Cat Lovers Thread

[Overmind One]

Bad news. Vet just called with the numbers and they are far beyond the range where he can be pulled back, even with fluids (because he will not eat). With the levels of toxins as high as they are, he is very uncomfortable and is probably in some pain. So, sadly I am going to have to say goodbye. I will be scheduling his passing shortly. I hate this! Second time is a little easier.

Get it together George...now, I am going for another fluid treatment. This time, I will have the bag and needle and will be doing it at home. If I wasn't so fucking conflicted I would know what to do and WHEN to do it. I changed my mind to speed up the process when I saw Fisher eat some more food and drink some water and groom himself. Dante went far past that point, and stopped everything altogether.

 

[Joelist]

It's hard, I know. I've had 5 dogs so far and when it is time for one to go it feels like losing a family member - because they are family members. But after I get over the immediate loss I remember the times we had and smile.

 

[Lord Ba'al]

Oh dear, I'm sorry. Just when things were looking up.

 

[Quetesh]

George, I am so sorry for you having to go through this. I know this will be hard no matter decision you make. I hope things work out for the best for your kitty. One thing ,I would suggest what I did was to get a kitten to help with the transitional of the loss and save a life at the pound. I don't look at it like "replacing a pet". I just think that it is so very painful, and this is the only thing I could do to alleviate some of the pain. One of the hardest part of being an animal lover is how short the beloved pets live.


Renal failure is pretty common in elderly cats. It seems that providing mainly dry food is part of the problem. I really need to add more moisture into our cats diets.

.https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/08/06/kidney-disease-in-cats.aspx

 

[Overmind One]

Last night, I saw Fisher come out of his hiding space to get some water, and I thought, what the heck. I spooned out some wet cat food (new low sodium/low phosphorous brand Wuruva), and offered it to him and he ate it! So, I get up this morning, and see that Fisher has not only been eating, but he has pooped normal poop and looks normal and he is out of his hiding space. Huh? But he was so not like that yesterday! I also realized that the numbers the vet gave me were based upon Fisher's condition BEFORE the fluid treatment could take effect. He is acting like nothing is wrong with him now. I don't get it. Yes, his kidneys are failing, but they have not failed and Fisher is not listless or making the angry sound when I pick him up. He even is showing me his happy tail (pointing straight up). I am obviously not going to move forward with putting him down just yet. I go to pick up the fluid kit at the vet today.

 

[Lord Ba'al]

Man I hope it stays that way. Go kitty go!

 

[Overmind One]

Man I hope it stays that way. Go kitty go!

With the fluids, he is guaranteed at least a couple of months. When he gets to where Dante was, not eating or drinking or walking normally, it is time. Right now, besides Fisher being thinner than usual, his behavior is almost normal. This is his new fluid admin kit.



Looks daunting, but it's easier than you think.

 

[Overmind One]

Man I hope it stays that way. Go kitty go!

Fisher is definitely GREATLY improved! I gave him his first (and my first) subcutaneous fluid infusion with the kit today. . If he was 3 steps away from death two days ago, he must be a half mile away from it right now. It's funny to see the fluid pouch under his skin as he walks. This pouch is absorbed in about 8-12 hours, and then another one tonight.

 

[Overmind One]

This was a great day for Fisher. He has been eating his wet food, got his fluids in twice today (200cc). I had to get a neighbor to scruff him for me until I could get the needle in and turn on the drip. But he was a champ both times, and the second time he did not struggle nearly as much. It's as though he has made a connection to the fluid infusions and feeling better. Immediately after taking the needle out, I let him free to do whatever he wanted and all he wanted to do was to crawl into my lap and purr.

NOTES: The profit-seeking vet will prescribe a brand-name "cat anti-nausea" drug. The truth is that you can use Pepcid AC regular or maximum strength at a 5mg dose (about 1/4 of a 10mg tablet or 1/8 of a 20mg tablet), and it will do the same thing. You CANNOT use anything with Aspirin in it for a cat, as it is poison and will probably kill the cat. Pepcid AC is fine:

http://www.frederickcatvet.com/chronickidneydisease.html

Pepcid AC: The kidneys are indirectly responsible for controlling levels of stomach acid. Cats with chronic kidney disease are more likely to have elevated acid levels making them more prone to vomiting. A daily dose of a 1/4 of a 10 mg tablet of Pepcid AC (or generic, famotidine) can control this. Some cats feel nauseous without vomiting, which causes a decrease in appetite. This medication can then trigger a return to normal appetite. We can order it in a transdermal gel (applied to the ear) if giving an oral medication is too difficult.

This particular resource: Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease literally saved Fisher's life. Had I not found it, he would have been euthanized day before yesterday. Today, he is eating, drinking, interacting and being affectionate.

http://www.felinecrf.org

 

[Lord Ba'al]

Awesome kitties are awesome!

 

[Overmind One]

Awesome kitties are awesome!

I am giving him a fair chance and some more time (and I want the tme with him). But I know that he might not have much longer. I am preparing for that. Siete seems to know what is happening. Cats are like that.

EDIT 8:17pm:

Well, Fisher crashed again today, even after giving him fluids and an anti-nausea dose. He will not eat or drink and he will not come out of his hiding space in the cabinet. The last thing I saw him do was go in the litterbox head first, but he peed on the floor with his back end sticking out of the litterbox. It's time. Giving him fluids and presenting three different types of food and also treats is pointless if he will not eat.



I will call the vet and schedule his passing in the morning.

 

[Overmind One]

I take him to say goodbye at 2:30pm today. Still refused to eat or even drink. Sad day for me.

 

[Quetesh]

Sorry to hear George.

My thoughts are with you.

 

[Overmind One]

Sorry to hear George.

My thoughts are with you.

Thank you very much. He gave me time to prepare. I gave him an amazing life and he gave me loads of love and play. I will miss him.

 

[Lord Ba'al]

Oh man oh man I'm sorry man. Strength be with you.

 

[Tripler]

That sucks OM1 . I feel for you as I went threw all that with my Husky/Lab last year ... She was fine for a few days , then would collapse.
;(

 

[Overmind One]

WTF. Cat angels saved him. Vet said it wasn't time and refused! Fisher got a cortisone shot and kidney food. I still have him! We shall see. Euthanasia is irreversible.

 

[Tripler]

9 lives man ... 9 lives ... Good Kitty ...
Awesome Kitty

 

[Overmind One]

9 lives man ... 9 lives ... Good Kitty ...
Awesome Kitty

There must be such thing as a Fairy Godkitty. Now that I am back home, let me go over what happened.

I spend half my day cuddling and comforting Fisher, saying my goodbyes, recalling silly shit he has done, and preparing for him to go. I called and made the appointment for 2:30pm today. I prepped my car, because I did not want him confined to a carrier on his last day. The drive from Long Beach to Torrance is about 35 minutes, and he was panting, and going from crawling into my lap to crawling into the passenger seat and panting, etc. I get him to the vet, carried him in my arms and they took me to the euthanasia room which is set up sort of like a little chapel kinda. It has stained glass wall sconces, a special velvet cover over the exam table, a light dimmer, and a wall mounted tissue dispenser. The Death Room. So, the doctor comes in there, and she is the original doctor I saw years ago for Siete and Dante. She is the cat specialist, whereas the other doctor who did the blood work is the dog specialist.

The blood work shows reduced kidney function and super high BUN and creatinine levels, but only very elevated phosphorous which means there is about 35% kidney function left. She explained how dog numbers in these areas differ from cat numbers. At that point, she told me that she would not perform the euthanasia because he was not at that point yet. She discussed the fluids, and asked me why I only gave him two days with it and did not even finish the bag. I told her about Fisher not eating and she explained why cortisone would reduce the systemic inflammation and stimulate his appetite, and that it would work very fast and that by the time I made the return trip home, he would want to eat something. She also gave me two cans of special kidney food for him and two food syringes and another fluid bag.

So, they gave me a cardboard carrier and I packed him up and took him home. I let him out, and then went and grabbed a handful of treats, which he started gobbling up! I got my neighbor and I just finished his fluids minutes ago.



So, he will be with me on Thanksgiving. Of course, he could crash at which time she told me she would perform the procedure. But Fisher was literally saved from the Death Room.

Go Kitty Go!

 

[Overmind One]

I'll be damned, he IS eating. He is drinking too. To think that the only difference here was the fact that the dog specialist with cat experience gave a completely different prognosis than the cat specialist with dog experience. It is disturbing. The first doctor knew I had decided to do fluid therapy and was willing to try things, and never suggested the cortisone shot. The cat specialist doctor that refused the euthanasia is the one who gave Fisher the shot and told me to keep up with the fluids until the first bag is gone, and had me buy a second bag as well as gave me the kidney diet he needs to gain his strength back. Now, he is eating and drinking again? I even got happy tail. I will never trust the first doctor again. Fisher was snatched back from death.