My poor cat :(
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 6,409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My poor cat :(
His name is Tribble (or Ibby for short) and this month we are celebrating his 16th birthday.
All his life he has seemed to have bad luck. When he was like 6 he had urinary tract disease and had to have surgery twice to correct the problem. Thankfully he hasnt had any problems with it in like 8 years.
He once had a weird little bump on him that they removed. It proved to just be what equalled a large mole.
And back in April he started to lose weight (he had always been a beefy cat). We took him to the vet and they said he had an overactive thyroid gland. They gave us a medicine called Tapaozol which we give him in cream form by rubbing it in his ear. Everything was going great. He gained back a pound and a half and everything. Then like 10 days ago he started to ignore his regular cat food, something he NEVER did before. He acted totally normal (purring, cuddling, etc). The only way I could get him to eat anything was by making him a hamburger or something. So yesterday we went to the vets and the did blood work and the whole ten yards.
Their only guess now is that his body has become resistant to the medication. So for the next week I am not to give him any Tapazol until he starts to eat his cat food again (He can have hamburgers, etc in the mean time). Once he eats his cat food again, I start the Tapazol again. If he starts to hate his cat food then they know his body is not liking the meds, making our only option sugery
I know this probably boring to most of you but its freaking me out big time. I LOVE this cat. Got him when I was eight. I have a hard time remember my life before he was around. He sleeps in my bed everynight, I buy him xmas gifts, we had a special shrimp dinner for his b-day, etc. He is literally treated like a king. I'll be a mess if anything happens to him. Even thought he is just a lump of fuzz hes been around for 2/3 of my life, I dunno what I'll do if hes not there to share my dinner, or steal my pillows. What scares me about the potential sugery is his age, although the doctor said thyroid sugery is only performed on older cats it's still highly risky.
I just needed to vent because my gf thinks I'm over-eacting. I need some encouraging words.
All his life he has seemed to have bad luck. When he was like 6 he had urinary tract disease and had to have surgery twice to correct the problem. Thankfully he hasnt had any problems with it in like 8 years.
He once had a weird little bump on him that they removed. It proved to just be what equalled a large mole.
And back in April he started to lose weight (he had always been a beefy cat). We took him to the vet and they said he had an overactive thyroid gland. They gave us a medicine called Tapaozol which we give him in cream form by rubbing it in his ear. Everything was going great. He gained back a pound and a half and everything. Then like 10 days ago he started to ignore his regular cat food, something he NEVER did before. He acted totally normal (purring, cuddling, etc). The only way I could get him to eat anything was by making him a hamburger or something. So yesterday we went to the vets and the did blood work and the whole ten yards.
Their only guess now is that his body has become resistant to the medication. So for the next week I am not to give him any Tapazol until he starts to eat his cat food again (He can have hamburgers, etc in the mean time). Once he eats his cat food again, I start the Tapazol again. If he starts to hate his cat food then they know his body is not liking the meds, making our only option sugery

I know this probably boring to most of you but its freaking me out big time. I LOVE this cat. Got him when I was eight. I have a hard time remember my life before he was around. He sleeps in my bed everynight, I buy him xmas gifts, we had a special shrimp dinner for his b-day, etc. He is literally treated like a king. I'll be a mess if anything happens to him. Even thought he is just a lump of fuzz hes been around for 2/3 of my life, I dunno what I'll do if hes not there to share my dinner, or steal my pillows. What scares me about the potential sugery is his age, although the doctor said thyroid sugery is only performed on older cats it's still highly risky.
I just needed to vent because my gf thinks I'm over-eacting. I need some encouraging words.

#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: I was here but I disappear
Posts: 8,407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have a 16 year old that had some similar symptoms: lack of appetite, lost weight. The vet diagnosed inflamatory bowel disease and put her on a strict diet of IVD (something like that) that has only one form of starch and one form of protein (duck and green peas, I think). The idea is that unlike dogs, cats have internals that respond best to just one form of protein and starch each (I forgot the name; dogs are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they can eat anything, cats are not) She also gets transdermal (ear cream) medication. She's much better but obviously at 16 there's only so much that cn be done. Maybe you wanna ask your vet about inflammatory bowel disease.
But I feel your pain! Just make sure he's happy!
But I feel your pain! Just make sure he's happy!
#4
DVD Talk Hero
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: I'm Still Alive in Los Angeles...or am I?
Posts: 27,815
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is really tough, and God forbid you lose your pal, but I know what that's like because I recently lost the kitty love of my life..."EggBuns" to kidney failure, and we were a mess.
She was getting her teeth cleaned, and we believe it was the anesthesia that did it.
(That was before we learned that they should always do blood tests on older cats before any "knock-out" surgery or procedure, to see if they can withstand the drug, but they didn't mention anything about it, and we didn't know.)
Some people do just fine with "replacement" cats.
We on the other hand, have decided not to have any more pets.
Oh sure, we still have Sgt. Pee Pee (which was a "companion" kitty that we got for EggBuns), but after she goes, that's it.
I don't know what else to tell you but to take a deep breath and muster all the courage you have and face the fact that the possibility of loss is just as much a part of life as the possibility of gain.
That there is a time to say hello, and there is a time to say...goodbye.
T. E. King
She was getting her teeth cleaned, and we believe it was the anesthesia that did it.
(That was before we learned that they should always do blood tests on older cats before any "knock-out" surgery or procedure, to see if they can withstand the drug, but they didn't mention anything about it, and we didn't know.)
Some people do just fine with "replacement" cats.
We on the other hand, have decided not to have any more pets.
Oh sure, we still have Sgt. Pee Pee (which was a "companion" kitty that we got for EggBuns), but after she goes, that's it.
I don't know what else to tell you but to take a deep breath and muster all the courage you have and face the fact that the possibility of loss is just as much a part of life as the possibility of gain.
That there is a time to say hello, and there is a time to say...goodbye.
T. E. King
Last edited by The Edit King; 09-16-03 at 12:48 PM.
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Did your vet consider giving him Tapazole in a pill form?
Good luck with the treatment- i hope he'll be ok.
I lost my cat a year ago to lymphoma and i don't think i'll really get over his death. I tear up every time i think about him.
The good thing is that there are treatment options available, and with luck Tribble will be just fine.
Good luck with the treatment- i hope he'll be ok.
I lost my cat a year ago to lymphoma and i don't think i'll really get over his death. I tear up every time i think about him.
The good thing is that there are treatment options available, and with luck Tribble will be just fine.
#6
DVD Talk Ruler
Sounds to me like you've given this cat 16 years of happiness. Not sure what more a cat could ask for.
I would push for medication and dietary supplements (You may need to force-feed him), but I wouldn't put him through surgery at his age.
I would push for medication and dietary supplements (You may need to force-feed him), but I wouldn't put him through surgery at his age.
#7
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Exit 151
Posts: 9,048
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Our cat Scooter has been getting Tapazole (in pill form) for over a year now.
About a month ago he started exhibiting similar symptoms as your cat. Scooter would not even come down for dinner and started to drop weight.
But as soon as we were ready to take him to the vet yet again, he started eating and is now gaining the weight back.
Sometimes I think these cats just go through some weird cycles that they hopefully work out on their own.
Good luck with your kit.
About a month ago he started exhibiting similar symptoms as your cat. Scooter would not even come down for dinner and started to drop weight.
But as soon as we were ready to take him to the vet yet again, he started eating and is now gaining the weight back.
Sometimes I think these cats just go through some weird cycles that they hopefully work out on their own.
Good luck with your kit.
#8
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 6,409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The tapazole in pill form (I assume) will do the same thing as the transdermal cream. His exact words were that "he might have built a resistance to the medication." I will certainly ask him though.
They can do blood work on older cats to see if they will make it through a sugery? I know that anything is still possible but they can say "yeah he has a good chance", or "no he probably wouldnt make it?"
I have this terrible fear of dropping him off for the surgery (if it comes to that) and that being the last time I see him. Not the way I want it to happen, I want to be able to say final goodbyes.
EDIT: One side effect from the Tapazole they mentioned was that he might want to stop eating and have diarrhea. Which he has had a few times. So hopefully by stopping the meds for a while, his system will "chill out" and the meds will take effect again after that.
They can do blood work on older cats to see if they will make it through a sugery? I know that anything is still possible but they can say "yeah he has a good chance", or "no he probably wouldnt make it?"
I have this terrible fear of dropping him off for the surgery (if it comes to that) and that being the last time I see him. Not the way I want it to happen, I want to be able to say final goodbyes.
EDIT: One side effect from the Tapazole they mentioned was that he might want to stop eating and have diarrhea. Which he has had a few times. So hopefully by stopping the meds for a while, his system will "chill out" and the meds will take effect again after that.
Last edited by namrufmot; 09-16-03 at 12:58 PM.
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: I'm Still Alive in Los Angeles...or am I?
Posts: 27,815
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by namrufmot
They can do blood work on older cats to see if they will make it through a surgery? I know that anything is still possible but they can say "yeah he has a good chance", or "no he probably wouldn't make it?"
They can do blood work on older cats to see if they will make it through a surgery? I know that anything is still possible but they can say "yeah he has a good chance", or "no he probably wouldn't make it?"
What I said was that the blood test verifies if the animal can physically withstand the anesthesia.
Eggbuns was like 16 years old too. We brought her home after the cleaning and she was okay for a couple weeks.
When we brought her back, they did a few tests, said her kidneys were failing. A short time after that (when she couldn't and wouldn't eat anything, and only threw up all the water she drank), sadly, we put her to sleep.
It got to the point, we had to ask ourselves, "What's best for her?"
I mean, sure we wanted to keep her around forever! But there came a time for us to do what was right, for her.
She was suffering everyday. Losing weight, heck she was always fit as a fiddle! Strong and quite beautiful! But she would meow quietly and it was almost like she was asking me to help her stop the hurt.
Well, we finally did, and she's not suffering anymore. She's resting now.
TEK
Last edited by The Edit King; 09-16-03 at 01:28 PM.
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 6,409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If it does come to the point where he needs sugery I'm not sure what I would choose.
As of right now he is 100% happy. Still purrs when you barely touch him, plays with toys, sleeps in my bed, bugs me at every meal just like he has always done. So I feel like he still has alot of good time left in him.
I wouldnt want to give up until I knew I did everything I possibly could for him. I wish cats could talk so I could just ask him. But isn't a quick surgery worth the chance of another couple years of happiness? Granted he could get worse by then so the decision will be easy.
As of right now he is 100% happy. Still purrs when you barely touch him, plays with toys, sleeps in my bed, bugs me at every meal just like he has always done. So I feel like he still has alot of good time left in him.
I wouldnt want to give up until I knew I did everything I possibly could for him. I wish cats could talk so I could just ask him. But isn't a quick surgery worth the chance of another couple years of happiness? Granted he could get worse by then so the decision will be easy.
#11
DVD Talk Hero
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: I'm Still Alive in Los Angeles...or am I?
Posts: 27,815
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by namrufmot
But isn't a quick surgery worth the chance of another couple years of happiness? Granted he could get worse by then so the decision will be easy.
But isn't a quick surgery worth the chance of another couple years of happiness? Granted he could get worse by then so the decision will be easy.
If you believe in your heart that it's best for him, do the surgery.
If it was my cat and I felt that way, I'd do it!
We would do it for our child, if we had one!
People do that for their children all the time!
I mean, if they really believe it will help them, they do it!

TEK

Last edited by The Edit King; 09-16-03 at 01:46 PM.
#12
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 6,409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by The Edit King
A couple years of happiness for who?
If you believe in your heart that it's best for him, do the surgery.
If it was my cat and I felt that way, I'd do it!
We would do it for our child, if we had one!
TEK
A couple years of happiness for who?
If you believe in your heart that it's best for him, do the surgery.
If it was my cat and I felt that way, I'd do it!
We would do it for our child, if we had one!
TEK

#13
DVD Talk Hero
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: I'm Still Alive in Los Angeles...or am I?
Posts: 27,815
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well HECK, namy!!!
Have fun and enjoy EVERY SECOND!!!
Maybe now you feel better knowing a little more of what you will do when the time comes!
I hope you do (feel better that is), because I do, for you!
THEEK
Have fun and enjoy EVERY SECOND!!!
Maybe now you feel better knowing a little more of what you will do when the time comes!
I hope you do (feel better that is), because I do, for you!

THEEK

Last edited by The Edit King; 09-16-03 at 01:47 PM.
#16
DVD Talk Hero
I thought maybe this thread was started by one of kvrdave's neighbors. 
Sorry to hear about Ibby. I know what you're going through, since we've spent the last six months trying different treatments for our cat's leukemia. Thankfully, though her blood cells are apparently all messed up, it doesn't seem to have affected her behavior or temprament.
It's funny -- we're willing to do so much for our pets, yet they can't even comprehend what's going on.

Sorry to hear about Ibby. I know what you're going through, since we've spent the last six months trying different treatments for our cat's leukemia. Thankfully, though her blood cells are apparently all messed up, it doesn't seem to have affected her behavior or temprament.
It's funny -- we're willing to do so much for our pets, yet they can't even comprehend what's going on.
#17
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 6,409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
heres an update:
His appetite seemed to return alot yesterday. from the time i got home from work till i went to bed he ate:
like 9 cocktail shrimp
1 1/8 hamburgers
2 small piles of dry cat food
I let him walk around the backyard for a while, something i never do cause hes an indoor only cat, and that seemed to invigorate him and make him hungry as hell.
This morning for breakfast he had a few shrimp and more dry cat food. hopefully tomorrow i'll try giving him some moist cat food and see what he thinks.
His appetite seemed to return alot yesterday. from the time i got home from work till i went to bed he ate:
like 9 cocktail shrimp
1 1/8 hamburgers
2 small piles of dry cat food
I let him walk around the backyard for a while, something i never do cause hes an indoor only cat, and that seemed to invigorate him and make him hungry as hell.
This morning for breakfast he had a few shrimp and more dry cat food. hopefully tomorrow i'll try giving him some moist cat food and see what he thinks.
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Michigan
Posts: 8,692
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by namrufmot
This morning for breakfast he had a few shrimp and more dry cat food. hopefully tomorrow i'll try giving him some moist cat food and see what he thinks.
This morning for breakfast he had a few shrimp and more dry cat food. hopefully tomorrow i'll try giving him some moist cat food and see what he thinks.
#20
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Exit 151
Posts: 9,048
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ya they got turkey flavored baby food.
About four years ago we lost a cat to cancer and baby food was one of the last things we were feeding him.
We have no kids and you should have seen the bewildered look on my face, standing in front of the baby food aisle (which must stretch 15 feet wide) trying to pick something out.
About four years ago we lost a cat to cancer and baby food was one of the last things we were feeding him.
We have no kids and you should have seen the bewildered look on my face, standing in front of the baby food aisle (which must stretch 15 feet wide) trying to pick something out.
#21
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Michigan
Posts: 8,692
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by namrufmot
turkey flavored baby food??
turkey flavored baby food??
My cats like the ham flavored stuff too.
#22
DVD Talk Hero
Originally posted by Phil L.
We have no kids and you should have seen the bewildered look on my face, standing in front of the baby food aisle (which must stretch 15 feet wide) trying to pick something out.
We have no kids and you should have seen the bewildered look on my face, standing in front of the baby food aisle (which must stretch 15 feet wide) trying to pick something out.
A funny thing is that, like Phil, I've got no kids. And since one of my rabbits is on maintenance medicine for the rest of his life, I always buy baby food. As a result, the grocery store computer is constantly spitting out coupons for things I'll never need like diapers and second stage baby food.
#24
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Exit 151
Posts: 9,048
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by JasonFliegel
A funny thing is that, like Phil, I've got no kids. And since one of my rabbits is on maintenance medicine for the rest of his life, I always buy baby food. As a result, the grocery store computer is constantly spitting out coupons for things I'll never need like diapers and second stage baby food.
A funny thing is that, like Phil, I've got no kids. And since one of my rabbits is on maintenance medicine for the rest of his life, I always buy baby food. As a result, the grocery store computer is constantly spitting out coupons for things I'll never need like diapers and second stage baby food.
Even a year after our cat died, I could look at the bottom of our grocery receipt and see that we had apparently accumulated $7.20 worth of "Baby Bucks" which I guess is some in-store redemption program for frequent buyers of baby products.
#25
I hope your cat gets better.