I have THE WORST feeling in the pit of my stomach

lsulover · Jul 3, 2007

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I can understand the quality of life thing, that is the way I feel. When she's not living anymore, not the way she should be, then it's time. But, she plays all the time. She's so active, but then she'll turn around & vomit. I mean, many many times she actually pukes on her toys.

I cannot imagine letting her go when she is still enjoying life so, which makes this so hard. There is that nagging thought in the back of my mind that it might be something terminal & she might not get to where she no longer has a quality of life before I have to "do something".

I don't know. I've never had to euthanize a cat of my own before. And that thought terrifies me.

I am sending you hugs and prayers from Mississippip for you and Damita for Thursday.

I do hope that everything will be ok.

Only you will truely know if and when it is time.

We treated our beloved Sambo for years with some of his illnesses, he was not in any pain, and he always acted like he was happy to be with us. When we had to make the decision, it was because the vet told us that it looked like his body was shutting down. I did not want him to suffer.

Please keep us posted on how she is doing.

libby74 · Jul 3, 2007

As for the euthanization issue, I know this sounds nebulous at best, but trust me - you ~will~ know when the time comes. There is just a defining moment or event and you just know it is time. It doesn't make it hurt any the less but you will know if you listen to your heart of hearts. You won't need anyone to tell you and that includes a vet. QUOTE]

This is so true. I've had to make that decision several times, and generally there was that "aha" moment when I just knew the time had come. It truly sounds to me as if Damita is nowhere near that moment. You're the best judge of how she's feeling, you obviously know her better than anyone.
I posted (a couple of pages ago) about my Clancey vomiting after eating. I finally remembered what our vet did to treat him---a small dose of catabolic steroids daily. Don't know if this would help your sweet girl, but might be something to ask your vet about.

I know it's hard, but please try not to worry so much. (I know, easier said than done) You and your girl are in my prayers.

miss mew · Jul 3, 2007

I don't really have anything new to add that hasn't already been said so I will send my prayers

toomany · Jul 3, 2007

To quote Gayef (I think)...

"As for the euthanization issue, I know this sounds nebulous at best, but trust me - you ~will~ know when the time comes. There is just a defining moment or event and you just know it is time. It doesn't make it hurt any the less but you will know if you listen to your heart of hearts. You won't need anyone to tell you and that includes a vet.

Choosing to euthanize is one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do ... for me, when the day comes and I know I must do what I must do for one of my beloved cats, I choose to think of it as taking into myself all of the pain and suffering that cat is experiencing. Rather than allow them to continue suffering, I choose to end that for them and experience it within my own self in the form of grief. I consider it to be the most self-LESS thing you can do and the greatest act of love, far surpassing providing basic necessities like food, water and litter facilities - it demonstrates your abiding love and life-long commitment to your pet when you know there is nothing left to do but end the pain for them.

I know how hard this is....IF, AND I SAY IF, your kitty is ready to go. I agree with everyone...they do let you know in their own little ways.

Also, having had so many rescue and abused cats in the last 20 years, I have had to go through this many times.

However, and I hope nobody takes this the wrong way, I have had several (including a dog) who were dying just of old age and vet said they were in no pain....God blessed with me with allowing a few of them to die in my arms or in their sleep, peacefully....and they always let me know if was coming. It hurts just as bad, but it is a different scenario.

Anyway....keep your chin up and your kitty's chin up. We are all praying for you....

Toomany

jcat · Jul 3, 2007

Natalie, I've unfortunately had to have a couple of pets euthanized, and they really do tell you it's time. The "usual" indications, according to many vets, are a failure to eat or engage in favorite activities for more than a few days, attempts to flee/totally isolate themselves, but IME, mainly they just look at you and send you a message, "Mommy, it's time to make it stop! I just can't stay here physically any longer."

tari · Jul 3, 2007

Oh, Natalie! I have no good advice at all, but I just wanted to let you know I feel for you. (I have tears standing in my eyes just thinking about what you're going through.) I KNOW, though, that whatever you decide it will be out of love for Damita, so whatever it is will be the best decision.

You and Damita will be in my thoughts and prayers.

epona · Jul 3, 2007

I am so sorry that you are having to go through this.

I do have some advice to offer, although it doesn't come directly from me, and that is to make a little list of her 5 favourite things to do. Don't include sleeping on that list, but things like her favourite toys that she will play with, eating her favourite treat dinner, getting cuddles, sitting on the windowsill and watching the world go by (although this obviously won't apply for blind kitties and I know you have some so if she is one of them substitute it for something else she likes, sniffing the breeze or something like that!) and so on and so forth.

It sounds like a very clinical approach, but it's a good way of keeping tabs on whether they are still getting enjoyment out of life. They depend so much on us to notice the changes they go through!

I'll give you my opinion, and it is just that, my opinion - but I think if she is still playing with her toys, even if she is vomiting on them afterwards, then she is nowhere near ready to let go yet. It sounds to me from your posts as if she's still getting a lot of enjoyment out of her life. If she were too weak to play, my opinion would be different.

As long as she's getting enough hydration I would say let her continue to play while she wants to and has the energy to do so. And I sincerely hope that she will want to play for a long time yet

jcribbs · Jul 4, 2007

Well.......... what is all the talk of euthanization for?? She suspected the cat has a UTI which is painful and can cause vomiting.

I hope you kept the appointment... It was the humane thing to do.

A change of food might help. There are a lot of good food out there for UTI prone cats. But if she has an infection, she needs antibiotics.

Take to the vet just like you would a child. You don't procrastinate, you just do it... I don't get your reasons for waiting. It makes no sense to me.

I wish you and your cat the best. But if she has an infection, sitting at home because you are afraid of what the vet might tell you is not the best thing for her. Or for you.

I hope your post the vet findings. I am hoping you took her to the vet.

Did they do blood work to rule out things. A urine test? A stool sample for worms? Does she have blood in her urine or stool???? If she is neg on all that, I would go to a different food. Ask the vet what he suggests. As cats age, they nutritional needs also change.

Hairballs can cause vomiting too.

She might need vitamins...

Don't be gloomy until you have a reason.

Also you said none of the vets in your area are any good. Does that mean you have been to them all with this problem concerning your cat?

I read this whole thread and feel like I am missing something here.

white cat lover · Jul 4, 2007

This problem has been going on since January, technically, its a chronic thing since last June. She's been tested for UTIs like 8 times since Jan. She's been on a billion different foods to try to get her better, none work. I've tried reguarl diet, Rx diets, even a raw diet to get her urine pH down, none works. And yes, I have been to all the vets about Damita & this specific set of problems.

We'ce done bloodwork, she just had yet another stool sample yesterday(Tuesday). She had a bloodworkup in Feb. Might do another tomorrow. She's FIV/FeLV-. She's never had crystals or blood in her urine, just the high pH, no bladder infection. I've got her on hairball meds 2x a day as per the vet. Lysine & salmon oil daily as well.

There is a holistic vet I think I might go see myself while I am on vacation to get some ideas from that "side of the fence". I'll try anything I can for my angel.

booktigger · Jul 4, 2007

Good luck for today.

toomany · Jul 5, 2007

Originally Posted by jcribbs

Well.......... what is all the talk of euthanization for?? She suspected the cat has a UTI which is painful and can cause vomiting.

I hope you kept the appointment... It was the humane thing to do.

A change of food might help. There are a lot of good food out there for UTI prone cats. But if she has an infection, she needs antibiotics.

Take to the vet just like you would a child. You don't procrastinate, you just do it... I don't get your reasons for waiting. It makes no sense to me.

I wish you and your cat the best. But if she has an infection, sitting at home because you are afraid of what the vet might tell you is not the best thing for her. Or for you.

I hope your post the vet findings. I am hoping you took her to the vet.

Did they do blood work to rule out things. A urine test? A stool sample for worms? Does she have blood in her urine or stool???? If she is neg on all that, I would go to a different food. Ask the vet what he suggests. As cats age, they nutritional needs also change.

Hairballs can cause vomiting too.

She might need vitamins...

Don't be gloomy until you have a reason.

Also you said none of the vets in your area are any good. Does that mean you have been to them all with this problem concerning your cat?

I read this whole thread and feel like I am missing something here.

This is by far the best advice since the beginning of this thread. You go...jcribbs.

Pleeeeeeze let us know about your appointment today....the one you have been worrying about. You ARE going, are you not?

Prayers and good thoughts that all will go well.

Toomany

toomany · Jul 5, 2007

Okay...now I am really getting confused. You said

"We'ce done bloodwork, she just had yet another stool sample yesterday(Tuesday). She had a bloodworkup in Feb. Might do another tomorrow."

I thought your vet visit was today (July5th). So, you have been back to the vet on Tuesday and you said she might have another one "tomorrow"...that would have been on July 4th holiday, so guess you meant today?

I guess I am really ignorant here because I don't understand why the vet would do a stool sample on Tuesday and then say you might have "bloodworkup" in a day or two. He couldn't do both of them on Tuesday? Is he charging you each time he tells you to come back every other day or whatever?

Guess I have not read this thread carefully enough...totally confused here....but...at any rate....I can only wish you good luck again....and let everyone know....everyone has been so very helpful.

white cat lover · Jul 5, 2007

I took in a stool sample on Tuesday so that was one less thing to do today. Damita was not to the vet Tuesday, I simply had a ton of things to do at the vet today & one less made my life & the techs easier. I had 2 stool samples, urinalysis, bloodwork, not to mention 5 shelter stool samples & 3 shelter cats to FeLV test..... I took the stool sample in early....the vet appt. was always for today July 5th.

Now, the vet visit went OK. He has no ideas, no other vets do either. We decided on Prednisone to try for now. I guess the "plan of action" is to try one thing at a time to see if it helps. The vomiting he said could be just the way she eats. I have her bowls raised, she now eats 6 meals a day instead of 4 & no more warmed wet food. Everything must be room temp or warmer, I will be diligent about that now.

So, hopefully the predinose works. And he didn't know if she had ringworm again/still. We are treating the "suspicious ringworm-like" spot with the predinose to boost her immune system. I'm outta ringworm meds to try, none work to clear it up.

snosrap5 · Jul 5, 2007

Natalie, you deserve a hug today!

I understand the frustration of not having a clear diagnoses and a vet who just isn't sure. It's a try this and wait and see.

sarahp · Jul 5, 2007

Uhhhh how frustrating! I hope the prednisone works and I hope that all the other things you're trying help her vomiting!

Thanks for the update, and I hope that both Damita and the P boys start showing signs of improvement soon

carolpetunia · Jul 5, 2007

I'm hoping very hard that the Prednisone and other measures will make the difference for Damita -- but I think talking to the holistic vet is a great idea, too.

And I wouldn't think of euthanasia yet, either. When I first started volunteering at the shelter, someone abandoned a very, very old white kitty -- she had cataracts in both eyes, arthritis so bad she couldn't fully extend her legs, couldn't climb into even the lowest litterbox... she was so weak and fragile, and filthy because we were afraid the stress of a bath would kill her outright. Another volunteer and I sat with her late into the night, taking turns holding her while we waited for a tech to come in and give her subcutaneous fluids. We half-expected her to die in our arms -- but this poor blind kitty, weak as she was, kept rubbing her cheeks on us and shoving her head into our hands. Oh gosh, it makes me cry just to remember how hard she was working to love us back! She was still in there, still a loving little creature, in spite of all her suffering.

And she didn't die that night. The fluids helped, and the next day, she went into the care of a wonderful vet who kept her with him day and night, doing everything he could to make her comfortable. She lived another three weeks, and she was loved the whole time, and I believe she died happy.

katkisses · Jul 5, 2007

You need to go do something for yourself hun, you are waaay streesed out, for good reason, but you deserve a 'time out.'

white cat lover · Jul 5, 2007

Originally Posted by KatKisses

You need to go do something for yourself hun, you are waaay streesed out, for good reason, but you deserve a 'time out.'

Vacation next week. It cannot come soon enough.

booktigger · Jul 5, 2007

Fingers crossed the preds work for her.

jcribbs · Jul 6, 2007

go to this link.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

It is an online vet manual. You might find something a vet is missing concerning ph levels.

I hope it turns out good for you and for the kitty. I don't know anything about the possible problems a FIV/FeLV cat can have but you might find something they are missing.

One more thing too.... Athletes feet is a fungus like just like a ringworm ... You can use people ointment in Walmart for athletes feet to treat ringworms on your cat or any other animal. This came to me from a vet when I adopted a cat with ringworms. It worked... Make sure you cover the spot completely and go slightly outside the edges of the ring...

I have THE WORST feeling in the pit of my stomach

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