Help! Senior cat laboured breathing and no energy

Hi. I hope someone can give me some advice. My almost 20 year old kitty hasn't been well the last few weeks. She's been skinny for years now but she feels so bony and fragile. Usually a friendly lap cat who who would stop at nothing to have a cuddle she is not interested in attention and just lays in my hallway with her back leaning against a door. I took her to the vet just over a week ago, she had an antibiotic shot and and antiinflammatory shot because the vet said she may have a uti. Milly (the cat) seemed to get a little better, she jumped up for cuddles and her appetite was back with a vengeance. The vet said if the shots didn't work to bring her back and they would test for kidney failure. Yesterday she got bad again. She seems so tired and her breathing is heavy. She will eat a little but she mainly just licks her food and goes back to lie down. I picked her up and she felt so frail and I could feel how hard it was for her to breathe. I don't know what to do my vet appointment is not until Monday and all the vets around me are closed (Saturday afternoon). I looked up the animal hospital which is 24 hour and they require upfront payment and I just don't have the amount they charge. I have tried to borrow off my family and no one will help. I will have enough money tomorrow when I get paid but I don't know if I have this time. I am so worried about her, I have had her since I was a child. Can anyone suggest anything at all I am desperate

Oh hun I know how worried and upset you must be feeling now with your baby!

Nothing is worse than the feeling of being helpless now.

At a ripe old age of 20, lucky you!! I can only dream of my precious girls living to be 20, or close anyway.

So you must realize that at some point, likely sooner than later due to age, that their bodies just can't go on. Things will be failing, and the breathing in my opinion makes me think it's the heart causing this. Lack of function means lack of oxygen, causing the heavy breathing.

I honestly don't know of any treatments you can do to help this now. It's beyond the specs of our advice, but you certainly have our support!

Just hope that Monday comes soon, and your kitty holds on for this. Hearts get tired out. Love your baby all you can, while you can.

Sending good positive vibes to you both.

Shortly after posting this, my beautiful kitty suddenly lost use of her back legs. She always loved her food and she was having a good eat when she suddenly started scrambling. It was horrible and she was dragging herself by her front paws. She still finished her food though. A friend came through and I rushed her to the emergency vet. By the time we got there she was in so much pain it was horrible. I can't belive how quickly it happened. She has regular vet checks and has never had any major health problems. The beautiful sassy Milly was put to sleep today. Thankyou for your kind thoughts

I am so sorry for your loss, but happy to hear you two had twenty loving years together. 

Oh, iggy, I am so, so sorry. It's a hell of a deal we make when we fall in love with a beloved pet. We get to love them, and it must end in heartache at some point. I'm glad Milly isn't hurting any longer. Thank God your friend was able to get her there to end her suffering,

I wish words could stop your pain, but only time will help. Please accept everyone's condolences on your loss. [emoji]128549[/emoji]

iggypot said:

Shortly after posting this, my beautiful kitty suddenly lost use of her back legs. She always loved her food and she was having a good eat when she suddenly started scrambling. It was horrible and she was dragging herself by her front paws. She still finished her food though. A friend came through and I rushed her to the emergency vet. By the time we got there she was in so much pain it was horrible. I can't belive how quickly it happened. She has regular vet checks and has never had any major health problems. The beautiful sassy Milly was put to sleep today. Thankyou for your kind thoughts

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I am so sorry for losing her, I hope you can understand that it must have been her time to say so-long. We never want to see our babies suffer of course, you did the right thing by her.

In time the heartache will begin to fade and all the years of fond memories will come to you, but it does take time.

Know that we are here for you.

Thanks everyone. It's so hard losing her I am in a fog. I am thinking about adopting another cat to fill the void but I don't know if I should. Half of me never wants another kitty because it would be too devastating to lose another one. But I felt slightly better when I read your replies so again, thankyou. I will always miss her

The TCS Team extends our condolences on the loss of your sweet girl.  We will lock this thread at this time out of respect for your loss.  Please consider posting a tribute to her memory in our Crossing the Bridge forum:  http://www.thecatsite.com/f/19/crossing-the-bridge