17 Year old cat health problems

starfox

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Hi there, 

Im new here and i need some advice. We have a family cat who has had a big life, lost count of the amount of kittens she had, we got her neutered a few years ago too. But the last few months her health has really deteriorated, she no longer is able to clean herself, and will not leave her kitty house, only on some occasions will walk on the grass. But she does get up for food no problem and stretch her legs.

She has what i can only describe as fur balls on her back, like clusters of hair in lumps, can anyone advise me if i can remove them myself, my cut away at them? because she can not clean herself anymore to get rid of them herself. Or is this a case of just prepare to accept she is on her last legs and maybe take her to a vet to be put down. You can imagine yourself it would be a hard decision, but this is our first family cat and she is 17 years old, so we are not sure what to do 

Thanks for any advise
 

Willowy

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She can be groomed but you have to be careful. If you try to cut the mats out it's extremely easy to cut the skin, and at her age healing would be slow and there would be an awful risk of infection. A groomer may be able to shave her if she's not too cranky.

I don't know how much vet care you're willing to go for. You could take her to the vet for tests and see if there are any treatments that would make her life better. If you're not willing to do that, yes, she probably will need to be put to sleep soon.

So she's outside only? Any way she could "retire" to the comforts of indoors?
 

orientalslave

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I would take her to the vets for an honest assesement of her condition.  She might have arthritis and be in pain, she might have a systemic disease, she certainly needs the mats removing and continued grooming to prevent them forming again.
 

farleyv

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Please take your kitty to the vets.  After so many years of happiness she brought you, you need to be her advocate in her remaining years.

Be very careful removing the mats....there are combs you can buy especially for removing them.  Ask at the local pet supply store or go online.

I hope she gets to spend her golden years inside where it is safe for an old girl like her.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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My old boy got mats like you describe and when we took him to the groomer for him to get them out, he said there was no way he would risk cutting them out at his age (because his skin had gotten just like old people's I guess), but luckily Sven liked baths and blow drys (by the groomer only
) which usually detangled those mats, but last time he did this, the mats literally fell off, leaving bald spots
.They grew back, but I felt awful, especially because it was winter, so it was colder in the house. 

But I agree with everyone else that since your old gal's health has obviously deteriorated, it's time to see a Vet to see what's going on.  At 17, she probably has arthritis, but there are OTC "meds" that can be added to food to help that, if that's all it is. 
 

orientalslave

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The trick with mats isn't removing them, it's effectively grooming the cat so it doesn't get them.  A fine-tooth metal comb, or a slicker will do the trick so long as you make sure you get right through the coat.  But if the cat has mats, they need removing first.
 
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