Vibes needed please - all 3 cats poorly

It certainly is, he is such a snugglebug too (to the point of annoying most times though), so at least he will be a big comfort when the girls time comes - he is really in tune with my emotions as well, he becomes like a limpet when I am upset or not 100%.

Thanks, I know this year will be hard, and Molly will be harder than Zia, none of my cats live that long, but she has lived the longest, 4 years and 3 months so far, and we are so close, but how could I potentially deny the next cat that, without it insulting her memory? I haven't had a single year in 6years of cat ownership where I haven't lost a cat (although last years 3 were all fosters picked up as terminally ill cats, which does make it a bit easier), but knowing they have had a home life, and as much love as they will accept helps a lot, as so few people are willing to take these cats on, and the alternative is living in a rescue (or worse for some of the cats I have taken on, some would have died on the streets, alone and unloved) - it is just a shame I can only help a select few out, I would love to have a hospice for elderly cats, however much heartache I would go through. Her tum feels a bit odd this week, I am hoping it is just cos she is gaining weight with eating more (I found some biscuits she can tolerate too), but I am not going to stress her with a vet visit just yet - they might make us go back next week before giving more steroids though, but there isn't much the vet can do for her, and she hides for a day afterwards, I'm not willing to put her through that unless they force me to.

I think I need to take Zi for a weigh in though (unfortunately I have no car today), she looks quite thin today, and she wont let me touch her back legs. Her mouth doesn't look as red though, which is good.

You deserved that little ray of sunshine!

Keeping up the vibes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, I am certainly feeling happier about the situation.

Isn't it a weight off your heart when you get even just a bit of good news?

You certainly are an angel for the animals....I feel the best way to honor our cats memories is to bring new ones in. I think due to the fact that I loved my cat so very much, and we had such a special bond, I need to pass this wonderful thing on. It is their legacy. In a way, a part of them is still with us.

Keep the faith and hugs to you for being there for them.

I am glad that you are doing better. Many for you and the kitties, you truely are special to help them.

Thanks, it really was a weight off, even though there is everything else going on.

I agree, I dont think any of our cats would want us to mope, and not share our lives with another cat, they would want that love to be shared.

It's great that you've had good news about Sam! You're an absolute angel to give so many old timers a home for their remaining days, though it must be an awful strain on you.

Thanks - it can be very hard, especially when the ones you have that extra special bond with become ill, and the fact that I do lose at least one cat a year, but knowing you have given a cat either longer, because they have been in a home environment, or just a home environment, it does make it easier - when I look at some of the cats I have had the honour of sharing my life with, knowing their alternative if I hadn't been able to help doesn't bear thinking about.

Molly's steroids ran out yesterday, and the vet wouldnt give anymore without seeing her again, so had to put her through the stress of a vet visit today. She has put weight on, but did feel bloated, so he couldnt say how much was due to the bloating, but other than that he is happy with her, as she is eating well and acting normally. We are going to try and reduce the steroids to every other day, but if she starts acting like it is a problem, I can increase them again, and he doesn't want to see her for 3 months, which I am glad about, as she is in hiding again, and I am out tonight, so she wont get any comfort at bedtime.

Zia is going for a check up on Mon with the other vet (who I prefer really), and then back the week after with Sam!! I really should try and get shares in my vets!!

I am so sorry you and your babies are going through that My thoughts are with you.

That is great that Molly put some weight on! Good luck Zia!!!

for all your kitties and your great care of them.

Thanks

Mixed checkup for Zi really, her mouth is still quite bad, so we have tried Convenia for her, and as it is pretty much 3 months since her last bloods, we have done repeat bloods, and there might be decisions to be made once they come back - hopefully tomorrow, but maybe Thurs, as the vet isn't in on Wed. She has put weight on, back to her Christmas weight, but the vet said she could be peaking and then lose weight again, so we shall have to see on that, she doesn't actually eat all that much. What is the most worrying is that she has started with loose poo with blood in it - the vet felt her tummy and couldnt feel anything, so we are going to wait for bloods and then decide what to do next, although the Convenia might help. Someone in the waiting room thought she looked in good health though.

I really dont know what I will do if her bloods show her kidneys have got a lot worse, as keeping her on the MEtacam will continue to make them decline, and shorten her lifespan, but it keeps her comfortable - how much can you justify keeping 2 conditions under control knowing it is making another condition a lot worse and shortening their life?

Oh I just can't imagine all the thoughts you are having and indecision. It is so hard, isn't it? It takes over your whole life.

I will continue to think about you and your kitties...and send up prayers at night.

It sounds like you are coping as best you can. But you are right how much to do if it is making another condition worse. One day at a time I guess is all we can do when we find ourselves in this situation.

God bless.

Thanks - it certainly is making life very hard at the moment. I am going to try not to think about it too much until her results come back, just in case her kidneys haven't got much worse and I dont have to think about it just yet. She hasnt got that many CRF symptoms fortunately, so we might be lucky - what is worrying is that she does keep pinching Molly's food with steroids in, and that will make her liver/kidneys work harder cos of her medication, which isn't good as her kidney's are already not working well.

Originally Posted by farleyv

...I feel the best way to honor our cats memories is to bring new ones in. I think due to the fact that I loved my cat so very much, and we had such a special bond, I need to pass this wonderful thing on. It is their legacy. In a way, a part of them is still with us.

Keep the faith and hugs to you for being there for them.

Click to expand...

Beautifully said, and my sentiments exactly!

WEll, I didn't give Zia her Metacam yesterday, and she is still eating this morning, so it is mainly her mouth that is the problem, and the ab yesterday is helping - not sure I can put her through 2 weekly visits for them though, just wish I could give her Antirobe. Will try and not give her Metacam tonight as well and see how she gets on.

Am not sure reducing Molly's steroids was a good idea, she is eating, but spreading it out over a longer period, but then it could just be the stress of the vet visit and me not being here Sat night to comfort her. Will leave tonights tablet just to see, but if she is picky again tonight/tomorrow morning, I will put her back on daily tablets.

I had a really bad night with Zia, she had eaten all her breakfast, so I thought we could skip Metacam again, but instead she yowled at me for her tea, then refused to eat it, but she woudlnt let me go near her, and even walked away from her food bowl when I walked into the room. She then yowled at me again when I came to bed, so decided to give her some Metacam, but she kept running away from me, ended up on my hands and knees under the computer desk to get it into her, and I dont think she ate that much overnight, certainly not as much as the day before. She hasn't touched that much of her breakfast either, despite me putting some adult biscuits in with her renal ones (that is a treat she doesn't get very often). So, even with Convenia, she can only manage 24 hours without Metacam, and if she is going to keep running away from me, then I dont know what I will do, it is quite soul destroying. She wouldnt even come on the bed till this morning, and then didn't sit in her usual place. :-( She has allowed me to stroke her this mornign which is good. The vet is off today, so I wont get the results until tomorrow.

Molly panicked me at 4am - she was sleeping around my head, and she started twitching and her breathing sounded different, so I woke her up!! She grumbled at me, and then went and got some food, before coming back to join me, so she must have just been dreaming.

You are an incredible person!!

The LOVE I see in your posts for your babies makes me cry!!

EVERY Fur Baby you bring into your home for however long they have left, is a blessing to these beautiful gifts from God we call, KITTIES!!

Thank you for sharing your heart with so many and continue doing what you are for your friends....

I wish your babies peace, love, and happiness forever!!

I was wondering, do you have pet health insurance, cuz I could NEVER afford to see our vet as much as you are able to.. God Bless YOU!!

Melissa

Just read through this thread. I haven't before, afraid it would hurt too much, but instead it's given me a feeling of inspiration, for all you are doing for your beloved senior cats.

It is my intention to proceed as you do, in my life with cats, unless I am chosen by a young stray, my future is to adopt senior cats from the shelter when next I am ready for another cat/s.

Having cared for 4 seniors already over the years I know I am facing the kind of life you live, frequent vet visits, expense and heart ache, but I am determined to make a difference, and reading your thread only makes me more eager to start.

I'll be following the stories of Zia, Molly and Sam closely, now that I have started.