Cat has poorly eye - sad news

hev_2

Errata wrote: »

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.

She's certainly done better than the eternal beau I was convinced (against my better judgement) to put on a wedding list :rotfl::rotfl:

I think she may get sardines tonight - we have some boneless ones in.

Februarycat - it is hard, isn't it? Before this she could still have her giddy moments (further spaced out than before) and ruled the household with a paw of iron. It is so hard to see. But I have heard of cats being healthy and happy until they are 20, so fingers crossed.

I think as long as they are eating, it is a very good sign.

Errata

hev wrote: »

She's certainly done better than the eternal beau I was convinced (against my better judgement) to put on a wedding list :rotfl::rotfl:

I think she may get sardines tonight - we have some boneless ones in.

Februarycat - it is hard, isn't it? Before this she could still have her giddy moments (further spaced out than before) and ruled the household with a paw of iron. It is so hard to see. But I have heard of cats being healthy and happy until they are 20, so fingers crossed.

I think as long as they are eating, it is a very good sign.

I come from a farming family, we always reckoned if the back end was all right the front end would be !

wendykearney

My 18yr old cat is just starting to show his age and i'm obsessing about everything and i'm an ex vet nurse! He's gone a bit senile but still catches mice and keeps a fiesty begal kitten and 2 dogs well in check.
All you can do is what you've been doing and like you said its quality not quantity..

Its been hard letting him lead his normal life as he hates being in unless its raining heavily and will scream until you let him out. He has shelter etc and a cat flap but i can't get him to sleep infront of the fire unless he wants to! He's always been the same so its nothing to do with his age! Mind you bribing him with king prawns works sometimes!

Hope all goes well
wendy

Smiley_Mum

We had many pets over the years but I don't want to mention about them, don't want to upset you. They both used to sit right in at the hearth hugging the fire basket, whilst the fire was on and the larger one of the two, he was pure white, green eyes, had a really loud purrr, like a flipping motorbike. He had a permanent singed side where his fur got singed from the fire. I remember when I was little I used to put him in my Silvercross toy pram and push it round the garden. Often wanted a dog too and we did get one eventually but before we did, I used to put a lead on the cats collar and walk it round the garden, I was only little. It never bothered them, but I think it used to pay me back, jump up on my lap, fall asleep and when it was dreaming dig it's claws into my lap, ouch!!!!!!!!! They were both really old and very loyal pets. Would love to have a cat or dog but due to allergies etc, not possible, shame but what can you do.

Hope you're ok.

Sue-UU

Hi hev,

So sorry to hear of your problems with your very dear friend. I have no advice to offer that hasn't been given already, but I have hugs in abundance for you and your DH. It must be awful for him with the anniversary coming up as well. The first year is always the worse, to my mind. Then to have had redundancy as well as all these problems with your treasured friend, you both have my real sympathy.

I hope things will work out well, but IF the worse does happen then there is more than likely a very loving lap waiting for her up above, so please don't despair.

Love and hugs for as long as you both need them.

Sue

TheShrew

Awwww...you have my sympathy, she's been with you a long time and its always hard when they're ill; you cant explain anything to them.
I do hope something can be done to keep her comfortable for a while longer.
The only bit of advice I would give is, try to get to your vets before the weekend. Just because if it is decided she needs surgery they may not have the staff to do any non-emergency operations over the weekend and she might end up waiting until monday.
Good luck. *fingers crossed for her*
Salx

hev_2

TheShrew - I'm not worried too much about getting the emergency stuff done out of normal hours. Obviously it will cost a fortune :eek::eek::eek::eek: but it will be worth it for her. When I first went to that vets - to take her for her vaccinations - it was a small place but now it is a huge practice with loads of facilities and homeapathic (sp) medicine. We lost our eccentric, huge tom a while back, when found that suddenly he wasn't breathing and we whisked him up to the vets at 10pm, and they were fine, but he had to be put to sleep. It was awful, though the vets were really good and sympathetic.

Our vets are amazing. They took in a huge black tom cat that was on (I think) its third attempt at rehoming. They've neutered him but you can tell he was intact for a long time with the battle scars. He is enormous and the vets keep trying to get him to lose weight. His name tag reads 'I am fat, do not feed me' but he recognises the Tesco delivery van and begs at the local houses. Then he sits on the reception desk and bullies rottweilers.

Sue-UU - late MIL loved our old lady. When she was much younger and we only had her, we once went away for two nights, so she went to stay with MIL. We may have been away for two nights, but it was nearer seven she was with MIL. It was so funny, I called and asked if she was eating okay. Well, she wasn't eating the tinned stuff I'd sent, but she had tucked into all her crunchies, salmon, cheese, beef, tuna, ham... I'm surprised she came back. MIL didn't really enjoy pets, but she loved ours. I guess if it is bad, and I'm trying to be optimistic, MIL will be waiting with the stilton and the burfi (yes, she loves them both !)

Smiley_Mum - it's amazing how cats can be so good with little ones. She was nearly seventeen when DS arrived, with all the upheaval that meant, and she was as good as gold. We have always insisted that he strokes her 'nicely' and he is pretty good, but she will go over to be poked by a toddler. She is amazing. When we first got back from the hospital we didn't have a bottle ready (DS had fed just before we left) and he cried. We followed all the instructions on the formula tin (we were so careful) so it was nearly 45 mins before he was fed, the only time he has ever had to really wait. All through that our old girl was giving us hell for not looking after him properly, and ever since she has been so good. I have to say, sometimes after a really enthusiastic cuddle, she'll look at me as if to say, 'Mother, can't you control your kitten? I can't be doing with this at my time of life and it's not like you've got a full litter. Get a grip.'

Thank you for everyone that's posted. It is really helping. I feel a bit drama queen, coming on here, but I can't really talk to anyone about it round here, and DH is trying to think about anything but.

Last night we were checking her eye. It looks bad, but we have decided that the vets will be okay til Sat. We will keep checking.

She's not her usual self, but she doesn't seem to be distressed and she's eating and drinking okay. Last night I looked at her, and I think she's losing weight. I've been keeping DS away from her so that she has some peace, and she has been getting the fire turned on, even though we don't really need it, for her old bones.

I just want to say that I really appreciate these posts, as it is helping me loads. Thank you so much everyone who has waded through these ramblings. Like the advert says, it's good to talk. Thank you for listening.

tishywish

Poor girl, I wonder if her eye is bothering her even though she seems reasonably OK - cats are so tough they often don't show signs of a problem. But to give you hope, I know of one cat who is at least 23, can just about waddle around at a trot, has the sniffles permanently, has no teeth but who, touch wood anyway, is pretty well for such an elderly puss

I hope the vet is promising when you see him on Saturday. I always find waiting for the appointment is as bad as actually getting there when you're worried about them - I'd probably win the award for the most neurotic owner ever at my vets'.

hev_2

The eye must be bothering her, but I don't think it is hurting. She can still be a madam when she wants cuddles NOW, just the same as ever and she is soooo patient with my little boy.

I have a lot of faith in the vet - they have been brilliant before and even when I was being completely neurotic were great (that's another story with the younger cat but I didn't exactly cover myself with glory and they were great).

They have facilities to do their own blood work, to perform surgery, alternative remedies, they have all sorts so I am confident that if there is anything that needs doing they will do it.

Thank you for your posts - it really does help.

Februarycat

Just wondered if anyone else with elderly cats has noticed their cats doing this, my Katy who is 18 makes this strange loud meow every day, but when you rush to check her, she starts purring and is meowing normal, now is she having me on, son says she just wants our attention or is she in pain or just getting mad with me as she follows me around.