Cat is dying

sharonazar

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I do animal rescue here in Bklyn, NY, mostly dogs. 6 months ago a friend called; her mother was taken to a senior home and could not take her senior 12 year old cat, Miss Sunday. She asked for help in placing MIss Sunday. I took the case and found a wonderful home with my friend, a journalist who travels a lot. I promised to care for Miss Sunday when she was on assignment. All went well until a few weeks ago when Miss Sunday began losing weight and not eating. Vet was consulted. Maybe cancer. Miss Sunday was hydrated and seemed better but then continued to get worse (vomiting, not eating, not drinking, losing more weight). Prednisone was recommended I have Miss Sunday in my apt. now, mostly skin and bones;  and she's hiding in a corner. I've provided her with a comfortable, warm environment and have tried every kind of food. All refused. She fights with all her might (not much) to refuse the prednisone. I sit with her and pet her gently. It seems to bring her to the vet yet again would be disruptive and painful. This is a photo of her on my friend's bed when she was doing well. . .  
 

2Cats4everLoved

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I'm so sorry Miss Sunday lost her original home.  It's never easy for a cat.  I've dealt with many kitties who have lost their original home due to death of the owner.

Did the vet do blood work, how did they come to the conclusion of possible cancer?

I know some of the cat's I've taken care of who lost their original home have gotten depressed at first and stopped eating until they felt comfortable.  If her new owner is a journalist and always out on assignment, perhaps she needs to be in a home where someone is home on a more regular basis.  I find and please know this is based on my personal experience, that cat's and the elderly create a certain bond, and there is a certain rhythm to their schedule and they most often need someone of the same pace.

Miss Sunday is very sweet, she looks small to begin with.  Can you boil chicken and blend it?  Baby food, gerber chicken, ham, etc.  the Gerber with no other ingredients...  

Please keep us updated.

I'm sure other members will chime in with tips for you.

I wish you both the best.  She's very sweet.
 
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sharonazar

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thank you so much for your sensitive and intelligent reply! Yes, blood was taken, but nothing alarming was found. Vet wanted to do some very invasive testing which we thought would be traumatic for Miss Sunday along with the extraordinary expense (this is New York after all!)...So we figured, let's just assume she has cancer and proceed accordingly...This morning she actually took a few small bites of some salmon...I know, fish is poison for cats...but she refused everything..cooked chicken, broth, top quality cat food, raw meat..everything..so you're right she needs a home where she can rely on a 'rhythm'..I find this with dogs as well...So if she survives, I will ask Rosie if she is comfortable with me keeping Miss Sunday since I'm retired and mostly at home. 
 

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First, I am so sorry she is going through this. I just put down my senior rescue after months of tests and trying to figure out why she was vomiting.  Ultimately, we were told she is no longer able to digest any food after we attempted multiple diet changes and due to that, she was literally starving to death.  We put her down Wednesday morning.  She was a good girl and I miss her meowing and sleeping on my feet. 
 
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sharonazar

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I am so very sorry you had to say goodbye to her.. I have been through this many times over the 30 years in rescue and it helps me to think of the last moment as 'putting her/him up" instead of "down"..and then your loved one becomes part of the stars and forever in your heart/memory. 

I just visited Miss Sunday in her safe corner and amazingly she ate two little bites of the salmon I left for her! (I know salmon or any fish is poison for cats, but at this point, any port in a storm!)..and I spent quite some time petting and speaking to her gently. She actually was purring! I know, purring can mean she's trying to heal, but still, yesterday she was so weak and her fur was dry and cold. Today it is warm and a little more 'lively'...Still she may be leaving us, but this was a moment of hope.
 

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at this point we want them to eat whatever they will eat. some people take a can of light tune-not white tuna-not stinky enough-and mix it in a quart of water-shake it up good-and we give them what we call tuna water...this will help hydrate.

babyfood is a good alternative.

what meds are you giving in addition to pred?

some people find food in the belly works before giving pred.

Pepcid before eating could help. sometimes stomach aches make them feel lousy. do you have subfluids at home?

sub fluids may help get them eating. Cerenia/Zofran is a good antinausa med. dehydrated cats won't eat.

at this point whatever Miss Sunday will eat is what you should feed her. As I am sure you know all about liver involvement with too many days without eating..keep us posted.
 

2Cats4everLoved

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thank you so much for your sensitive and intelligent reply! Yes, blood was taken, but nothing alarming was found. Vet wanted to do some very invasive testing which we thought would be traumatic for Miss Sunday along with the extraordinary expense (this is New York after all!)...So we figured, let's just assume she has cancer and proceed accordingly...This morning she actually took a few small bites of some salmon...I know, fish is poison for cats...but she refused everything..cooked chicken, broth, top quality cat food, raw meat..everything..so you're right she needs a home where she can rely on a 'rhythm'..I find this with dogs as well...So if she survives, I will ask Rosie if she is comfortable with me keeping Miss Sunday since I'm retired and mostly at home. 
Are you married to your vet?  I was recommended a vet a while ago by another member, unfortunately at that time it was for cremation for my sweet boy, but from the research I did, and after calling them, this place only specializes in cats and they are located on the upper west side.  It may be worth a call.

I will send you the information via PM if and when you need it. 

I'm in Queens BTW, so if you need any suggestions please let me know.  I'd be more than happy to lend a hand.
 

2Cats4everLoved

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That's great, I'm glad she ate something.

Perhaps a nice quiet Saturday for Miss Sunday is what's needed.  Knowing you're nearby ready to love her and keep her safe will bring her out of her shell.  Sounds like she's been through a lot, poor gal.  You too try not to worry too much, as she may pick up on your emotions.  I wish you both the best, and please take care of yourself as well.

We're here for you.

Warmest regards, Hope & my gal Chestnut.
 
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sharonazar

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Well, Dr. Kuhlman is a great vet and I think I will take Miss Sunday to him on Monday, but I would love to know what vet you are recommending on the upper west side of Manhattan. Thank you for your offer of suggestions. I am open and grateful to have this community...
 

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Well, Dr. Kuhlman is a great vet and I think I will take Miss Sunday to him on Monday, but I would love to know what vet you are recommending on the upper west side of Manhattan. Thank you for your offer of suggestions. I am open and grateful to have this community...
It sounds to me that she has IBD, not cancer.

Of course it needs to be controlled but does not mean she will die, unless of course from starvation.

If you have a good relationship with the vet, talk with him about it, IBD is super common these days and is on the rise, and this is how it shows.

You can stop all of her current foods and treats, nothing what-so-ever except turkey baby food for a few days, add a bit of water and warm it. She will likely eat it fine, and if not, syringe her stubborn little butt, since of course, cats MUST get at least 50% of their normal caloric intake to not go in to fatty liver failure.

The baby food only will allow her system to settle down and stop reacting to whatever the ingredient is she is now reacting to.

Then once she is stable on this, start adding in some canned fancy feast turkey classic pate food, eventually adding blue buffalo limited ingredient dry food for any grazing she might do.

She should probably get the pred as well continued.

Just to add and repeat, nothing else besides this strict and limited ingredient diet so she will not have flare ups regularly, they are nothing nice and are painful for poor kitty.
 
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2Cats4everLoved

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Agreed, if you trust your vet, and that's a huge deal, I would stick with your current vet, but I will send you the other info for emergency purposes.  

I need to look for the info and will send it via PM.

I hope Miss Sunday feels better soon.  Best to you both.  Please keep up updated on the sweet angel.
 

whatsonemore

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Poor Miss Sunday!  She's been through so much change recently in homes and with vet visits, maybe all the change has thrown her system off.  I agree though, feed her whatever you have to to get her to eat.  Once she's settled in a bit more and relaxed, you can worry more about it.  My cats also like sardines in water for a nice change

Just food for thought, not sure what Miss Kitty's diet was before she came to your friend or you, but dietary changes, as you know from dogs, are hard on animals.  Every single cat and dog I've taken in over the years, and there have been many, has had gastrointestinal upset in the beginning.  One cat in particular had almost liquid diarrhea for nearly three months as I researched causes, tried every possible food option I could think of or found online, and even a vet visit for tests.  We tried slippery elm, pumpkin, pumpkin with lean turkey, etc, etc., etc.  Finally, I found that if it was a protein allergy, he needed to be completely off chicken of any kind, which turkey is along the same lines, for his gut to heal.  I ended up switching my cat to a new protein, rabbit, with absolutely no chicken of any kind at all in it.  Within a few days, he was fine and now has rabbit in rotation, along with chicken and has had no problems.  That was almost three years ago.  The brand name is Nature's Logic, if you are interested in trying it, and they do send free samples.  Twelve years is a long time to eat dry food only and/or chicken only based food.  It's also sometimes challenging getting dry food fed cats to switch easily to wet food.

Please keep us updated and I agree, Miss Kitty is used to having someone around all the time and that sounds better suited to your lifestyle.  I hope it works out for both of you and soon.
 

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Poor girl.  This really resonates with me, my old girl is 18, not much more than skin and bones, and she's black and resembles Miss Sunday.  My old girl is hyperthyroid and she had two bad teeth which inhibited her ability to eat and then the hyperthyroidism thwarted gain weight no matter what soft food we tried.  You say blood work was done and hyperthyroidism, I would expect, would be one of the first things to check for.  But what about her teeth?

Now the teeth are taken care of my girl gets transdermal ear gel for her hypothyroidism.  Still, she cannot eat more than a little bit of food at a time, and is more likely to eat if a can is freshly opened.  Lucky I have other cats to finish off the cans.  I have just tried giving her kitten food in hopes it might help her gain a bit of weight.  I've just started than so no reports on that yet but maybe there are some ideas here you can try?  Good luck.  Poor little girl.
 
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sharonazar

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thank you all!! I am so grateful to have this community..it can feel so lonely when so few truly understand...
 
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sharonazar

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thank you!! she is refusing everything today..but seems to like being talked to and petted...I will keep trying.
 

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thank you!! she is refusing everything today..but seems to like being talked to and petted...I will keep trying.
Trick for you is to stay calm and just know tomorrow is a new day to start fresh.  My sweet boy was terminal and gave me a ride, just when I thought he was going to leave us, he'd end up with a burst of energy.

We are all here for you.  Get some rest...

Keep us posted.    Sweet dreams to you and Miss Sunday.
 
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sharonazar

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well, at least your girl is eating, albeit tiny amounts. this is a blessing. I spent most of the day trying to interest Miss Sunday in all different kinds of food. No luck. Now she feels cold, although she does move her head when I come to her corner. Maybe I'll have to take her to an emergency vet rather than wait for my vet on Monday...I did some research on line and found out how dangerous second hand smoke is for cats. The woman who adopted Miss Sunday is a heavy smoker so perhaps she developed something while living there. . Here's the article:  Is Secondhand Smoke Killing Your Cat?
 

2Cats4everLoved

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There is the BluePearl Vet emergency open 24 hours on 15th street, just in off of 5th ave.  I know people who have gone there.  I don't think they are cheap but you can call them and get more info.

What if you blended the chicken or more fish.  Tuna juice on blended cat food???  She may have developed an illness from the smoking, as you said.

Oh poor Miss Sunday....

Keep us posted.  I'll be thinking of you both.
 

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well, at least your girl is eating, albeit tiny amounts. this is a blessing. I spent most of the day trying to interest Miss Sunday in all different kinds of food. No luck. Now she feels cold, although she does move her head when I come to her corner. Maybe I'll have to take her to an emergency vet rather than wait for my vet on Monday...I did some research on line and found out how dangerous second hand smoke is for cats. The woman who adopted Miss Sunday is a heavy smoker so perhaps she developed something while living there. . Here's the article:  Is Secondhand Smoke Killing Your Cat?
You know, rather than get tests done at the e.vet you could go and ask for pain meds and fluids to get her going again, it sounds like she is thoroughly dehydrated from not eating/drinking, and will feel much better tmporarily with fluids.

Have you considered syringe feeding her?
 
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sharonazar

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Thank you so much...good suggestion. I tried that but she immediately throws up. Maybe I should bring her in to be hydrated...

This morning I went down the stairs to her corner and she wasn't there!

So I searched all over unsuccessfully. I looked in her litter pan and clearly it was used! (she peed); unless my cat used it...somehow I doubt this.

So finally I looked under my bed (which is very low to the floor..no one could get under there except a very skinny earthling) and there she was lying on two rugs that I had been storing underneath the bed...Now, how do I get her out? pulling her out would hurt her head on the wood frame. So the only way would be to gently remove the rugs from underneath her. As of this moment I don't want to disturb her.
 
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