old cat issues

My 16+old cat, Meuzette has some health problems. I thought I would hash over with you guys.

Sure a vet would be better. But since there isn't one in the area that can diagnose... you guys are pretty good. And you seen a lot of cats pass through your doors.

It may have be kitty Alzheimer's, she forgets.

She is deaf. I think her vision is about gone. Her smeller doesn't work. She doesn't know when you put her food down in front of her.

She eats wet food three times a day, I thought she couldn't eat dry with bad teeth and jaw, But I saw her dip into some cheap dry that someone gave me. Be Happy from Purina.

She has diarrhea, that been plaguing her for some time now.

She is thin but old cats do that.

The other ailments didn't bother me until the dry food snacking AND she been like this so long..

Just wondering what does this mean?

Oh yes, her hair doesn't want to grow back after her clipping from this spring.

Vitamin issues?

Oh yes too, her wet food of choice. Fancy Feast, Friskies, Purina ONE.

She doesn't like EVO or anything that has more to it.

Jill.

A senior cat needs a vet check up and blood work. She could be in kidney failure, or developing hyperthyroid disease, both are treatable (not curable) conditions, meaning there are medications and other things that could be done to improve her quality of life.

Canned, as you know, is better than dry, I would encourage her to eat more canned a rather than adding dry to her diet. Warm it up slightly to help her smell it better. Do this by running hot water over the dish, and leave a teaspoon or so of hot water in the dish. Mix the canned food into the hot water, stir it around, so the food is warmed up by the hot water.

Feed smaller meals more often. Senior cats don't have as big an appetite, so they do better with six small meals a day, rather than 3 bigger ones. This also gives the opportunity to get even more water into her.

It sounds like her body is gradually shutting down, as happens in old age. If she is comfortable, I myself wouldnt worry. Its when she becomes uncomfortable that I would take her to see the vet. Then a choice needs to be made. I myself do not believe in treating an older cat as their system shuts down. Preventing a cats death for my own satisfation/feelings is not right in my opinion. Good vibrations coming your way!

ilovemia said:

It sounds like her body is gradually shutting down, as happens in old age. If she is comfortable, I myself wouldnt worry. Its when she becomes uncomfortable that I would take her to see the vet. Then a choice needs to be made. I myself do not believe in treating an older cat as their system shuts down. Preventing a cats death for my own satisfation/feelings is not right in my opinion. Good vibrations coming your way!

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There are many ways to improve a cat's quality of life, it is not a selfish act.

While I understand you are just voicing your own opinion, I feel compelled to disagree. It's not about "personal satisfaction" or selfishness, it is about providing your life long companion with the level of health care and quality of life she deserves. Cats who act "fine" as their "systems shut down" are almost always in considerable discomfort. Cats hide pain and illness. When their "systems shut down" as you put it, they do not feel good.

Kidney disease for example may not hurt, but the cat doesn't feel good. It can take quite some time for a cat to die of this disease, and all the time she is dying, she doesn't feel good. Why would you want to put a cat you love through that, when there are things that can be done to help her enjoy her life? The same with many other diseases. There is no need to let a cat suffer a long drawn out death.

That is why we have vets, to prevent suffering in our pets and improve quality of life.

otto said:

There are many ways to improve a cat's quality of life, it is not a selfish act.
While I understand you are just voicing your own opinion, I feel compelled to disagree. It's not about "personal satisfaction" or selfishness, it is about providing your life long companion with the level of health care and quality of life she deserves. Cats who act "fine" as their "systems shut down" are almost always in considerable discomfort. Cats hide pain and illness. When their "systems shut down" as you put it, they do not feel good.
Kidney disease for example may not hurt, but the cat doesn't feel good. It can take quite some time for a cat to die of this disease, and all the time she is dying, she doesn't feel good. Why would you want to put a cat you love through that, when there are things that can be done to help her enjoy her life? The same with many other diseases. There is no need to let a cat suffer a long drawn out death.
That is why we have vets, to prevent suffering in our pets and improve quality of life.

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Sometimes, in my opinion, we do to much for our cats beyond just helping them be comfortable and put them through to much in doing so.  I believe in comfortable, definately, but beyond that at this age is not good in mho.

Jill, is she drinking more water than usual?  That is a very typical sign of kidney issues or diabetes.  Does she appear to have problems with arthritis (can she still jump up on the couch, counters, etc?), or is her main issue eating and the diarrhea?  Have you ever tried giving her a Pro-biotic?  You can get those at a health food store, or order on-line.  It's not a bad idea to give them to all your cats anyway, and they really help the digestive tract.  If she appears to have trouble jumping these days, you can give her Cosequin, also available on the internet, which helps many cats with joint pain, and it can be sprinkled on their food, or mixed in a little water and stirred into their food. 

My 16 year old guy was skin and bones toward the end, but he suffered from kidney disease.  I fed him anything he would eat, including freeze dried 100% pure chicken.  That was not nutritionally complete, but at least it got some calories in him.  Sometimes his meal would consists of only Temptations treats (the ones with vitamins added) because that was all he wanted at certain times.  My point is, she needs to eat, so anything is better than nothing. 

BTW, NONE of my cats will touch EVO canned with a ten foot pole.  Wellness either.  But they used to like Soulistic (only sold at Petco) and Weruva (have to buy that online) until we converted to raw food. 

Oh thank you everyone for your fine comments.

All of you were very helpful.

She been shutting down(if that is what it is) over a year.

She has a heating pad to help warm her, since her coat is next to nothing. its not dry just not long. She is a long hair cat

Skinny girl. mostly bones with shrinking innards

She eats and jumps all fine as much as a fragile cat can

I tried to better her food from raw to what ever wet food she wishes.

I have other cats here, so there is dry out for those suborn souls who won't eat canned. Yes there are a few junk food junkies here.

Hard to see them shrinking isn't it?

Maybe some oil of some kind?....

She looks like a dead cat walking, scary. I just was wondering if I was doing everything I could.

Jill.

Only a vet can give you answers.  She sounds like a dear old gal.  There are things that can be done to make her more comfortable.

I hope you take her to the vet.