Poor Kitty

[dancerjodi]

I came home to find our bed puked on by Max. Seeing how our duvet was across the room on a bureau, I'm guessing Max did it in the morning, woke Brian up, and he moved the duvet (since it was the only thing not puked on). The sheets and blanket are in the wash now, and a new set is on the bed (incidentally as I found out tonight, with stains from last week's puking - that's OK, I didn't need to keep those new flannel sheets stain free . . . you know, the ones I mentioned with the bunnies in the snow?).

It seems that Max is puking up any people food that he gets in him. We've stopped giving him food from the table when he begs, but he gets a bit of tuna in the morning before his insulin shot. Its the only way we can reliably get him to eat each morning, and he has to have food in him for the insulin to do its thing safely (his sugar is too high, and if he gets the shot on an empty stomach it will drop too fast, dangerously low). I'm not sure what to do, because cleaning up puke on a daily basis is getting tiring.

This is kind of like his missing the litterbox issue. Changing daily, putting puppy pads underneath is at least protecting our floor. Still, its a pain in the butt (and pretty expensive). Such is life when you have an elderly cat I guess. I'd never consider *not* doing this. Still, its been tough.

I've had Max for all of his kitty life - all 20 years of it. I'm not sure how long we'll have him but I feel in my gut it won't be very long. Its hard to express why - I just now. Him having issues keeping food down and him having issues climbing into his litterbox (and losing so much weight that his hip boness are pretty visible - his whole spine isn't yet thankfully) are definte new things. He's not in pain, not really sick (just old), and he's not doing the flakey/spacey things cats do just before their time. Still, something's going on. Its nothing any vet could fix.

This is so sad :(. I've lost many pets before, but this will be the toughest whenever the time comes. I'm trying to prepare myself for it (and figure out what the hell to do with our cat's excretions in the meantime).

Comments

[julishka.livejournal.com]

awww. i'm so sorry for your kitty! :( btw, i don't know which would be cheaper, but the puppy pads are also sold in pharmacies for use by the elderly (the original source of them, they were for people before puppies). my guess might be that they're cheaper for people than pets.


my cat was puking around thanksgiving. it was a food related issue. (or maybe just a kitty bug?) he definitely stabilized now. he's making the box and not puking. (i've put him on the purina indoor cat formula. it's definitely a hit, but might be too carb loaded for a diabetic cat.)

best wishes to max the cat.

[rubicat.livejournal.com]

Could you use Nutrical as a morning feed option? He may find it palatable, or perhaps he may not like a change like that... one of Amanda's clients has a 24-year old cat that has the most draining schedule, with his food, medications, and bathroom habits. I find it wonderful that some people are willing to see that their pets are taken care of in their older, more challenging years instead of just putting them to sleep. You guys are wonderful kitty parents!

[synaesthesia.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry Max isn't doing well right now. :/

Have you tried a high-quality soft food in place of the tuna? Our guys go crazier for Wellness turkey&salmon than anything else I've seen (okay, except for cheese!).

[tk7602.livejournal.com]

way back when this all started, we had him eating a soft food, but he didn't always go for it. i'm thinking we need to try out some other brands. the tuna seems to be too much for him now.

he's been on a sensitive stomach cat food for a while now, so i think this is just the next step.

[evilbirdgirl.livejournal.com]

probably a/d or maxcal would be the tastiest wet food. is he on m/d (i haven't looked through his record yet...hee), because there is a wet m/d. have you tried heating the canned food before giving it to him? cat's prefer these foods warm so they smell (smelly foods are more atractive...).

[evilbirdgirl.livejournal.com]

i forgot to say that you can also try baby food. (second stage, chicken or lamb...) some cats like that and its very bland, so easy on the stomach.

[ggirl.livejournal.com]

Aww..that's so sad. I know how difficult it must be. I've only had my cats for a little over 3 years (and I never had pets until the age of 26 because my mom wanted to spare us from the pain of losing one, and the fact that we lived in an apt. bldg. in Queens that didn't allow them..) but I already freak out if they're sick. When my cat had his urinary issues and needed surgery in Sept. I cried a lot. I felt more pain and love than I knew possible for an animal. Try to let yourself feel the emotions and don't block them out. Do what you can and recognize when Max really is doing more suffering than living..

[fieryredhead.livejournal.com]

Urg, sorry that Max isn't doing well. I can't imagine being where you are now, it hurts too much.

Thinking of you.

[dee-cee.livejournal.com]

Awww, poor Max. My good thoughts go to you and the kitty.

I've tried writing a few times, and have deleted, what I'm trying to convey as empathy without causing more heartache.

I know where you are right now; been there, had the wee-wee pads under the litter box. You're good pet parents for caring for Max right now.

Hugs and good wishes,
Daley

[tobi.livejournal.com]

=/ I'm sorry Max isn't doing well. Though, I still think all you've done for him over the past few years is amazing. He's lived a much longer life because you guys have been so good to him.