We have an 18yr old male siamese cat that we've had since birth. He's perfectly healthy or at least appears to be so. He has recently started having litterbox issues. first of all he has decided that he no longer wants to cover up his bowel movements. They really smell REALLY bad and he just darts out of the catbox when he's done without covering it up so then it smells up the whole house!
*He is not constipated, nothing has changed for many years, same litter, same diet etc etc. he will cover up the peepee just not that stuff.
Secondly, he has all of a sudded decided to urinate everywhere in my house. On my new pair of leather shoes, on my rugs, on a piece of paper etc.
Is this just a common old age thing or what? I'm getting ready to leave my house for 2weeks. During which time someone will be coming over in the evenings to care for my cats. I'm scared to death that old cat is gonna smell up the whole house before I get back.
We are at a point with him where we will proably not to be willing to spend alot in vet care. We've probabaly spend like 2k in the last 2 years with teeth issues and etc. Vet says he has numerous cataracts (however ya spell that!) and his vision is going bad. It's not really bad now, only at night and peridiocally otherwise. He will probably soon reach a point to where his quality of life isn't good and he'll be put to rest.
Someone help
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babyandhoney
- User is Banned
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Fri May 16, 2003 8:49 pm
PS: maybe related - maybe not. About a month ago I took him to the vet because he started howling sometimes during the day but mostly at night. Vet said probably due to his eyes going bad and to turn a nightlight for him at night. Hasn't done anygood. sometimes he'll just walk around with an awful howl.
He's had urinary blockage before 9urine crystalized and he isn't showing any of those symptoms right now. He is actually urinating fine - nice big puddles for me to clean up! I'd say he urinates about once an hour or two these days.
He's had urinary blockage before 9urine crystalized and he isn't showing any of those symptoms right now. He is actually urinating fine - nice big puddles for me to clean up! I'd say he urinates about once an hour or two these days.
Re: Someone help
First I edited your subject line, it was not appropriate for this forum.sheryl wrote:We are at a point with him where we will proably not to be willing to spend alot in vet care. We've probabaly spend like 2k in the last 2 years with teeth issues and etc. Vet says he has numerous cataracts (however ya spell that!) and his vision is going bad. It's not really bad now, only at night and peridiocally otherwise. He will probably soon reach a point to where his quality of life isn't good and he'll be put to rest.
Second, if you've resigned yourself not to treat him, then I'm afraid advice given you here may be in vain. Getting your kitty to your vet immediately is what I strongly suggest. Older kitties can develop any number of health conditions that demand attention so that you can either halt progression or treat to minimize the symptoms and problems.
You adopted your kitty for life. We owe it to our pets in their senior years to do much more. He has given you 18 years of unconditional love and devotion, he is depending on you to care for him during these times of stress and changes.
Get him to your vet for a full evaluation, it could be as simple as change in diet, or it could be something else entirely, your vet is the only one who can tell you.
..........Traci
Unfortunately it sounds as if you’ve given up on this precious little guy after sharing your life and love with him for 18 years. When you took him in you promised him a healthy and happy life, and he needs you to keep that promise. Instead of being concerned what your house is going to smell like after being gone for two weeks, you should be concerned about your kitties health during this time.
If your kitty’s medical expense is a financial problem, talk to your vet about a payment plan or referral to a clinic that has payment options. This kitty really needs to see a vet, please don’t deny him that opportunity now. Now is when he really needs your love and support, the love and support he has given you for the last 18 years!!!!
If your kitty’s medical expense is a financial problem, talk to your vet about a payment plan or referral to a clinic that has payment options. This kitty really needs to see a vet, please don’t deny him that opportunity now. Now is when he really needs your love and support, the love and support he has given you for the last 18 years!!!!
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babyandhoney
- User is Banned
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Fri May 16, 2003 8:49 pm
Wow!
First of all, the phrase "I'm gonna kill him" is just that - a phrase that many many of use referring to someone we're currently upset at. That doesn't mean to take it literally! I've said that to my husband before that doesn't mean I have any intentions. When I referred to him as "that old cat" well. I call my father-in-law an "you ol' fart". doesn't mean I don't love him.
Second of all, no where did I state "I've resigned myself not to treat him" or that I've "given up on him"
To be frankly when I read your responses I was FURIOUS! I will not be attending this board again. Too judgemental! You know nothing about me or my kitty. When I said "spend alot" in vet care I meant like thousands of dollars for behavior counseling or something like that. The vet says he'll probably be completely blind within about a year and he is starting to slow very much so and also thin down alot. At some point in any person or animals life we have to consider the quality of their lives. As he gets older and older he is getting crankier and crankier. He is starting to growl at my toddler when he gets bothered. He's gotten so bad about how he behaves when he's ill that the vet has now given us oral sedation to squirt into his mouth just to get him into the vet as he has gotten to where he'll claw and bite the mess out of you. It's just getting worse as he gets older. Once he goes completely blind, I seriously doubt he will ever be a happy camper again. The vet states it will be thousands of dollars for surgery on his eyes and doesn't recommend it at his age. I have NO INTENTIONS of putting him into an early grave!! Nor do I appreciate being made to feel like I just don't care about him!
When I stated not wanting to spend alot, my mind was on a suggestion a friend made to take him to a behavior specialist. I checked and they are really expensive. I'm not willing to start putting out that kind of money for something that's not life threatening.
Ysee, I'm a person that takes in injured animals. I don't allow any of my children to kill bugs - they are to be taken outside. We brought a stray into our home just a few months ago. a little dog on the side of the road. I spent $900 on surgery for his injuries, spent 6 weeks nursing him back to health. Then lost him to complications. Was completely devastated.
I do not appreciate being made to look like a heartless human who doesn't value my cat's life or the joy he has brought our family throughout the years. I had previously read a post back around the first of May where someone said her boyfriend was threatening to take her cat to the pound and not one negative thing was said in reply to that in spite of the fact it would be a death sentence for the cat. No! You advised her take the cat to the vet. But not me. you acted like I didn't care about him. I was in hopes of someone having an idea of something I hadn't thought of yet. I never once said I wouldn't take him to a vet. Since he had no symptoms of anything that I knew about it didn't occur to me that it could be a sign of an actual illness. One of you stated that I should be concerned about his health rather than wheter or not he smells up my house. Well, when I stated "is this normal old age"? that should have qued you into maybe I didn't realize that peeing all over the house might be medically related rather than just a behavior problem. But thanks so much for just assuming I'm a cruel person who doesn't care about my cats health!!! Even the thought of loosing my cat or having to have him put down will bring tears to my eyes. He is such a part of our lives.
You guys acted like I was ready to shoot him in the head or something sick!!!! Like I said, that phrase was just a sarcastic type phrase not meant to be taken literally!!! When you say "I'm going to kick your butt" that doesn't mean your going to really kick someone in the behind. When you say "I could just slap her" doesn't mean your going to get physically violent with someone. When you say "That stinks" doesn't mean it has an odor. when you say "I'm so happy, I could just die" doesn't mean your ready to kill over!
Perhaps you could have been kind enough to ask more questions about me or my situations before you became judgemental about my feelings towards my cat!! Especial since things can sound differently reading rather than talking face to face. Sometimes it might be hard to really read what someone is trying to say when your reading words rather than body language.
Enough rambling I guess.... probably not worth it. You people don't know me anyhow. i was just blown away to be accused of basically not loving my cat.
My baby and I will go elsewhere for advice thank you!!!
First of all, the phrase "I'm gonna kill him" is just that - a phrase that many many of use referring to someone we're currently upset at. That doesn't mean to take it literally! I've said that to my husband before that doesn't mean I have any intentions. When I referred to him as "that old cat" well. I call my father-in-law an "you ol' fart". doesn't mean I don't love him.
Second of all, no where did I state "I've resigned myself not to treat him" or that I've "given up on him"
To be frankly when I read your responses I was FURIOUS! I will not be attending this board again. Too judgemental! You know nothing about me or my kitty. When I said "spend alot" in vet care I meant like thousands of dollars for behavior counseling or something like that. The vet says he'll probably be completely blind within about a year and he is starting to slow very much so and also thin down alot. At some point in any person or animals life we have to consider the quality of their lives. As he gets older and older he is getting crankier and crankier. He is starting to growl at my toddler when he gets bothered. He's gotten so bad about how he behaves when he's ill that the vet has now given us oral sedation to squirt into his mouth just to get him into the vet as he has gotten to where he'll claw and bite the mess out of you. It's just getting worse as he gets older. Once he goes completely blind, I seriously doubt he will ever be a happy camper again. The vet states it will be thousands of dollars for surgery on his eyes and doesn't recommend it at his age. I have NO INTENTIONS of putting him into an early grave!! Nor do I appreciate being made to feel like I just don't care about him!
When I stated not wanting to spend alot, my mind was on a suggestion a friend made to take him to a behavior specialist. I checked and they are really expensive. I'm not willing to start putting out that kind of money for something that's not life threatening.
Ysee, I'm a person that takes in injured animals. I don't allow any of my children to kill bugs - they are to be taken outside. We brought a stray into our home just a few months ago. a little dog on the side of the road. I spent $900 on surgery for his injuries, spent 6 weeks nursing him back to health. Then lost him to complications. Was completely devastated.
I do not appreciate being made to look like a heartless human who doesn't value my cat's life or the joy he has brought our family throughout the years. I had previously read a post back around the first of May where someone said her boyfriend was threatening to take her cat to the pound and not one negative thing was said in reply to that in spite of the fact it would be a death sentence for the cat. No! You advised her take the cat to the vet. But not me. you acted like I didn't care about him. I was in hopes of someone having an idea of something I hadn't thought of yet. I never once said I wouldn't take him to a vet. Since he had no symptoms of anything that I knew about it didn't occur to me that it could be a sign of an actual illness. One of you stated that I should be concerned about his health rather than wheter or not he smells up my house. Well, when I stated "is this normal old age"? that should have qued you into maybe I didn't realize that peeing all over the house might be medically related rather than just a behavior problem. But thanks so much for just assuming I'm a cruel person who doesn't care about my cats health!!! Even the thought of loosing my cat or having to have him put down will bring tears to my eyes. He is such a part of our lives.
You guys acted like I was ready to shoot him in the head or something sick!!!! Like I said, that phrase was just a sarcastic type phrase not meant to be taken literally!!! When you say "I'm going to kick your butt" that doesn't mean your going to really kick someone in the behind. When you say "I could just slap her" doesn't mean your going to get physically violent with someone. When you say "That stinks" doesn't mean it has an odor. when you say "I'm so happy, I could just die" doesn't mean your ready to kill over!
Perhaps you could have been kind enough to ask more questions about me or my situations before you became judgemental about my feelings towards my cat!! Especial since things can sound differently reading rather than talking face to face. Sometimes it might be hard to really read what someone is trying to say when your reading words rather than body language.
Enough rambling I guess.... probably not worth it. You people don't know me anyhow. i was just blown away to be accused of basically not loving my cat.
My baby and I will go elsewhere for advice thank you!!!
One of the things I like about this board, is that the regulars tell it like it is. All they have to go on is what you put out there, so if you say something and you are kidding- like "I am going to kill my cat if he pees on my sweater one more time." and you do not say you are kidding, they have to assume your frustration meter is pegged and you might do something foolish in your anger/frustration. Because, sadly this type of thing does happen a lot, where people will come and post and say things that are not entirely appropriate and then act on them. There is no way of telling that you were not this type of person.
Your first post did not put me at ease that you have this old fella's best interest at heart, simply because of how you worded certain phrases.
You leave now, you miss out on some of the best advice for health care you can get on the Internet. Trust me I know, I have been to a lot of boards, and this is one of only two that I frequent. You can't get better than Traci and Davet and the others here...you really can't.
Your first post did not put me at ease that you have this old fella's best interest at heart, simply because of how you worded certain phrases.
You leave now, you miss out on some of the best advice for health care you can get on the Internet. Trust me I know, I have been to a lot of boards, and this is one of only two that I frequent. You can't get better than Traci and Davet and the others here...you really can't.
The smallest feline is a masterpiece.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci