19 years old - uti - won't eat or drink

1.A. Tricks for eating: Get the absolute most STINKY canned food you can find, microwave it for 15 - 20 seconds to release all those disgusting odors. With cats, the worse it smells, the more likely they are to eat it.
1.B. Tricks for drinking: Adding chicken broth or tuna water to the water will help to promote drinking.

2.Pepcid is for nausea, it should be given 2 times a day, unless your vet has stipulated a different amount. It depends on kitty.

If her eyes are sunken in, she's getting very dehydrated, and would most likely needs fluids, at least subcutaneous, if not not intraveinous.

3. Nineteen is a very good age for a kitty. There's no way of saying whether this is the end or not. See what the vet says about her physical. Just keep in mind her quality of life.

As for your human question:
There's really no way I can answer that. Just how every kitty is different, every person is, too. Some people honor their lost kitty's memory best by getting another kitty immediately, and continuing showing the best love and compassion the same way they did before with their kitty they loved, now to a kitty who needs that love and compassion. Others need time to mourn, and will continue their endevour when the time is right. When that time comes for you, you just have to go by how you feel about the situation. If you feel you need another kitty soon after, don't feel guilty, she knows you aren't replacing her; and if you need to wait, wait.

Good luck with your baby girl! I know you will do what is right!

Okie

Don't worry... you will.

1. No online advice can replace direct veterinary intervention. If you suspect that your cat may be ill, please contact your vet immediately. You are welcome to look for advice in the health forum while waiting for that appointment, but never delay proper veterinary care waiting for Internet advice. Remember that cats, and especially kittens, are very adept in keeping pain to themselves and delaying treatment may cause irreversible damage.


I would suggest calling the vet and asking how much water they feel you should try till they get there..

Just a FYI No one here is a Vet and NO one should be giving medical advise

Please take your kitty to the vet... She is only four pounds, dehydrated, 19 years old, and so quite fragile... It is not time to gamble here, IMO.
Also, I am not sure about gatorade... If anything, unflavored pedialyte.
Please, at least call the vet, if you are on a crunch for money, that doesn't cost anything. Try to get some Hill A/D from he vet's office.
Baby food also works well. Meat/meat broth only, NO ONIONS, NO garlic. (Beech Nut is a good brand), the others have onions ans garlic.

The first thing I need to say is DO NOT give Pepcid unless your vet has suggested this. Same advice for the Gatoraid. Human medications are not made for animals and in some cases (particularly a small 4 lb cat) can be lethal or at the very least do much more harm than good.

As Sharky said, you really need to get your cat to a good vet. Nobody here is qualified to offer veterinary or medical advice so please get proper information from a professional.

How low is the potassium? The Vet hasn't considered that supplementing the low potassium might be an idea? Low potassium will cause lethargy, lack of appetite, and can also cause heart rhythm issues (it effects muscle function, and the heart is a muscle). I used to have an old kitty w/ kidney failure and other issues and when her potassium would go low, she'd have hindleg weakness, be lethargic, no appetite, etc. We'd supplement with Tumil-K, from the Vet.

Hasn't the Vet considered giving this poor kitty some subQ or IV fluids? Significant dehydration can also cause a cat to feel just rotten. And 10cc's of Gatorade will not be enough fluids at all to properly rehydrate, not at all. Ask the Vet about subQ fluids. this is even something you could be taught to give at home. If cat becomes very very dehydrated, kidneys will shut down. This is not a nice way to "go."

Ehhh, I would go to another vet. It really concerns me that she has not been given SubQ fluids... and has not been eating/drinking. It is pretty standard for vets to give SubQs to cats who have not been eating for a while. I don't remember if you said, but has her kidneys been checked? What about thyroid? I would get a second opinion from a differnt vet...

I do not want to scare you, but cats can get liver issues from not eating, and it can be fatal.

I hope she gets well soon.

The fluids are similar (maybe even the same thing) to a human getting an IV at the hospital.

I really hope the 3rd vet can help.