carmellia, please bring her to the vet. 22 is very old for a cat, and some of these symptoms indicate advanced kidney disease, especially drinking lots of water. Cats can hide pain from us, so you really need to know what is going on with her. If it is kidney disease, you may need to begin to administer fluids to her. I put my 20 year old to sleep last summer with this disease. Please don't delay.

I know the feeling with an elderly cat. You fear that every visit may be her last. But truly, based on the good appetite with low weight and dry hard stools, she could be hyperthyroid and dehydrated. If that's what it is, it can be managed with IV fluids and tapazole. Do call your vet and schedule an appointment. Delaying can cause other complications. Hope this goes well for both of you.

Hi Carmellia, Please bring your friend to the vet. I know how you feel - my cats so hate going to the vet. But it is really the best way to find out what is wrong with them. Good luck !

If she really hates it maybe you can find a house call vet in your area.

Lisa

That's true - my vet's web page says they make house calls. I've never had the guts to ask how much they charge for them, though!

My vet charges $25 in addition to the regular office visit price for a house call. If it were needed, I would do it.

Carmellia,

Please don't wait any longer to take your cat to the vet. Constipation is extremely painful and may cause her to become completely inappetant. It indicates that she is most likely dehydrated, which is a common condition in cats with renal failure. Excessive thirst is also an indication of renal trouble, because a cat with compromised kidneys can not properly utilize fluids. They drink and drink and drink but can never adequately hydrate themselves because of the renal insufficiency.

Pinch and lift the skin on the back of your cat's neck. It should immediately fall back and flatten against her neck when you release it. If it holds a tented position for a second or two, that indicates dehydration. Lift her lip and feel her gums. Her gums should feel slimy. If they feel tacky, that is another indication of dehydration.

Hyperthyroidism is another condition that can cause excessive thirst and weight loss, and it is typically accompanied by a ravenous appetite. As Cynthia mentioned, it can be adequately controlled in most cats with Tapazole.

At your girl's advanced age, she may very well be dealing with both renal failure and hyperthyroidism ... and perhaps other associated ailments, as well. You should have her tested immediately so that you can begin treatment and supportive care to make her more comfortable. She almost certainly should be receiving regular subQ fluids, which your vet can teach you to administer at home. You will be amazed at how much better those fluids will make her feel.

22 is an impressive age for a cat and a testament to the care she has received in your home. But now she needs even more of that loving care.

All the best,

Laurie

Thank all of you for your messages, and I know the advice is good advice. I am trying so hard to choose the least invasive course for her, but I know you are right. I can't afford to wait any longer to load her in to the car. I think I will see if my sister will drive me so I can hold Sadie instead of sticking her in a crate. I think it would be easier on her, although I know from past experience it will not be easier on me. She can really scratch for such a tiny thing. She goes so crazy I don't think she even knows what she is doing.

I will make an appointment with the DR for this afternoon. Thanks again. Carmellia

I'm glad you're taking Sadie to the vet this afternoon. I completely understand your hesitancy. I felt the same way about my cat, Tempest, several decades ago. She was so terrified of the vet that I just couldn't make myself put her through it. As a result, she died a slow and painful death because I kept trying to avoid the stress of a vet visit. That was a mistake that I have regretted every day since her passing, and it's a mistake I will never be making again. Trust me, you do not want to be carrying around my guilt and regret.

Make sure you ask for a full blood panel AND a thyroid test. The thyroid test is run separately, so it needs to be specifically requested.

If Sadie goes crazy in the car, I strongly recommend keeping her in a crate for her own safety. You don't want her getting away from you and becoming injured in the car or stuck under a seat ... and you certainly don't want to risk her getting out of the car. If you want to comfort Sadie during the trip, keep her in the carrier, and carry the carrier on your lap. She may also settle more easily if you keep the carrier covered with a towel so that she won't be frightened by traffic.

Let us know how the vet visit turns out, please.

Laurie

Carmellia,
I know this is so difficult for you. You want the best for Sadie & seeing a vet though, hard on you & her is best. 22 yrs. old is a nice age, obviously, you've done something right. Good luck & let us know how it goes.

Carmellia, it sounds like hyperthyroidism to me. My Tiffany suffered with that combined with CRF, Tiff would act as if she were starving but continued to lose weight. When we had her put down she weighed just 4 pounds. We were fortunate to have her for 18 years and we had a vet who came to our home for our final good bye with her. Good Luck with your sweet Sadie.

Carmellia, how did the vet visit go yesterday?

"I think I will see if my sister will drive me .."

Maybe 15 years ago, my sister called me in tears. We lived in different states. She was terrified of taking her own very old kitty to the vet, but knew she was very sick. So I took the afternoon off, drove down (4+ hour round trip) and took her and Miss Kitty to her vet. We both remember that fondly. I hope that your sister is able to drive you and Sadie. It can help just to have someone else there. Let us know how it goes. One thing I know for sure is that they can help Sadie be more comfortable.

Update - When I called the vet and told him Sadies symptoms, I mentioned that I was nervous about putting her through the visit in her condition. He told me to stop in for some tiny beads to put in a litter container to collect urine. He told me to drop the sample off day and he would test that before we went further.

Just as several of you said, he suspected hyperthyroid or kidney malfunction. Turned out her urine had excess sugar, protein, and traces of blood in it. The vet said that at 22 years old her kidneys had probably been gradually losing effectiveness over the last few years. He said it was not something we could look to cure, it was just happening, and I should focus on slowing the process and not doing any harm. He gave me a Eukanuba Renal formula food that can trap some of what is making its way into her kidneys and diverting it to her stomach.

He said there might be things the kidneys should be filtering out, but are not. She would have to go in for a blood test to determine that, and the vet said it would just be for informational purposes. It's not as though it would point to any cure for her.

So, I think I will pass on physically taking her there. He also gave me something called Cosequin, which actually is a supplement for cats with joint problems and arthritis, but there is a side effect which benefits a cat with kidney problems, and now that I am trying to tell you what that is, I can't for the life of me remember what it was. I just remember that he though it could be useful for her. (I've got to start taking notes.)

She is such a good old girl. She has moved with me to many differnt places. She's seen lots of cats (and a few dogs and men) come and go, and she has been a good sport through it all.

If any one thinks there is something my vet should have suggested or something else I should look into, I would be grateful for your thoughts. As it now stands, I think I will leave it as it is. With what I know about her kidneys and what I know about Sadie's fragile comfort level, I am not now inclined to do anything more invasive.

Thanks for your concern and your advice. Remember to give your cat/dog (ferret, rabbit, etc.) a kind word and a hug. Unless you keep elephants, they are just passing through our lives. Carmellia

Please, Carmellia, please take her in for a blood panel. Your vet is doing what my EX-vet did with my first chronic renal failure cat, Pea. He's giving up because she's so old. Your vet is NOT correct that the results of a blood test would be exclusively informational. CRF cats can have all sorts of things going wrong in their systems that can be managed and corrected with proper meds and supplements. It is quite true that CRF can not be cured, but many of the associated problems that make CRF kitties feel so ill CAN be corrected or improved if you keep an eye on the blood values.

Sadie is clearly constipated, and if your vet even suspects CRF, it is negligent for him not to run a blood panel and check her hydration level. You should be taught how to administer subQ fluids NOW.

If your vet also suspects hyperthyroidism, there is simply NO EXCUSE for allowing that condition to go undiagnosed and untreated. Your vet is setting Sadie up for a slow, painful death by veterinary neglect and toxic overload.

PLEASE do NOT allow Sadie to go untreated. CRF is a very painful way to die. If you do not want to inflict such tortures on Sadie, please take her to your vet now for humane euthanasia. She deserves a painless end to such a long and loving life.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh and demanding, Carmellia, but I lost one of my cats to CRF just a few weeks ago. Bitsy was my third CRF cat. I know how this disease works. It must NOT be ignored. You will hate yourself if you allow Sadie to suffer through this without supportive care.

I'm begging you, Carmellia. Find a vet who will be a proactive advocate in your care of Sadie. Your current vet is NOT advising you in Sadie's best interest.

Laurie

Please listen to Laurie. She is right on. Especially that the vet is giving up. One really important point is that nothing 'invasive' is required! A little bloodwork will provide the clues on what is wrong. Treatment is fluids, and some meds and maybe a change in diet. George is CRF and hyperthyroid and was managing the CRF pretty darn well until this summer when he started to drastically lose weight. He was down to just under six pounds. We did some fluids and pepcid and got him started on tapazole and he's almost 8 pounds now and feels good. That's the important part. George FEELS GOOD.(He's only 18.) Sadie doesn't feel good, and just one visit to a good vet and some treatment at home by you will make a huge difference in the quality of her life. I know it's hard, but you will both be happier if you have the bloodwork done. Call your sister and ask her to drive.

Carmellia, please take your cat in for a throrough check up - don't let the vet give up on her. FYI - my cat has traces of blood in his urine - vet mentions it is normal in some cats as they get older. It is at least in his records for future comparison. We had an xray of his bladder to rule out any other problems.

Carmellia, if you are still believing that there is nothing you can do to help Sadie with her CRF symptoms, please spend some time reading through the site I have linked for you below. You may be surprised at all the ways you can improve her health and quality of life, but you're not going to be able to do much unless you know where her blood values stand now.

You have mentioned her frail condition, and I know that concerns you. The fact is, though, that you may be able to make her feel much stronger and better if you will just take her in for a proper veterinary evaluation.

Laurie

Here is a link that might be useful: Tanya's CRF website

Carmellia, first let me say how sorry I am that you are facing this crisis - I know from experience the shellshocked feeling of learning your baby has health issues that you never thought imaginable. My CRF kitty Oscar is currently experiencing several woes that with the care of my two excellent vets we hope to get him through but I thought I'd lost him 2 weeks ago (fluid in and around his lungs he was in major distress, still not himself but better). He's 17 and was diagnosed CRF Apr. 05, he also has heart problems that he's on heart meds for now.

I also know from experience the horribleness of having a vet that really isn't interested in providing proactive healthcare to a senior kitty. My last vet was like that until I dumped them for my wonderful new vets - they've been looking after my boys for almost 2 years now and are very proactive.

Sadie definitely needs to get a blood panel run to check her kidney values, to see excactly what stage she's at CRF-wise. Also to check her T4 to determine the level of her hyperthyroidism, if that is the case. I have a hyper-t cat too and he's on Tapazole and doing very well, he's also 17 - he's supposed to be taking Cosequin too but darned if I can figure out how to get it in him - those pills are huge!

Blood in the urine can indicate many things, my Oscar has a kidney stone in his shrunken kidney that is a source of grief for us - means he's prone to infections. Sadie could have an infection which a round of antibiotics would clear up - infection plays havoc with kidney values and makes kitty feel horrendous.

I'd definitely bring her back to the vet, she may protest but it's for her own good and you have to do what's best for her as her caregiver, and demand that the vet run a full blood panel to check kidney values and T4, administer Sub-Q fluids to hydrate her and show you how to do it at home and do another urinalysis to check for infection. From the sounds of your vet, I think you will have to be very assertive with him.

Here's a couple of links that you should find helpful in learning about CRF:

http://www.felinecrf.com/

http://www.felinecrfhints.homestead.com/felinecrfhints.html

http://www.felinecrf.org/

Keep us updated on how she's doing.

tess

Ask your vet for a referral of a mobile vet.
The mobile vet can come to your home and draw blood for the necessary tests and he/she could also give Sadie an exam while at your home.
The mobile vet can then give all this info to your current vet.

Carmellia, has Sadie had her blood panel yet? Your vet can learn a lot from bloodwork, and this can help you make new decisions with confidence.

When my oldest cat started having weight issues like Sadie's we discovered she was hyperthyroid. It's been a few years and we've learned she does quite well with thryroid meds & Cosequin sprinkled on her wet food for joint health. We have blood work done 2x a year and that tells us a lot about her health concerns. So far blood work shows no major renal problems & she's around 22/23 yrs. I understand your hesitation to subject an older cat to trauma but there are probably common-sense ways to get some info on her little body without unnecessarily stressing her. There are some tests my vet & I don't choose to do either because the test is too stressful or because the information gleaned would not change the cat's care.

It's all about balance. If one function begins to slip, there can be a rippling effect within the cat's system.

Luckily my cat doesn't need subQ fluids at home (yet!) but I find when her weight/appetite drops, a subQ treatment helps her energize to eat again. Kind of a pick-me-up. We've done this twice, both times she needed an adjustment in her meds. Testing 2x a year helps us keep on top of any changes.

It helps a lot to have a vet who takes senior care seriously. I'd like our cats to be as comfortable as possible until their last days and it's tough making some of these calls. Is this or that treatment unnecessarily invasive? Is not-testing making my pet more stressed? Will I truly learning something from the test that will change her treatment? Is my cat truly enjoying her last days? It's hard to make all these decisions, and of course veterinary care can be quite costly. It's important to have good communication with your vet so you're both on the same page when discussing what you want for your cat.

There are mobile vets in my area as well, I hope you have choices that feel right to you.

Hope things are going well in your house. How lucky to have your sister's support.