Does your Cat (or any pet) misbehave since caregiving your loved one?
Have you been required to take care of your loved one's pet after they have passed? Does your pet have cute antics that entertain your loved one?
And finally, has the cat or dog transferred their loyalty to your Mother?
Our vet (I've been taking animals to him for 20+ years) hypothesized from a scan that this was a tumor, not in a place where it could be needle biopsied. He would have had to have major abdominal surgery and that just seemed...cruel.
When I was a kid, our Collie got hit by a car on Christmas Eve. We were pretty poor and my dad hauled Lucky into the vet and said "Doc, do what you can...for $25.00".
The dog survived with conservative treatment.
I try hard to tread the path between not causing unnecessary suffering and not doing stuff on the cheap.
But, if I ever felt that their quality of life was being compromised I would do the right thing, however hard that would be. I've seen people taking animals in to the vet where the animal looked like it was on it's last legs. I know it's difficult but in the end doing what is best for your pet is important.
I would say that I have the same outlook on caring for an animal as you.
It does help to have a good vet. Our vet is a long time friend. His children and our children attended the same school, in the same classes, etc. They were always at our home or we were at their home. We live in the same neighborhood and attend the same church.
Even when our youngest daughter went off to college in another city, she drove back home to see our vet with her little poodle that she rescued. Her dog had Cushing’s disease in his older years. She was so torn as to what to do. He took meds but did not respond well to them.
I absolutely loved what our vet said to our daughter when she was questioning treatment. He told her that he had a patient come in and scream, “I hate my dog! Just euthanize him now! I can’t keep cleaning up accidents all day long!”
He told my daughter that her dog was very old. She loved him so much and he knew without a doubt that this woman didn’t ‘hate her dog.’ She had been a great with her dog. She was merely exasperated with the situation and was upset about having to put her dog down.
Anyway, he told my daughter, “Your dog is very old. He has an incurable disease. You have been wonderful with him. Don’t wait until you are so frustrated that you feel as if you hate him.” That advice really helped my daughter to make the decision to put him down. Poor little guy was starting to have accidents all day long too.
I get sad when I think about all the greyhounds that were euthanized before the adoption groups found homes. We had a wonderful grey that we adopted from, Greyhound Pets of America. That dog stole my heart! He lived until 13 years of age. He LOVED my mom. She loved him. She used to say that they understood each other because they were growing old together. They did have a very strong bond.
He was so smart! Mom said that he could tell time, hahaha. because he would stand in our foyer everyday, just before my daughter would arrive home from school, just waiting for her to play with him. It was the sweetest thing.
Merlin is a cute name for a cat who magically appears. I know someone who named a kitty, ‘Extra’ when he showed up one day. She already had a couple of cats, so this one was the extra one! LOL
I too have a cat called Merlin, a lovely intelligent black cat who is now 14 so getting on a bit. He’s just been diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease so is now on a special diet. I also have a tubby tabby called Arthur. He is very clingy so frequently drapes himself around my neck whenever I sit down. Watching TV is like wearing a big thick scarf indoors and I have to peer over the top of him to see the TV screen. It’s quite obvious who is in control in our house!
I bathed Divo, my 22yo. I found several things of concern. One infected spot hiding under his fur really sent me into a tizzy earlier. I called my vet but they are closed today, so I sent them an email with pics and I'm sure they'll respond asap. I was so concerned that he may need emergency treatment that I subscribed to an online vet consultation service and asked for input. That wasn't so helpful because all they said was, "Looks bad, could be bacterial; go to your vet." No kidding. :-/
I suspect it's fungal in origin after comparing pics online. I need pro input on how to prevent this going forward. My other cat doesn't have any of these issues. During a vet trip a few months ago, the vet didn't say anything about how Divo's fur is very oily and gets matted, how his skin flakes, nothing about skin concerns... so I thought it could be normal for an older cat.
Welp. I was/am upset. I will be much more proactive in the future about cleaning poor Old Man Cat. He hated the bath, it was traumatic for both of us lol, but he seemed fine afterwards and the spots aren't painful for him. I've been cleaning his spots and putting anti-fungal cream on several times today and I'll be taking him to vet asap. I will ask how to care for him better and prevent this.
My "elder cat care" is starting to resemble elder human care more -- with new issues to consider -- all the time. :-) I don't mind, I just need to know what to do.
You will see results within the first day, seriously this stuff is amazing.
I had a vet tell me about it because I was getting fed up with the 150.00 for a 1oz tube for treating a skin condition that wouldn't clear up. Within a week it was better, within a month it was gone, never to return. After a year and a couple grand on western medicine i spent less than 5.00 to clear the problem up.
Best of luck getting this dealt with.
Thanks for the tip about witch hazel, ITRR.
My friend thought his name was Old Man Cat because that's what I call him when I talk about him. lol Didn't realize the nickname came off as his name. He reminds me of a bossy, opinionated, demanding old guy... in a very cute cat way. :-)
I will do more baths and brushing in the future and maybe even have him shaved short again, if vet recommends, and start over with a proactive skin care plan. He's always had this very oily, flaky skin and I haven't known how to care for it.
I think Divo's problem isn't just because he never grooms himself. I think he has skin issues. His fur gets extremely oily and full of skin flakes. Brushing only gets the top layers of fur while the matting and clumps are happening underneath. He's been to the vet multiple times though, and there's never been any recommendation to adjust anything related to skin and fur care. I'm going to take him in and discuss those things and see what input I can get. I need a cat dermatologist for this one!
Divo needs to go to vet. He's had diarrhea the past few days... and that could be related to the infected spot I found on Saturday but maybe not. Either way, I need pro input. I called my vet again; they are too busy, no appointments. I understand that but now I need a new vet. I called a couple 24 hour places... I'm not sure emergency vet trip is needed after hours of more research and speaking to staff on the phone, and it would be pricey.
Researched several other local regular vets. Everyone's closed now and only open during my working hours. I'll call a couple tomorrow and see if I can get appt. If not, Divo will have to go to ER vet.
This is just one of several concerns I need to address ASAP. But of course, Divo's health is very important, so this one is a priority.
I'm just tired. And feeling defeated. And feeling sorry for myself and my cat.
I know it will be ok. I'm just tired and whiny and worried. Seems like ever since I started school I'm tapped. I work less so less income, and calling off a day when I'm only working a couple days a week plus vet expenses isn't helpful...
Lately Life has been rough, problems keep coming up at work and home, and poor kitty... it's been difficult to figure out his care needs at times.
I'm trying to count my blessings. Divo's issues are most likely due to an infection and hopefully easy to treat.
Ok, whine over. Tomorrow, one way or another, Divo goes to a vet. And I'll be ok because I'm a tough cookie. I shed some tears from tiredness/frustration but I won't stay down for long.
*Thanks* *Just venting/sharing*
I've got jealousies happening right now with my two boys. I have one (Daniel) who is a big, chunky, sucky tabby. He is an attention hog so lately I've been trying to show more love to Henrick cause he isn't as demanding so sometimes gets overshadowed. So now Daniel is feeling jealous. LOL
But getting back to you Ali. I hope you can get Divo in somewhere tomorrow.
Vet said Divo, at 22, is the oldest cat she's ever seen. I was really surprised by that. People online have reported cats who reach 25+.
Fully in Elder Cat Care territory at this point. Just have to go forward and see how Divo does in next few weeks and months. His mood is good and that makes me happy. He protested tons at the vet, they remarked on it. He's always like that when he doesn't appreciate humans' b.s. lol
As for me, I cried out of frustration/fatigue several times today. There was a long period in the past where I thought something could be off with me because I hadn't cried in years, couldn't cry even if I wanted to and the situation warranted it. I'm making up for lost time lately. lol I really appreciate the support. x
I had no idea your kitty was that old. Average age for most indoor cats is 15 so your little guy is doing well to be that old. I hope he perks up for you Ali.
Pumpkin was in a foul mood the other day - really having badly. They were out and I hadn't slept well so I went upstairs to rest and came down a couple of hours later. Pumpkin wanted in and then gave me looks that could kill, raced upstairs, then downstairs so I followed her to see how she was and tried to pet her and got hissed at. Talk about role reversals with the two cats. Rocky was the hisser. Now she is mild and cuddly as can be and Pumpkin is the touchy one. I think she was mad at me as I wasn't there to let her in and out exactly when she wanted it. Also, she gets jealous of Rocky. The next morning she didn't go out but slept in Rocky's spot near to me. I have been giving her lots of attention and things have settled down. Sibling rivalry!
I just have to say again... this feels like elder care in some ways. I have to adapt his environment to his changing needs. I don't mind. I hope the new box helps, though.
Divo peeing outside the box has been a bigger mess than the poop. That's a new habit for him. It runs everywhere and I clean and disinfect every time. He's drinks a lot of water and pees a ton. I'm anxious to see how a new bigger box works for him but it seems like it can only help.
Thankfully he's the only one of my two who does anything like this. The other one rarely has issues, only when she's been eating my plants. lol