Metacam for an elderly arthritic cat - your experiences please?

bacardi66

Gold_Dust wrote: »

Hi Bacardi, how goes it?

Ah thanks for asking - it's still up and down but he did seem to eat more today than he has for a while, he had the Hills a/d and some sardines and he seemed a bit livelier this morning. Tonight will be his 6th consecutive dose of Metacam which I think might be slightly helping his walking although his back legs still seem weak - he particularly struggles as the floors are all wood or tiles - his walking is much better when he is in the garden.

So hard to know what to do - he doesn't seem miserable, sleeping on the sofa on his blanket and eating (but only if I actually put the food in front of him on his blanket) he is still using a litter tray and the cat flap but really isn't the same cat he was a month or more ago.

It's casting a shadow over the run up to Christmas as I have no idea if now is the time to let him go or not - I keep thinking perhaps it would be the kindest thing for him but then I look at him when is sleeping or eating and I can't bear to make that call.

I hope your boy is still doing ok.

Gold_Dust_2

bacardi66 wrote: »

Ah thanks for asking - it's still up and down but he did seem to eat more today than he has for a while, he had the Hills a/d and some sardines and he seemed a bit livelier this morning. Tonight will be his 6th consecutive dose of Metacam which I think might be slightly helping his walking although his back legs still seem weak - he particularly struggles as the floors are all wood or tiles - his walking is much better when he is in the garden.

That fits in with the results seen after 7 days thing. It's nice that you ARE seeing some results. How is his weight, has he lost any? If his intake is inadequate, you'll see some weightloss pretty quickly. How is he doing with the appetite stimulant, still not responding?

So hard to know what to do - he doesn't seem miserable, sleeping on the sofa on his blanket and eating (but only if I actually put the food in front of him on his blanket) he is still using a litter tray and the cat flap but really isn't the same cat he was a month or more ago.

It's casting a shadow over the run up to Christmas as I have no idea if now is the time to let him go or not - I keep thinking perhaps it would be the kindest thing for him but then I look at him when is sleeping or eating and I can't bear to make that call.

I hope your boy is still doing ok.

My boy has gone, he stopped eating and moving around and just lay there, staring at nothing. It was quite clearly his time, and I have no regrets. I knew he wasn't going to recover from his diagnosis. As long as he was still out and about, eating, drinking and using the litter tray, I was happy to let him pootle along as he still had some quality of life. When it was time, it was very clear. I hope that helps you to know when it's time.

bacardi66

Gold_Dust wrote: »

My boy has gone, he stopped eating and moving around and just lay there, staring at nothing. It was quite clearly his time, and I have no regrets. I knew he wasn't going to recover from his diagnosis. As long as he was still out and about, eating, drinking and using the litter tray, I was happy to let him pootle along as he still had some quality of life. When it was time, it was very clear. I hope that helps you to know when it's time.

Oh Gold Dust I'm so sorry for your loss what sad news. I hope you're coping ok. Thank you so much for the interest you have shown in my cat and for all your helpful advice xx

Gold_Dust_2

Thank you, and you're welcome, my only hope is that my advice actually helps you out. It's what keeps prompting me to check on how you two are doing, because we were going through the wringer at the same time. Please do keep updating!

bacardi66

Gold_Dust wrote: »

Thank you, and you're welcome, my only hope is that my advice actually helps you out. It's what keeps prompting me to check on how you two are doing, because we were going through the wringer at the same time. Please do keep updating!

Your advice has really helped - the Hills a/d has been a godsend and the metacam (I think) is kicking in as he does seem slightly more mobile but still very stiff. His appetite and interest in food have returned to some degree - but I don't the appetite stimulant did much - I only managed to get a tiny bit of it into him so gave up.

He still isn't doing much apart from sitting on the sofa with the occasional trip into the garden or to the litter tray but everyone who has been round has said that he seems comfortable and peaceful and I do hope that is the case.

Every day I think perhaps tomorrow is the day I make the decision to let him go and then every morning when I see him and he still seems quite content I think I'll wait another day.

wannabe_sybil

Metacam really helped evil cat. Her kidneys were already a bit iffy but she was so stiff and creaky that at sixteen the vet thought that she may not have much time left anyway so she may as well be comfortable.

The metacam dramatically improved evil cat's life. I honestly think she would have gone a lot earlier. I cannot say how much she improved. She had problems with her spine and all sorts so the vet had to come out every three months to do a blood test. The metacam was so good that my lovely next door neighbour had to hold her down wearing welding gloves and I always had to give the vet chocolates.

With metacam her movement improved dramatically and she was much happier in herself.

She did end up desperately skinny and practically lived on tuna at one point. However metacam did give her a few more good years and finally when she couldn't find her water bowl we called the vet to come and have her pts. She went as she lived - she was stealing food the night before (we were making it available but she liked stealing) and she left me with a scratch that took three weeks to heal.

I think the side effects have to be weighed with the issue of quality of life. Metacam really worked for evil cat so fingers crossed that the side effects wane and the pain relief kicks in.

I really hope it works for you.

Gold_Dust_2

bacardi66 wrote: »

Your advice has really helped - the Hills a/d has been a godsend and the metacam (I think) is kicking in as he does seem slightly more mobile but still very stiff. His appetite and interest in food have returned to some degree - but I don't the appetite stimulant did much - I only managed to get a tiny bit of it into him so gave up.

He still isn't doing much apart from sitting on the sofa with the occasional trip into the garden or to the litter tray but everyone who has been round has said that he seems comfortable and peaceful and I do hope that is the case.

Every day I think perhaps tomorrow is the day I make the decision to let him go and then every morning when I see him and he still seems quite content I think I'll wait another day.

I was like that for a while, but when he stopped being able to move around (he'd take a few steps and then flop down) and he was just laying there, staring off at nothing even when I tried to get his attention, I knew that it was time. I hope your boy is just in energy-saving mode . When it's time, you won't be in doubt.

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

The metacam was so good that my lovely next door neighbour had to hold her down wearing welding gloves and I always had to give the vet chocolates.

:rotfl:

22cuddles

Sorry for your loss Gold Dust.

I recently made the decision to have one of mine PTS - Bacardi, I knew the end was coming for quite a while for my boy (he had FIV) and often wondered if I would know when the time was right to do it and honestly I did. Hope you have a while left with yours yet.

bacardi66

After over 2 weeks of trying to get him to eat and seeing him getting weaker and weaker I have spoken to the vet and arranged to have him PTS tomorrow. He won't sit up or stand to eat and just lies there with me putting the food to his mouth and even then he barely eats.

At nearly 20 he has had a lovely long life and I just want him to have a nice peaceful end.

Miss_J

Ahhhh Bacardi, thinking of you x