Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I have noticed that my 19 year old cat has been having some difficulty breathing the last few days, as well as not eating. She has lost a lot of weight and is lethargic and dehydrated.

I took her to her vet yesterday and after an exam and a chest x-ray, we noticed she had fluid around the lungs. Our vet suggested we do a tap to remove the fluid and I am considering that now. My question is - how traumatic is this for the cat?

What are your experiences with an elderly cat who presents with these symptoms?

Thanks
Julie

Hi Julie,

Most cats do very well with this procedure. It involves the cat lying on her side, a small area of the chest shaved and prepped, and the insertion of a small needle with a syringe attached. The fluid is drawn off slowly. Depending on the exact location of the fluid and how thick it is, a needle may have to be repositioned several times to drain the fluid.

If your cat is nervous and tries to move around it will complicate things. A younger cat can safely have a small amount of gas anesthesia, but I don't think this would be possible in a 19 year old. Perhaps, if you feel you can handle it, your vet will allow you to be present to talk to your baby and pet her head. I think in such an elderly cat this would make a big difference. Possibly a light sedative can be used as well if she is nervous.

This isn't a pleasant thing for a cat to go through, but it helps tremendously and the cat feels better immediately.

Please let me know how your kitty does.

Regards,
PHKitkat

Dear PHKitKat -

Thank you so much for your reply. I made the decision to have fluid drained last Friday. After the vet drained the fluid, she took another x-ray and found that my baby girl had a tumor in her lung.

I took her home and she seemed to perk up for a couple of days, until the fluid started coming back. She passed away last night.

I am glad she is at peace now and is no longer suffering, but I sure do miss my girl!

Julie

Hi Julie,

I am so sorry that you lost your baby. I have no doubt that having the chest fluid drained helped her to be as comfortable as possible in her last days.

There is nothing more difficult than losing such a precious baby. A few months ago I lost one of mine and the house still feels strange without him. Still, just like you, I know that he is at peace and no longer suffering.

Your kitty will live forever in your heart and I have no doubt that you will see her again. Love is something that continues even when our Angels are no longer physically with us.

If you are interested, we have a Pet Loss chat every night and you are more than welcome to attend. It always helps me to be with others who understand after I have had a loss.

If you would like some grief links to help you cope, please let me know and I will post some.

Take Care,
PHKitkat