34 réponses à ce sujet

[Morganlafey]

I know this is way off topic for a gaming forum, but I could seriously use some comforting words from fellow gamers. Our cat Xena has been ill for several weeks now, and she's going downhill fast. I don't think she'll make it to Christmas. We took her in initially for what appeared to be feline asthma, and it turns out she also has renal failure on top of that!  We have no kids, so Xena's been the centre of our world for nearly 11 years. Please spare a kind thought for us.

*heartbroken* 

[chiliztri]

-hugs-

I'm sorry I don't have anything comforting to say other then I hope she gets better!

Though, my old apartment complex had this cat whose owner scolded me for giving the cat food because she was on a special diet for renal failure. Perhaps that is worth looking into?

[Morganlafey]

Thanks chillztri! We've been giving her this special renal diet but she just flats out refuses to eat it. Stubborn cow that she is! She'd rather starve. The vet did warn us that this sort of food is very unpalatable so most cat balk at it. We're reaching the point where we'd rather give her normal food (higher in phosphorus and protein so demanding on the kidneys) than let her slowly starve to death. Not many options are left. 

[chiliztri]

Oh, maybe you should slowly switch her to the new food slowly? Mixing in a little of the new with the normal, and then slowly removing the normal food until she is completely switched over? This method works with dogs, but then again, she might just eat around the new food!



Again, I hope she improves. I'm sure she has lived a wonderful life regardless of what happens.

[Monstruo696]

chiliztri wrote...

Oh, maybe you should slowly switch her to the new food slowly?

Works with cats as well, just takes a week or two.

--

11 Years is pretty good for a cat.  You shouldn't feel sad if he/she was well fed and looked after by you all those years.

[FollowTheGourd]

I just recently lost our old, family cat to the same condition, so I know how hard it can be. I'm no vet or qualified to say otherwise, but if she won't eat the low-protein diet food, even mixed in with the old food, then just feeding her the old food (if it's wet food) might not be too much worse at this stage since cats supposedly metabolize meat proteins very effectively, so it's easier on their kidneys than it would be for a human. I don't really know about the phosphorus though...

I'm no good at saying these things, but it goes without saying that I hope she has a good life in the time left.

Modifié par FollowTheGourd, 05 décembre 2009 - 09:54 .

[Whitewolf]

  Aww, always sad to hear about these things. I can just hope that she'll get better!

*hugs*

[Gorath Alpha]

The only adult cats that I've had who didn't make it to 13, 14, or even 15 years, were those who just didn't want to spend time inside, regularly hid outside when called to come in, etc.  Housecats who spend most of their lives indoors just live longer, usually.  But I've loved the shorter-lived ones as much, sometime more, than those who preferred the soft life (all who I invited in have been spayed / neutered, which also extends their lives). 

With a couple of exceptions, my cats outlived my dogs over the last thirty years or so. 

Take a lot of pictures, and get him/ her a companion for his / her last few weeks {not a kitten, though, adopt an adult, and let your elderly one deal with the new one on a reserved basis (the newby stays in a separate room, door closed, for a few days, with separate facilites)}.  They'll know about each other right away, and get acquainted with each other's odors under the door. 

Gorath
-

Modifié par Gorath Alpha, 05 décembre 2009 - 10:44 .

[TanithAeyrs]

*Hugs*

It is really hard when you have an elderly pet whose health is failing.  They are a family member and it is hard to see them feeling ill and it is also hard to deal with the thought of losing them.  As a vet I can tell you the prescription kidney diet is the best, however, your cat needs to eat.  Sometimes mixing the canned kidney diet with another canned food (preferably a premium food that has moderate levels of protein and phosphorus)  is the best you can do.  Talk to your vet about alternative feeding approaches- other foods, possibly using valium to increase appetite (it gives kitties the munchies), syringe feeding if needed.

I hope you are able to have some good quality time with your cat before her health declines further.  I have been where you are more than once (lost both of my dogs that went through college with me 3 years ago within 2 months of eachother- one was 16, the other 17).  My old horse is 34 and our oldest dog is now 13 so every day is a blessing for those two.  I try to appreciate how lucky I am to have my furry children every day (my human children are much younger and also appreciated). 

I hope this helps some. 

Modifié par TanithAeyrs, 06 décembre 2009 - 12:10 .

[Rheannan]

Morganlafey wrote...

Our cat Xena has been ill for several weeks now, and she's going downhill fast. I don't think she'll make it to Christmas. We took her in initially for what appeared to be feline asthma, and it turns out she also has renal failure on top of that!  We have no kids, so Xena's been the centre of our world for nearly 11 years. Please spare a kind thought for us.

Well-wishes sent your way for your cat. Some cats with kidney problems are okay for quite a while, but others aren't. It doesn't seem to be consistent.

We've been giving
her this special renal diet but she just flats out refuses to eat it.

Your vet should hopefully have a few different ones to try, plus dry biscuits. If she doesn't like one particular brand, try a different one.

I wish you and your cat the best in this situation.

Edit: I sent you a message, I hope it helps.

Modifié par Rheannan, 06 décembre 2009 - 12:01 .

[Mordaedil]

11 years is a long time of a lot of love. Spend your time cuddling the thing and reminisce on the good times shared and feed it a little extra every day. If its last days are good ones, then the loss will not hit as hard either.

[Morganlafey]

Thanks everyone for all the fantastic advice, well wishes and comforting words. Xena has her up and down days, but lately, it's been more down than up. The main issue we're having is that where we live, the choice of kidney diet is restricted to only two brands, and Xena snubs them both. We've tried heating the food up in the microwave, adding some tuna water for scent, mixing them with other foods, you name it, we tried it! She just doesn't want a bar of the stuff! A vet warned me that a cat that doesn't eat within 48 hours is at risk of developing fatty liver syndrome, and we just don't wanna add another problem to her laundry list. So my husband and I have resigned ourselves to feeding her a senior cat diet that is still quite low in phosphorus and protein (still not the best for renal failure, but better than starvation.) She's gotta eat, simple as that!

We know that it's only a matter of time before her kidneys shut down completely. I've made some mistakes in the past in regards to some of my pets. You sometimes reach a crossroad where you have to ask yourself if you wanna subject your beloved pet to nonsensical torture just so you can cling to them for a few more years, or do you choose to offer them the best quality of life in their twilight years. Deedee and Kashtin's (my two other pets) were subject to my selfish desire to keep them around for as long as possible... Even if it meant force feeding with tubes, daily injections and other abominable veterinarian treatments. I will not put Xena through such trauma.  She's always been a very sensitive, flighty cat, and putting her through such trauma will only kill her faster. We are going to give her the bestest quality of life possible, and if the d-day comes sooner rather than later because of it, then it will be our cross to bear and ours only. She will at least have enjoyed her twilight years with joy, not pain and sorrow. Thanks mateys... You've helped me heaps. <3

Hubby and I have been going "happy-snaps" crazy with the camera. Here's Xena when we got her as a kitten (very crappy resolution)



and a more recent one. Boy... Digital cameras have come a long way since then.

[Monstruo696]

Hah, she looks just like my cat, same face and black/darkbrown fur, but mine's long and silky like a persians.

Also, if she's starting to look like she's in some serious pain, you may wish to euthanize her.  I know it's rather cold, but even if you shell out the bucks to get her a possible surgery, there's no guarantee it will work and will most likely only extend her life by a year before she starts getting sick again from "old age".

Best to let her go knowing she didn't suffer much.

Of course, this advice is coming from some stranger over the internet.  I don't know how badly your cat is doing, so take my words with a pinch of salt.

Modifié par Monstruo696, 06 décembre 2009 - 10:17 .

[CottonKhandi]

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. I have no advice to offer you but I really do hope your cat will eat the prescribed food and get well soon. Go kitties

[tigrina]

Best of wishes for your cat and yourself. I do hope she still drinks? We got some 'high energy' food for our cat at a time after he decided not wanting to eat at all (he got sick from the antibiotics he got for his, how do I say this? Snotty nose of sorts.) It got him back up on his feet again, and back to his (renal) diet too. We are just very lucky he actually likes the diet though, more so since he is extremely picky considering foods.

Giving her some good time now while there is still time is a very good decision in my humble opinion.

Modifié par tigrina, 07 décembre 2009 - 05:42 .

[Morganlafey]

Hubby and I got her some senior food yesterday, and boy... We got our kitten back! Eating with gusto, prowling for geckos at night, patrolling the house... *knock on wood* I dunno if it will damage her kidneys further and/or precipitate the eventuality of her passing any sooner, but it is such a comfort and relief to see her all happy and frisky once more. She's even come begging for pats and cuddles this morning (which she hadn't done since this whole demise started.) THAT is how I wish to remember my cat... Not that poor shell of a feline she was a few days ago.

[tigrina]

Good to hear!

[Nagirdnul]

This is so sad! We went through this last month, our 18 year old kitty (Angel) just stopped eating and after a day or two we took her in and had to put her down. Renal failure and something else. I'm only 22, so I've had this Cat almost my entire life so I know how you're feeling.

[Morganlafey]

Nagirdnul wrote...

This is so sad! We went through this last month, our 18 year old kitty (Angel) just stopped eating and after a day or two we took her in and had to put her down. Renal failure and something else. I'm only 22, so I've had this Cat almost my entire life so I know how you're feeling.

I'm so sorry for your loss! I feel for you. It must've been so hard to say goodbye to your little buddy. 18 years, growing up with your cat is a lifetime. ((((hugs)))) 

I've had my Xena since I moved to Oz (1999) All my relatives are in Canada and my in-laws are on the west coast of Australia (we're on the east coast.) We have no kids and as for friends, I have so few since I work from home and am not a big extrovert. Xena's my bestest buddy and the day she passes, a big part of my world will go with her.

[TanithAeyrs]

Those are wonderful pictures of Xena, she reminds me of a cat I had in college (lost him to cancer at 14). I am so glad she is eating again. Senior diet isn't too bad, it is a lot better than grocery store food, or even most adult cat foods. I hope she continues to improve.

[Somehing]

I'm really surprised some jerk hasn't made an attempt at a witty put-down on this topic yet. Hope it lasts.

I'm sorry I want to help somehow but I don't know what to say. I know nothing about cats. I like cats. Usually they like me too.

I'm glad of your trying to be responsible and not selfish with how you treat her, having her as a child this must be harsh..advicewise I think you're doing the right things, as it was gonna happen sooner or later (it had to), just try to make sure you're not left with regrets (spoil her rotten). I'm glad to read she seems happier. Hope it keeps up!

[Rheannan]

Morganlafey wrote...

So my husband and I have resigned ourselves to feeding her a senior cat diet that is still quite low in phosphorus and protein (still not the best for renal failure, but better than starvation.) She's gotta eat, simple as that!

Let us know when you try the kidney diet food from the vet you're looking into.

And if they don't have the ones I mentioned, you know that you can find them at the other vet.

Deedee and Kashtin's (my two other pets) were subject to my selfish desire to keep them around for as long as possible... Even if it meant force feeding with tubes, daily injections and other abominable veterinarian treatments.

You might still be able to give her medication though, just tablets, which are pretty easy on a pet when you can give them the tablet quickly and easily.

Xena is so cute!

Nagirdnul wrote...

This is so sad! We went through this last month, our 18 year old kitty (Angel) just stopped eating and after a day or two we took her in and had to put her down. Renal failure and something else. I'm only 22, so I've had this Cat almost my entire life so I know how you're feeling.

My sympathies on the loss of Angel. I'm sure she had a good life with you.

Modifié par Rheannan, 09 décembre 2009 - 06:05 .

[Sa Seba]

I never really lost a pet yet, since mine is only 5 years old, but I can imagine the pain and emptiness that follows..

What you said here:

Morganlafey wrote...

We are going to give her the bestest quality of life possible, and if the d-day comes sooner rather than later because of it, then it will be our cross to bear and ours only. She will at least have enjoyed her twilight years with joy, not pain and sorrow.

is simply beautiful. That is the best you can give her and to yourself.

[Morganlafey]

You guys are all such a caring and empathic bunch... It warms my heart to the core.  Bless y'all! As for Xena... We got our cat back!  Perhaps not 100%, but she's done such a massive turnaround that we now have hope she'll be with us a while longer. This kitty is the embodiement of the old adage "a cat has 9 lives." She's a battler! We are now feeding her Hill's Senior cat food, but are also supplementing her diet with renal wet food. We're hoping to switch her over to renal dry biscuits as well, but if she refuses, we're still happy with this current outcome. This means her phosphorus and protein intake is still halved and is therefore less taxing on her little kidneys.
Blessings to each and everyone of you!

Xena's page on Catster

[Whitewolf]

Happy to hear that she's doing better! Hopefully she'll can live rest of her life peacefully and happily! <3