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1287340 tn?1272155074

Feeding tube

My cat has a feeding tube in place. Sometimes when I uncap the tube air comes out and my cat gags. Am I doing something wrong.  Thanks
11 Responses
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541150 tn?1306033843
Aw....Boo and you have bonded since day one. That is so sweet. I can tell you loved him very much.  Sounds like you took the time to raise him and his siblings the best way possible, and give them care and attention equally.

I'm sure he is in a happy place where he can't feel any pain. He is probably looking down, sending you lots of purrs and hairballs :-)
All of your cats are in a very special place now. I truly believe they go to a happy place where they can chase lizards and other small animals...and run around, and just be happy. I think all of us on here believe it. It's impossible not to think that such wonderful creatures cross over the rainbow bridge.

R.I.P Boo.
Helpful - 0
1287340 tn?1272155074
Thank you so much for your post.

Boo Bear was born at my home. I had lots of cages in my garage and I fostered the unwanted moms and their babies until ready to spay, neuter and place. Boo Bears mom was a tiny all black cat. Boo was the first born and he was so big I had to help him out.  The three to follow were tiny black babies.  It was so funny to see Boo try to get all the milk.  I would have to take him out so the others could feed.  I fell in love with him and had to keep him.

The vet said he was most likely part M. C., and that cats can have a litter with more than one daddy.


Boo was a real hoot, he would play for hours in his water, licking the water off his paws and splashing. He hated his claws cut and cried like a baby, even though it wasn't hurting.  He had so much hair I would have to trim his back end to keep him clean and that was a three man job.

Thanks so much for letting me share, it helps a lot




Helpful - 0
541150 tn?1306033843
Maine Coon...my favorite breed. I would love to own one; but prefer to own cats from shelters, rescue organizations (from someone like you, for example) or homeless, stray ones. Your cat must have been gorgeous. And you were a great mom to him. I wish we had more people like you in this world.

I knew you had some great stories for us. Feel free to share more as you remember. Here on this forum we support each other, laugh with each other, and we all share the same way of thinking: Cats are great pets They deserve to be loved and cared for. Rescuing kitties is the greatest act of kindness and love.

God bless you.
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784382 tn?1376931040
im so sorry for your loss... you should come to the new pet forum... i put a poem on there and im sure it will make you cry but hopefully put your heart at rest just a little bit...
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1287340 tn?1272155074
Thank you so much for your kind words. I loved him very much. He was a big beautiful Main Coon with a wonderful personality. For the last two days of Boo Bears life I told him goodby in my heart so many times, I could tell by his eyes he was not going to be here long. My one guilt is that when they told me I should let him go and asked if I wanted to be with him I couldn't do it. I knew if I looked in his face again I could not let him go. I just wish I could have been strong enough to be with him.

Yes, I have many stories. I worked with shelters and fostered many mom cats and her kittens for over 15 years. We live in a wooded area and have had many animals dropped off. Some even in carriers lol, I think the word got around that I would take them in. I have captured at least 20 feral kittens, tamed them, had them spayed and neutered and placed them in homes.

I just wish people would think about what happens to the unwanted pets that they throw  away. They get rid of their responsability and give it to someone else to deal with. I think about all the animals that don't find a place of refuge and perish and it breaks my heart.
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541150 tn?1306033843
Please receive my deepest condolences. Sounds like he went through a lot, and needed to rest. You don't have to question yourself. You gave me attention and care, and sometimes we can only do so much for them. Sometimes it's best to just let go and let them be at peace. He was probably the happiest cat in the block when he was younger. You gave him that!

I commend you for rescuing kitties. You must have some really good stories to share.

You should be part of this community!
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874521 tn?1424116797
Oh I am so sorry you had to put you're beloved kitty down...but you did the right thing IMO. there just comes a time when if theres not much hope left than we have to think 'what is in the best interests of my friend?' and you did that. You tried you're best and thats all you can do....Boo knows he was loved and well taken care of, same as for the others you have lost recently, its darn hard to get over the feeling of quilt that maybe we could/should have done more, but remember you did you're best and did what was right for him...
We have a 'PET GRIEF' forum for us who have lost our dear friends, it would help you to join in with others who have recently gone thru the same.
scroll way down on the right side of this screen, you will see a box titled PET GRIEF SUPPORT. hope this helps.
(hugs)
Helpful - 0
1287340 tn?1272155074
The above comment is for you, sorry I didn't put your name in. As I reread my post I noticed That I said he had something that could be cured, and it should have been that it was most likely something that could not be cured.  Thanks again.
Helpful - 0
1287340 tn?1272155074
Thank you for your comment. I had to put Boo Bear down Wed. evening. It was so very hard to do and I'm still hopeing it was the best for him. He started loosing weight a few months ago. He was 20 lbs. 8 months ago, not a fat cat, just a very large boned one, but his was starting to get very round in the middle. When he started getting smaller I didn't worry about it too much. A few months ago Boo started just picking at his food and I tried everything I could but he just kept eating less and less.

I took him to the vet several times during this and his liver , lungs, the x-rays show nothing abnormal.His blood work was off some, and his red blood down some. I tried for 3 weeks to feed him with a syringe but he was getting so stressed. His bm's had a lot of blood and mucus and he had 3 rounds of antibiotics for that. When he went down to 10 lbs the vet decided to put in a feeding tube.He did pretty good the first day but started throwing up and I took him back. They did more x-rays and saw something on his lungs and said it looked like he getting some fluid and gave him meds for that. It was worse the next day, took him back. This went on for 4 days.

I deceded to take him to Metro, a very large animal hospital and the said his feeding tube was in his stomach. It should not be in there but just befor the stomach. He had the tube replaced and was there for three days. He was doing better and for a week after he was home everything was doing pretty well. No one could find out what was going on. The general opinion was that he had a cancer going on somewhere. He started getting weaker and would just wander around looking for a place to lay. He wouldn't come to me anymore and didn't want me to mess with him. He started breathing heavy and mouth breathing. I took him back to Metro and they said they could keep him and do more test. He had a heart mummer and gallop. Steroids were an option but could put him in heart failure. I asked their opinion and was told he could have every test and may not know and that he most likely had something that could be cured. I had to make the decision and I had to let him go. I'm having a lot of melt-downs and wander if I could have saved him if I kept going. It was well over 3,000 and going to be at least 2,000 more to do all the heart workups and tests etc. It is a shame money has to be an issue but in our economy today its a hard call.

Boo was only 8 yrs old. He was one of my rescues. Last summer I had to put down a 16 yr. old and a few months his brother. My 13 yr. old dog passed two months ago and now Boo. It has been very exhausting and I still have other three cats to take care of. I love my guys and all are rescues.

Sorry for such a long letter, but it helps to vent.  Thanks so much for listening.
Helpful - 0
541150 tn?1306033843
Opus,
Thanks for the note honey. With so many posts each day I would have overlooked this one!!

momcat,

Have you tried uncapping it very, very slowly? Where is the feeding tube? How was it placed? Is it directly into the stomach?  When was the tube placed? What is your cat's problem?

If the problem is in the liver, well perhaps you are not aware that it is actually liver problems which cause gagging. If the cat has been recently on the feeding tube then that would explain it. Curing any liver problems takes time. In the meantime, the cat will remain sick until the body starts to heal................at a very slow pace.

Wishing for a prompt recovery!
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
PM prettykitty1 or wait until tomorrow and I'm sure she'll see you're posting and give you an answer, she has recently had alot of experience with feeding tubes.
Great you are doing this for kitty, I hope all works out for you both.
Helpful - 0
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