Anemia-can my vet do anything for anemia?

Good luck at the vet. You'll do just fine.

I chickened out with the blood test. Really nice tech but ChAlupa was so nervous more than usual probably because of blood test last week. And when she jumped when I went to stick her that did it for me. I figure it will be less traumatic if Someone who knows how to do it does it because she doesn't jump with them. After that I couldn't stop my heart from racing. But did take injections home so maybe I will try to do it next week..myself when we are both not so jumpy. Maybe not. The tech did say that I don't have to worry about air bubbles because it's just in the skin and that's my biggest fear. So maybe next time.

You learned a lot about injections and how to give one. That's good information and knowledge to have at your disposal. An injection hurts, but it's over in a flash. Your cat will get used to having injections. When you are ready ...

Hi

How is Chulpa doing? Hopefully you are more comfortable with the injections? Do you think you can do them now?

I have read some of your threads about your cat. I am so sorry she has had such a time. I know it is stressful to you. She is blessed to have someone who loves her so much and is taking such good care of her.

@rubydoo67 I'm really sad about Tiger. In a way I know how you feel because twice now I felt was about to lose Chalupa and it was total despair is all I can say.Sure did make me realize how nasty this cancer is and it just takes a matter of days. Got really worried too because my vet went out of town for ten days same time read your post And just had a horrible feeling things were going to go wrong sooner rather than later. Vet wrote that she needs to come in for iron injection in two weeks and just thought can she even make it that long? Have this weird thing About our vet now like she's the only one that can help, know it's not true but she's the only one who has been thru everything with us and she's also a supercool person so at least that makes this whole thing a little easier. We haven't exactly been lucky this year so figured everything will go wrong, whatever worst fears ate. Haven't done the b12 injection yet, supposed to do it tomorrow, I've watched YouTube videos, might postpone to weekend. Someone told me it's really hard for the parent to give the shot, that usually it's easier to ask someone else. But we are going to try. Chalupa is still going, plays sometimes, other times I worry she gets uncomfortable I think before bowel movement . She has been eating at least almost one can a day , looking skinny probably losing weight every week. Will try to keep posted. Again I'm really sad about Tiger just don't know what to say, I definitely can relate though, can't even imagine the day I have to let Chalupa go, trying not to think about it.

@Rubydoo67  also wanted to add my cat has also been finding different kind of awkward places to sleep or sit sometimes looking uncomfortable, but then she will start running or something and it's just confusing.

@blueeyedgirl5946   thank you for reading my posts, know it must not have been easy, writing is definitely not my thing, I really appreciate your kind words.

Thanks for thinking of Tiger. I'm so sad and miss her terribly. She did go fast but she pretty much followed the path the internist told us and that a lot of the cats seem to take. She was just very unlucky and I really don't know how long she was "sick" before I even noticed it. I tell myself it wouldnt have mattered since she was terminal regardless but still.......

The fact that Chulpa is still eating is a good sign as is the playing. Tiger had perked up after starting the prednisone but then took a dive. I really think the lack of nutrition hastened her demise, she just stopped eating no matter what I tried. I didn't syringe feed her as it wouldn't have changed her outcome. She wasn't going to get better, even if pumped with nutrients

I think it was 2 days before she was gone I was worried because she slept in the same spot almost all day, barely lifted her head. She seemed better the next day but......she also started licking the side of our house when I let her out. Her anemia had probably gotten worse but her gums and nose were still pinkish. My vet told me that was the least of my concerns considering her illness.

You really can only take it one day at a time. Making sure Chulpa is pain-free is the priority. If she is still eating, playing that is good. At the end Tiger had stopped all of that, didn't want to be held or touched, had problems walking and sought out a place to pass on. The change was obvious so I knew.

Hang in there. Chulpa is getting great care from you!

Hi Chulupa

Haven't sen you around. I hope everything is okay??

Hi @rubydoo67 thanx for asking about Chalupa sorry haven't updated.
Chalupa is ok lately though a little hyper and feisty which is a nice change she has been outside a lot enjoying the warm weather and I really do think it makes her feel better.
Tying to play with her get or make her new toys and give her new foods to keep her interested in everything.
Interesting about Tiger licking the side of the house, chalupa licks the concrete outside. But she doesn't do it as much as she was maybe b injections or eating more helped.
Injections at home didn't go well. I tried for a couple of days repeatedly poking her but never getting enough time or confidence to push the b12 in her so yesterday I gave up and brought her to vet tech and they had me do it and it was awful they had to hold her she hissed and spit when I did it. I'm thinking no way I would have thought this reAction was ok at home . YouTube instructional injecting cats videos made it look way easier and the cat never jumps away. I even prActiced on a grapefruit beforehand. It was actually worse than I imagined kind of thought it would be the other way around because I was do worried About it.
Next time it's the vets doing injections. I'm embarrassed I can't do it but feel I need help with someone with experience there really I have no confidence and with me chalupa has too much confidence. I feel like such a loser,
Was wondering how @cocheezie cat is doing.
How are you doing @rubydoo67 ? How's the other pets and you handling life without Tiger?

some days we go through 5 cans of food until she finds one she wants and then just nibbles, yesterday ate maybe only 3/4 fancy feast can, today doesn't want anything so force fed a little baby food with cat vitamins probiotics and water, and gave her the only thing she will eat, greenies treats, won't even touch dry food. Poops changed too now that look like goat or sheep poop bunch of little balls.

Hi @chalupa   I know you said you watched youtube videos on how to do the B12 injections..

Just go by what the vet's place taught you, and visualize each step beforehand .(or just write it down in numbered form).

I was thinking that you could always try to "surprise" your cat Chalupa, by getting all the stuff ready beforehand, and then just sitting down with her, like on the couch, while watching t.v......and trying for a real fast or sneaky injection....maybe she would not even notice it, if you were petting her at the time.

Other way would be to wrap her in a towel, if she tries to escape on the couch or floor. (the key to do anything with a cat is to act "super calm" yourself....kind of like taking deep breaths, and thinking you are just petting her, or brushing her.)

I wonder if Chalupa is getting dehydrated if her poops are changing.  Ask the vet about hydrating fluids and painkillers.

( I wish that all three of you guys, you, cocheezie and Rubydoo67 did not have to go through this painful chapter in life, but you all are awesome owners.)

stay strong, cat friend.  

Thanx a lot catnap it is very nice to read from you was wondering about you and thinking how nice you are wish I knew more people like you in real life besides only internet but in chicago people just aren't that friendly and cat people only seem to like cats not people, not that I blame them. I will try next time but honestly I'm going to get intramuscular iron injection for her this weekend so will probably let them do the b12 felt really discouraged this week and since it's not a daily life or death thing I'm having trouble seeing the point of freaking chalupa out at home where she is supposed to feel safe. But the week after if she still lives I'm on my own so I will try to closely follow your instructions. When we went to the vet the tech said how long is she supposed to keep getting these injections and I said well she's only supposed to live for another month so we can handle it if it makes her feel better, it's worth the trouble. It was fun last night watching chalupa jump around and chase a moth outside and then she ate it, maybe that's why she had a bad day.
Don't think she is dehydrated yet at all neither did tech. She gets water from food or syringe. She does have a tumor in her intestine and her food has to alternated constantly so I'm guessing both of these things could effect poop. Pain killers I do have but was reading side effect could be constipation and that is what I am trying to avoid most besides her death.
How's your Floppy and Spotty?

I'm so glad to hear Chulpa is playing and eating! Such good news. If giving the injections yourself isn't your thing, I would worry about it and beat yourself up over it. It is what it is... . For lack of a better sounding phrase!

Why did they say she only had a month to live? I am curious on that

My other cats are pretty weird without Tiger. She was the dominant female. The one male cat has started sleeping in Tigers bed, which he has never ever done. In fact, , he's never slept in a bed and actually, Tiger hadn't slept in it for ages. Strange. My little tailless, small boy kitty has become quite more vocal at feeding time and also now wants to lay on the bed with me and my daughter He's definitely showing more personality. We also have one yet to be altered stray female who seems sorta lost, she's still a kitten. Our other female cat seems ecstatic Tiger is gone, those two disliked each other a lot!

Unfortunately, this morning I smelled poo in the kitchen. Lo and behold,in believe it is the kitten who pooed right next to her food dish! My hubby than found more later in another part of the kitchen. I have never seen any animal poo near its food dish on purpose before. I hope this isn't the start of another bad road.

@rubydoo67 It's really good you still have a house full of felines I wonder if the one cat is missing Tiger and hopes she comes back to kick his butt out of her bed. Understand the one that doesn't miss Tiger too.
Once had roommates with three other cats that hated each other, two kind of sided against one. The one that was alone used to on purpose pee in the water bowl that their owners left for all 3. I used to leave multiple water bowls around at the annoyance if my roommates for the cats because this cat kept doing it. They also had only one litter box they didn't like cleaning which was rediculous, so I used to clean it out because they wouldn't, felt too bad for the cats. Maybe a cat is being territorial or had poop stuck when you were not around which has happened to Chalupa multiple times, never surprised to see more than one poop outside of the box and a streak or two because I've seen it happening and it's pretty awful to watch. Not that I really have a clue, there are many more experts on this site who have way more experience, only had one cat.
About the injections, was thinking, or imagining what Chalupa might think and say about the situation. In my fantasy she would say to me: you don't know what you're doing, it's too slow, long, and drawn out and I need to feel safe at home, leave the shots to the professionals, they know how to do it so I don't notice. -but that's my fantasy, maybe not really Chalupas.
My next problem is how to give her vitamin c, she hates the taste and won't tolerate it on her food, when I shoot it in her mouth she dry heaves even if mixed with baby food. Someone was telling me about a super concentrated form but can't get an answer from them what it's called.
You really had your hands full with a kitten and Tiger being sick!

@cat nap Cocheezie is doing great. Still no bad days except for a couple of hours one morning that was my fault. Thank you for asking.

@chalupa  did you try mixing the vitamin c powder with a bit of salmon juice?

@cocheezie   yes did try salmon juice actually, totally ruined it for her with c, she knows, a very difficult cat, too easily dissuaded from eating or drinking. going to have to buy concentrated vitamin c, someone at pet store recommended   or this one     Really was hoping could just give her buffered c, but this makes things very difficult during work week, just don't want this cat vomiting, c seems to make her feel like throwing up, thanks.

Really happy to read your cat is doing well, hope keeps eating and sticks around for a long time.

Hi @chalupa..How is your cat Chalupa doing these days?

I am so sorry, didn't know Chalupa has only about a month to go.  Hoped it was longer and that the injections are helping with comfort and energy.  You are right about the painkillers,  they may cause her constipation, and spaciness.

I agree with Rubydoo67...if the injections are causing too much stress, then having them done at the clinic is better.

  Cat people, love cats because no matter what....a cat will always give companionship, not argue with you, wait for you, and just enjoy hanging out....and this is only start of the list.  (we, as cat owners, all know that)  Find it sad that more people don't want to know this type of bond.

thank you for that nice compliment. In real life (IRL),  I am not that nice or thoughtful....I don't call people back, and only do so in my own time..  I think that is why I like the internet...it gives me the freedom of doing things in my own timeframe and choosing where to go.

Another member on TCS named MServant gave me kind advice by saying that sometimes we "get prepared to be separated"or "parted", (paraphrased).  I found that to be comforting and lucky for me, too, because I had extra time with my rainbow Sparky, and thanked the vet for that.  It was only an extra week, but still something.   Its as though our cats seem to muster enough energy, to fight and maintain their lives, until they can no longer do it.
We learn a lot from them.

Still going to send you good vibes to Chalupa and you.    

Hi @cat nap  Hope all is well, really appreciate your message, I'm same as you in the real, work with the public over the years, made me a little avoidant of people really because I've seen how mean they get. I won't even really talk to vet or see my vet in person anymore, find it's easier to communicate and get better quality response and attention when she actually has time to write me back in email. Don't want to bother her either, she has too many lives to save!

Just took the Chalupa to the vet for fluids, b12 and iron dextran injections. Hope helps make her feel better she's been having a bad week, really was hoping she would be feeling better this weekend so she could enjoy hanging outside, but she just lays there, or hides, not eating, been syringe feeding her, finally ate some of a new dry food sample bag yesterday. Gave her miralax for the first time beforehand with syringe and baby food luckily, because not sure how her body is going to handle the dry. Last bm looked really dry few days ago. She also seemed to be having acid reflux so been giving her Pepcid ac too, because when she doesn't eat she vomits, and think it's stomach acid.

whatever was happening Chalupa has now just had a very huge bowel movement which did not look dry, and was quick and not dramatic. Thankful to the miralax yesterday which I'm guessing helped this bm. Think she feels better now, though can't be sure.

Want to share with you what just shared with cocheesie about our adventure today to the vet.

While waiting for bus just now this cute little elderly woman got off her bike and asked me if there was a cat in my box. She then told me about how her cat died recently and it was her only cat she had for 15 years, died in her arms, said the cat lived to 18 years old and she got her at a shelter. She told me she has so many memories and it has been very hard without her. Funny thing is thought she was waiting for my bus too, but when it came she got on her bike and rode away. Thought did I just imagine this?