Decline

[Bkitty]

Beener has had a significant decline mentally the past week. I noticed that he was not really eating. He now has to be spoon fed and only can chew soft food. He would stand around the bowl at feeding time and act like he really did not know what to do. He would take some crunchy food in his mouth and roll it around and spit it out. I moistened it with some water and mixed with some wet food and he ate great!!! I have been feeding him ever since Tuesday. He also appears "disorientated" sometimes and just stands there looking at the wall not sure where to go. He is sleeping more and longer. I initiated the pain medication routinely for pain management as he has been "bunny hopping" down the stairs and his gait is a little uneven. He has periods of increased energy and will play and run around-but even those are getting less and less frequent. His hearing is not great-I don't think. I can call him and he will not arouse. Only when I place my hand on him -then he arouses. He is drooling a lot. He may have some dental issues but at his age-there is not much you can do. He also has a small amount of bright red blood in his stool (he poops on a puppy pad so  I see it). Again,,the vet said not to worry. He "seems" comfortable. Am I wrong for not having him put down? I just don't feel that he is quite there yet. I also assist him with grooming and he has a hard time turning and reaching his hind quarters. I clean him with Pet wipes. His coat is shiny and eyes are bright. His ear is still floppy but the hematoma is much smaller. Again,,he is not a candidate for surgical repair. He snuggles with Zachary and I notice the other kitties keep there distance a little. The minute I feel that he is suffering I will have him put down. I am not being selfish,,,Am I?
***** getting old.

[opus88]

my gosh you are a brave lady taking in all 6 kitties at one time...that must have been a day in itself to manage...wow.
thankfully they all got a pretty great bill of health, even Beener is doing remarkably well. as for the weight issues and a diet...excess weight is usually due to feeding dry kibble, its so full of carbs...but I do think you feed some can food also don't you?
a diet of canned/grain free food is a much healthier way to reduce weight than the old food restriction route..
thanks for the update, good vibes for little Gizmo going in for his surgery next week...maybe that will settle the little terror down?...what a sweetie:)

[Bkitty]

VET VISIT UPDATE: All 6 babies were taken to the vet yesterday. Oh my! Next time I am going to do 3 & 3. Poo samples were obtained prior to the visit from each cat and appropriately marked. That's not easy! Included me stalking each cat for hours,,gagging & dry heaving. Alas! We are worm free! Beener, Zachary & Milo have earmites again! I can handle that! They were given the "blue" tube of medication once again-hopefully it will work! Zachary is underweight at 8lbs. Blood was drawn to check for diabetes, thyroid issues, etc. Pending still. He has earmites.
Elmo had all his shots and is set up for his neuter next week! He is as healthy as a horse!
Beener is plugging along. Has some dental issues that we will monitor for now. His care will remain the same. Beener weighed in at 28lbs! His ear hematoma is sloooowwwlly resolving. His ear is still flopped! LOL
Milo weighed in at 26lbs! He is healthy but overweight and needs diet food. He has earmites
Pepper is short and portly and weighed in at 18lbs. Healthy as a horse! He has allergies in his eyes so his eyes are sensitive to light and weep but the vet doesn't want to do anything just yet.
Gizmo is healthy and weighed in at 13lbs

Beener goes back in 3 months. Otherwise we are free for a year! Of course with 6 cats there is always some drama! The Vet did cut meal a deal and the grand total was in the range of $500.

Just wanted to update you all. You are all a part of my life and my babies life and that means so much to me!

[chacha104]

When my cat was having a hard time eating dry food and didnt want to drink. I added luke warm water to canned food mushing it up with a fork till it was like a gravy. He ate very well and enjoyed it. I also fed him less more often.

[Jade59]

My thoughts are with everyone with the vet visit, but especially Beener.  Let us know how he did when you have a chance.  I am so imagining your household! LOL

We all love you, Bkitty! ♥

[Bkitty]

Aww thanks! Its never a dull moment in our home. Zachary was drinking out of the blue toilet water with bleach yesterday. Elmo got out this morning and came back with a baby bunny. Gizmo got into the xmas ornaments (the small ones for the baby tree) jumps on top of the fridge and drops them so we have glass fragments all over. Beener pooped on top of the trash can lid. That was all in the past 24 hours!

[AppleBr]

Girl , you are a great cat mom.
Babies , teens or seniors - you're now in the 3rd grade of the Cat's care Course...Hope I last to reach that!
Beener and the kids are lucky cats in having such a lovely person!
Hugs!

[Piparskeggr]

My thoughts with you and Beener, you are a special soul.

[Jade59]

With your loving care, bkitty, Beener's got some good quality time left.  Sending up prayers for your boy~ ♥

[Bkitty]

I just called the Vet again (I have him on speed dial-he prob regrets giving me his cell #) to ask again if I was being selfish by keeping Beener. He again reassured me that Its normal for cats to get old and that all this is a normal part of the aging process and like humans-the older one gets-they require more assistance and care. He said that Beener is otherwise healthy even though he has arthritis and dementia. He said I could have him put down if I wanted to-he understands that caring for a senior cat is time consuming and not easy. A lot of people just don't want to deal with it.
I said no way!! I will care for him. I don't mind at all! He said he wants to see him every 3 months-which he does already-and he will tell me when its time or something else happens-whichever happens first. He said people generally don't have the time/will/patience to care for senior cats but that those that do-your kitty can live a few more years!
He also said that if Beener stops eating all together that would be a sign to that something is not quite right. Its normal for the appetite to decrease and for them to lose some weight. Actually in Beener's case he has gained weight. He said that a mild antidepressant can help them sometimes and boost their appetite or a steroid will help too. I decided that since Beener is eating when I feed him-I am not worried and will stick to the glucosamine chew tabs/ tramadol as needed for the pain management. This isn't going to be easy but I will do whatever Beener needs me to do even if it includes me wiping his butt!! LOL. Thanks Opus for all the great info.

We live in the "country" so the Vet we see if very experienced and conservative. I like that. Being that we have 6 cats we give him great business esp with Elmo and Zachary and their issues the past year! By the way Elmo is a little terror! He is set up for his neuter in 2 weeks -he got all his shots yesterday. It cant come soon enough! He is horrible! Always getting into trouble and bugging the other cats! He is going to be a big boy! He already is the same weight as Zachary and he is not even a year old! He is 6 months! He is tall and long. He loves to lay with his arms and legs stretched out-its soooo funny and he sleeps upside down! He will hang off the bed/couch/pillow. He does not like when momma tries to snuggle him or give kisses-he pushes me away! LOL

[Bkitty]

Thank YOu OPUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are wonderful! Ill check out these sites!

[opus88]

the one biggest thing I can tell you for Beener and all the other kitties is urinary tract formula prescription diets are all WRONG.....the very best thing you can do for them and their urinary tract is to feed wet food.....the prescription diets are absolute CRAP..to put it plainly lol. the Vet on the following site says even the cheapest can food is better than the most expensive dry food. It does NOT have to be Blue Buffalo.

water is the key to urinary tract health. and kibble has only 12% water, cans have 78%...NO amount of drinking will compensate for this lack of moisture. Dry food dehydrates them so badly.

please read this for your kitties sake!!!

http://www.catinfo.org/

I also will try and find a site I had once on senior kitty care. as soon as I find it I will post it....♥

[Bkitty]

I believe I will know in my heart when its time. I do not mind at all caring for him. I am open to any and all suggestions on how to care for a senile/senior kitty as well. I am so grateful for your support and everyone here.
I will stick to wet food only. I need to find one that also is urinary tract protective too. I feed the boys the urinary tract formula-hard food. They don't like Blue Buffalo.

[opus88]

awww this is so sad to read, poor little Beener. he's declining yes and its so very hard to watch someone we love going down. I think he may well be having dental issues...thus the drooling and eating better when fed wet food, the crunchy food just hurts too much, feed him solely canned food.

You are doing what you can dear, with the good maintenance and the pain meds...just keep him comfortable, I think you will know when he's just had enough and its time.

my love to you both♥

[Bkitty]

Oh the Vet said a lot of times people have their pets put down when they get like this because of the age and that they require more assistance. He said Beener can live a while longer but just needs help with things. I don't mind at all. He said some people just don't have the time, desire to do this.