My Cat Is Sick... (RIP Linus)

ALANRIDER7

ALANRIDER7

MeowMeowMeow
I've had Linus since he was a kitten. I rescued him as a street orphan and he has been by my side for 12 years now. Yesterday, he started to howl and moan off and on as if he was in pain. He also has difficulty controlling the movement of his hind legs. I brought him to the vet hospital. They said his blood test showed he was diabetic, but that doesn't tend to bring about the serious neurological symptoms he now has. They sedated him and he's resting more comfortably (not completely) now, but I have to pick him up later today and I don't know what will happen next. He's been on Prednisolone for the past 10 years for his sensitive stomach. This steroid allows him to keep food down, as without it he pukes pretty much everything he eats. This drug has kept him alive, but it also has some long term implications. That's the core issue here- he has something else major going on, but without some very expensive tests, nobody can say what it is.

I'm really torn between trying to prolong his life versus being humane and ending his suffering. I can't handle the thought of him in pain. He's been an absolutely awesome sportbike kitty and I'm heartbroken :cry by the thought of putting him down. I don't want him to suffer- he's had a tough enough time of it. I really wish I could ask him what he wanted.

Has anybody experienced this kind of thing with their cat?
 

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JesasaurusRex

JesasaurusRex

Deleted User
Damn, you take your cat to the beach? That's dedication. Do what you feel it's best for the cat, not you. Only advice I can give you, 12 years it's a long time, appreciate the good times you've had. :thumbup
 
i_am_the_koi

i_am_the_koi

Be Here Now
:love

Hang in there man

My cat died of cancer a few years ago after 14 years from kitten to old man. I knew for years that something was wrong. He got worse and worse but no vet could tell me what was going on without $1000's worth of test byond the 1000s I spent. As much as I loved that fluffball, I couldn't afford to spend that. That's just me and I'm not saying what you should do when it comes to finding out why. I later found out that vet was shitty and hadn't thought about a 2nd opinion when it came to my pet.

My decision was that when I felt he was living in more pain then enjoying life, I would put him down. Until the point I found him gasping for breath on his side, I gave him the best rest of his life I could. He never showed pain until that day either, though he did start hanging out at my Buddha statue...... and I found him at his feet. Same thing, he didn't hold down food well though I never tried Prednisone. No diabetic warnings, or cancer warnings for that matter. Xray showed 80% of his lungs covered in it.


It killed me, but I am glad I didn't just put him down the first moment I knew he was sick. You are his owner/master/lover/friend/slave. You know him better then anyone here and will "know" when you have to make the call. I know it's rough, I wish I had been able to just turn my back, but having him looking at me and close his eyes in the end, was something I wouldn't have missed for his sake.

Again, hang in there.
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byke

byke

Well-known member
I'm no expert, but it sounds like anti-freeze poisoning to me. I've seen two pets pass from similar symptoms, neurological weirdness, rear legs going out, supposed diabetes, vomiting, turned out to be anti-freeze poisoning both times.
 
asthmodeus

asthmodeus

Banned
get a kitten now and let him show it the ropes for a little while if you/he can. i wish i had done that before my last one died. that way, dude lives on a little more thru the new kitteh and it'll help ease your pain when it's time for old boy to go.
 
ALANRIDER7

ALANRIDER7

MeowMeowMeow
byke said:
I'm no expert, but it sounds like anti-freeze poisoning to me. I've seen two pets pass from similar symptoms, neurological weirdness, rear legs going out, supposed diabetes, vomiting, turned out to be anti-freeze poisoning both times.
Click to expand...

There is zero chance of this, as he is always indoors and I scoured the place looking for any open chemicals or spills of any kind. Nothing. And my other 3 cats are all fine.
 
ThumperX

ThumperX

Well-known member
Oh wow Alan, I know that your cats are family. There is no doubt that you will do the right thing.
Are you sill in Peteluma? We have an exceptional vet if ou need a referral.
 
redruM

redruM

Peripheral Visionary
Sorry Alan. I remember Linus at your shop - way cool kitty. I'll share this story and let you take from it what you will.

My 14 yr old cat that I had from kittenhood had developed a growth in his lower jaw. It was becoming very hard for him to eat or drink. I took him to a vet close to where I was living at the time - first visit with this particular vet. The guy ran expensive (and "inconclusive") blood tests and when I came to pick him up, he had this uber expensive regimen of recommended action which included a biopsy and, if it was cancerous, he was recommending surgery that would have removed most of his lower jaw. Claimed it could add another year or so to his life, but I'd have to feed him manually. This made it SO difficult for me... because the vet was giving me hope - in an essentially hopeless situation. What kind of quality of life would this poor cat have? Cats don't like to be hand fed - at least this cat didn't. Plus, he was fairly old as it was - should I really spend thousands of dollars?

I decided to get a second opinion. Took him to a vet 20 min. away who used to be his regular vet (a cat specialist actually). Told them what the 1st vet said. They bottom-lined it to me: it was a cancerous growth - they didnt even need to run a blood test - they just knew. Which, by the way, would have cost me only $150-200 through them iirc... the first vet? Charged me $450 for the fucking blood tests. They said it would be futile to do a biopsy and surgery and that I should just take him home and spend another few weeks with him before it was the right time to put him down. They said I'd know when that time was...

Sorry - I'm reliving that experience now as I type this... it was extremely difficult, and a part of me died with him the day I put him down. But my feels aside.... the moral of the story is, find a trustworthy vet. Not sure how well you know your current one, but it may be wise to get a 2nd opinion regardless. The unfortunate truth of the matter is, some vets (as with any other doctor) treat their practice as a profit center first & foremost. That first vet I went to? Out of business a year later.... his Yelp page had a bunch of other people who called him out on his shady business practices and questionable service.

Cats fucking rule, and I'm sorry you're going through this with yours. Best wishes man.
 
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