old cat

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  • 31 July, 2015 at 8:59 pm #835590
    critterlover
    Participant

    Hello Folks. I have an old man cat,I think he’s 15. I think he had a stroke. It’s terrible to watch him trying to get around the house and eat or drink. I’ve sorrowfully been considering putting him to sleep, but I can’t find anyone to come to my home. He is terrified of car rides and is 2 hours to veterinarians in either direction. I don’t want his last moments to be scary. Animal control might possibly do it, but the guy that takes care of that part of things is gone for 3 weeks. I’ve been feeding him from a spoon, and I can get an occasional purr out of him, so he may not be completely hopeless. Any ideas on keeping him comfortable?

    1 August, 2015 at 3:04 am #835606
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Critterlover,

    I’m sorry your guy is getting on in years and not feeling good. Here’s a link with information that can help. Tramadol is mild opiate which acts as a relaxant. You will have to talk to your vet. about a prescription. If you decide to take him to the vet. the Tramadol will ease him. Also, try using pet rescue remedy or Feliway. Remember- ask your vet. before using any medication.

    http://consciouscat.net/2010/12/06/pain-management-for-cats/

    Good Luck and warm fuzzies to you guy,

    PG

    1 August, 2015 at 11:56 am #835614
    Moonshadow_NZ
    Moderator

    Just wishing you and your old man cat all the best and hope things go well however it works out.

    2 August, 2015 at 4:49 pm #835674
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    How’s your boy doing, critterlover?

    2 August, 2015 at 9:33 pm #835689
    critterlover
    Participant

    Phantom isn’t doing well. I’m afraid he’s starving. I’m feeding him by hand when he let’s me. He acts like he can’t see or smell his food. He turns his head kind of sideways and takes a minute to figure out where to start eating. He is so skinny, bones are popping out everywhere.
    Strangely he managed to clamber into my tub yesterday and took a shower with me. I don’t know what that was about other than my cats like to catch the water drops from the faucet, but I would think he would have heard the water drumming from the shower head. He is not a bath lover. ..
    I’m thinking I will try to get some kitty sedative from the vet and administer it to the poor old guy, then take him in to do the rest. He’s stumbled to the door when I let our dogs out, I’m thinking he wants to find a quiet spot to die. His eyes have gotten gummy and swollen these past few days, I think he’s had enough. A vet will be visiting town this Wednesday, so I’ll try to keep him comfortable until then. He just looks so miserable.

    2 August, 2015 at 10:07 pm #835690
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It does sound like Phantom is tired. He wants to be close so set up a snuggly place near you that has fave blankies. Make sure he stays warm. He may have trouble getting to the litter box so have one next to him. Also, put towels nearby. If there is a pet store get some Rescue Remedy for pets and some nutrical gel. Nutrical will give him some nourishment.

    Keep him company and even tho it hurts, let your boy know it’s ok to cross the Rainbow Bridge. He will always be watching you from the meadow.

    My thoughts are with you.

    2 August, 2015 at 10:20 pm #835693
    katzenjammer
    Participant

    And if you need to “talk” please do post. With TDKer’s in many time zones, we are around much of the time. And we understand. Take good care.

    2 August, 2015 at 11:42 pm #835696
    critterlover
    Participant

    Phantom doesn’t seem to want company. He’s been isolating himself in the bathroom since yesterday, I’m guessing because it’s quiet in there. He doesn’t want to lay down with me or even near. He’ll accept a cuddle only if I’m standing. He’s always loved hiding in cabinets and cupboards so I’ve opened a door for him in the bathroom for him. Just 2 weeks ago he’d have done that on his own. He gimped his way into there where it’s quiet and dark. At least I’ll be able to find him if he decides to go to the Happy Hunting Grounds.
    Now of course I feel guilty for shooing him away these last couple months. He’s rarely content just to sit in my lap, he wants to be face to face, forehead to forehead. It’s hard to read a book when your eyes are full of cat face.
    I guess he will be joining our kitten Biscuit soon, this will make a third cat in less than a year. Our girl Lily pulled the vent cover off the floor and crawled through the ductwork of our home up into our furnace. She didn’t make it back out. It’s been a rough year. I miss them all.
    Biscuit was a sweet little baby, bossing us around all the time whether for food or love. He was about 5 weeks when he died, according to the vet. Lily was our trouble maker. She loved to hang out on chairs and wait for our 100 pound dog to walk by so she could slap him. Phantom has been described as a “mob boss” by my son in law, he’s just so regal and cool. He would sit there like a sphinx.
    I have 2 old dogs over 11, and another cat that’s probably 12 or 13…

    3 August, 2015 at 7:54 pm #835737
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Critterlover,

    Losing our fur babies makes your heart ache. As KJ said we’ve been there and are available if you need to talk or solace.
    But please don’t be hard on yourself. We all say “if this, or if that.” Your sweet mob boss has known 15 years of loving and happiness.

    PG

    4 August, 2015 at 3:29 pm #835782
    lagatta
    Participant

    Is Phantom a black cat?

    I really wish there was some way for you to get him to the vet’s for a more accurate assessment. Offhand, I’d say his life is drawing to a close, but there might be another cause that can be solved (without too expensive or difficult intervention) that will allow him a bit of respite). My Renzo, who is 19, gets really listless at times but these days is quite chipper. Of course he could simply die in his sleep, like a person in his or her 90s. Have you called your vet?

    4 August, 2015 at 7:40 pm #835802
    critterlover
    Participant

    Phantom is a gray and white. He has a mask that covers half his face to under one eye. It reminded me of a Phantom of the Opera mask I had seen, hence the name. There is a vet that comes to my town once or twice a month, Phantom will be seeing him tomorrow. The doctor is going to provide me with a sedative before I take him down there, I hope it’s enough to keep Phantom from getting frightened by the ride. As for the vet being able to help him, I don’t really think anything can be done, other than maybe pain management. Phantoms right side is compromised, he can walk but his feet drag, he falls. He can’t hardly eat or drink, he just sits for ages by the dishes. I’ve been trying to help him feeding him from a spoon, he seems to have trouble even locating the food, like he can’t see or even smell it. It’s amazing how quickly he has deteriorated. He’s gone from demanding to be fed practically the entire day long to sitting or laying quietly and looking miserable. I’m pretty sure he had a stroke.

    6 August, 2015 at 12:21 am #835882
    critterlover
    Participant

    Phantom is gone now, he’s resting next to our little kitten Biscuit. I know that it was the right thing for him, but it sure feels lousy . He couldn’t really eat or drink, I tried to help him with that but he just couldn’t get enough in his poor little body. Poor old guy. I’m sad.

    6 August, 2015 at 12:44 am #835885
    Buttons
    Moderator

    CritterLover I’m so very sorry for your loss you made the right decision and you made sure phantom didn’t suffer in the end .

    RIP Phantom <3

    6 August, 2015 at 1:15 am #835886
    katzenjammer
    Participant

    So very sorry for your loss CritterLover. Now Phantom is pain free and frisking about like a youngster in the Meadow by the Rainbow Bridge, being greeted by your kitties who have arrived there before him and by all of our kitties who have passed. He had a good long life in your home and now lives on in your heart. Take good care, grief has it’s own timetable, but please don’t second guess yourself. KJ

    6 August, 2015 at 1:33 am #835889
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/janedodo/images_zpsnz95jerp.jpg

    Warm fuzzies, critterlover

    6 August, 2015 at 1:34 am #835891
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    Critterlover, I’m so sorry for the loss of Phantom. No matter how long we have them with us, it’s never long enough. You and he knew that it was time for him to move on, and you did the right thing. Bless you. Sleep sweetly Phantom.

    6 August, 2015 at 2:05 am #835892
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    I’m so very sorry for your loss of Phantom.

    6 August, 2015 at 2:50 am #835896
    Cheri Hoyt
    Participant

    You gave Phantom the gift of love

    6 August, 2015 at 2:54 am #835897
    critterlover
    Participant

    Thank you for all your kind words. It’s nice to know that there are other people out there that get “it”. So many people say “it’s just a cat” pets are so much more than “just” anything. Phantom was older than my last kid.

    6 August, 2015 at 3:41 am #835899
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    Old cats are awesome! It’s so hard to let them go after knowing them for so long. In your own time, you will notice the treasure-trove of memories from Phantom’s long life.

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