I thought I would share my experience incase it helps others out there dealing with the end of their life. We are estimating was around 19 possible 20 years old, he was a rescue.
My oldest daughter brought him home from college as a rescue from an abusive ex-boyfriend. He had only lived in an apartment. We accepted the cat but were not happy about it at the time. But we fell in love with the orange tabby cat. We had an acre at the time and the first day he climbed a tree. We had our neighbor call letting us know an orange cat has been in a tree all day. We grabbed a ladder and helped him down. A few years later we moved to a farm 14 acres which 8 acre was fenced. Living out in the country surrounded by elk, deer, coyotes was a new experience for him as well as us. All animals needed to be in the house at night. We discovered we had a female lynx denning on the property and ever so often I would see her baby. Anyway for many years my cat West and this lynx would play games with each other. He would spray all over as well as her spraying marking our property. He would want out early morning to watch from the upper rocks waiting for her to come back. When he saw her he run back to the house as fast as he could. He did this for years. Those two had something which was crazy for an urban cat and a wild cat. The lynx was poached three years ago. He was so smart to survive surrounded by wild life. Most neighbors cats don't live very long here. He was always very healthy.
About two years ago he was diagnosed with hyp. thyroid level issues. Put him on medication. When checked they always stated his levels are better than healthy cats. Last summer around August he just returned from being outside. The forest fire smoke was at dangerous level, and I didn't realize he was out. He came in and had respiratory attach. Laid flat on his stomach with paws in front of his head and his tough hanging out hyperventilating I didn't know what to do. After half an hour I decided to try electrolytes (farm animal) I had in water and syringe the solution in his mouth. This did the trick he started snapping out of it. It took several hours for him to act normal again. Than last November, he had a seizure. He was totally not responsive. I started the electrolytes water solution again, every hour. This went on for two days. He recovered only for two days and had another seizure. Had to start all over again treating him. The vet told me to take him off his medication at this time. He took another three days syringe feeding and liquid. Lifting him to the litter box several times. I work at home so I was able to do this, not knowing if he would come out of a second time. He did. (Part 1 of 2). Sorry so long.
My oldest daughter brought him home from college as a rescue from an abusive ex-boyfriend. He had only lived in an apartment. We accepted the cat but were not happy about it at the time. But we fell in love with the orange tabby cat. We had an acre at the time and the first day he climbed a tree. We had our neighbor call letting us know an orange cat has been in a tree all day. We grabbed a ladder and helped him down. A few years later we moved to a farm 14 acres which 8 acre was fenced. Living out in the country surrounded by elk, deer, coyotes was a new experience for him as well as us. All animals needed to be in the house at night. We discovered we had a female lynx denning on the property and ever so often I would see her baby. Anyway for many years my cat West and this lynx would play games with each other. He would spray all over as well as her spraying marking our property. He would want out early morning to watch from the upper rocks waiting for her to come back. When he saw her he run back to the house as fast as he could. He did this for years. Those two had something which was crazy for an urban cat and a wild cat. The lynx was poached three years ago. He was so smart to survive surrounded by wild life. Most neighbors cats don't live very long here. He was always very healthy.
About two years ago he was diagnosed with hyp. thyroid level issues. Put him on medication. When checked they always stated his levels are better than healthy cats. Last summer around August he just returned from being outside. The forest fire smoke was at dangerous level, and I didn't realize he was out. He came in and had respiratory attach. Laid flat on his stomach with paws in front of his head and his tough hanging out hyperventilating I didn't know what to do. After half an hour I decided to try electrolytes (farm animal) I had in water and syringe the solution in his mouth. This did the trick he started snapping out of it. It took several hours for him to act normal again. Than last November, he had a seizure. He was totally not responsive. I started the electrolytes water solution again, every hour. This went on for two days. He recovered only for two days and had another seizure. Had to start all over again treating him. The vet told me to take him off his medication at this time. He took another three days syringe feeding and liquid. Lifting him to the litter box several times. I work at home so I was able to do this, not knowing if he would come out of a second time. He did. (Part 1 of 2). Sorry so long.