My 18 year old friend...

[jastone]

My cat is of course 18 years of age and I am 29 so I feel like I have had her as long as I can remember. This cat always was a good cat, using litter boxes, good manners, etc. In the last few years, she has gone down hill and was diagnosed with Hyperthyrodism. I started her on medication which seemed to help but it's such an ordeal to get her to take the medication so I stopped because I would literally have to force it down her and I was not real keen on that. That was about 3 years ago. Now she's 18 and just now she's doing things like peeing in the sink and all over the place. She's lethargic, she's deaf, she lacks some coordination. She's just acting werid, like she doesn't know me anymore. I have finally broken down and made an appointment with the doctor, however, I am torn. I don't want to put her through a ton of tests which not only result in high vet bills but also putting her through more aggitation. I am trying to be sensitive to her needs but I also need to be realistic with finances (which are not so hot right now). Do you have any advice with dealing with my vet? Would the vet put her through all those tests if he/she believes that this might be the end? I might be asking impossible questions but I feel like I need some guidance.

[Traci]

If you're saying you stopped her thyroid medication on your own without discussing this and monitoring/following up on her health with your vet, I'm afraid the only thing we can tell you is to get her back IMMEDIATELY to check her thyroid levels and get her back on medication. There are various tips one can use to administer medications to make it more pleasant for our kitties, this should never be an excuse for not treating a serious health condition.

Please, your kitty is depending on you to do right by her. The right thing to do is get her to your vet immediately, get thyroid checked and started back on medication. You will probably find that a great many of her behavioral issues will be corrected while on medication, as well as improve her general health status.

Don't wait on this, she's given you 18 wonderful years of love and devotion, you owe it to her to give back to her her health, happiness and well-being.

[kate & kobi]

Definitely get her to the vet as soon as you can; this is not an issue to be "torn" about. The very best thing to do is to talk everything over with your vet; only then can you make informed decisions. Don't jump to conclusions about what treatments may or may not be required! It may well be that there's something simple that could prolong her healthy life for a long time to come. (I don't mean to say that any treatment is "simple", or even that it should be, just that your vet can help.) But if she is making her way toward the great meadow in the sky as you seem to think, then you'll want to know that you did everything you could to keep her as healthy and happy as you could. Your vet is the best person to help with that.

I hope she gets better soon - she very well might!