Who'd have thunk cats listen to their elders?

So my baby, Shadow, is 18 and is in obvious pain, she's at the point she can't hide it.  But she's happy being a crotchety old woman.

Last night the cats got fed a little later than usual.  The cats will migrate from bowl to bowl to graze, but immediately after being fed they have set bowls they start at.  Shadow decided she was hungry enough to start eating out of Midway's bowl.

Midway is always convinced he's starving and he's 15 pounds of pure muscle.  He walked up to his bowl and (we use large shallow bowls to avoid puking) tried to eat alongside her.

I was behind her so I couldn't see her face but she raised her head and it was clear that eye contact was made.  He stared at her a few seconds and then took two steps back.  She started eating again and he gave her a wide berth to get to a different bowl.

So an 18 year old cat in obvious pain just faced down a 12 year old cat who dominates the food dishes and won.  I'd not have believed it if I didn't see it.

Good for her.  At her age, she shouldn't have to take any guff from some young whippersnapper!  

(Anything you can do for her pain? What's wrong with her?)

She's got real bad arthritis. Bad enough that the vet said not even bother with glucosamine.

And that is a point of annoyance. I took her in for suspected arthritis years ago and that was all they would offer them. No pain killers, just herbal remedies which are just snake oil and smoke and mirrors. I don't get why they can't treat the pain instead of offering just an herbal remedy. That junk is just placebos and happy thoughts and can put dangerous stuff into a cat's body.

Isn't the vet giving her anything for pain?  When my Wesley got old and arthritic, his vet gave him something for pain. I wish I could remember what it was. Have you gotten a second opinion on this?

She's seen two different vets.  I moved recently and the new vet said pretty much the same thing as the old - pain medications for arthritis are toxic to cats.

Poor girl.  I wish I could remember what Wesley took.  He lived to be19 so I don't think it harmed him any.

Sending gentle kisses to Shadow.  

My 17 yr old kitty Maggie gets Buprenex once a day for arthritis pain. I can really tell if she doesn't have it. Hopefully you can find a vet that believes in pain relief...!

She has Chronic Kidney Disease and the Buprenex (buprenorphine) has not caused her any problems. Good luck in finding her some relief..