Cat has poorly eye - sad news

hev_2

Thank you for all your posts.

She is being a right madam today, which is a really good sign. She is getting loads of cuddles and is currently happy in front of a radiator.

Giving her 'stuff' is sooo much easier mixed in with paste. But then we have to give the 'kitten' some unmixed stuff to keep her happy.

She is hissing at things she doesn't expect more than normal, and she spat when she saw a black glove, but I think her vision is playing up. Lots of cuddles, yoghurt, tuna, sardines...

Really helps being on here.

hev_2

mineallmine - thank you, I will be taking extra care.

Her claws definitely need doing - she was padding on my lap earlier today and I was in agony.! Let her get away with it, though.

sandy2_2

Would witchhazel help to wipe her eye

hev_2

sandy2 - Thank you, I will see if the vet will agree.

The problem is that there is either a growth or an abscess behind the eye which is making the eye swell up and pushing it forward. It looks like the stuff from the inside of the eye is leaking out. Tbh, I am really squeamish about eyes, but if the vet thinks that is a good idea, I will do it.

The eye actually is quite clean, as Shadow is keeping herself groomed (good sign) but it looks really swollen sometimes. If it is an abscess then it is in her mouth and if it is a growth it is in the jaw area, so it is worse after she has eaten.

She is settled in front of a radiator and seems comfy at the moment. OH had to wake her to give her the medicine this morning. She is losing weight. But that could just be because she can't be bothered with food a lot of the time, or is licking the gravy off the cat food and leaving the meat. She was after DS's yoghurt with enthusiasm yesterday! Putting plenty of water down.

On the positive - she is doing okay, being cantakerous, happy to be with DS for short periods and let him stroke her. She is well groomed and the vet said that she was in fantastic condition.

I am not letting her sleep in her favourite place - DS's bedroom - because he goes there twice a day for naps/quiet time and I think for the first time I am uneasy leaving them alone together. If she is feeling bad she may get bad tempered with him, which would be so out of character for her but so understandable.

I don't know what I would do without MSE. Thank you for your posts.

emmahip

My heart goes out to you! My oldest "kitten" is 10 but you'd never say more than about 5, I've got 2 torties and don't know what I'd do if anything happened to either of them.

Hope Shadow responds well to these antibiotics.

Hugs to you!

hev_2

Madam Shadow is comfortably placed in front of the radiator snoozing.

She seems to be doing okay, but just a bit out of it.

It broke my heart yesterday. For the first time I had to take her out of a room where DS was sleeping. If you had seen how protective she is of him, it is so sad, but I just daren't risk it. If she is poorly, and doesn't like his 15 month old word for cat, which is an ear-splitting shriek, then she could act out of character.

TBH at the moment I am not sure she has the energy for more than a mucky look, but I daren't take the risk.

In the past he has pulled her tail, shrieked at her, prodded her and thumped her. She has not twitched a whisker, but sometimes goes over to him to play. I have done my best to teach him to play gently and mostly he does, but he did get swatted once, just as she would have swatted a kitten, a swipe at his hand as if to say, 'That's enough, behave.' It left the tiniest mark and a lasting impression Now he is much more respectful of the old lady.

Bear in mind, she was not much short of 17 when he was born, I think it is amazing.

Thank you for listening. Her eye doesn't seem to be getting worse, but she seems to be getting slower. Perhaps it is just the weather. Or me getting dippy I once took Smoke to the vets convinced she was losing weight, and the vet was very kind, very patient and Smoke was fine (and behaved in a completely evil way!)

hev_2

Yesterday Shadow insisted on hovering round until I took DS to his playpen. His playpen is in his room, with the baby monitor. She curled up on the bed in the room (not his cot) and I felt that she just wanted a nap in her favourite place, but she wanted company and she loves our DS. As DS is in a sturdy playpen and she doesn't seem to have the energy to get anywhere near inside, I took the risk. She just loves being with DS and sleeping in the room he is napping/playing in seems to make her happy.

She had tinned salmon last night, and the fire was put on even though DH & me didn't need it.

She is looking thinner and her coat is losing condition. She went like that when her thyroid went, but she really bounced back quickly from that so fingers crossed. At one point last night she got chased away from the fire by Smoke, which once would never happen, but she was soon back in place. She seems to be feeling a bit creaky, but doesn't seem in distress.

The antibiotics run out a week on Saturday, so if no change we will get her back to the vets to make sure she is not suffering.

I'm in bits. But at least I can talk here, so thank you for 'listening'.

tishywish

Aw, poor girl She sounds as if she has you well trained, anyway, to provide salmon and turn the fire on - what more could a cat ask?!

A bit creaky is allowed at her age, I know a 20 year old cat who walks everywhere as it's too much effort to go any faster but other than that he seems happy and well. And spoilt rotten, too

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the antibiotics work for her and she'll be OK.

hev_2

Thank you, tishywish, she has really got me trained.

She is now being extremely fussy about the cat food. I am putting down tinned food in gravy a teaspoon at a time so she can lick the gravy off. She's a madam at the best of times, but now she seems so much creakier.

But her fur felt much better groomed today so that is a good sign.

tishywish

I just thought I'd log on to see how things are going with Shadow - I'm hoping no update is good news