Should I get my cat a feeding tube?

GoHolistic said:

 
I tried to re-read this thread, and I don't think it was mentioned. Has your vet talked to you about using another type of appetite stimulant? I know in your original post you said the Mirtazapine stopped working. There's another one called Cyproheptadine, but it has to given every day (versus every three days with the Mirt).

The A/D has more nutrition than baby food, so that should give her more of the vitamins and minerals she needs.

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 Yeah, I'm really glad that she's getting better food than the baby food...........No, that wasn't mentioned.  I think I'll call my regular vet tomorrow and ask about that - thank you very much.  Never knew about it..............The place I've been going to the past week is the only 24/7 hospital in the area, and they really seem money hungry and wouldn't mention an easy solution like that - they didn't even mention syringe feeding as an option.  But, I was already doing it from my regular vet. 

I hope all goes the way you want it too. I have a 20 year old that I adopted when she was 17. I will have no problem with nature taking its course. But I know she hates to be handled and stresses out just to get her nails cut. We have 6 cats so nail cutting is very frequent around here. I am glad your girl let them care for her. Remember we will see and be with them again over the rainbow bridge.

Thanks!...............Wow - you adopted a 17 year old cat?!?  That's awesome! 

Sure did, and she was not fixed so off to the vet, got a great blood work back and the next day she was fixed. She also came to me with zero teeth. Not a one. But she's happy eats all the time even eats hard food and has a great digestive system. Her name is Momma Pooch. I was told by her former owner she had about 6 litters. Just awful. But it's been great for us now I am sure she doesn't even remember those terrible days.

And here she is, all 5 1/2 lbs of her, Momma Pooch.

Wow - how cute!  I always say why can't we humans be like cats, and look great all our lives! 

Cats can get pregnant at 17 still?

Does anybody know how many times a day I should try to syringe feed her?  The vets said I should give her one can a day (I don't think she'll tolerate that much actually), but it was up to me as to how many times to do it.................If I do it more at one time, it seems like it's too much.  And, then yesterday when I fed her for the umpteenth time, she really protested the last time. 

Too much at once could make her vomit. When I was syringe feeding Sebastian, I could only do 1/8-1/4 can at a time. You may just have to see what works for Phoebe. If she'll tolerate more at one time, you can do less feedings. Do you think she's protesting because the feedings are too frequent?  What schedule are you doing now?

I don't have a schedule.  That's the problem.  I'm taking her to my regular vet in an hour.  Just made an appt, so we'll see what they say. 

When is the last time her kidneys were checked?  Kidney failure can come on slowly or rapidly and one of the main signs is that the animal stops eating.

As the toxins build up, the cat will get ulcers in her stomach/intestines and not want to eat. I would be concerned this is a kidney problem.  Is she on anti-acids or medications for kidney disease?

Here's a photo of my cat, Kato with a feeding tube.  You can see that he's even walking around, almost acting like a normal cat (he was on the upswing when I took this photo). It doesn't bother the cat at all, but it does seem to get itchy as it starts to heal. It is easy do feed the cat and less stressful for them than syringe feeding (although that must depend on the cat, as I've heard stories on this site of cats that don't mind...Kato acted like food was poison every time I brought it near his face).  There is also a risk that they will breathe in the food if you are trying to syringe feed.   I highly recommend the tube and there is a lot of helpful information on the internet about the tubes.  

Basically, you mix special prescription food with water, warm it up slightly, measure it into a syringe and feed 3-4 times a day, based on veterinary directions. The bandages will need to be periodically changed, and you can do this yourself.  The price at my vet was about $300 but he'd had so many tests and we'd coincidentally had two other sick cats recently, that they were giving me various discounts (I'd also only just adopted him when he got very ill...basically, if I hadn't adopted him, he might have died as it was a lot to get him well again). It turned out that he had a deep abscess in his leg that threw off his entire immune system AND he ended up with a bad URI from the shelter.  The combo turned him off food completely.  If I hadn't gotten nutrition in him, he would have died.

She will need light anesthesia and they will cut a tiny incision in the neck.  Stitches will then hold the tube to her neck and it'll be covered in bandages. 

Tube feeding can help prolong your kitties life while you are trying to find out what is wrong.   But, here's the bad thing, and trust me, my heart breaks for you, she's 17 which means she is very elderly.  It's possible that you are going to put her through more than she needs to experience at this part of her life. If she was five years old, I would say 100%, go for it.   Whatever you decide, you'll want to make sure it will be the least stressful, and most comfortable action for your girl.

My thoughts are with you and your little kitty.

It's not the kidneys, Sarah Ann.  They are somewhat weakened, but they said not bad enough to be causing this.

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to put her down tomorrow.  It's obvious now.  I made an appt with my normal vet (as opposed to the 24/7 place I was going to at Christmas), so that I could learn how to do the hydration, because she hasn't been drinking now either.

But, right before I was getting ready to leave with her, she started throwing up blood.  Then, when I got there, there was blood/stool also coming out her backside.  The vet tries to not make your decision for you, but she obviously thought it was time.  I said OK, hydrate her and I'll call you in the morning. 

Coming home, she couldn't even make it across the breezeway and in 18 degree weather, she just laid on the cold concrete.  She's laying in odd places right now.

The only question I have left is would it help her if I syringe fed her one more time tonight (I did hear her dry heaving a little while ago for a short time) or is better for her if I just let her be in peace, and at least she is hydrated?

Jessica - I didn't see your post when I replied above (I was only looking on page one).............Thanks for the great info.  I totally agree with you.  I've been saying it for days - if she was 10 years younger, I'd be going for it all - the biopsies, as well.  But, I'm glad I waited a few days.  Mine was going to cost way more - at least $1200 (I really don't like the way the 24/7 places are so money hungry).  And, my gut feeling was that after spending $2000 just for 48 hours in the hospital, where they couldn't find a 100% diagnosis (though pretty sure it's the lymphoma - only because they can't find anything else).  It just didn't seem financially to be a good decision, as well as what I would put her through when my gut is telling me she's not going to last much longer. 

Kato is gorgeous - I LOVE that color on a cat, and the white paws make it even better! 

I am so sorry.  I would just leave her in peace.

The hospitals are usually very money hungry with no bedside manner.

You do what you think is right for your baby.

If you do decide to release her from this pain, I offer my deepest condolences.

Thanks, Denice - that's what I'm going to do.   I put her in her usual spot next to me at the computer, and I thought she wanted some food, because she started sniffing the old stuff...............But, then when I was in the kitchen getting it ready for the syringe, I heard some noises and she was throwing up blood again.

I'm going to let her be.  At least it's not a hard decision any more.  When she still was acting more like herself, it didn't seem right.  Now, I can see that she's suffering.  I don't think she really was before.

And, thank you, Sue for your condolences. 

So sorry P for the sadness and loneliness you will feel but you gave her the best life and a forever home filled with love and don't feel any regrets or try to second guess yourself on what you shoulda or coulda have done. You will have lots of memories and hopefully lots more cats. Remember the days of health and fun. My Nic is after my Archibald who was born on April 16th and oh what a love affair we had with him. I still miss him and it's over 15 years and 9 cats ago. But when he got sick I promised him I would not let him suffer 1 day. I got 16 wonderful years from him and I still have a little ache in my heart for my Archie Boy.

I'm so sorry that Phoebe worsened and that you'll have to put her down. My thoughts are with you. 

Thank you, all.  I know we've all been though this heartache before...........BlackCat - I think Phoebe is going to be like your Archibald.  I've had cats before, and I'll have them again, but I doubt there will be another one with her personality.  Even cat haters liked her.  She gave non stop affection to anybody who ever walked in the door. 

Oh, and in terms of my original question.  It would have been such a waste of big money and stress on Phoebe to get the feeding tube.  I already spent $2000 for 48 hours in the hospital, and that vet gave me two options.  Put the feeding tube in in the morning or take her home - and if she doesn't eat right away, bring her right back in the morning (and kept saying that that'll be his last day doing procedures for a number of days).  He never mentioned syringe feeding (and I only knew of it from my regular vet) as a third option (and most reasonable one).............And, when I asked if anybody else could put in the tube he reluctantly said Yes, but then you wouldn't have the continuity of care.  (He wasn't there every time any way, so it's a load of bull).

The stuff the vets will do because they know how much we love our pets!