....to let go. I've been reading about force-feeding, tubes, etc. Is this the right thing to do? Will using a feeding tube simply prolong life and a very low quality of life at that? If she isn't eating under her own power, isn't it time to let her go? I love my cat dearly and have been doing all I can over the past 6 months, but I also promised her quite some time ago that I would do the right thing when I know it's her time. I don't want to be at that time - who does -but my heart is telling me that if she will no longer eat then maybe we're there. SHe has a bad respiratory infection that just doesn't seem to be responding to any thing that I do. I've got a vaporizer running, using special herbal compounds to put in her nostrils, using a formula to boost the immune system. She is on enisyl (lysine), had a convenia shot yesterday, fluids....so far no improvement. Just seems to be slipping away from me. And I feel powerless to prevent it.
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If my cat is not wanting to eat at all anymore,isn't she telling me that wants me to.
- Thread starter three4rd
- Start Date
What does your vet say? Do you have a vet you trust and respect? Can your cat be saved? Is she suffering? Do you know?
These decisions are so difficult and so specific to the situation that none of us here can possibly advise.
Sometimes cats can be brought back from the brink of death. Sometimes the most loving thing is to let them go with peace, dignity, and the release of their suffering.
I hope you can figure it out soon. Personally, I rely on my vet's input a lot because I've known him a very long time, he loves cats, he does his best by his patients, and he knows how much my cats mean to me. Even so, sometimes I've held on too long. And sometimes he has saved them.
Many here have force fed their cats with a syringe and brought their cats safely through a crisis. I have no experience with this myself. Only you and your vet can know what should be done, can be done, and what you can do.
God bless you and your kitty during this difficult time.
Robin
These decisions are so difficult and so specific to the situation that none of us here can possibly advise.
Sometimes cats can be brought back from the brink of death. Sometimes the most loving thing is to let them go with peace, dignity, and the release of their suffering.
I hope you can figure it out soon. Personally, I rely on my vet's input a lot because I've known him a very long time, he loves cats, he does his best by his patients, and he knows how much my cats mean to me. Even so, sometimes I've held on too long. And sometimes he has saved them.
Many here have force fed their cats with a syringe and brought their cats safely through a crisis. I have no experience with this myself. Only you and your vet can know what should be done, can be done, and what you can do.
God bless you and your kitty during this difficult time.
Robin
How old is your cat? All she has is an URI? can you give us more details? The answer to me, personally, is yes, I would do everything to save my cat, including forcefeeding, of course... I would never let my cat go because of an URI, no way. But I don't have details on your cat, I don't know how old it is, if there are other issues, etc.
But for an URI? Absolutely no way I would give up on my cat because of it - but that is only me... My opinion...
There are times it gets frustrating and the end doesn't seem to be near... But there is an end... there is a solution... An URI can be solved. A cat can be brought back to health from it. But you need to do your part by feeding your kitty- I am not saying tube feeding, but syringe feeding is important to prevent liver failure. If your cat goes 3-4 days without eating, it can go into liver failure, and then that is not an URI you are fighting anymore...
Petsmart sells a great 1oz syringe for forcefeeding for about a few dollars - it can be found in the dog's session - you can do a full feeding with this syringe, in one sitting. Try getting from your vet a food called Hills A/D - cats not only love it, but it has extra minerals, vitamins and calories for recovery - it also has a great texture for syringe feeding.
There is a lot of information in this article too. Feeding your kitty can make a world of difference on its recovery. It is essential.
I understand she just had a convenia shot yesterday... Anything before that? If not, you need to give it some time to make an effect, a couple/few days, but it will most likely help her.
Lysine can take a couple of weeks to work too - keeping her on daily for life will prevent further URIs if the URI is caused by the Herpes virus.
The rule in my house is, if they are not eating for one day, I let it go, it is ok - on the second day they are in the vet's office and I am actively force-feeding. The never go over 24h without eating, and I only stop force-feeding when I am confident they are eating enough on their own. I simply do not leave it to chance... They don't like it, but it is essential for their health - it can be life-saving. If you have a child who needs medicine and doesn't want to take it, do you just let it make that decision, or you do what is best for that child? My thinking is the same with my cats - I do whats is best for them, like it or not.
I applied an injection on my cat Gracie this morning, and gave my cat Bugsy 3 pills... I am sure neither of them liked that... But they needed it, so that is it, and they don't have a choice in the matter.
Please, be proactive in feeding your kitty... You will rewarded... He will get better... URIs sometimes can be rough, but they go away and you will have your loving companion back with you
But for an URI? Absolutely no way I would give up on my cat because of it - but that is only me... My opinion...
There are times it gets frustrating and the end doesn't seem to be near... But there is an end... there is a solution... An URI can be solved. A cat can be brought back to health from it. But you need to do your part by feeding your kitty- I am not saying tube feeding, but syringe feeding is important to prevent liver failure. If your cat goes 3-4 days without eating, it can go into liver failure, and then that is not an URI you are fighting anymore...
Petsmart sells a great 1oz syringe for forcefeeding for about a few dollars - it can be found in the dog's session - you can do a full feeding with this syringe, in one sitting. Try getting from your vet a food called Hills A/D - cats not only love it, but it has extra minerals, vitamins and calories for recovery - it also has a great texture for syringe feeding.
There is a lot of information in this article too. Feeding your kitty can make a world of difference on its recovery. It is essential.
I understand she just had a convenia shot yesterday... Anything before that? If not, you need to give it some time to make an effect, a couple/few days, but it will most likely help her.
Lysine can take a couple of weeks to work too - keeping her on daily for life will prevent further URIs if the URI is caused by the Herpes virus.
The rule in my house is, if they are not eating for one day, I let it go, it is ok - on the second day they are in the vet's office and I am actively force-feeding. The never go over 24h without eating, and I only stop force-feeding when I am confident they are eating enough on their own. I simply do not leave it to chance... They don't like it, but it is essential for their health - it can be life-saving. If you have a child who needs medicine and doesn't want to take it, do you just let it make that decision, or you do what is best for that child? My thinking is the same with my cats - I do whats is best for them, like it or not.
I applied an injection on my cat Gracie this morning, and gave my cat Bugsy 3 pills... I am sure neither of them liked that... But they needed it, so that is it, and they don't have a choice in the matter.
Please, be proactive in feeding your kitty... You will rewarded... He will get better... URIs sometimes can be rough, but they go away and you will have your loving companion back with you
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Jasmine is 15 and also has CRF. She's on sub-Q fluids also, and methmazole, and cyproheptadine, and Potassium gluconate. I started some force (syringe) feeding a few hours ago. Nothing perks her up. Se just looks tired and worn out. See what tonight and tomorrow bring. She just looks like she's ready to give up.
My vet is great and.....yes..I do trust her. She has said already (even today) that if she doesn't come around it may be time. We feel we already extended her life past the point where it would have been had it not been for the fluids that started back in Sept.
She goes in again Monday night. I suppose, if there is no improvement by then, that that visit could be the most critical one of Jasmine's life. I think it's time for the big and final questions at that visit. And just a few days ago she was doing well. Every day a day of grace........
My vet is great and.....yes..I do trust her. She has said already (even today) that if she doesn't come around it may be time. We feel we already extended her life past the point where it would have been had it not been for the fluids that started back in Sept.
She goes in again Monday night. I suppose, if there is no improvement by then, that that visit could be the most critical one of Jasmine's life. I think it's time for the big and final questions at that visit. And just a few days ago she was doing well. Every day a day of grace........
Now that is some information we need right there...
Try to give her about 3/4- 1 can of food a day. How big is the syringe you are using? The syringe at petsmart is a little over 1 oz, which is great, as you can do 4 syringes a day, and you got a whole can. Four feedings is a good amount... Try putting just enough water to make the food go through the syringe - remember, the more water you put, the less nutrients you are getting into her.
When you feed her, aim into her tongue, or the sides of her mouth. Last case the roof of her mouth. NEVER her throat, as she ca aspirate the food... do 1-2 CCs at a time, wait for her to swallow it, then do it again.... until she finishes it all....
You might try a bit of corn syrup in her mouth (just dip your finger in it and rub on roof of mouth) for a quick burst of energy. However, IMO, the not eating and looking like she's ready to give up are some pretty strong signs.
I'm sorry you are going through this. Please keep us posted.
I'm sorry you are going through this. Please keep us posted.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
I know. Things are not looking good. She had this same issue (URI) last year but pulled through. Big difference between last year though and this year. She's already in a weakened state. The vet doesn't think the congestion is in the longs (CHF), and so we should be able to clear it up.
I was in your shoes two weeks ago. Callie had suddenly (to me anyway) had stopped eating and wasn't drinking. She was 14 and also had CRF. Like you, I felt it was time, but I didn't want to accept it. I knew it in my head, but my heart wasn't ready to accept it and I wasn't ready to let Callie go. My husband and I had decided several years ago that when it came to this point that we weren't going to do anything heroic to extend her life. She never liked being confined or restrained. I couldn't imagine having to give her fluids daily or every other day. To me, having to restrain her while administering fluids would not be a very dignified life for her to live. Besides that, we would still eventually be in this same situation at some point in the future, be it a week, a month, 6 months or even a year. In the meantime, what quality of life would she live? Would she be able to play? Would she just exist? Would she be her normal perky, yet crabby self?
When we got her blood work back from the vet on Tuesday morning, I knew. I knew it was time, but I still wasn't ready. We took her in on Tuesday and she got 2 fluid treatments, one in the morning and one again before we picked her up. We then brought her home and loved on her. She ate a few crunchies, but not enough to sustain her. We force fed her, which she hated! My husband was so good and so gentle with her. He did all the "mean" stuff, and I was the comforter and safe person. I watched her from Tuesday evening from Thursday afternoon just basically sleep. I wondered each morning if she was going to be awake when I went down the hall. I wondered if she would be coherent. She really didn't have the energy or feel well enough to walk down the hall or follow me into the bathroom or join me in the bedroom at bedtime.
On Wednesday, I spent the day loving on her. I brushed her for an extra long time, which she always loved. I petted her and told her I loved her and how proud I was that she'd chosen me all those years ago to be her human. I reminded her of all the great and fun times we had together. We took a nap together and she snuggled up to me. She took one last long afternoon nap on the windowsill in the sun.
As much as I would have loved to have her live forever, I know that's unrealistic. I had to make the sacrificial decision to love her enough to let her go and to help her to be out of pain, discomfort, and suffering. I had to admit that my selfishness of keeping her with me Tuesday and Wednesday because I wasn't ready prolonged her suffering. Granted, she wasn't in intense pain, but her body was still not functioning properly and that was suffering. We made the loving decision on Wednesday evening to let her go.
On Thursday morning, we called the vet's office and scheduled the appointment. We had to wait until late afternoon to go in and it was pure torture on me! By Thursday, because she'd not eaten enough to sustain her, she was almost paranoid. She wasn't eating anything on Thursday, but she was drinking. It was so hard for me to see her feeling so out of it and so not herself. I had such a peace about the decision we'd made.
It's not an easy decision, but it's one where you have to think of the well-being of the kitty. Do you love your kitty enough to let her go? I know that if Callie hadn't had CRF, she would probably still be here. However, that wasn't the case. I know she had a fantastic life with me and that I had loved her the best that I could and she rewarded me with 12 years of love, joy, and happiness. I couldn't have asked for more. The least I could do was let her go with dignity.
When we got her blood work back from the vet on Tuesday morning, I knew. I knew it was time, but I still wasn't ready. We took her in on Tuesday and she got 2 fluid treatments, one in the morning and one again before we picked her up. We then brought her home and loved on her. She ate a few crunchies, but not enough to sustain her. We force fed her, which she hated! My husband was so good and so gentle with her. He did all the "mean" stuff, and I was the comforter and safe person. I watched her from Tuesday evening from Thursday afternoon just basically sleep. I wondered each morning if she was going to be awake when I went down the hall. I wondered if she would be coherent. She really didn't have the energy or feel well enough to walk down the hall or follow me into the bathroom or join me in the bedroom at bedtime.
On Wednesday, I spent the day loving on her. I brushed her for an extra long time, which she always loved. I petted her and told her I loved her and how proud I was that she'd chosen me all those years ago to be her human. I reminded her of all the great and fun times we had together. We took a nap together and she snuggled up to me. She took one last long afternoon nap on the windowsill in the sun.
As much as I would have loved to have her live forever, I know that's unrealistic. I had to make the sacrificial decision to love her enough to let her go and to help her to be out of pain, discomfort, and suffering. I had to admit that my selfishness of keeping her with me Tuesday and Wednesday because I wasn't ready prolonged her suffering. Granted, she wasn't in intense pain, but her body was still not functioning properly and that was suffering. We made the loving decision on Wednesday evening to let her go.
On Thursday morning, we called the vet's office and scheduled the appointment. We had to wait until late afternoon to go in and it was pure torture on me! By Thursday, because she'd not eaten enough to sustain her, she was almost paranoid. She wasn't eating anything on Thursday, but she was drinking. It was so hard for me to see her feeling so out of it and so not herself. I had such a peace about the decision we'd made.
It's not an easy decision, but it's one where you have to think of the well-being of the kitty. Do you love your kitty enough to let her go? I know that if Callie hadn't had CRF, she would probably still be here. However, that wasn't the case. I know she had a fantastic life with me and that I had loved her the best that I could and she rewarded me with 12 years of love, joy, and happiness. I couldn't have asked for more. The least I could do was let her go with dignity.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
I really appreciate it. I guess we keep 'hoping against hope'. In a way, I will comfort myself from knowing that, at least the way it seems now, Jasmine will not have been lost to CRF. Her kidney numbers got better and better over the past 6 months, but now this respiratory thing seems to have gotten the better of her. I don't think the poor little girl has anything left to fight it with, despite some pretty heroic efforts. I know completely what you mean about being selfish. It is soooo easy to wait too long, especially in retrospect, and yet it happens all too often. I'm still, even as I write this, hoping that the shot she received yesterday will help to bring her back around - not that she has a great quality of life over the past several months, but still quite good. It's only the last 2 days that things really seem rough for her. If she doesn't show any interest in eating tomorrow and is no better, than I know the decision must be made. What makes it so hard is that our daughter flys back to college Monday morning. We've had Jasmine since my daughter is in 2nd grade, and so it'll be hard for her I'm sure. She won't be here for what will need to be done. Thanks again. Your words do provide comfort. How attached we get to our pets. I just don't know how many more times I can do all this. I totally broke down at the vet today when I stopped in to pick up some meds. Take care....
Keith
Keith
A simple URI is a lot different fom some of the URIs that some of us have dealt with. I had to let Attitude go due to a URI. She was 15 months old, had FeLV and we couldn't find an antibiotic that was helping her. The Convenia was our hail mary and it failed. I tried my hardest but in the end her untreatable URI did her in and I know she was ready to go. I wasn't ready to let go but she was ready. She had come back before but this time it was obvious she wasn't coming back. I force fed her through the night until I could get her into the vet once she decided she was through.
It's hard but sometimes it just works out this way.
I'm sorry
Taryn
It's hard but sometimes it just works out this way.
I'm sorry
Taryn
i am sorry to hear this, I lost my CRF girl just over a week ago (but not to CRF), she had had enough of being medicated and I had to accept that knowing she couldnt live more than 48 hours without it. Have you tried stinky fishy foods (even though they aren't recommended for CRF cats), as her lack of smell is likely the main reason she isn't eating?
When i was deliberating what to do with Zi, a friend told me that sometimes the best thing we can do for them is to stop fighting, vet treatment is so good these days there are so many options, but it isn't always the best thing for the cat.
Good luck, and we are here if you want to talk.
When i was deliberating what to do with Zi, a friend told me that sometimes the best thing we can do for them is to stop fighting, vet treatment is so good these days there are so many options, but it isn't always the best thing for the cat.
Good luck, and we are here if you want to talk.
