Rough Scenario With My Oldest Cat

My oldest cat, Midget, who is 18 years old which equates to around 88 human years is coming to the end of her story and is in a tough spot.

So, I am just coming here to blow off some steam because both other times I posted about cats passing the folks of ATS really helped . Additionally their are so many posts of people who have had pets die and the friends/enemies here put everything aside to just give good words.

About a week ago the right side of her face started swelling and she started drooling substantially more than normal. Recently the drool has more of a bloody color to it and a bad odor. She was previously diagnosed with Stomatits and CRF which is fairly common when cats get this old. Everything dies and the average life expectancy of an indoor non-exotic breed of cat is around 16 years so she has had a long peaceful life that I have tried to be a good friend for her.

The reality of it is with how aggressive oral cancer is in cats plus the symptoms my guess is that is what is going on. Even if it turns out to be 100% dental related it's still tough. Treatment risks need to be weighed though thanks to my career cost is not an issue so I would pay whatever I have to but the most important thing you can do for a pet or really any loved one is to not prolong any suffering they are experiencing for selfish reasons.

I guess what Im saying is it sucks watching a beloved pet moving towards the inevitable end of a long life together.

I made the mistake once of waiting to long and when we needed help the vet was unavailable.
Hope yours goes more peacefully!

I'm so sorry to hear about MIdget.
Good and healing thoughts for you and her......

She certainly is a senior citizen of the cat world.
But that face/mouth thing sounds at best uncomfortable for her.
What does the vet say?
Is she in pain?
I would guess any dental procedure would require anesthesia....and I wonder if she could handle that?

sorry to hear about that. like you said, all you can really do is weigh what's best for her and her quality of life.... it's never easy, but it sounds like you've given her a wonderful life and a lot of love.

/hugs

a reply to: opethPA

Cats are incredible animals.

When we see the window closing on their lives it is our side of this good and at times odd and funny partnership to be brave enough to do what is unthinkable.

Sounds like Midget has had a good life.

Sorry to hear your midget isn't doing well opethPA. We have two younger cats (4 & 5) and I try to enjoy their company as much as humanly possible.

Hope everything works out, and I would recommend talking to a vet and getting their input as far as treatment possibilities go. Either way, I am sure midget has enjoyed your friendship and company and trusts you to do what is best for her.

Best of luck,

JB

a reply to: opethPA

Very sorry to hear this. Lot's of us here going through this lately. As hard as it is, try not to let Midget suffer to long if pain is there. My dog got cancer of the bladder and prostate 2 weeks ago... the option to treat it was made available, but it would not cure. Couldn't put my dog through that. He was 12 yrs old.

Love on Midget and know if you come to the inevitable decision... I trust you'll make the right choice.

Warm thoughts to you.😑

Pretty sad when the cat gets sick and you can't help it. We got cats, had one die when it was only sixteen but he somehow screwed up his back like his dad did the year before and got paralized in the back end. I guess it was a blood clot that did them in. His dad was about nineteen and in great shape, jumping off the freezer probably got him. Sad times. The rest of the cats we had all lived over twenty, the one sitting next to me is about twenty one. It sucks when they die, we have a regular cemetary and I make coffins and headstones. I am thinking no more cats when these are gone, I really hate when they die now, they are part of our family.

a reply to: opethPA

I am so sorry to hear about Midget. It sounds like she has had a good life, and you have been a faithful friend. My 7 year old Basset Hound had to have a few teeth pulled this summer, and she was totally miserable for about three days... In pain, drooling blood and saliva, whining... it was bad. But she got through it. Sounds like a crappy way to end a good long run such as she has had. You have to do what your heart tells you to do. You do not want to prolong any dental issues. That is some of the worst pain for humans anyways. Good luck man.

So sorry you are going through this heartache. I've had to make hard decisions for both older cats and dogs that were my family. I kept putting off the inevitable because I loved them so much. I hate looking back and realizing I should have made the hard decision sooner knowing they were in pain. Hardest decisions I have ever made-much worse than deciding on divorce. Please know you are not alone in having to do what needs to be done. It will hurt and I am so sorry. I do try to focus on the all the love my pets have given me and for that I am oh so grateful. Peace be with you in the coming days.

a reply to: opethPA

Thats awful, on the upside you had a good 18 years with the kitty, I hope whatever you do ends painlessly and easy for all involved.

a reply to: opethPA
Sorry to hear about your cat. I hope it's just an abscessed tooth.

This is why I come here.. I dont agree with everyone, by nature im a skeptic , I dont jump to conspiracies yet every time I have come here looking for some unbiased and solid words all of you have always delivered.

It makes a difference and I cant say thank you enough. =)

The first vet I took Midget to earlier in the week did blood work and gave her an antibiotic hoping that it's a dental infection. Anyone with a cat knows that during the best of times feline dental work isnt easy so factor in obvious pain for her and the only option would be to sedate her. Given her advanced age plus kidney numbers the vet wasnt willing to risk that approach so she hoped the antibiotic would work but sadly she hasnt really responded to that .

Since she is still in discomfort , drooling and obviously hungry but struggling to eat due to the food Im going to take her to a Vet ER near me in the next hour. As I have said in all my posts about about pets the most important responsibility we have as their human friends is to make sure to end their suffering in a humane manner when their are no other options.

I hope I dont come back saying that i had to make that choice but either way I know my virtual friends here will be there.

a reply to: opethPA
She's having trouble with soft food?

I hope you don't have to make that choice. It's a hard one. As you said; though, if she's suffering and nothing can be done, there's nothing else to do but make it quick and painless. Good luck.

As a total cat person, I feel your pain.
I have 2 meows myself, Rocky and Adrienne.

Im praying the vet ER has some good news and that Midget comes back home with you.

a reply to: opethPA

Hoping for a good outcome.
Praying you have the strength whatever you must decide.

---hugs---

a reply to: opethPA

Sorry to hear that! Long life for a cat, really. My brother had one that was a little older, and no major issues, but she disappeared at one point, and he assumed she went off to die alone. Sad, in any case, especially when you have had the animal around for so long.

Cost, totally your call, especially if you can afford it, but you have to weigh the benefit to the cost, and also the risks. We had a dog we put down, some years back, with too many issues to treat. We did try with some, but when, even with treatment, she was always in pain, it was time. I couldn't bear the look in her eyes, wanting that to stop. Couldn't take her in, either; had the hubby do it. Bad enough saying goodbye at home.

I'd say, since cost isn't a problem, talk to a vet, and see what they think. If she's treatable, might be a good plan, and with a smell from the problem in her face, you want to look at that anyway. A bad odor is usually not a good sign.

Sympathies, in any case! The loss is coming, one way or another, at her age.

I took her to the vet earlier today and after discussing based on the symptoms I decided to not put her through bloodwork, xrays or too much strain since their is no hope of beating time let alone cancer or kidney issues. To that end Im focused on keeping her quality of life , for as long as it is , as calm and peaceful for her as possible.

Things I was able to confirm with the vet without needing invasive testing:

She has a substantial abscess in her mouth along the jaw line that coupled with severe Stomatitis is contributing to her eating issues + drooling. That abscess could be a function of either cancer or some other origin but in the end, it doesnt matter with her being that old.

Did some under the skin fluids, a Convenia shot, clindamycin and mild pain meds along with switching her to an AD/KD diet all with the intention to make her last few days or weeks as quiet and calm as possible.

I have a follow up appointment with the vet in 3 weeks to assess though if I feel in anyway she is suffering or her quality of life has been compromised by that time then it will be a long lonely ride home that day..


I cant thank my ATS friends enough...so many good words and kind posts around this...Every single one of you that said something, even the comment about Fentanyl near the start subsequently removed, took time from your lives to at least read this and give me your thoughts and that means the world. =)

a reply to: opethPA

I guess what you heard wasn't a big surprise.
Enjoy the remaining time with Midget. I hope between the fluids, new food and pain meds she will perk up a bit.

[[hugs]] to you both.