Sad News About Lucy

Well, Lucy is still under my bed but much more responsive than she was in the early hours of this morning. When I stroked her last night, she just sat there and didn't really respond.

Today, she ventured out from under my bed and went and used her litter box. She was a little steadier on her feet than she was yesterday when she kept falling over. When I stroke her she is so much more responsive and has got her purr back. She hasn't eaten since yesterday morning, but I've put some fresh food out for her (she can see me from under the bed) and I thought she was going to come out for some but she decided against it.

Her eyes still don't seem to be focusing properly but they are definitely much brighter than they were yesterday.

The first time she took a stroke (that I know of - we got Lucy as a rescue nearly 11 years ago and she's always been slightly slow down one side), it was after that major illness when she spent 4 days hospitalised at the vets. The first 24 hours was pretty much as has happened this time. On the second day she started coming out from under our bed herself. By the third day she was able to jump off and on our bed again and spent most of the day curled up on our bed. After that episode, exactly a week later she had a second stroke but recovered within 24 hours.

The difference with this one is yesterday she was sick (vomiting). On Saturday night we knew one of the cats had been sick (she only gets on with one cat, Snowy who she's known since he was a kitten and he gets to sleep in our bedroom when he wants as he is also feline company for Lucy and they are really fond of each other) but we put it down to the start of the furball season. It's starting to get warmer here and the cats will soon start shedding their winter coats. She was sick a few times last night. I didn't sleep at all last night. That seems to have stopped now. I wondered perhaps if there's been something wrong with one of the sachets of food because the interesting thing is neither cat ate very much on Sunday. One thing Lucy and Snowy love is their food and they both ate a bit then turned their noses up. I wonder if it's upset her tummy, and Lucy being very elderly it's brought on the stroke.

We're going to give her another 24 hours and if she hasn't improved any more we'll take her to the vet. We decided at this point not to take her to the vet as it would be very distressful for her and might make matters worse.

She is a very old cat - at least 18 - maybe older, and perhaps I'm being selfish but I want to keep her with me as long as I possibly can. My son and I sat up till about 5am. He summed it up in a nutshell. He said that Lucy was my anchor point - and she is. When my son took seriously ill with kidney failure 5 years ago when he was 15, after he was transferred to a hospital nearer home (I'd been living in the hospital accommodation) and was able to commute on a daily basis, Lucy never left my side. A couple of years later when my husband took a near-fatal heart attack, again Lucy never left my side for a moment. She always seems to know how I feel.

Although I have another 9 cats, Lucy is a one-off. Over the years, I will have more cats, some special needs cats, but I will never have one as unique and beautiful as Lucy. Despite horrendous cruelty in the years before we got her, she is the most loving and trusting of all my cats. I can't imagine my life without her, yet I know I must because one day, maybe soon or maybe later, I will have to let her go with love. When this dreaded day comes, I will let her go with peace and love but I shall miss her dreadfully.

Since her illness in 2005, we've known she's been on borrowed time, and no matter what happens I will always be grateful for the extra 14 months I've had with her. I hope and pray she recovers and I have her for a little longer.

This is Lucy taken in September last year. You can see her damaged leg where the paw turns under.



Lucy and Snowy having fun playing "pounce" - a favourite game.

Oh bless her heart she is precious...many healing vibes being sent to your sweet girl. I will remember her in my prayers.

She is such a little sweetheart. I hope she continues to get better and that you'll have many more precious moments to share.

She seems to be quite bright and purry at times and at others very quiet and subdued. I feel the next 24 hours will be crucial.

Sending strong {{{Get Well}}} vibes for Lucy.

Lucy is a special lady indeed


Thinking & praying for you & sweet Lucy.........

I am glad she is holding her own today. Maybe you will get another miracle and she will get better.

Lucy slept for a couple of hours last night on her favourite place - my husband. She managed to jump up on the bed herself. She did the same this afternoon - I've just spent the last 3 hours curled up with her (I fell asleep) but she still won't eat or drink, not even her favourite - tuna fish. She keeps swallowing a lot as if she has a sore throat (a bit like we do when we've got a cold and your mouth gets dry) but she isn't displaying any signs of having a cold. She is also still a little bit shaky on her legs.

I think that old-age has finally caught up with her and suspect she may have either renal or liver failure. I hope I'm wrong. I have an appointment with our vet tomorrow afternoon. He is a very good vet and pulled her through the last time. We can only hope and pray that it is something that can be sorted out, perhaps a minor infection but only time will tell.

What foods did she get in life? some diets can lead to these kinds of problems? Sorry for whats probably going to happen http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/ima...es/bawling.gif Hope I'm wrong though and she lives through this.

Sending Lucy strong healing vibes and you hugs to get thru this.

More hugs for you and poor Lucy.

Originally Posted by Python

I think that old-age has finally caught up with her and suspect she may have either renal or liver failure. I hope I'm wrong. I have an appointment with our vet tomorrow afternoon. He is a very good vet and pulled her through the last time. We can only hope and pray that it is something that can be sorted out, perhaps a minor infection but only time will tell.

Click to expand...

oh I do hope all goes well at your vets appointment !! and as you say, its just a little infection thats making her a little down We are all rooting for sweet Lucy

We just came back from the vet's appointment about an hour ago. We are still none the wiser.

It wasn't our usual vet, but the other one. He also had dealings with Lucy when she was very ill 14 months ago and remembered her. He is puzzled too. Her heart and lungs are absolutely fine, she isn't running a temperature, her motor responses are back to normal - she just won't eat or drink (at least we haven't seen her eating or drinking). The vet said she is not dehydrated. Basically, we've been told to just keep observing her over the next couple of days and if she is no better by Friday, or if she deteriorates, then they'll see us as an emergency case. Huw (the vet) didn't really want to take blood tests at this stage (I might be reading more into it, but could this be because he knows she's reached the end of her life and she knows it, and to take blood tests would distress her?) and he was sure it is not kidney or liver failure.

When we were at the vets, she was sitting up in her basket, looking around her with interest. She's still as sharp as a button - yet it just seems she's forgotten how to eat and drink.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? I'm at a loss as to what to do now. It's almost like she's just starting to fade away. Today I had to fish her out from under the middle of our bed - the most inaccessible part of it. When we came back from the vets, she said "hello" to Snowy then promptly disappeared back under the bed again.

I really don't know what to think and I'm at a loss as to what to do for the best.

I know it might distress her but should you try to force feed her at this point with a syringe? Sometimes cats do forget to eat and drink - it is hte start of hepatic lipidosis that does lead to liver failure if allowed to go on too long. I don't know, but I think I would do that if she were my cat - try to jump start her.

My son said the same thing so we are going to attempt to do that later on tonight. I'm giving her time to rest after coming back from the vets.

How would you suggest would be the best way to do this and what do you think would be a good food to try?