17 year old cat starting to go through the end stages of life - what do I expect in the coming hours/days?

[Twylasmom]

Is the long term pain med for arthritis? You say that is a monthly injection so I wonder if it is Solensia.

I ended up making the end of life decision for Twyla after two months of decreasing appetite and increased weakness.She had CKD, hyperthyroidism, asthma, high blood pressure, heart murmur, mild HCM and arthritis. She was peeing huge amounts 8 to 10 times a day, exhibiting weakness in her back legs, stumbling and having difficulty holding her front legs straight when in a sitting position. She would get tired and have to rest after minimal exertion, like using the litter box. At her vet checkup her kidney values had shot up through the roof (she only had one functioning kidney to begin with)and she was really anemic. The treatment for the anemia would have entailed weekly injections and came with a good possibility of side effects. I would probably have tried it but it wasn’t going to miraculously make her kidneys function again. I could possibly have kept her going for another couple of weeks to a month but it would not have been a good quality of life for her or for me. She was sent home from the vet with a Cerenia shot, B vitamins shot, and fluids which perked her up a bit for the two days until her at home euthanasia. She got tons of love and was allowed to eat whatever she wanted those last couple of days. It was not an easy decision, but I have had a cat pass unexpectedly at home and it was extremely traumatic. This way she got to pass peacefully at home, on my lap, surrounded by love.

 

[EveAndHerThieves]

It was the inability to keep anything down that decided me on euthanising Maddie (my avatar) sooner rather than later. She had cancer (initially misdiagnosed) and was on palliative care anyway, but it was such a battle to get her to swallow any meds - she'd fight and froth at the mouth and bring it all up - that I decided within a couple of days that I wasn't going to put her through any more of this.

I have one cat who foams at the mouth for any meds. I dread the day I have to medicate her. This one is fine with meds. She's a champ and doesn't fight me, and readily swallows. It helps that I've been doing it for four years with her and I've learned to get them halfway down her throat before I let her go. The entire thing takes maybe ten seconds, which is good.

Were there any recent med changes that might explain the diarrhea and perhaps even the vomiting? I know you said she frequently vomits, so that may not have anything to do with anything new. It could be one of the foods too. If the vet only gave her an injection for the nausea, it probably was Cerenia, which usually only lasts about 24 hours. So, hopefully they gave you an oral form to follow up with at home.

Tbh, Feeby rarely ever vomited. I know that can vary by cat, but CKD is not a guarantee to cause vomiting. The only time Feeby vomited twice in one day is the time I called it her 'near crash'. Her kidney numbers were very high and it was determined she needed to be put on sub-Q fluids, which we did daily from that day forward. She didn't vomit after that, and her kidney numbers came down to where they were before the 'near crash'. (That was also the day that a vet suggested euthanasia.)

I wish you luck with the search for mousse foods. They are out there, so it is just a matter to trying to find ones that work for her. CKD cats do better with a lot of small meals, if you are not already doing that. Feeby ate that way of her own choosing. So, I offered her food about every hour, and let her eat of it what she wanted.

Good luck with your chickens too, especially the poor little blind one.

No diet or food changes that I'm aware of. She's been on the same food for four years. It's only the last few days I've switched her. The vet didn't give her anything for nausea while I was there. I got some pills for her yesterday which are helping, but she's a bit spaced out. I think the pill name started with a C. It's a once a day tablet for long term nausea management. I don't want to keep her alive if she's a zombie though. That's no way to live. I'm hoping it passes. She has tumors on her liver and a fatty liver which doesn't help. The vet said straining at the litterbox to do her usual bowl movement can put pressure on her stomach, which causes nausea. She goes through cycles of being well, then being unwell and vomiting, then being well again. The cycles are getting closer together and lasting longer, which is expected. She's been keeping the mousse down just fine. I'm a bit worried because I think her appetite has gone way up. Maybe it's because she hasn't really eaten in a week or so. She has an auto feeder that feeds her every three hours, but right now I'm feeding her whenever she asks, and feeding her however much she wants. I haven't seen her at the water dish though. Even with wet cat food she usually lives at the water dish. I'm going to wash it out really well today in case that's why.

Now that she's eating she's been pooping, which is great, except holy cow does it stink. Her poop stinks anyway and I have extra strong cat litter, but this is on a whole new level. I'm currently in bed hiding under a blanket because it's so awful. Her box is clear across the house, covered, and I scooped it last night. I have no idea what's going on with her digestive track, but wow. I expect to find kind of mushy poop that's both light in color in some parts, and super dark in others. (Like she's got blood in it) She doesn't typically have that going on, and when she does it usually recovers within a few days. This is on a whole new level. I feel really bad for her. And the other cats who have to share her box. I'm sure the change to mousse is a factor in her poop, but it was starting even before the vet. I dread getting up and cleaning the box, ick.

I still don't know what I'm going to do. When we get the test results Monday I guess a decision will have to be made. I'm not gonna lie, a large part of me still believes she will pull through again, but I think I have to accept that she's on her way out. She weighs six pounds, is bald, her fur doesn't grow anymore, she's full of mats, she has arthritis in her hind legs, she has tumors (non cancerous) on her liver, she's definitely sick right now (green eye discharge) she's probably seventeen years old, her teeth aren't well (can't clean them - putting her under to do so would kill her) her urine/blood tests have been showing that she should probably be in the ICU for the last year... Up until now it's been manageable though.

This is going to sound absolutely insane, but I think she's scared of death. My other cats have been comfortable getting older and fading. My last cat it was almost a spiritual experience when we took him to the vet for the final goodbye. This one... It's like she doesn't believe in the afterlife. If I try to 'talk' to her and bring that peaceful energy (like you're coaxing her to let go) she gets upset. I know that's absolutely insane to say, but I swear I have an atheist cat. My other cats I've been able to help them through the process and soothe them while it happens. Even when she WAS dying she wouldn't let me try to sit and tell her it's okay. That's part of why I don't want to put her down. I feel like it would cause her more trauma in her final hours. My other cats were ready to go and had no problem with the vet. I feel like she would be terrified. And that's not an excuse to prolong things. She's just a different kind of cat.


On a side note, if you have a blind chicken, make sure they're isolated from the rooster. My rooster has been naughty lately and being mean to the hens. The blind girl had enough and attacked him. He's now covered in scabs, and she stalks him around the yard.

 

[FeebysOwner]

This is going to sound absolutely insane, but I think she's scared of death. My other cats have been comfortable getting older and fading. My last cat it was almost a spiritual experience when we took him to the vet for the final goodbye. This one... It's like she doesn't believe in the afterlife. If I try to 'talk' to her and bring that peaceful energy (like you're coaxing her to let go) she gets upset. I know that's absolutely insane to say, but I swear I have an atheist cat.

I am not sure that cats are either religious or atheists. They are by nature animals who on some level, unlike many humans, understand the cycle of life. Most humans try to understand all the mysteries there are, and I think most animals, instinctively, 'know'/accept what life/death is.

I think maybe your cat is like mine was - not afraid of death, but a strong desire to live, for whatever reason(s). However, having said that - humans who are afraid to die, do so anyway. And, that also happens with humans who have a strong desire to live, they too die anyway.

I think both of our cats are/were going through what is a natural process for THEM and them alone. It is all a matter of going through it with them, or deciding that you think ending it sooner rather than later is better. I made my choice, and you will have to make yours - those choices, whatever they may be, are the right one for each of us separately based on the uniqueness of our cat and ourselves.

If you think there is something else going on with her poop besides the change to mousse, since it was starting before you saw the vet - did you by chance mention it to them? Her eating more might be because she LOVES the new food and is excited to eat it. It also likely has even more moisture in it than canned foods, so that might explain the lack of water drinking.

Btw, were sub-Q fluids discussed?

Good for your little blind chicken!!!

 

[EveAndHerThieves]

I am not sure that cats are either religious or atheists. They are by nature animals who on some level, unlike many humans, understand the cycle of life. Most humans try to understand all the mysteries there are, and I think most animals, instinctively, 'know'/accept what life/death is.

I think maybe your cat is like mine was - not afraid of death, but a strong desire to live, for whatever reason(s). However, having said that - humans who are afraid to die, do so anyway. And, that also happens with humans who have a strong desire to live, they too die anyway.

I think both of our cats are/were going through what is a natural process for THEM and them alone. It is all a matter of going through it with them, or deciding that you think ending it sooner rather than later is better. I made my choice, and you will have to make yours - those choices, whatever they may be, are the right one for each of us separately based on the uniqueness of our cat and ourselves.

If you think there is something else going on with her poop besides the change to mousse, since it was starting before you saw the vet - did you by chance mention it to them? Her eating more might be because she LOVES the new food and is excited to eat it. It also likely has even more moisture in it than canned foods, so that might explain the lack of water drinking.

Btw, were sub-Q fluids discussed?

Good for your little blind chicken!!!

I'm sure it's not actually her being an atheist, that's just the best way I can explain it. I swear she's still around because she's stubborn. She doesn't seem to want to go, no matter how uncomfortable she is. She's still around today - in fact, she just jumped off the dresser to go eat food.
The vet is aware of her poop. He's waiting for the test results before we make any decisions. I've been home with kitty to make sure she's okay until then. The second her nausea meds wear off she's unhappy. I think if we can either sooth her stomach or get her on some pain meds, that will help. The vet thinks the poop might be ulcers again. She's had them once before. We just can't so anything until we know how sick she is. She might not tolerate some meds because of it.

She's a stubborn girl. I was sure I was going to lose her that day. Everyone was sure of it. For some reason she just decided not to yet.

 

[FeebysOwner]

It truly sounds a lot like Feeby. Once she was in the throes of her health issues, I started calling her my Timex kitty (takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin').

I hope you find something helpful for her if her stool is in fact a sign of her previous ulcers returning.