fluffy dressing gown on a northern lights pillow. Only the best for Mags She slept there for a good seven hours after the turn, waking to preen, say hello and maybe have a drink and some food.

Believe me, i know what i need to do - it's others around me being more optimistic which is confusing me. I mean on saturday, i literally thought to myself - shes going to go any time soon, shes very comfortable and relazed. Even my friend agreed as i was really battling with my conscience over what to do. I was literally torturing myself about was i doing the right thing? She is 16 yrs old, and if me changing parts of my life have made her a bit stressed, then who knows how the car journeys all over 3 days, and the 3 vet trips - added to her trauma, and literally exhausted her on sat - where she got to "that point". But my friend said to me - youre doing the right thing, there's a really peaceful relaxed environment here - and it would be unfair to move her and stress her out. She can breathe ok - and that's the main thing the vet had told me to look out for. Had she struggled for breath, i would have taken her no questions asked.

Im sorry, i feel like im defending myself but im trying to show my motives are good, i love this cat to pieces. Its my baby i suppose (ok, now im crying). But shes so much fun and shes been here for 8 years solid. I don't know whether to let her give the fight up now -or to give her a little longer. They say cats have 9 lives - maybe she has one left? SHe was at deaths door last September (i posted a thread last aug ) and i nursed her back and fed her up. Im getting feliway to try sooth her environment.

but i think i'm bargaining with myself too. i am familiar with the stages of grieving - i broke my heart sobbing for 2 good solid days and nights cause she was at the vets (BACK LAST SEP). She is the greatest cat i've ever known - she really is. She has brought so much happiness and light into my life, and i don't ever want to seeem cruel. But if she can have a good quality of life and be a bit slower with medication - then i don't know how bad a thing that is. She seems to be a little fighter - i've been through the wringer with her. Through it all she seems to keep fighting on . Do i let her continue as long as she has no breathing problems, or do i take that decision into my own hands? Be cruel to be kind. It just seems so unfair to distinguish her fight and maybe just see how she goes . I don't know. I'm shaking my head. I'm not reaady to let go yet, i know that, yet mentally since friday ive been telling myself to let her go. I genuinely thought she was going on saturday .

I'm rambling now - and i'm sorry. but i'm so genuinely upset by it all, and i really haven't let myself talk about it in this much detail

I apologise, im sure it makes no sense. It's just so damn tough and heartbreaking.

Tonight she has been out the back, out the front sniffing cars, and yapping at me for some of my marks chicken . She is jumpy though. She is sitting in the window watching the street, as she loves to do. She also went mad when a cat came and sat on the yard wall last night, and went bolting upstairs to get a better view.

Sorry.

zippychick

Regards the vet - she has a 19yr old cat herself, with arthritis, who she goes to lift her down and stuff when the cat wails. its quite cute. I get on very well with her and she has a real bond with maggie. When they kept her in last year, she was cuddlng her, and telling me how mags was hiding behind the blanket i sent for her. How many vets would care enough to show that much genuine care?

So i have no doubt of the conversation i will have with her - and i will ask what she would do. She knows me and mags well enough to know the score. I'll do what's best for the cat - bottom line. Will get her chest checked tomorrow so know if still a bit wheezy.

Poor cat had 3 different vets (all new locations) and an overnight stay in a very strange place she's never been, god love her. She's had a rough few days, and now tomorrow with the vets.

The trembling thing with her mouth happened twice - on friday when i got her to the emergency vets - about 11pm ish. Didnt happen in the house - only after the journey.

Second time, coming out of the vets the saturday morning - waiting in the car park for the other taxi to the other vets!

please feel free to criticise what im saying or offer advice - im genuiley open to listen. My head's wrecked with it all

im sure im making little sense.

zippychick

yesterday here and here

madget_2

zippychick, you have no idea how familiar to me everything you've written is. It's incredibly similar to what I went through. I have a very good idea of just how much you're torturing yourself right now. I'm in tears myself because I know how terrible it feels and hate to think of other people like yourself having to go through it, too.

As for defending yourself, there is absolutely no need whatsoever. You have done, and are doing, everything you can for your little Mags. Blimey, she sleeps on a Northern Lights pillow - even my spoilt rotten little so-and-so's don't have one of those! ;-)

What makes it harder to make a decision is that nothing is clear cut. If a cat is in pain and distress and can't be helped, the solution is very obvious. However, when a cat seems really poorly one minute, then is doing quite well and is happy the next, it's a hell of a decision to try to make. As awful as it must sound, I actually felt relieved when I thought my cat had died after her first grand mal fit - because I felt that at least she wouldn't have to suffer any more stress or trauma. When it turned out that she was still alive, I was partly extremely happy because I loved her so much, but also worried sick about the possibility of her suffering again. It tore me apart inside.

It's really great that you and Mags have such a good relationship with your vet. No one can make the decision for you, but I think that talking with her might help. That's what gave me the strength to do what I did. Ask her also what kind of quality of life Mags is likely to have. All of this information should help.

I know for sure that whatever decision you make, will be made with what you truly consider to be Mags' best interests. That's the best anyone can do.

The thing is, I know from experience that you always feel guilty whatever decision you make in a situation like this. That's because you love her and care about her deeply. The pain you're feeling right now is only there because of that love. What a truly lucky little cat to have an owner who loves her so much. And as awful as the pain of making that decision is, it's worth it because of the love.

From day to day, I come across many unwanted, unloved, abandoned, neglected and cruelly abused cats - it's heartbreaking. When the sad goodbye comes for my own cats, I take comfort in the fact that they have been loved and cared for and I know that I've given them a good life - a life which many poor cats never get the chance to have. (Just as a note, whenever our rescue takes in a cat which can't be saved, we make sure that they have a cuddle and a fuss so that they've known at least some love in their lives before they go.)

What I think your Mags would want to say to you, whatever decision you make, is to thank you for all that you've done for her, and thank you for making her one of the lucky ones.

zippychick

Madget that's such a lovely post thank you. I can't thank all of you enough , honestly. I think people in real life are getting sick about me going over the what ifs. There's a good few things that have been said and if i was spritely and in board guide mode, i would be quoting you and responsing, but i don't think i have the co-ordination.

I had to take a half day from work as i cried all day until then. I am home with her now. She is out sitting on the deckchair, cleaning herself and sniffing the air.

Madget - sorry i upset you, you're obviously are very caring as are those who have replied. It means so much.

I am going to sit and write down a synopsis from the vet seen her on thursday so i dont forget anything. I would print this out but no printer, so am going to note it all down . The less i have to explain , the less opportunity for upset.:o

I have it in mind if it is PTS i will get it done tonight to save her the trauma of comng home, settling , then having to go again. I don't know if that's how it works though.

thank you to everyone who has helpd me with this.

She is now asleep in the deck chair.:p:o:D:A

madget_2

Aw, sweetheart, you haven't upset me at all. I'm such a daft, soft old s*d that I always get a bit carried away when I talk about cats, especially the ones I've lost.

I think that writing a synopsis is an excellent plan. It's so easy to forget important things when you're worried about something like this. I'm sure your notes will help a great deal.

If it is the end for her, then follow your heart. This might sound terribly morbid, but best for you to try to make the decision about when and where before you're put on the spot, if possible. Then you don't have regrets and wish you'd thought longer and done it differently.

I can understand that you might want to save her the stress and, if necessary, go through with it tonight - it sounds perfectly thoughtful and sensible to me. Otherwise, although it's more expensive, you can arrange for the vet to come and do it at home if you would prefer that to happen.

Another thing, and this is even more morbid, it might be a good idea beforehand to decide what you would like to be done with her afterwards - whether you want to take her home with you to bury her in your garden, whether you would like her body to be cremated (there are pet crematoriums) so you can take her ashes home, or whether you would like the vet just to handle things. I know that sounds like a terrible thing to suggest to you, but I find that it's less upsetting afterwards if you know don't have to make a rushed decision on the spot.

On the other hand, it may be that the vet thinks that her improvement will continue and that she will be okay for a while longer. See what she says and let her help you to make your decision.

Finally, don't ever think that you have no one to talk to about this. There are so many cat lovers, besides myself, on here and we understand what it's like. Come and talk to us here whenever you want to or need to.

Good luck for the appointment, and I do hope that what I've written hasn't upset you. I'm just trying to guide you from my own experience.

Huge hugs in the meantime. xxxx

zippychick

fab help once again! Back from the vets!

She is home with me. Vet said she is concerned and i need to keep a close eye on her, but she doesnt think shes ready to go yet the way shes picked herself up. keeping on with the BP tabs. She said sometime her breathing may go again and then we have to think about intervening.

i can't say much more, im tired and physically exhausted, thank you all. She is up sitting on the window sill happy as larry! :j

xxxxx

SnowyOwl_2

Zippychick, thanks for getting back to us and letting us know the score. I can just imagine Maggie wondering what you are in such a flap about. It sounds like you just need to take each day as it comes - hopefully there will be many many days ahead.