Tired Old Cat

Mist is 18 years old. We've had her ever since she was a kitten. She's napping most of the day, 20 hours or more. There's a box next to my computer with a cushion in it that she really likes. She also seems to like to nap on the corrugated cardboard scratching box on the floor.

She eats reasonably well - half a can of Fancy Feast Classic turkey and giblets or tender beef feast, 4 times a day, topped with a crumbled freeze dried chicken cube. Drinks water. Uses her litter box with no problem.

If we're not awake in a timely enough manner in the morning she comes upstairs. Uses the little step-stool to get up on the bed and purr at us. Comes downstairs by herself too. But she's no longer going upstairs to nap on a chair as she used to do.

She had a dental about a month ago - her teeth were really brown with plaque and her breath smelled very bad. She came home just fine. And hungry.

A few days ago I noticed that she's now missing an upper canine. I'm sure that if it had been extracted at her dental the vet would have told me. Maybe the plaque was holding it in (that's a joke.) And some mornings she has little brown gunky stuff in the corner of her eyes.

I don't think there's anything wrong. I think she's just a tired old lady. Her weight is good, her coat is fine, her eyes are bright.

But 18 years is a good long life and I don't know how much more time we'll have together. I'm sad. And know that TCS is the best place to come for commiseration, now. And later.

I know it's hard when you know that their time is growing short.  It sounds like she is doing really well for an elderly lady and you have taken very good care of her.  I know it's easier said then done but try to enjoy her rather than thinking about when her time here is done.

When i knew my beloved max was growing old and tired i used to worry when will that dreaded day be?this worrying went on for a year (he was 19 when he went to sleep) but my advice to you is enjoy your time with mist and dont think about it too much. Time is precious so enjoy :-)

Catapault, your post brought tears to my eyes. I know you treasure every day with your precious girl. Please give her a hug for me.

Brought tears to my eyes too.

How sweet, no dramatic story, no illness to question, just about your longtime friend, watching as she grows old and tired.

We all know it's inevitable to come someday, but will hurt just as much when she's gone.

Knowing she lived a good long healthy life is priceless.  I can only hope to be as lucky with my girls.  

Thank you for all your kind words. Now I'm snuffling.

Changed my avatar from her brother Fog to one of Mist, sweetly curled up and napping. Isn't she pretty though!

Catapault said:

Thank you for all your kind words. Now I'm snuffling.

Changed my avatar from her brother Fog to one of Mist, sweetly curled up and napping. Isn't she pretty though!

Click to expand...

So pretty![emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji] my little dog returned home after a stroke with paralysis, which is pretty much gone now. I did not think I would get him back. I just made adjustments for him. Bought a doggie stroller for when he gets too tired on walks with his brother and I. I bathe him myself before his supervised (by myself) grooming appointment. He needs two straps to hold him up due to arthritis. He gets his meds every day in a microwaved hot dog and loves it. He always liked toast with butter, so I give some to him and his brother every day! I treasure every day with him.[emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128062[/emoji]

Aw, Mist is priceless and to be treasured for every moment.    Our older kitties seem to build a place in our hearts bigger than we could ever imagine of them, for some reason even more so than the cutest of kittens.  I had both my tabbies until shortly before their 18th birthday when the sister who looked and behaved like she was still 3 years old suddenly had to leave this earth.  Her sister had been arthritic and frail from the age of about 10 but she tottered about, making the most or her extra cuddle time and gentle play sessions for another 4 years.  She had various health issues like high blood pressure and for a while was on kidney medication as a result of that, and lost most of her sight but she was a real character and every day was wonderful with her around.  I agree, enjoy every moment of the time you have with Mist, enjoy her company, take pictures of her and pander to her every whim - one of the joys of an older cat is that you don't need to feel guilty in pampering them as it has been well earned.  You may have little time, or you could have even more years than I did so go with the flow and make them as happy as you can.   A couple of elderly sisters I once did a bit of work for had a little cat of 23 who looked and behaved like a kitten and they swore by the rule of TLC.  Tender Loving Care makes for a happy life.

Send Mist your good wishes. She's peeing and pooping fine, just not eating well. Gobbles the first bit then wanders off.

I spoke to the vet hospital yesterday. Picked up 3 syringes of B vitamins. Gave her the first shot last night which should have had her ravenously hungry. Better, but still not finishing her meals.

Called today. Brought her in and they're keeping her for observation and support - that means subQ fluids. Which I can do too.

When we took her in back I closed the door, took off my jacket, fleece vest, flannel shirt, and took off the T-shirt. I wore it yesterday when raking leaves, meant to do so again today. So she has something that smells like me in her cage. I'm to call about 2:30 p.m.

After the sad end to the story of my sister's cat Pandalin I'm perhaps jumpier that usual.

So send my sweet, 18 year 7 month old lovely gray cat all the good wishes and vibes you have available. TIA

Ah, Mist.  I'm going through a similar journey with my 18-1/2 year old Travis.  Almost thought we had lost him last week but he's hanging in there.  He also wanders off from his food, but if I bring him back to the bowl and sit there with him, I can get him to eat more.  He's loving eating Applegate roasted turkey breast, and he's getting subq's every other day now.  It's one day at a time at this stage.

Sending LOTS of vibes that Mist gets back to eating well!!                               

I'll send all my wishes AND my prayers too! Your beautiful Mist just HAS to eat better with all the good thoughts her way. The best of luck and keep us posted on how she is doing!

Putting the cat in front of the food dish and petting at the base of the tail for as long as necessary worked for Cochise and most other cats I've had.

Sending good wishes and vibes.

Its a hard job caring for an old cat.  Mine is 20, a large orange tabby that had a rough life till he came to me.  My son got him from a girl who raised him from a kitten only to decide she wanted a rabbit instead. My son took him because he though Gavin the cat was cool. And he is.  For 8 years, my son loved him up but he has legal issues and ends up in jail a lot. THATS where I came in. the first time it happened, my son called, frantic. Would I take Gavin for a while?  Of course I said yes.  I drove 535 miles to pick him up. Poor Gavin was terrified at the friends house who was caring for him. I had only been with Gavin for a week when I visited my son the previous summer but Gavin remembered me and clung to me. I took him to my house where I live with my daughter and her family and we made Gavin comfortable. It took a

while but he settled in. then a year or so later, Gavin went back with my son until about 2 years ago. AGAIN, son was going to jail and could I come get him

. This is Gavin sleeping with my son.

This time Gavin seemed to know what was going on because he rode in the van like he had been doing it all his life, calm and happy.

BUT now Gavin was much older.  As close as we can figure, he is 20 years old.

AND you can tell. He is somewhat senile, forgetful, in pain from arthritis, enlarged liver, always cold.  

My son and I both dread the day Gavin will go to that Rainbow bridge but for now, he invites me to sit with him, loves the fluffy baby blanket I wrap him in when I hold him, gives lots of forehead bumps and kitty kisses. He eats better when he is warm, takes glucosamin and chondriotin for arthritis(which has been a Godsend) and still enjoys slipping out the door to nap in the flower bed once in a while in the summer.

I know how you feel about those last years. My goal is to make Gavins last days as comfortable as I can.

I feed Mist pate style wet canned food with a crumbled Pure Bites chicken mixed it, half a 3 ounce can 4 times a day. She pees like a turned on faucet - no doubt due to the diabetes-controlled-with-diet issues. Daily she gets potassium gluconate and Cosequin.

I got a couple of cans of Pro-plan kitten food at the vet when I picked up the syringes of B vitamin yesterday. Figured the hight fat etc would be good. Usually that's a good enticement when she's off her feed. Yesterday and today, didn't help.

She comes to her bowl at feeding time, starts eating enthusiastically, then - IDK - quickly becomes satiated and wanders away.

I have been mixing a little warm water with cold-from-the-refrigerator food. Follow her with the bowl when she stops eating before finishing. Give her one or two pieces of kibble as topping, which she loves but should not have - carbs, you know.

There's a box on my desk near the computer, with a chair pad in it for cushioning. When she gets up there to nap I pull the anglepoise lamp over her body and turn it on. Nice and warm. Or, she likes to sleep in a basket under a side table near the wood burning stove (which is operating 24 / 7 these days.) The basket has a bath towel, folded around a basket-sized piece of silver foil foam car windshield sunscreen that reflects her body heat back to her. She isn't coming upstairs any more.

She is a dear, sweet old lady. As much more time we can have together, I'll be grateful.

I remember our older cat, Slate, was always cold and seeking warmth. I used an item called a Bunwarmer which you put in the microwave (folded) & then sit on supposedly at sport events, and it will last for about 8 hours.  Slate loved it, and would stand & wait as I heated it, then get in the chair when it was ready.  The body pressure releases the heat; it does not get uncomfortabley  hot.  I still have both of mine, and they are about 15 years old (the bunwarmer seats, I mean), and, I actually just saw them at Bed Bath & Beyond!  I beleve the ones I just saw were around $10.  Nice for old people, too, sporting event  or not, I can vouch for that!

Actually looked at it and the brand name was Lava Buns. 

Good news! Just called the vet for an update - and she at a can and a half of food for them! They gave subQ fluids too. Come get her! I'm on my way - buty why did she eat for them and not me? Guess she figured it out that if she didn't eat she wouldn't come home.

Great phone call.  I hope you were careful and made sure you get there safe and sound to bring Mist home.  The chair pad and anglepoise and the towel in basket with the little heat reflecting foil cover sound so cozy I'm sure that motivated her to eat and get home quick.   It seems to be quite common that kitties will eat for the vet and not at home.  Must like to make their chosen humans to suffer for them, to make sure they are offered all their favourite morsels for as long as possible.   Bucket loads of positive thoughts for you that she stays strong for you and starts to eat more again.  

So here we are 6 months later and I thought an update is in order. Mist is still a happy cat but going downhill.

She's lost weight in her hindquarters and her hind legs are weak. She wobbles a bit when she walks and if she stops walking she sinks down on her hocks.

May go up a few steps on the staircase but no longer all the way to the top. Eats some of each meal, then naps before perhaps eating the remainder.

Has the most marvelous, loud, rumbling purr. Deaf too, I think. But her eyes are bright and alert. Still pees like a champion.

She's 19 years old now, and just wearing out.

Send good wishes, please, for me and for this sweet old lady cat, that her days be peaceful and pleasant until the end.

I can just see my old Pal tiptoeing along as I read your description of Mist.  Bright and alert eyes sound great to me, I always think a cat's eyes tell you what you need to know.  The loud purr sounds good too LoL.  Pal didn't purr loudly, she just meowed at very high decibels so she could be heard by half the street every day (and night).  I sometimes thought she was deaf but maybe she just liked the attention. 

Sending you and Mist a great big bucket load of postitive wishes that she stays well and keeps enjoying her life with you for many more years to come.  You can give her some extra pampering from me. 

Oh, and have you seen turtbat's lovely thread yet?   http://www.thecatsite.com/t/298103/senior-kitty-love/0_100