How to solve medical issues in an elderly cat without going to a doctor... I dont know of any, sorry.
But if your grandmother doesnt remember any of her family and is talking to herself just give her some wet food.
Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
Blayne, I don't care that you said not to:
Take the cat to the vet. If you truly care about the cat, you owe her that much.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Even if only to put her down humanely. She has been a good part of your life for so long that I am sure you wouldnt want her to suffer.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Blayne, some cats only live about 14 years, but they can live longer. I have two cats, 13 years old. One of them (Sherlock) is losing weight (but he was fat before, so it's really an improvement). I had to take him to the vet four months ago to have a broken fang removed (it required dental surgery to remove the root), and tooth decay can cause poisons to enter the bloodstream and damage the cat's organs. Meaning it can be fatal. That is what I read on the Internet. The surgery cost about $700. He is worth it to me. At that time, the vet examined Sherlock and said his overall condition was excellent.
One thing that can cause a cat to lose weight, of course, is cancer. If Sherlock began to look like something were really wrong, I would take him to the vet. (I have him on a "Wellness Plan," anyway. Sort of like a partial HMO for cats.) If the news is bad, I would not have my cat "put away" unless he were clearly suffering. He loves me, and I know he wants to spend a lot of time with me as long as he can, and I don't want to cut that any shorter than I have to, for both our sakes.
Here is something to check (a least I do routinely for my cats). Make sure they don't have fleas. Fleas can be hard to spot. If you see them licking themselves excessively, more than normal, and especially if you see them biting theselves on their backs, sides, etc., give them a good flea medicine, like Frontline Plus, Advantage, or Advantix. They really work, and are effective for a month.
Cats can also get skin diseases, like mange. This is treatable. See your vet.
When my vet examined Sherlock, he noticed one small bare spot that was slightly irritated, where he had been licking himself a lot. The vet asked me what I did about it, and I said that when I noticed something like that, I applied the same aloe vera lotion I use on myself. He nodded approvingly.
[ January 22, 2011, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: Ron Lambert ]
Posted by CT (Member # 8342) on :
Ron and 0Megabyte give good advice here.
Blayne, has your cat been extra thirsty and/or peeing more than usual?
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
I have neither transportation or money to bring the cat to the vet if my parent's don't wish to.
CT, I don't know.
Posted by just_me (Member # 3302) on :
quote:Originally posted by Blayne Bradley: I have neither transportation or money to bring the cat to the vet if my parent's don't wish to.
CT, I don't know.
Confused... didn't I just see that you got a new tablet or something? Didn't you have to pay for it?
Not to be a jerk, but I'm kinda shocked that any pet owner would have such callous disregard for their pet. If it's sick, or might be, then TAKE IT TO A VET.
Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
The reason I mentioned this is because one of my cats died a few months ago.
She lost a lot of weight, and was clearly miserable. We took her to the vet, and she had something wrong with her liver. Basically, she was dying, painfully, so we put her down. She was about ten years old. She was a great cat.
We debated whether to put her down before knowing what was wrong or not. I fought for doing tests, even if they did cost money: we owed her that much, to see if there was anything we could do. And, unfortunately, there wasn't. She couldn't be saved. I was pretty damn sad, but even so. As soon as we realized something was wrong, we took her.
If you care about your cat, you owe her no less. You wouldn't accept it in your own case, right? If you were sick, like, possibly dying, just being ignored?
There are ways to pay for things. It's emergencies like this that are what credit cards are actually for: not buying whatever random fun thing you can think of, but actual emergencies when you don't have the cash on hand, so you can pay it back.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Firstly my purchases were made significantly prior to me knowing to any extant that something or anything might be wrong at all.
Secondly unless I blew my money on drugs or something equally perishable that can't be in some way justified as an investment no one has the right to be critical of something I put a lot of thought into purchasing for the sake of branching out my future.
Thirdly just because I ask for advice aside some something obvious doesn't mean I don't already know it is obvious and was asking for safe possibilities to try first to see if there can be a visible improvement without having to move her, my sister's cat found the first trip to our house for christmas vacation fairly traumatizing and took days of letting her sleep on me to get her to come out of the guest room.
So if there was possibly a different kind of food or herbal remedy we could try first and get visible improvement quickly I think thats worth trying, I will at some point force one of my parents to take her to the vet, but in between now and their epic levels of procrastination I wanted to try something safe in the meantime.
Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
"So if there was possibly a different kind of food or herbal remedy we could try first and get visible improvement quickly I think that's worth trying, I will at some point force one of my parents to take her to the vet, but in between now and their epic levels of procrastination I wanted to try something safe in the meantime. "
That's the thing: There isn't. Or to be more specific, we can't do anything without knowing more. That's what going to the vet is for, after all: finding out what's wrong.
Because none of us know. An expert could come along and have a good hunch, but without examination there's little any of us can suggest.
There are so many possibilities. It could be something you can fix. It could not be. But the longer you wait, the longer she'll suffer, regardless. I'm sorry, but I don't think a non-expert like me, or most of the people here (I presume there's a vet somewhere, but most of us aren't) will be able to tell you.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
quote:Originally posted by Blayne Bradley: Secondly unless I blew my money on drugs or something equally perishable that can't be in some way justified as an investment no one has the right to be critical of something I put a lot of thought into purchasing for the sake of branching out my future.
1. a cat is branching out your future? or am I missing something here?
2. people pretty much have the right to be critical of a pet owner who decides the vet is not an option for their pet when it is sick. Generally, if you can't care for your pets (and yes, that's part of it) you need to give them to someone who can.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
If you go to a reputable vet, he should be willing to give your cat a physical exam for not too much. Banfield Pet Hospital, where I took my cat, charged $35.95 for this. Since I signed up for a Wellness Plan for Sherlock, I pay $25.95 per month. For that, he gets free physical exams whenever needed, comprehensive examinations, and various diagnostics, plus dental coverage, and all vaccinations.
I was just looking at the paperwork I got back. It lists the vaccinations available for cats, which tells you something about the diseases to which cats are susceptible:
Some of these vaccinations are required by law, especially if they are outdoor cats. (My cats have never been outdoors.)
One person can take the cat to the vet, but you need a pet carrier. My cat absolutely hates the pet carrier. But the vet needs for the cat to be in a pet carrier, especially if you have to leave him overnight. You might dispense with the pet carrier, but you would have to hold the cat constantly, while someone else drives. If he has not been declawed, you may have a hard time holding him if he gets excited in the vet's office, perhaps by barking dogs.
I some familiarity with herbalist applications for humans, but I have never heard of any herbal treatments for cats. Still, you need to know what is wrong with your cat before you can have any hope of treating him effectively herbally or by any other means. Herbs are not magic. They contain definite medicines, such as antibiotics. Some herbal constituents, like theophylline (present in chocolate), that acts as a mild stimulant for humans, can kill a cat.
The only herb I know of that is safe to give a cat is catnip. It seems to have some value in promoting health of their digestive tract, especially if you give them fresh leaves (torn up into little pieces). That they also seem to get drunk from it, or at least somewhat deleriously happy, is pure bonus for them. I believe catnip is in the mint family. Some cats react favorably to spearmint and peppermint, too. We know those are beneficial for soothing stomaches for humans.
[ January 22, 2011, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: Ron Lambert ]
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
quote:Originally posted by Samprimary:
quote:Originally posted by Blayne Bradley: Secondly unless I blew my money on drugs or something equally perishable that can't be in some way justified as an investment no one has the right to be critical of something I put a lot of thought into purchasing for the sake of branching out my future.
1. a cat is branching out your future? or am I missing something here?
2. people pretty much have the right to be critical of a pet owner who decides the vet is not an option for their pet when it is sick. Generally, if you can't care for your pets (and yes, that's part of it) you need to give them to someone who can.
1. People of being critical of me purchasing a wacom tablet, which I did just about last month before I had any idea anything might be wrong.
2. I am not alone in an apartment, there's 3 people in my house, she's not strictly speaking "my" cat but our "family's" cat, and we've been giving them good care for the years we've had them, I am not saying that the vet is 'out of the question' only that it is advice I can't do anything about and would prefer if anyone had alternative thoughts I could suggest while they [said parents] drag their feet.
I'll ask them again next time it comes up, but statements like "callous disregard for your pet" are not constructive.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
#1 doesn't make a lot of sense, but if I read it right (?) it means that you spent money on a tablet when you don't really have a lot?
But if it's not actually your cat it's different. Go to the person whose cat it is and say it's time to go to the vet.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
The picture I get, Sam, is that Blayne has been assigned responsibility for taking care of the cat, but he is the only one who has really bonded with it. His parents do not seem to appreciate the importance of the cat to Blayne. So his problem is not with his cat so much as it is with his parents.
Blayne, you need to have a talk with your parents--a real heart-to-heart. Let them be aware how you will feel, how deeply it will affect you, if you lose your cat before it is necessary or unavoidable. I have always been fortunate in that my mother bonds with our pet cats as much as I do. It is harder to deal with someone to whom your pet is just seen as an animal, and not as a real friend that you love. But they are disregarding your feelings.
By the way, Skittles is a cute--and original--name.
Posted by Rawrain (Member # 12414) on :
My families cat lived to 19 and he was an outside cat...
How is skittles eating? Has her activities changed? (Like less playing, more sleeping) Has she been vomiting more than usual? Have you changed any treatment toward the cat, like the food you give her? Is her fur shedding more than excessive?(bad question for the winter time) Is her fur matted or balding? Does she have a runny nose? Eye boogers?(excluding if your cat is a Persian) -----------------------
CT asked if you cat was more thirsty than usual or peeing more. That's pretty important stuff to check you need to make sure your cat is doing neither, or if they are to take them to a vet immediately..
Extra thirsty cat could be diabetes Extra peeing cat diabetes (and some sort of organ failure I think .-.)
That 19 year old cat of my family died of diabetes brought on by old age. So check check check, I cannot see your cat.
Posted by Misha McBride (Member # 6578) on :
quote:Originally posted by 0Megabyte: The reason I mentioned this is because one of my cats died a few months ago.
She lost a lot of weight, and was clearly miserable. We took her to the vet, and she had something wrong with her liver. Basically, she was dying, painfully, so we put her down. She was about ten years old. She was a great cat.
Your cat probably had hepatic lipidosis, I lost a cat to that as well. Unlike dogs cats cannot go totally without eating for more than a couple of days, especially (and ironically) if they are overweight. Their bodies will break down a large amount of body fat very quickly and that fat will clog the ducts in the liver, causing hepatitis. The hepatitis will induce nausea, vomiting and diarrhea- beginning a vicious cycle in which the cat loses more and more weight and the liver becomes more inflamed. By the time many pet owners notice something is amiss, the animal requires hospitalization and may die anyway.
Is she showing any of those symptoms Blayne? Also check the white skin inside her ears, it will go yellow from jaundice if a cat's liver is going. If so, please please please borrow or beg money from someone and take the cat to the vet immediately. If her liver has gone off you cannot waste any time.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
We have three cats so its hard to tell if shes being overly thirsty.
Nothing sudden has changed or happened, I just look down and notice that she's a whole lot skinnier then I recall, we've always been feeding roughly the same cat food and she does seem to not be moving around as much but it is really hard to tell as I do see her move around on occassion.
Now to clarify I haven't been assigned responsibility and my parents do care for her, I had in fact did suggest "Maybe we should take her to the vote" the response was "Thats like 100$!"
I out of concern posted here looking for maybe some advice though it seems apparant that if we really want peace of mind we should take her to a vet to be safe and maybe figure out a better diet for her.
She just looks sadder is the best I can describe it.
Only one of my cats will occassionally enter my room and thats less frequent since I started putting my blankets in the laundry and changing my sheets so I haven't been keeping an eye out.
But she's been our cat for as long as I can remember and we raised her since she was kitten so I'm concerned and a little anxious.
Thanks ron I'll forward your advice to my father.
quote: #1 doesn't make a lot of sense, but if I read it right (?) it means that you spent money on a tablet when you don't really have a lot?
I had specifically saved up money for that tablet for that month and budgeted accordingly, the criticism to me doesn't make sense, so what if I bought a tablet? 100$ is alot to expect hypothetically from me if I wanted to force the issue "bring her soon, I'll pay." as being the 'fast' way.
If a checkup is like 20-30$ thats reasonable, I'll have my father at some point go and confirm how much it is and take it from there.
And no she hasn't had diarrhea or excessive puking, she's just a lot thinner then usual, I only feed the cats occassionally my father feeds them strictly at 7am and 6 pm each time but whenever I'm doing it all three show up and are accounted for.
Posted by Misha McBride (Member # 6578) on :
I think I spent $40 on the examination plus $20 for antibiotics when I took my cat to the vet a month ago. She had vomited so hard it burst a few blood vessels, turning the puke the color one would expect which resulted in a panicky phonecall to the e-vet at 8pm. The vet calmed me down and told me to bring in her in in the morning unless she did it again, which she didn't thankfully.
Posted by Rawrain (Member # 12414) on :
Your cat could be depressed, though it's not clinical term really, some people get fat when they get depressed others lose weight..
Maybe she just needs some fun, but not too much.. Have you tried playing with her?
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
Some questions:
1) How old are the other cats in the household? 2) Is your cat being fed wet or dry food? Is it on any special diet for its old age? 3) Do you monitor how much the cat is eating? Like, do you put down food at a specific time each day and watch it empty its bowl, or does it just have a free supply of food all day? 4) Do the teeth appear clean and intact?
I would suggest calling a couple of local vet offices and inquiring about the cost of physical exams. They may or may not be able to tell you much without doing tests, but considering the cat's age, the vet may have some suggestions of things to try before going down a more costly route. In the meantime, put some money aside each week in case you decide to go through with some tests or for future medications.
Animals are expensive, especially as they get older. Even relatively healthy older pets may require expensive food or medication in order to get them those extra full and active years. I have a parrot who I have had since I was sixth grade. While my parents took financial responsibility for her while I was growing up, she was just one part of our animal family. But now that I'm adult, I'm responsible for her. Thankfully, she's been very healthy requiring only the rare trip to the visit for wing trimmings. But I still have part of my savings set aside just for her in case something happens. Its hard sometimes to resist dipping into those funds. My full-time job covers only my essential expenses like rent, utilities, and basic groceries. I have a second job to pay down my student loans, put gas in my car, and once a month buy a movie or go out to dinner with friends. Its rough but I make sacrifices to have funds to buy her food and treats and new toys every month. She's like my child and for all the love she gives me, she deserves the same in return.
Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
quote:Originally posted by Misha McBride: Your cat probably had hepatic lipidosis, I lost a cat to that as well. Unlike dogs cats cannot go totally without eating for more than a couple of days, especially (and ironically) if they are overweight. Their bodies will break down a large amount of body fat very quickly and that fat will clog the ducts in the liver, causing hepatitis. The hepatitis will induce nausea, vomiting and diarrhea- beginning a vicious cycle in which the cat loses more and more weight and the liver becomes more inflamed. By the time many pet owners notice something is amiss, the animal requires hospitalization and may die anyway.
That sounds very much like what happened. In hindsight, I probably should have noticed, or paid more attention. If I had, maybe something could have been done. I just didn't really know, and she didn't seem to have anything wrong for awhile. Nothing serious, anyway. I'm... not exactly pleased to understand the symptoms better now.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
quote:Originally posted by Rawrain: Your cat could be depressed, though it's not clinical term really, some people get fat when they get depressed others lose weight..
Maybe she just needs some fun, but not too much.. Have you tried playing with her?
On occassion, she liked trying to catch my headphones when I dangled them in front of her and she seemed to really like being petted from the side.
Posted by Rawrain (Member # 12414) on :
=^.^= A good playing is what she needs then? Though like others say, if her health gets worse I recommend a vet, if you want a cheap one you gotta make friends with them, take yer cat to their house XD or a family member who is or has a good friend that is a vet.
Me step-dad's best friend is a chiropractor and I get free poppings if I ask nicely Afterall not all vets are in it for the money but the animal play a sob story if you have to... I like kitties too much to hear of their suffering ): _______________
My little brother (a cat) is 12, during the past year he seems to have contracted arthritis in his back legs, so he lays down a lot, but he still has his moments where he starts running around for some reason.... Why are cats so cute! /: Which is actually the gayest statement I think I will make in my lifetime... that or Red panda's are adorable...
[ January 23, 2011, 04:05 AM: Message edited by: Rawrain ]
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Apparantly she's been pooping and peeing outside the litterbox, I haven't seen it though.
Allegedly it costed 400$ last time for a 'similar' problem and to 'just get a vet to talk to you' is 100$, something just isn't jivving right with me here.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Blayne, you could probably find out how much the vet would charge for an exam for your cat just by calling him on the phone and asking. You might compare several vets.
I give my two cats each half a 3 oz. can of Fancy Feast cat food twice a day, about five hours apart. Then I put dry food in their bowls for the rest of the time. I never fail to wash out the dishes. The thought of leaving moist canned food in a dish at room temperature for many hours makes me shudder. Oh yes, one other thing--when I give them dry food, I sprinkle on top about a quarter teaspoon of brewer's yeast (non-bitter nutritional yeast--bright yellow flakes) available from any health food store. I have never seen any cat anywhere who did not love it. It is the most concentrated form of B vitamins and protein on the planet. I eat it myself occasionally, sprinkled on popcorn or as a seasoning in soup--sometimes even spread on bread with a little vegetable oil and salt. It is somewhat similar to grated cheese--though never use them together (somehow it brings out the bitter flavors in the cheese).
The advantage of giving cats dry food each day is that it helps keep their teeth clean. (I don't have any idea how my Sherlock broke one of his fangs--all the rest of his teeth were and are clean and in good condition.)
Shanna, people are expensive, especially as they get older, too!
Cats like it if you go "cat-fishing" with them with a piece of string or yarn.
My two cats and my sister's cat (a Calico) all like to have their bellies rubbed. Some cats don't like you to touch their bellies. But my Sherlock and Watson ly down on their backs, feet up in the air, inviting a belly rub. And they roll from side to side, relishing it, as you rub their bellies.
When I took Sherlock in the pet carrier out to the car to take him to the vet, and he was meowing loudly and crying (he HATES the pet carrier), his brother Watson watched with a lot of concern. My mother claims that Watson went into my bedroom, and stood there with his front paws up on the bed (something I have never seen him do before). My mother said it looked like Watson was praying. I don't know about that. But they are close. Brothers from the same litter. They often sleep curled up together, and lick each other's faces. They keep each other company.
By the way, all three cats in our household have been bribed. (That means "fixed.") So it does not cause any problem that my two cats are males, and my sister's Calico is a female. (Of course--all Calicos are female--the distinctive gene is in the X chromosome, and is recessive, so it needs to be doubled to be expressed. At least that is the way it was explained to me.)
One other cat story: When I first moved in with my mother, sister, and her husband and my sister's cat, the Calico (we call her "Kitty," not very original, but when my sister wanted to call her "Cali," I pointed out that "Kali" is the Hindu god of destruction) was very hostile toward my cats--especially toward Sherlock, who is unusually big for a cat. But my cats were always very polite and diffident, and kept trying to make gentle attempts at being friendly. It took over a year, but now Kitty does not hiss at them anymore. But one time when Sherlock carefully, hopefully approached Kitty and tried to touch noses the way cats do, Kitty slapped at him with a claw and hissed, then trounced away angrily. Poor Sherlock just crouched down there all dejected-looking. But Watson was nearby and had seen it all happen. So he came up to Sherlock, facing him, and put his paws up on his shoulders and started licking his forehead. It seemed like he was trying to say, "It's all right brother, somebody still loves you."
[ January 23, 2011, 12:49 PM: Message edited by: Ron Lambert ]
Posted by Misha McBride (Member # 6578) on :
quote:Originally posted by 0Megabyte: That sounds very much like what happened. In hindsight, I probably should have noticed, or paid more attention. If I had, maybe something could have been done. I just didn't really know, and she didn't seem to have anything wrong for awhile. Nothing serious, anyway. I'm... not exactly pleased to understand the symptoms better now.
Didn't mean to make you feel worse Though I totally understand why you would, it took me years to get over the remorse I felt once I understood what had happened to Cloud and why. I posted about it in detail because I feel its something all cat owners need to be aware of. Hepatic lipidosis really is so easy to miss in the early stages, so preventable and no one who loves their cats should have to go through it.
Any time a cat goes off their food for any reason it should be treated as a potential emergency. Even if the cause is not serious (just a little stomach virus, got into the garbage, etc), it can snowball into this condition within just a few days. When one of my current cats had a small abscess under her tail she was given antibiotics by the vet, which caused nausea as a side effect. She had to be force fed with a syringe for a few days until her appetite returned.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Tried to examine the cat, her ears were the same color as the other cats so she seems fine there.
She still purrs when you pet her as well.
Posted by CT (Member # 8342) on :
Ron, I have to say I admire both your gentleness and thoroughness in talking Blayne through this situation.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
The only other thing that comes to mind is that I noticed she has been very quiet for quite sometime and not been making any noises, I noticed a few months back when she'ld come up to me, apparantly hungry and she would open her month to meow but nothing would come out.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
I found this in Yahoo Answers:
quote:Why does a cat lose its meow? Answer 'the silent meow'
unless your cat is fairly obviously ill, there is a part of a cat's language called 'the silent meow', not sure what it means but it's quite cute and often occurs when food is about. Please note it is not a permanent loss of voice, this would be serious and a visit to the vet would be required.
quote:Can cats lose their ability to meow? Yes they can. We brought this one kitten home. She meowed so hard the first day we had her, she damaged her meow box (cats have two voiceboxes--one is just for meowing) and could never meow again.
If/when you can take your cat to the vet, make sure you mention this loss of meowing, so the vet can look at the voicebox.
Does Skittles ever make any kind of voice sound--like a little chirrup or trill cats can make?
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
she purrs just fine.
Posted by just_me (Member # 3302) on :
Blayne -
I apologize if you felt I was being too mean to you about this.
So that maybe you can understand where I'm coming from...
I have a very hard time understanding anyone who takes responsibility for an animal and then fails in that responsibility. To me, that means making sure one can afford to get the pet medical care. This is why I mentioned your tablet - to me if you can't find a way to afford to take your cat to the vet if it's sick you shouldn't be buying a tablet, or you shouldn't have the cat in the first place.
If it's not your cat that's better and worse. It's better for my perception of you but worse for my perception of your parents. I presume that the 100 bucks isn't as much money to them as to you in the grand scheme so it seems even worse to me that they are refusing to get the cat to the vet.
All of this is also coming from the position of someone who spent A LOT of time, effort and money trying to figure out what was wrong with (and fix) his cat only to have to give up after over four years and put the poor guy to sleep. So I may be a little biased here...
Posted by CT (Member # 8342) on :
just_me, I share your perspective, by the way. I have gone without many things I wanted (and even felt that I needed at the time) in order to keep a cushion for emergencies like this.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
Both because I butt heads with Ron on occasion, and because I know how distressing it can be to have a pet who's unhealthy under your care, props for the advice, Ron. Nicely done.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Thanks, Rakeesh.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Blayne, I had my cat in to the vet for an exam today, and I asked him about cats having two voice boxes, like that one poster I quoted said. My vet said that cats only have one voicebox, one pharynx. So if your cat can still purr, he still has use of his voicebox.
How is Skittles doing, by the way?
My cat, Sherlock, has lost a bit of weight. He used to be overweight, so the weight loss is not too bad. He was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism--his T4 thyroid hormone was slightly elevated, and the vet gave me some little tiny pills two weeks ago to give him, to reduce the amount of T4 hormone. That seems to have alleviated his more troublesome symptoms (frequent vomiting, loose stool). The vet gave me another month's supply.
Anyway, one thing that can cause a cat to lose weight is an overactive thyroid. If he exhibits more energy than normal, bursts of energy where he goes tearing around the house, that could be another symptom.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
She passed on
And my parents didn't tell me for three days, they were hoping I wouldn't notice. I had to ask as I noticed she wasn't coming when I fed the others.
I'm still furious.
Then my father went and cremated her with informing me and spread it on the garden, I had wanted to walk with her urn for about an hour to bury it along the river bank under a cairn.
Nothing ever goes right.
Posted by Flying Fish (Member # 12032) on :
I'm really sorry, Blayne.
My cat, Larry, passed on at about age 14 a few years ago. His last few months were a lot like you described Skittles's. I had to take comfort in knowing that his suffering ended.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Sorry Blayne, I feel for you.
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
For the record, I am angry at your dad on your behalf right now. That wasn't cool at all.
Posted by Sean Monahan (Member # 9334) on :
quote:Originally posted by Raymond Arnold: For the record, I am angry at your dad on your behalf right now. That wasn't cool at all.
Ditto. I'm sorry for you, Blayne.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
On a list of casually shi#$y things to do, that's up there. I'm sorry that happened.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
I'm sorry to learn about Skittles' passing, Blayne, and especially sorry to learn about the less than classy way it was handled. Some parents just aren't considerate.
This is the downside of having pets with shorter lifespans than we have. You know someday you will have to part with them. But the days and years that they were able to gladden your life were worth it. No one can take that away.
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
Blayne, I don't post here often, but I'm very sad and sorry for you. Just wanted you to know. Tears fall down my cheeks as I type this. Posted by Flying Fish (Member # 12032) on :
I don't know if this quote is accurate, but I actually found a lot of comfort thinking about it after Larry passed.
"God made angels for their beauty. He made animals for their innocence, plants for their simplicity. Man He made so he could serve his Creator in the labyrinth of his own mind."
Saint Thomas More (1478-1535)
Chancellor of England
Patron saint of politicians and lawyers
And also, I hope you find it in your heart to forgive your father. Parents are imperfect people, who usually do the best they know how.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
I'm sorry, Blayne. It's hard enough as it is to lose a favorite pet, and that's a pretty crappy way for your parents to have handled it.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I swear I posted condolences last night, but I don't see them now.....
I am sorry for your loss. I am a dog person, and my dogs are part of my family. I know some people don't treat their pets that way, and some people don't understand.
I am sorry for your loss.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I'm sorry, Blayne. The good news is, if you wait until after college when you have your own place to get another cat, your Dad can never put you in this situation again.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Blayne, I'm very sorry about your cat. I'm also sorry that your parents still haven't figured out how to treat you with some respect.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
I'm sorry about your cat, Blayne. I'm sorry you couldn't say good bye the way you wanted to.
My mom recently had to put down one of my childhood cats, and I couldn't be there. I'm still very upset about it.
Posted by Misha McBride (Member # 6578) on :
I'm very sorry Blayne. My mom also used to do similar to all my pets when I was younger and its a really shitty thing to pull on someone.
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