is cat trying to get out of house to die

m935

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just wondering if anyone heard of or has had a cat do this.
He was on couch with me all last night but last few days has wanted to go out of porch. Weve lived here for 18 years and he barely ever wants to do that. Even on the coldest night he went out for a few minutes.
Today when i came home he was at bottom of stairs at front door and wanted out. I brought him up, he went back down and is still there now. Is this a sign he is dying? 17 and not eating well
 

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just wondering if anyone heard of or has had a cat do this.
He was on couch with me all last night but last few days has wanted to go out of porch. Weve lived here for 18 years and he barely ever wants to do that. Even on the coldest night he went out for a few minutes.
Today when i came home he was at bottom of stairs at front door and wanted out. I brought him up, he went back down and is still there now. Is this a sign he is dying? 17 and not eating well
It's possible. Have you taken him to a vet to be examined? If you suspect something may be wrong that's your best option.
 

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Hi. I suppose that is possible. Gracie (RIP) was an indoor only cat. She had gotten out a couple of times, but never ventured far. In her last few days, she managed to sneak out of the house and 'toured' the immediate houses around mine - kind of like sowing her last wild oats. I found her and called to her and she returned. She died a few days later. BUT - and herein lies the difference - I knew she had cancer and knew she would eventually leave me.

Please, get him to a vet for a full geriatric exam before assuming he is dying. He might be ill, but it could very well be treatable. The sooner you can determine what is going on with him health-wise, the more likelihood for recovery, even at his age.
 
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m935

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sorry for your loss.
he was at the vet monday and has been much worse ever since. hes in kidney failure is now on pet tinic and fluids, along with pepcid to help him eat. (doesnt help as much as hoped) he was ok except for not eating well. he just ate at bottom of steps though. hes anemic with 3.81 rbc. i want him on epigen and my vet says i need a specialist for that. i dont think thats true!!
 
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FeebysOwner

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I'm sorry. Maybe ask the vet about anti-nausea meds instead of, or in addition to, pepcid? Good that he ate, even if it was at the bottom of the steps.

Just so you know, had I known Gracie wanted outside, I would not have let her go out. Even if what she wanted to do was die out there, I still wouldn't have let her. That's just me.
 
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m935

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thanks.. i dont understand why hes walking down the steps if he feels so bad and its a little colder down there. But i hate when this stuff happens on a weekend!! definitely calling vet monday.
Im not sure if your stating I shouldnt let him outside. Hes never been out.. so I wouldnt. :) Im glad you got to see Gracie before she passed. So wonderful she came home for you.
 

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You are so right about this stuff always seeming to happen when the vet's office is closed.

Is there a rug or something at the bottom of the stairs that he is laying on? Maybe find a similar type rug to place upstairs and see if he would use it instead?

Yeah, I was hoping you wouldn't let him outside. Maybe that is not the 'right' way to look at it, but given his health, he likely has no business being out there, regardless.

Keep us posted.
 
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m935

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You are so right about this stuff always seeming to happen when the vet's office is closed.

Is there a rug or something at the bottom of the stairs that he is laying on? Maybe find a similar type rug to place upstairs and see if he would use it instead?

Yeah, I was hoping you wouldn't let him outside. Maybe that is not the 'right' way to look at it, but given his health, he likely has no business being out there, regardless.

Keep us posted.
yes there is a very thick rug that hes laying on. Ill do anything to make him happy (except let him out) but im trying to prepare myself that he may be wanting to die. My vet asked if i wanted him put down on monday, when i thought he was like 80% fine and just getting fluids. Ive been a wreck ever since.
 

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yes there is a very thick rug that hes laying on. Ill do anything to make him happy (except let him out) but im trying to prepare myself that he may be wanting to die. My vet asked if i wanted him put down on monday, when i thought he was like 80% fine and just getting fluids. Ive been a wreck ever since.
Maybe bring the rug with you if/when you try to bring him upstairs again. If course, if he goes back down there and lays down, I would be following him - with the rug. (I know, I am crazy - cat crazy, at least).

If he is eating, I think that is a positive sign. I do know when both Gracie and Tawny were close to passing, neither of them wanted to eat at all.

I didn't see this earlier -
hes anemic with 3.81 rbc. i want him on epigen and my vet says i need a specialist for that. i dont think thats true!!
I think I would ask the vet why a specialist is needed, and if it is really true, can they contact one to help out? At least find out why your vet is reluctant.
 
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m935

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Maybe bring the rug with you if/when you try to bring him upstairs again. If course, if he goes back down there and lays down, I would be following him - with the rug. (I know, I am crazy - cat crazy, at least).

If he is eating, I think that is a positive sign. I do know when both Gracie and Tawny were close to passing, neither of them wanted to eat at all.

I didn't see this earlier -

I think I would ask the vet why a specialist is needed, and if it is really true, can they contact one to help out? At least find out why your vet is reluctant.
Hes only eating gerber chicken. I bought him beechnut yesterday and had to return it since he didnt like it. But he did eat hills dry a few hours ago - shocking.
yeah im crazy angry about the vet's weirdness on this med. if this will save my cat - i find it wrong! i only spoke to a vet tech on wednesday about it. I will have vet on phone to talk it out... but i dont know what to say! she could just argue.
Thanks for your time in helping me. Im gonna check on him
 

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OK! Last time I will 'bug' you (for now), I promise!! Gerber has cornstarch in it for thickening, so maybe that is why he likes it better. Gerber ham seems to be a big hit too. Look to see if you can find Tiki Cat Mousse - a complete cat food, so it has all the applicable nutrients in it. It is similar in consistency as the baby food meat. Also, Sheba Perfect Portions in pate is pretty good and similar consistency. Nutro also has one very much the same as Sheba.

Talking to the vet might be more productive. I have found talking to some of the other people in a vet's office is like talking to a brick wall sometimes. Point blank ask the vet why not at this point!!!!
 
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m935

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OK! Last time I will 'bug' you (for now), I promise!! Gerber has cornstarch in it for thickening, so maybe that is why he likes it better. Gerber ham seems to be a big hit too. Look to see if you can find Tiki Cat Mousse - a complete cat food, so it has all the applicable nutrients in it. It is similar in consistency as the baby food meat. Also, Sheba Perfect Portions in pate is pretty good and similar consistency. Nutro also has one very much the same as Sheba.

Talking to the vet might be more productive. I have found talking to some of the other people in a vet's office is like talking to a brick wall sometimes. Point blank ask the vet why not at this point!!!!
I GREATLY appreciate your input. (i brought him upstairs and hes chilling on bed). THANKS so much for the recs. I have a lot of stuff to do in next few days... shopping, flipping out on vet. :)
Im worried about taurine. i was told baby food has some...
 

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Is this a sign he is dying?
Hi! I guess it isn't an enclosed porch?
There's no way to know, but if you have a marshmallow bed or can make a bed with blankets or towels when he's there in front of the door it might help him be a little more comfortable, even though that rug is thick.

Human baby food, as far as I know, does not have taurine. There is taurine powder available, but if he's eating kibble you're likely fine.
There maybe something here that helps, within the specs of his kidney issues;
Any Good Tips To Get Your Cats To Eat? Share Them Here!

There also might be some help here, including their support group;
Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease - Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Cat
 
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m935

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Hi! I guess it isn't an enclosed porch?
There's no way to know, but if you have a marshmallow bed or can make a bed with blankets or towels when he's there in front of the door it might help him be a little more comfortable, even though that rug is thick.

Human baby food, as far as I know, does not have taurine. There is taurine powder available, but if he's eating kibble you're likely fine.
There maybe something here that helps, within the specs of his kidney issues;
Any Good Tips To Get Your Cats To Eat? Share Them Here!

There also might be some help here, including their support group;
Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease - Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Cat
thank you! well its a balcony, but he can not get away. He just sits out there. I figured i may have to get him a taurine supplement. thanks for hte links.
 

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just wondering if anyone heard of or has had a cat do this.
He was on couch with me all last night but last few days has wanted to go out of porch. Weve lived here for 18 years and he barely ever wants to do that. Even on the coldest night he went out for a few minutes.
Today when i came home he was at bottom of stairs at front door and wanted out. I brought him up, he went back down and is still there now. Is this a sign he is dying? 17 and not eating well
Hi, this is in response to your original question. My father gave a kitten, Tiffany, to mother before I was born. By the time I had gone to college at 18 she was past 21 years old, she knew me when I was a baby! My mom said just as I had left for college, she kept trying to go down the driveway, like maybe she saw me drive off, I'm not sure why she would do that because she never did before! About 2 weeks after I had left she disappeared. It was the worst thing ever not knowing what had happened and I was a little mad at my parents because they let her out. I know it was an accident and it was probably her time, and maybe it was the "natural order" of things for her wanting to disappear, but I really wish to have known she had passed in the comfort of her own home.

Sorry to be a debbie downer, just my experience, I know you're keeping him safe. I hope he pulls through and is comfortable.
 

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he was at the vet monday and has been much worse ever since. hes in kidney failure is now on pet tinic and fluids, along with pepcid to help him eat.
i want him on epigen and my vet says i need a specialist for that. i dont think thats true!!

Pepcid just helps with acid reflux. Mirtazapine is the most common appetite stimulant vets give.

What is epigen? The only thing I could find online is Wysong Epigen cat food but I don't think you mean that. If it's a medicine, any vet can prescribe it. If your vet doesn't feel comfortable prescribing it, you can seek out another vet for a second opinion. An internal medicine vet is usually the "specialist" for all sorts of complicated conditions such as kidney failure.
 

FeebysOwner

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What is epigen?
Actually, that is epogen. Cats with kidney disease can often have anemia and these are the cases where epogen can help to get the red cell level up. The reason for this is that cats in kidney failure will often not produce a substance in their kidneys called erythropoietin which is partly produced in the kidneys.
 
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m935

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I GREATLY appreciate your input. (i brought him upstairs and hes chilling on bed). THANKS so much for the recs. I have a lot of stuff to do in next few days... shopping, flipping out on vet. :)
Im worried about taurine. i was told baby food has some...
THANK YOU AGAIN! I bought the sheba portions today and he ate right away. He didnt eat it all. I guess thats ok. Although I am prepared for him to turn his nose at it later. Thats been the problem. I thought he was going to eat the whole rx bag of dry food that night and now could care less. Hopefully Ill have a prescription for at least Mirtazapine by this time tomorrow.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME - I couldnt have gotten thru this weekend without you!!! Id rather pay you guys what I pay for the worthless vets in my town.
ONE last important question... how concerned should i be that it seems hes not sleeping! Friday he was asleep almost all day and I felt he was in trouble. as i watched over him yesterday i realized hes just laying around.. but not falling asleep. Is this pain related??? Thanks
 
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FeebysOwner

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how concerned should i be that it seems hes not sleeping! Friday he was asleep almost all day and I felt he was in trouble. as i watched over him yesterday i realized hes just laying around.. but not falling asleep. Is this pain related??? Thanks
He is probably 'cat napping' (no pun intended, really). A lot of times it would seem Feeby is sleeping, but she really isn't. My husband calls her the 'faker'. He will attempt to talk to her and she seems like she is in a deep sleep, so he walks away. The minute his back is turned to her, she makes a move, be that putting her head up to watch him walk away or just re-positioning herself. Apparently, she was just relaxing, or at least that is how I look at it.

Use the check list Furballsmom Furballsmom gave you and see what you think. But, tbh, before you became really, really worried about him, can you honestly say you paid as much attention to his 'behaviors' as you do now?

I could be wrong, but a cat who so uncomfortable that he can't sleep probably would be too uncomfortable to eat at all. How is he doing, btw, with his food? Also, is he still using the bed to chill on?
 
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