- Joined
- Dec 27, 2013
- Messages
- 59
- Purraise
- 17
As my screen name suggests, my cat's name is Phoebe. She's 17 3/4 years old. She stopped eating in November 2012, but giving her mirtazipime (sp?) did the trick and as soon as I saw the bowl wasn't going down, I'd give her a pill (much to her chagrin) and then she'd start eating again within hours.
A few weeks ago, the pills stopped working. She went though a variety of foods that she ate a little for a day or two (one weekend, eating like crazy, and then it died down again). She started throwing up her food about 10 days ago - I also had to start feeding her with a syringe.
Finally, on Christmas Eve night, I had to take her the 24/7 pet hospital, because she was starting to look for places to die (at least that's my theory - her sister did it when she died - going to weird places she's never been in the house).
The thing is she's had a number of blood scans and her kidneys are not that bad. Not bad enough to have her stop eating. Nothing else in the blood work shows anything.
So, she spent the last two days in this hospital and they did everything - X rays, ultrasounds, more blood and urine and more. Still don't know for sure what it is. They started her on steroids two nights ago, but she still won't eat.
When, I visited on Christmas Day, she really didn't meow at all. She's a huge talker normally. I expected more of the same tonight. Instead she was lively as heck. Went crazy when she saw me. The techs said they love her, because she's such a talker and when they talked to the other cats she would get mad (definitely her personality. She's by far the friendliest cat I and anybody has met her has known).
So, I was left with four choices. Euthanasia (not when she's acting normal!). Very aggressive - doing biopsies (they figure since they can't find anything that it's a lymphoma most likely). She's too old for that - and then to have chemo - forget it I think!
So, it was really two good choices - take her home to see if she'll eat when not surrounded by barking dogs, etc. or have them put a feeding tube in tomorrow (he made it sound like I better get it done very soon - but this place is big $ and I'm not 100% sure they're just not draining me more - he made it sound like he's the only one who could do it and he leaves at 3PM tomorrow).
So, unfortunately, although she's acting like her loving self and drinking water (which she had stopped before I took her in), so far she isn't eating anything.
I never heard of feeding tubes until tonight. He said that cats tolerate them well.........So, I guess I'm asking if they really do? And, what kind of life would she (and I) have if we went this route?
Thank you!!
A few weeks ago, the pills stopped working. She went though a variety of foods that she ate a little for a day or two (one weekend, eating like crazy, and then it died down again). She started throwing up her food about 10 days ago - I also had to start feeding her with a syringe.
Finally, on Christmas Eve night, I had to take her the 24/7 pet hospital, because she was starting to look for places to die (at least that's my theory - her sister did it when she died - going to weird places she's never been in the house).
The thing is she's had a number of blood scans and her kidneys are not that bad. Not bad enough to have her stop eating. Nothing else in the blood work shows anything.
So, she spent the last two days in this hospital and they did everything - X rays, ultrasounds, more blood and urine and more. Still don't know for sure what it is. They started her on steroids two nights ago, but she still won't eat.
When, I visited on Christmas Day, she really didn't meow at all. She's a huge talker normally. I expected more of the same tonight. Instead she was lively as heck. Went crazy when she saw me. The techs said they love her, because she's such a talker and when they talked to the other cats she would get mad (definitely her personality. She's by far the friendliest cat I and anybody has met her has known).
So, I was left with four choices. Euthanasia (not when she's acting normal!). Very aggressive - doing biopsies (they figure since they can't find anything that it's a lymphoma most likely). She's too old for that - and then to have chemo - forget it I think!
So, it was really two good choices - take her home to see if she'll eat when not surrounded by barking dogs, etc. or have them put a feeding tube in tomorrow (he made it sound like I better get it done very soon - but this place is big $ and I'm not 100% sure they're just not draining me more - he made it sound like he's the only one who could do it and he leaves at 3PM tomorrow).
So, unfortunately, although she's acting like her loving self and drinking water (which she had stopped before I took her in), so far she isn't eating anything.
I never heard of feeding tubes until tonight. He said that cats tolerate them well.........So, I guess I'm asking if they really do? And, what kind of life would she (and I) have if we went this route?
Thank you!!