Cat has poorly eye - sad news

hev_2

Really, I just need to 'talk'.

Our eldest cat is eighteen. She was a wedding present and has been a right old battleaxe since she was a kitten. To everyone's surprise, when DS came along 15 months ago she was as good as gold with him, and has allowed him to stroke her (we have stopped him 'patting' and poking her).

Now she is poorly. As soon as I noticed that she had a problem with one eye she was whisked off to the vets (who are really good). They diagnosed a bad tooth, she needed an anaesthetic and the tooth was removed. They said that there was a lot of necrotic tissue around. This was in the middle of February. She ate well, was still a darling with DS. Then the side of her face started swelling up.

We took her back to the vets. They thought it may be an abscess or a growth that had been restricted before but had a proper blood supply since the dead tooth was removed. They cleaned it out and gave her an antibiotic injection. Swelling went down. Then another injection a fortnight later when she was checked up.

Now her eye is looking really iffy again, like it's bulging. I'll be making another appointment for the vet. He has said that at her age if it was a growth then they would just give antibiotics to control any infection. It looks like the icky stuff that is inside the eye is leaking out. It breaks my heart. She is getting fed on demand, even if there is loads of food down.

DH is not dealing well with it, and I am finding it tough.

As a wry aside, I finally found an insurance policy that would go for an 18 year old cat, through quidco with percentage going to RSPCA and she won't be covered, the problems started a few weeks before the cover. I don't care - she has always been fantastic for us, she was brilliant with my mother when my mother was terminally ill. We can find the pennies.

Any support or experience with something similar would be welcome, but really, thank you for 'listening'.

Little_Chicken

Hi there, nothing similar I'm afraid, but sending you BIG HUGS. I'm sure your vet will do whatever they can to sort her out. 18 is a ripe old age though isn't it. That's like 100 in human years.:D:D:D

hev_2

She is in really great condition apart from this - her fur is still beautiful and soft, she hasn't gone grey, and she has always acted like a senile old trout from when she was a kitten.

She has been such a life saver over the years. How many humans do you know that have been so much in your life for so long? She has always been there for us - in a Lily Savage sort of way.

I really appreciate the hugs. She doesn't look ten (the average lifespan of a cat) let alone 18, but deep down I've been waiting for something to happen.

The vets are brilliant. DH has been going there since he first got a dog as a little boy, over thirty years ago. The one then known as 'the young vet' is now pushing retirement age. But they are soooo good with animals.

I can see myself getting very maudlin over this, but I am being strong for DH and there is nowhere else for me to 'talk'

It is coming up to the first anniversary of MIL's passing away, and I think DH is going to struggle if we lose our old battleaxe as well.

Thank you for posting, Little Chicken. It really helps.

tishywish

Poor puss What does the vet think are her chances of surviving an op to remove the eye if it comes to that? They cope very well with only one eye and I'm sure, even at her age, she'd learn to manage OK.

Hugs for you, it's never easy when an animal's ill and I know I'm always in bits when one of mine has a problem. x

hev_2

Thank you, tishywish.

I suspect that she would manage fine with one eye. To be honest, I don't think that one has ever worked properly and she has had some problems with depth perception (she'd miss the surface of the drinking water and inhale...)

The vet has said that they are reluctant to operate for a growth, because of the risks with their age. Poor old moggy is in really good nick, but she hid a really really bad tooth from us for ages, so who knows what else is lurking around her system? Honestly, if you saw her and it wasn't for the eye, you would not think she was older than eight or ten. She has beautiful thick soft fur and a cantankerous attitude.

I'd be happy to risk the operation because she has been in such good health, and she is eating well although she has slowed down a bit the last few months. Anything that will give her a happier life and a longer one.

DH is struggling a little I think. We don't talk much about it. He has had such a tough year last year with bereavement and redundancy, he will really struggle if we lose our darling.

TBH I don't think it looks good. We have said that while the poor old lady has any quality of life then we will make the effort, pay the bills, look after her, whatever it takes. When I had a miscarriage a few years ago she just cuddled and cuddled me when I really needed it.

Thank you for your kind post, I am, indeed, in bits.

kazwookie

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Ring the vet and see if they can offer any other treatment

hev_2

kazwookie - thank you for posting. I really appreciate this support.

At the moment it isn't """"urgent"""" as in, she doesn't seem to be in discomfort or in pain, so we will be taking her at the weekend (otherwise we would be whisking her there much sooner). She seems a bit under the weather, and I am weighing up whether we should try and get her in earlier.

In the past the vets have been very patient with me when I have been suffering from over anxious owner syndrome, and they do their best to give options and explain.

When we get there we will say quite openly that we will do whatever is needed so long as she doesn't suffer.

It wouldn't bother me, DH or (probably) the cat to lose the eye. They categorically ruled out chemotherapy if it was a growth - they said that it would be too much suffering for an eighteen year old cat to have a year's worth of chemo. Knowing what my mother went through, who could understand what was happening, I can see what they mean.

Apparently the tooth was really bad, in a right mess, but the stubborn old girl never gave us a clue, it was only the fact that her eye was sore that made us whisk her in. I wonder if the tooth was a red herring.

I'm going to have to log off and sort out stuff for my DS but I want to say thank you for posting - it really is appreciated.

Errata

So sorry to hear your old lady isn't too good. Sadly, animals are just like humans when they become elderly, things that start to go wrong tend to stay wrong.

hev_2

Thank you, Errata, you are right.

She has had a clicky leg for a bit, and there was the time when she lost all her weight due to a thyroid problem...

We have done really well, because she was a wedding present. We went to the RSPCA to choose her (oh, and contribute to the 'present') and she was around six months old. She was beautiful and bloody minded right from the start. So to say that she was a 'rescue' and not even from a kitten, she has done very well.

Really, in many ways I am resigned to bad news. All I can do is cuddle her now and make her comfy. At her age, every extra day really is a bonus.

I really appreciate the support I am getting - it really helps.

Errata

You're welcome. Now's the time to really indulge her. I bet all your other wedding presents are worn out and long gone - so hasn't she done well.

Februarycat

Sorry to hear about your cat, I have a 18 year old cat too so know what you are going through. Mine is fine at the moment, but she has had lots of teeth out and problems with her claws and this last year she cannot jump up very far, but she is fine in herself, eats well and fur looks good. Hope they can sort your cat out.