Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We adopted a female himalayan when she was about 15 or 16 from our local vet 2 years ago. He told us that he didn't understand why we wanted to adopt her, since we wouldn't have her for long. Well that was 2 years ago and she's been just fine. Her name is Chloe. Her sides had been grossly bloated out, within a month of living with us, the bloating was gone.

Within the past year though, she has started missing the litter box whenever she urinates. My husband placed plywood down on the floor so our untreated hardwood wouldn't get ruined (it's an old house and we haven't had the chance to reseal yet). We use puppy training pads on top of that and it's really not a problem. Sometimes she makes it in the box, sometimes it's on the pad. Just pick up the pad & throw it away. Not a problem.

She does have a tendency to defecate on area rugs though and in the kids' bedrooms, where we have laid down thin carpeting (the kind that you buy off the roll). Since it's solid, I just clean that area of the carpet really well & it hasn't really been that bad of a problem. She doesn't do it all the time.

In case you're wondering, I am constantly checking with people coming into the house, asking them if they smell pet smells or urine/feces smells and every single person that comes into my home tells me no, the house smells good. I know my mom & sister certainly wouldn't lie to me. lol

Chloe started having constipation problems about a year ago, tried getting her to eat wet food but she won't. She doesn't have very many teeth, but will eat her dry food. She liked the cat milk for a while and then decided she didn't like that. We tried tuna and she loves it. She will only eat the white albacore tuna though. I smoosh it up and add a half can of water to it. One serving is about 2-3 tablespoons and she'll eat about 3-4 of those a day. HUGE improvement with the constipation and she started using the litter box for that instead of the area rugs.

The past 3 months, she has stopped eating her tuna. I tried pureeing it with a hand held blender and she seemed to really like that for a while, then she stopped eating that. I went back to just smooshing the tuna up a little bit and she ate a plate one day and is back to not eating it. She's lost a pound, too.

She's also back to defecating on the floor in the dining room, in the kids bedrooms, and this happens several times a day. Yesterday she urinated on my son's carpeting in his room. I saturated the area with Mr. Clean and then blotted, then sprayed Hartz Nodor spray (which has worked with the litter box). Several hours later, the area was dry and my son's room reeked of Chloe's urine. He has allergies, so all I could do was take up the carpeting, about half of his room (it's a small room). I then cleaned the floor with Mr. Clean again and then bleached it on top of that. You can't smell anything in there now.

I don't know what to do with her. We don't have the money for a vet. My son wants his carpet replaced, but we don't have the money for that either and I have to take out the rest of his carpeting sometime this week and weekend. I don't understand why Chloe would urinate in his room, she's never done that anywhere before.

When we got Chloe, I did notice that she doesn't have full use of her back legs. She walks, she can jump onto the couch, but her back legs are very weak.

A friend of mine suggested putting Chloe in a large cage, where she would have a bed, little box & food/water. We took Chloe out of that situation at the vet's, why would we put her back in that situation? My husband thinks that maybe this is Chloe's way of telling us that she's ready to go and tells me it's my decision. I love Chloe and I want her to be happy, but lately she just doesn't seem very happy. If she's not feeling well and she isn't happy, then I have no problem helping her over to the other side.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Kudos to you for adopting a senior cat! With all that has been going on with Chloe, have you spoken with the vet or had current tests run? Senior cats, and persians in particular, often have kidney problems and develop chronic renal disease which means that the kidneys no longer properly filter the poisons from the body for elmination. Cats who drink a lot of water, and urinate a lot are often showing symptoms of the progressive kidney disease. One of the few ways your cat has of telling you that something isn't right in her world is peeing or pooping outside the box. Sometimes the cat associates some discomfort with elimination with the litterbox and for that reason goes elsewhere. Another symptom of a build up of the toxins in the body is nausea and that may be affecting her willingness to eat her usual food.

There are some diet and treatments to aid the cats who have kidney problems and these often help.

Chloe's problems with her rear legs may be arthritis which can cause mobility issues. This type of pain and mobility issue can also affect her using the litterbox. Again, talk to your vet about adding some supplements like glucosamine which often helps ease joint pain.

Good luck and keep us posted on Chloe's progress!

Thanks! Yes, she does urinate a lot and it's very gooey, she drinks a lot of water yet still gets constipated if she doesn't eat tuna or turkey or ham in addition to her dry food. She refuses all brands of wet cat food. You mentioned her possibly feeling nauseated, I'd forgot to mention that she threw up yellow fluids yesterday. So I think you hit the problem right on.

Her back legs are weird, when she's standing on the kitchen floor and you pet her head, her back legs give out in a sliding motion underneath her.

I'll call the vet today. We still owe them $70 for a mistake another vet made on one of our other cats, my husband has been unemployed for some time now, so money is super tight. I used to work at the vet's, my son saw Chloe walking around in the back and told me he wanted her to have a nice place to live before she died. That's how we came about adopting her. To anyone who asks, I highly recommend adopting an older cat! She walked out of her cat carrier when we got her home and owned the place instantly. It was like we'd always had her. No adjustment period, she was just so mellow and liked to follow me around as I did housework and would meow at me when it was time to take a break and we'd sit on the couch together. She hasn't been doing that for months now, she spends most of her days sleeping.

My Salem was 15 when I found out she had renal failure. She began howling day and night and constant vomiting. She never missed the litter box though, she was fussy that way. When I found out it was renal failure, I promised her she wouldn't suffer and when the time came, I took her to the vet and stayed with her. I still miss her every day.

Thank you so much for your comments and advice!

I recently lost two senior cats (at age 16 and 19). This sounds very much like kidney failure, which you guys have addressed.

I wanted to mention the constipation. It is very common for older cats to have dry stools. It can become very uncomfortable and they acually try to go in the box, but don't get it out until they are ouside the box. One of mine would go #2 outside the box from time to time and I would see him try to go inside the box first, but it would not fully come out and it was easier or would catch up to him outside the box.

I found hairball treats (use them like medicine not regular treats -- follow the package) helped quite a bit... I also used a hairball remedy (in a tube like toothpaste -- like brown Vasaline). I got the hairball remedy tube from the vet fairly inexpensively and you put it on your finger and rub your finger on the roof of their mouth.

If anything, try the hairball remedy. If you just cannot get to the vet, the lower the protein in the food, the better. Protein is very hard on older cats' kidneys...
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Tammy
& Sparkle
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

I read your follow-up post and it sounds like she is in a more advanced state and needs to see a vet. The vomit, etc. They will give her fluids to hydrate her and help her out and let you know what to do...
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Tammy
& Sparkle
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

I tried the lower protein food, but the problem is I have 2 kittens who will eat that instead of their kitten chow and Chloe will eat the kitten chow and not the low protein food. There's no way to separate them either.

I went to the vet's today to get anti-nausea medicine and was told there was no such thing. But they offered it to my 15 yr old cat who died of kidney failure. They then told me that there was absolutely nothing they could do, no advice they could give me, until I had a $110.00 blood work-up done. When I advised them I didn't have this kind of money, they offered me a $65 well being blood workup. Nope, don't have that either.

Told them she went from 9 to 8 lbs. fast and I am worried about her and don't know if she'll make it until the middle of February, when my husband will be home to visit. I want him to be able to say goodbye. I then asked if the vet would charge me to put Chloe to sleep and she told me yes, $30.

This is a cat whose owner already paid $30 to have her put to sleep and the vet kept the cat, without the owner's knowledge, instead. Since the only care the cat was getting was food and water and litter box cleaning, I asked the vet if I could take her home with me. He laughed, said sure but I wouldn't have her for long. That was TWO YEARS ago. Chloe was 16 when I took her, she will be 18 next month but the woman at the front desk argued with me and told me Chloe was still 16!

Today has been the craziest day ever. Poor Chloe.

I am sorry you are in this situation. One thing I will say is there IS such a thing as anti-nausea medicine. One of my cats took it for a while. It has been a while, so I don't recall the name, but he did take it -- it started with an "R", I believe.

I fear without vet help, she will not be with you much longer.
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Tammy
& Sparkle
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

...However, even with vet help, she probably won't be with you much longer if she is in kidney failure and 18. She is in a house with love. I hope you are able to take her in to say goodbye when the time comes if she seems to be suffering.
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Tammy
& Sparkle
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Hello,

If you can get some Pepcid-AC, or the generic form, it might help with the nausea. 1/4 of a 10 mg tablet is the dose for a cat. If the nausea is caused by an abundance of acid in Chloe's stomach, Pepcid should make her more comfortable.

If she isn't eating, try some strained meat baby food, with no onion added. Anything you can get her to eat is ok at this point. I wouldn't worry about the amount of protein, it is believed that it is the quality of the protein eaten and not the quantity. Baby food would be a pretty high quality protein.

Try gently lifting up your cat's skin in the shoulder area. If the skin doesn't snap back, she is dehydrated and most likely does have kidney failure. Diabetes also causes serious dehydration. Excessive drinking is also a sign of both diseases.

I'm sorry for all you are going through with Chloe. There is unfortunately very little you can do for her on your own. It's too bad your vet hasn't been helpful.

Take care,
PHKitkat

Thanks! I'll try the Pepcid & the baby food! I appreciate it & I'll post how she does!

I recall when Pookey needed to be hand fed after surgery (and had no appetite), Beechnut baby food had one that was essentially pure chicken with just a little water. They were the only two ingredients in the lable. Try to find one that is as close to all meat (poultry) as possible... You mentioned she ate ham, that may be a bit rich and salty. Chicken and Turkey will probably be better, but PHKitKat is right -- whatever she will eat.

When Stanley was on his last couple days, I was able to get him to eat cat treats, but not cat food... Something else to try.
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Tammy
& Sparkle
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)
(Pookey 8/91 - 11/10)

Just wanted to say that your Chloe is having all of the same symptoms as my 18 year old boy who is in end stage renal failure. Don't worry about the blood work, just make her as comfy as possible. The 1/4 of 10mg Antacid is a good suggestion, you can crush it up and hide it in the food if need be, but don't be surprised if she stops eating all together. It sounds like your cat and mine are at similar stages in the disease. You gave her a lot of extra time in a loving home, she has been blessed by your love and care. I hope you can find comfort in that when the time comes. ((hugs))

Thank you so much, good luck with your boy. Right now we're just trying to spoil her as much as we possibly can.

Hello,

I just read this entire thread and I am so sorry for all you are going through with your baby. I have been there many times myself so I really understand.

Behavioral changes in very sick cats are not unusual, even if they seem to be positive changes. Sometimes sick kitties become more affectionate, but I think they are more likely to isolate themselves. Occasional they seem to improve right before they pass........I like to believe that they know they will soon be at peace. Often dying cats will purr.

There is nothing more difficult than having to let go of one of our precious babies. They are such a huge part of our lives and love us unconditionally. I see euthanasia as a final gift we give our babies when nothing else can be done for them.

If you are interested, we have pet loss chats here. It helps to be able to be around others who understand what you are going through. We also have message boards if chats are not of interest to you.

I will be sure to check this board tomorrow, as well as the Pet Loss chat tomorrow. Please feel free to post again anytime.

You have been given excellent advice by the other poster

Regards,
PHKitkat

What does the vet say about this? Have you asked for suggestions from them?