Senior cat taking a turn for the worst tonight...

My cat Lucky is 16 or 17 can't recall when we found her ...was either when my daughter was in jr or sr kindergarden my daughter is almost 22 now ..Her kidneys are going...we knew this time was coming soon...But the only symptom was her excessive drinking...for about a year...she would vomit from time to time but keep eating and  acting fine ...even playing as late as this morning....

About 1 hr ago she started to vomit....alot about 4 times ...she seems like she is in pain walking alittle off...can't settle or sleep...not sure what to do...I can call the vet on duty but I am not sure they will do much with her this evening...its after 10 om here...

Any suggestions on how I can help her this evening ?

Nancy

I'm so sorry, it's likely going to be a long night for you.  I would make sure she is warm.  Use a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel or a heating pad on low or any other way to keep her warm.  She probably needs IV fluid from the vet, and that's what they could do for her tonight.  If she will drink the water from a can of tuna, that might get some hydration restored.  You can have the vet show you how to do the fluids sub-q at home after she's stabilized. 

I called the vet on duty and all he is telling me is to bring her in....and he would beable to put her down if  thats what I wanted...I dont want that but I can't see her suffering ...i'm confused I don't know if I should bring her in wait til the morning and take her to my vets....

Do you think she is suffering?  Can you take her in a quiet room and get her settled down and warm?

I know it is not an easy decision. The symptoms you describe can be due to elevated BUN levels due to CKD. I don't know what treatments you have sought but there are ways to manage CKD such as diet, fluid therapy, etc. If you are willing, pursue these with your VET. It is not always an easy road but some people have succeeded keeping their babies going for years with CKD.

Nance, I don't think you're ready to make that decision tonight.  Unless she is truly suffering.  Keep her warm, get her to drink if you can,  And keep sending positive energy her way and stay positive yourself. Will she let you touch her?  Reasure her and let her know you love her. Right now you probably want to keep her warm and as calm as possible.  Is there a seperate room to set up a small litterbox, food, water, warmth etc and you could stay with her tonight until she can be seen tomorrow?  I would keep her somewhat confined in any event, unless that make her more anxious. 

She seems to have settled for now...jumped up on her fav spot and seems to be resting..I actually found some famotidine to reduce vomiting ....do u think it will be safe to use on her if she continues to vomit ? For now since she is settled I can settle now too I would like to wait til the am and take her to my vet...I guess to do some blood work and see where we are at...

We are feeling the affects of Sandy at the moment...with some high winds and rain....dont think I'd be getting much  sleep anyways...

She has been living her senior years in a granny suite with my mother who isn't here at the moment she is in Mexico...so its very warm and quiet here sept for the wind...

Power is flickering...so I might lose power...but the plan is for now to wait to see my vet....and try and keep her comfy...I'm 46 yrs old and have dealt with alot of sick animals  throught my life but it never get easier..

I know nothing about that drug so I can't offer advice.  Have you used it before for the same thing?  I would probably lean toward not giving her anything other than whatever food or water she will take, but that's just me.

It sounds like the weather may be making her anxious? If she is vomiting food, I would take the food up for the evening until you see the Vet.

yes that medication was given to another one of my cats to stop vomiting...2 mg's 2 times a day....but I'll just wait and see how the rest of the night goes for her.. she won't eat not even tuna...and she doesn't refuse a meal very often....I pray she just sleeps ..I have water with tuna juicer and just plain water...but she isn't interested at the moment...

Nance said:

Power is flickering...so I might lose power...but the plan is for now to wait to see my vet....and try and keep her comfy...I'm 46 yrs old and have dealt with alot of sick animals  throught my life but it never get easier..

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No it doesn't.  Unfortunately, we have all been there.  I think your plan is wise.  It would be very stressful for both of you to go to the emergency vet, especially right now with your weather.  Maybe that was what was making her anxious? In any event, try , as hard as it is, to remain as calm as possible.  Settle in for a long night,  I've spent more than my share of nights sprawled out on the bathroom floor with a sick or dying kitty, and it doesn't ever get any easier.  Good luck

I agree with gooned about the weather, and since she is vomiting she's right about the food.

Gooned, I just noticed you are from N.O. I used to live there! 

Cool

Well Lucky had an ok night ...she vomited one other time ...but very little...she slept most of the night...She is refusing her breakfast but she is drinking...and wandering around...Another problem she  has is she wanders around meowing...someone told me thats feline dementia...and her eye sight isn't the best...Poor old girl....

I'm sure her time is getting near...My last 2 cats I think I waited to long b4 I let them go..and have always felt guilty..Its just so difficult for me to know when its the right time...Until last night she seems to be managing and doing relatively fine...I will take her back to the vets today...not really sure there is much more that can be done for her...she is on special food...I haven't had to do sub Q often cause she does drink so so much...But she might have gotten dehyrated last night ?

Nancy

Thinking of you and your little friend.  I know how indecision can wear on you.

They say "better a day too soon than a day too late" when making the decision.  I have found that to be true for me.

God bless.

I'm glad you both got through the evening. I can tell how much you care for your girl. I have an old girl that meowed in the middle of the night which turned out to be a bad tooth which must have been causing her pain. It's amazing how well cats can mask pain - a defense mechanism from living in the wild. 

Try not to second guess and beat yourself up over your lost babies. I'm sure they had a wondeful life with you. After losing my girl 3 months ago, I found this written by someone who also lost their baby. It still brings tears to my eyes still but makes me smile at the same. I hope it is appropriate to post...

"I still have peace, but peace does not have a cold nose, a pink tongue, whiskers or a warm purr.  Peace does not use the litterbox, hurl hairballs or wake me at two in the morning because it got lonely and wanted to crawl under the covers.  The sure knowledge that I did the best I could does not demand fresh running water in the bathtub, lose its toys under the living room couch or chase moths.  And even that wonderful sense of love I knew after my kitty-cat crossed, does not meow when I come home late or interrupt me at the computer with a warm paw on my leg, asking for a lap and a cuddle.  And though a fresh new set of paws will one day walk into my heart, the here-and-now, day-to-day presence of a creature who knew me better than I know myself, loved me better than I love myself (and let me know that on a regular basis, conceited little creature that he was), is gone.  Peace is a wonderful thing, but it doesn't wear fur.

And when I miss that fur so much, when the grief swells and threatens to consume me, the memory of my bond with my fur-person grounds me.  It tells me to look forward and celebrate the joy that bounded into my life so many years ago; to pause and ground myself, let the love that was there surface and know that the love is still there.  It's lonelier on this side, but if I ride out the grief I come full circle back to the peace.  It doesn't wear fur and it doesn't stop tears, but it does bring the memory of love and changes the tears from those of desperate sorrow to those of healing and of hope."

Good luck at the Vet

I'm so relieved she had a comfortable evening and got sleep.  Let us know what the vet advises. 

Personally, I am not one to jump the gun on euthanasia (unless, of course, she is truly suffering and there is no longer any glimmer of hope).  Your cat will let you know, and when it's time to make that decision your love for your pet will give you the courage you need to make the right choice.  If there is no real suffering, there is nothing wrong with letting them go naturally. 

My Toby took his last breath in my arms.  The vet was scheduled to come up to do a home euthansia after they closed for the day at noon on a Saturday.   He died at 11:55 am.  17 days prior, my cat was fine and on a Saturday night (of course), his breathing was off and he was panting.  When he was seen by the vet, they did an x-ray and found fluid in the area around his lungs,  I was told they would need to do a tap, which he probably wouldn't survive, or to have him euthanized.  That was one of the more difficult decisions I've ever been faced with.  He survived getting his lungs tapped, but the vet didn't think he was going to make it through the night.  The fluid they extracted was suspicious for lymphoma. I brought him home and settled him into the bathroom, and do you know, he started eating and even gave me a head butt.  We made it through that night and he made a remarkable comeback.  I thought it was a miracle, but on the night before he died, I noticed his third eyelids had prolapsed and he didn't have enough energy to make it to the litter box.  It was then that I knew it was time.  Those last 17 days were some of the most memorable, bittersweet memories I will cherish forever. 

All these stories make me cry...I've been here dealing with an old cat way to often and I struggle each and everytime..She ate and drank and has kept it all down for 4 plus hrs now...the vets called to see how her night was....I had asked what they would do if I brought her in again....they said  they would like to do blood work again...I honestly feel there is no point..cause treatment would just be sub Q...like the last time..Anyways her appointment is for 4 today...I'll let u know...thanks for being there for me...its comforting to know u can come on here any times of the  day and someone will always answer ..I love this site...

Nancy