My 24 year old cat question Part 2?

Question

I give him aspirin on advice from my vet, 1 time a week. Thanks for the responses I will let him live out his life I guess, only he knows when he will go. This is the first year he has ever gotten the guts to go outside and just sit there. Is it possible for me to cut his hair myself without freaking him out?

Answer 1

never give your cat aspirin, if you have a vet that told you to give it to him then get another vet. as for euthanasia, that is up to you, just remember to think of your cat not you, when making the decision. it is the toughest decision a pet owner has to go through- quality over quantity. and don't start letting him out now, terrible things happen to kitties outside. I would hate to think of him ending his long peaceful life by being brutalized. blessings to you.

Answer 2

Congratulations on your kitty reaching 24! I know of rare cats that have lived into the early thirties. The good news is that age is not a "disease".

Has your vet done bloodwork on him? That is a better indicator of disease than age is. I would especially be concerned about his kidneys if you are giving him aspirin, because it can make his kidneys worse, and most kitties this old have some degree of kidney failure already.

There are other ways to address his arthritis. Giving him a warm, soft heated bed seems to help and they love it! (Just be sure it doesn't get too hot for him!) Acupuncture has been shown to be safe and effective. Joint supplements help, such as Cosequin for cats, and are very safe. Other prescription pain medicines such as Buprenex and Tramadol are much safer than drugs in the aspirin family. But if those don't help enough, then it might help to add a TINY bit of aspirin (or better yet Meloxicam) on a very occasional basis, as they will sometimes work synergistically with each other so you don't have to give as much of the drugs (like aspirin) that are so bad for them.

If your vet isn't familiar with these drugs, you should look for a vet who is more knowledgeable about this subject (pain management in senior cats). There are even vets who specialize in pain management!

Don't let him outside unless you are right there with him and he is on a harness and leash. Many older cats have some degree of senility or Alzheimer's-like disease, and he might wander off and get lost then get hurt or starve to death! That would be a horrible way to go!

Gently comb and brush him to prevent his fur from getting matted. Mats are very uncomfortable and can lead to skin infections. If he has mats, I would suggest getting professional help (mobile groomer or a vet)! Their skin is extremely fragile and thin and can be cut badly by accident. If you must do it yourself, get electric clippers to get them out, but still be extremely careful and don't use anything lower than a size "10" blade. I have also had some luck by gently working a comb underneath the mat so it acts as a guard between the mat and the skin, then very carefully cutting the mat into pieces and working it out with another comb.

When he is in pain and it cannot be controlled, or if he is suffering from incurable disease, or when he no longer enjoys the things he used to, then he doesn't have a good "quality of life" anymore. That will be the time to save him from further suffering by humanely putting him to sleep. It is never easy to let them go, but don't let him suffer...

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

1. Make sure your cat can reach all necessary places, e.g. the litter box, his cat bed, your bed (if he likes to sleep there), etc. If he is having trouble, remove clutter or buy a ramp, stool, or pet staircase so he can reach these places.
2. Remember that older cats are more likely to "miss," put the litter box in a small plastic swimming pool with a hole cut in the front so your cat can get in and do his business. That way, if he misses the box or tracks litter out of the box, it lands in the pool, not on the floor.
3. Have him examined more often by a vet; if he used to visit the vet twice a year, start taking him four times a year. This is because elderly cats are more likely to develop health problems.
4. Change his food to some kind of cat food especially formulated for elderly cats, but ask your vet first.
5. Give him lots of love, but don't disturb him if he is asleep.


Tips

* Older cats are especially prone to plaque buildup on their teeth. It helps if they have been eating dry food, because this helps slow or avoid plaque buildup. The vet can clean their teeth. Really old cats (18, 19, 20) may be too frail for this, since it does require anesthesia, so it is more important to consider tooth problems earlier. Elderly cats with sore gums may avoid eating and become malnourished.
* You can buy little "steps" for your cat to help her climb onto your bed or wherever she likes to sleep, or you can just arrange your furniture to provide this extra step.
* Elderly cats can be the most cuddly of all, really craving the warmth of a human body at night, especially if they are thin. If you don't want your cat to sleep with you, you can provide a heating pad if it's well-padded to keep it from being too hot, and to protect it well from cat claws.


Dont give your cat asprin and cut the hair...

Answer 4

sounds like this cat's ALWAYS been an idoors cat. I think he also knows he'd better enjoy what's left of his life because he has but a short time left 2 do it so he decided 2 make some good changes.

I used 2 have old habits & now that I'm a little older I realized I must try 2 enjoy life while I'm young & enjoy variety.

Answer 5

When my cat was having pain we were also instructed to give her asprin once a week, and it seemed to help her a lot.

How skiddish is your cat? If you are very gentle and go very very slowly when he is in a resting state then you should be able to trim his hair gradually. Take it easy on the old guy. Does he necessarily need his hair cut?

Congratulations on keeping your cat healthy and safe all these years!

Answer 6

has your cat never been outside before??He is slowing down at his age. Why do you feel it is so important to get the hair cut.Is this really a necessity at this ripe old age?I would leave the hair alone and only trim it away from the eyes

Answer 7

I took care of my cats and dogs, just like you. Our cat died when she was 22, our dogs were each 17. I took care of them, like they were my hospice patients. I treated the symptoms and made them comfortable. My Pomeranian, had a stroke and they gave her 3 days to live. She had stroke after stroke, and she would bounce back. She eventually died of congestive heart failure 3 yrs later. Our Boston terrier, had cancer, we had to put him to sleep 5 yrs after he was diagnosed because it affected his brain, and he was in pain. Our cat was 22, and she just became sick suddenly, and it affected her lungs, she went quickly.
I did not see your part 1 question, so I don't know what is wrong with your cat. My hope for you, is that you enjoy and treasure the remaining time that you have, and I hope that your cat goes quickly and painlessly. In the end, our pets would allow us to do just about anything that we wanted to. They would just lay in our arms. Good Luck, and I will keep you and your cat in my prayers.

Answer 8

that is really nice that your cat is old'but she;s still your family'your baby.my dog of 7yrs had to be put down last week'as he was suffering from congestive heart failure.he was my little man,,what make s it alittle better is i know'i gave him all my love and gave him the best life i could..on his last day he had a fried chicken breast and 2spoons of vanilla ice cream,,after being on a strick diet he deserved,,,let your beautiful cat live out her days cozy relaxing and at peace,,,the hair thing would really stress him out badly.if he really doesn;t have to do it'i would let it slide,,,,good luck and god bless you and kitty
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Answer 9

i'm so sorry. i don't have solutions , yet attempt calling Purdue college in Indiana. they have precise notch Vets there and if all people can help - it may be them. i'd additionally get a 2d opinion.