Printable View
Aw, Logan, I'm so sorry!
I would for sure keep Mimi inside now and check with the vet. I'd let her sleep wherever she wants. Maybe being in Helen's closet is comforting to her. At least you don't have to worry about her being attacked by a stange animal there and she can be as comfy as possible.
Prayers on the way for you all. :(
I am so sorry to hear that Mimi is declining. I worry about this with my Tabitha, who recently turned 18. I would agree that your heart has to guide you. Tabitha has mostly good days, but sometimes I can tell she is slowing down, especially in the winter and colder days, and on humid days.
Love Mimi all that you can... and let her do what makes her the happiest.
That is the best advice that I can give you.
This is a very frustrating and distressing time for you, and one that many of us have shared. My instinct would be to keep her inside because I would be afraid of her being taken by wildlife when she was too weak to fight - that's Mother Nature at work, but not the way you want to lose her. Along with baby food, I've had good success with honey-roasted turkey breast slices from the deli and cheesecake.
My Ginger cries when I pick her up (she's 20) but her check-ups are excellent also. They found no signs of arthritis, no masses, and, of course, she didn't cry out once while the vet checked her out. It seems to be more grumpiness than anything else so I just hope for the best.
I was going to suggest hyperthyroidism for the weight loss, but then she would have an extreme appetite.
It's good that she has found a place where she likes to be and that you are willing to make it "her place". She must find it very comforting to be in the closet.
While she is obviously miserable right now, I believe she will give you "that look" when she really doesn't want to live in her body any more. It may be something that she just has to fight her way through and we'll all hope that's the case.
How sad to hear that Mimi is declining. :(
Just a person note, some "food for thought". When (RB) Bear was coming to the end of his life (at 19+ years) he too lost a lot of weight and went completely blind, but he still thrived. But, when his appetite also left, I knew he was giving up. :( He was saying that life was too hard for him now.
I wish you the best for however much time is left with Mimi.
Times like these are so hard, but you will know when it's time to let go. I don't know how to explain it, you just do. It's not an easy decision, but you do what's best for their comfort. We've had to make this decision a few times now, and as hard as it was, it was for the best. Savor the time you have with her and good luck to you both.
Logan, is it possible that Mimi is just stressed out over the new puppy?
How are her Teeth? Does your vet have any idea why she isn’t eating?
Did he recommend any appetite stimulating products?
They might need to do a blood test and check her liver.
I will be keeping your sweet Mimi in my prayers.
I refuse to believe that her time has come.
(((HUGS)))
Logan,
I too am so sorry to hear that Mimi is weakening. Our Roxy declined in much the same way and it was so difficult to face the realities in front of us. Please do your best to keep her inside, safe and as comfortable as possible.
Mimi is such a sweet baby. She trusts you and will let you know in her own time what needs to be done. Meanwhile I know you will give her all the love she deserves.
It is so heartbreaking to be in your situation and be helpless to change anything about it. Our little ones are never with us long enough and it hurts so much to let them go.
Hugs to you and your family. Please give Mimi a gentle snuggle for me.
Take care,
Betty
Logan,
I am not sure how much I can type, as this hits very close to home for me. But, you and Mimi are in my thoughts, and I know in my heart the decision you make will come from your heart, and that is all anyone can really ever do, whether it be for our furry ones, or our skinned ones.
Holding you and Mimi closely in my heart.
Johanna
Thank you all, again.
Helen will be home tonight, after being gone all week. If anyone can get her to respond, it will be Helen. I'm going to have her spend some one on one time with her and also see if she can get her to eat.
I know everyone handles these situations with seniors differently, so please don't be angry with me for the way I have decided to handle this. No more bloodwork, no more trips to the vet. If he can help me find something to stimulate her appetite, I'll do it. I have a call into him about that now. But I'm not going to put this cat through lots of tests and trips to the office at this stage of her life. I love her too much to do it. Mimi had a good checkup just two weeks ago. He stated then, she is just old and tired. Her poor little heart was about to jump out of her chest. I simply cannot put her through that again.
I have already experienced letting one pet live too long out of selfishness. I had to help Scott when it came time to let Murphy go because he would have done the same thing. With Zipper, things happened faster and escalated within a month. His situation was a bit different than Mimi's, as was Murphy's.
I am going to keep my faithful companion as comfortable as I can for as long as I can, but I will not let her suffer. I promise. I hope you all understand my position on this. If she were younger, I might take a different approach. I hope she will go to sleep one night in her favorite spot, when it is time, and just not wake up. I can't bear the thought of losing her, especially on the heels of such recent losses in our little family. She has always been #1 for me, as you know.
Thanks for listening to me go on and on and thank you for caring and making suggestions. It means a lot.
Logan
Logan, there is nothing I can say or add except that I am thinking of you and feel so for your situation. It is one we will all face and I know you will set the standard of compassion and love.
Don't worry, Logan, no one will be mad at you for caring about Mimi more than yourself. I have made this same decision for Peanut and already have a name of a vet that will make a house call when it's time for the final decision. Ever since her surgery, Peanut is so terrified of the vet and I don't want her last hours/minutes on earth to be filled with so much fear. If the vet can tell me over the phone some ways to make her more comfortable then I will do it, but she will not be going back to the vet if I have anything to say about it. Also like you, I'm really hoping that Peanut just goes to sleep one time and doesn't wake up - hopefully when we're home though so she doesn't have to be alone. I'm sure Meg feels the same way about Tucker too. Why put our elegant ladies through something so undignified as fear if we don't have to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Logan
I sure hope Helen can get her to come around a little. Senior pets take it very hard when their owners are absent. I know Mimi hasn't been totally alone since you're there for her, but it could be that she's missing Helen terribly and will feel better once she's home. That's a terrible burden to put on a young girl, but I believe Helen will be up to it. ;)
Still sending good thoughts and prayers your way. {{{hugs}}}
I do feel the same way about Tucker. I have not taken her to the vet in 4 years.....some people will shoot me for that but she is old and gets so stressed out that it's more harmful to her taking her to the vet than it is if I leave her to be in peace. I think our old timers deserve their dignity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom
Your heart will make the decision for you....and like I said before....don't second guess yourself. (((HUGS))) Meg and Tucker
Logan, I'm sure you'll do what's right for Mimi. She trusts you to do so.
FYI: Although Abby is not yet a senior, she has had problems with loss of appetite and weight loss (not a thyroid problem). Desperate, I plugged in the Feliway I used for my fosters. In days, her appetite increased and she's gained a pound in the last month. I do not know why it's working, but it is.
Just a thought as it would not stress Mimi out at all--probably quite the contrary.
Logan, sorry for not seeing this earlier. I think with some steroids you could boost her appetite and make her feel better for the moment- but it looks as if she is already on her way out :(
In the assisted living place where my mom is they had a 22 year old kitty who was like that- and she was sitting there and sleeping (in the entrance hall) and purring in a tin can sound- and she became less and less. We had the impression she was happy aöthough she was very thin and frail- and I've seen her for more than one year before there came a crisis and it was obvious she had to go....
Enjoy the time that there is with your beloved Mimi and try to make life as easy as possible for her.
I spoke with Dr. Robinson late this afternoon, after their office had already closed, and he told me that he wanted me to come on over with Mimi so that they could give her an injection and sub-q (sp?) fluids to see if she would perk up a little bit. I was there for an hour with her while the fluids went in. She weighed 4.4 pounds today. So I ended up doing exactly what I said I wasn't going to do, but no tests, which he agreed would do no good for her at this point in time.
This is not a miracle cure for her. It will hopefully buy us a little more time with her. He told me that I need to prepare myself and that someone is available to me by cell phone if anything changes and I need them before Monday.
Say a prayer for my sweet little girl, please. She is so dear. She sat there in my lap while those fluids went in without even a fight. She's tired. :( And I'm sad.
Logan