Worried about Mimi........advice?

[catlover4ever]

Logan, I'm sorry to hear about Mimi. I know some of what you are going through. Miss Tucker is 23 and when you describe Mimi I would swear that you are describing Tucker as well. She cries when we pick her up, does not eat as well as she used to, sleeps almost all of the time, does not want to come inside for the night, she can no longer jump, etc.

I know a lot of the thoughts that are going through your head. Am I being fair to Mimi, is she just cranky, am I doing right by her....only you can answer that....it's hard.

I contemplate Tucker every day. She going deaf and her sight is starting to fail. When we pick her up she cries, she made me chase her 4 times over the yard last night because she did not want to come inside (but she has to come in every night)....will she one day walk away to die in the woods and I won't be able to find her. Having discussed Tucker with my vet he has told me that all these things happen to cats, some just decline at earlier ages.

I have to just trust in my heart that I will be able to tell when she has failed enough and my heart will make the decision to give her a dignified peace...and I know that I have to be strong enough to not second guess myself.

Our senior cats are very wise and knowing creatures....I think Mimi will tell you when her time has come. (((hugs))) --- Meg

[Rachel]

I can well remember the agony of facing each day the agony of watching the physical and mental decline of a pet. Sometimes I wondered which of us was suffering more.

Although it seems like the worst possible scenerio, if in fact one day she does go off and not come back, try to think of it as how she wanted it to be. As I write this, I am brought to tears as I know how dear Mimi is to you and your family. Even if you hadn't just had to deal with losing Murphy and Zipper, this situation is heart wrenching.

Whatever you choose to do, it will be a thoughtful and caring decision. You are capable of only that for your animals. Trust your heart.

[Pam]

I can well remember the agony of facing each day the agony of watching the physical and mental decline of a pet. Sometimes I wondered which of us was suffering more.

Although it seems like the worst possible scenerio, if in fact one day she does go off and not come back, try to think of it as how she wanted it to be. As I write this, I am brought to tears as I know how dear Mimi is to you and your family. Even if you hadn't just had to deal with losing Murphy and Zipper, this situation is heart wrenching.

Whatever you choose to do, it will be a thoughtful and caring decision. You are capable of only that for your animals. Trust your heart.

As always, our dear friend, Rachel, has said what I would have said only in a much better way. (((Hugs))) to you Logan. I know Mimi has been your best friend for many years.

[jazzcat]

Logan I'm so sorry. Having gone through trying to decide with Disney just a year ago I am a bit familiar with this. It's heart-wrenching. You've had to deal with this pain too much.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

((((HUGS))))

[Logan]

I'm going to get the baby food this afternoon. Thank you, Debbie, for that reminder. I know that you know exactly what I'm dealing with, as so many of you do. She came downstairs, earlier, and let me hold her. I gave her milk, but she ignored it. I gave her canned food, which she ignored, too. I will try tuna later and see if she will eat it. And maybe the baby food will do the trick. Funny how there is no competition with Butter any longer. I guess she doesn't have the energy. She saves it for Mack, who has learned, through constant "No No" from me, to leave her alone most of the time.

I almost wish there were an obvious reason for her decline....a tumor, something......sounds sick for me to even type that out. It is just old age. Her kidney function is fine, her heart rate was off the map, but it was because she was so nervous at the vet. We'll just wait and see what Dr. Robinson says tomorrow and I might call Butter's vet. Dr. Anderson, too, just to get her input, since she specializes in cats. She has never seen Mimi, but she might have a suggestion. I'll do anything to prolong her life as long as she can enjoy living. Otherwise, I know what I must do.

Logan

[momoffuzzyfaces]

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.

[Donnaj4962]

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.

[Lizzie]

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.

[moosmom]

will she one day walk away to die in the woods and I won't be able to find her.

My biggest fear would be the above. Since she is 17 and getting on in years, I would try to keep her inside. But that is only my opinion.

You've gotta do what is best for Mimi. When the time comes, I hope you will be able to do what is right for Mimi. In the meantime, love her with everything you've got, and make the most of the time you have with her.

(((((HUGS))))

Donna

[Logan]

Thank you all for your comments and advice. One thing I failed to mention is that she "hides" now. Zipper started doing the same thing when he got sick. She stayed inside all night (she is set up with a litter box and chooses to stay upstairs, most of the time, hiding in Helen's closet). This morning, I took a food bowl and water upstairs so she wouldn't have to come down to the usual spot to eat. Maybe that will help.

Dr. Robinson does not work on Thursday, so I will call him in the morning and see if he has any advice about stimulating her appetite.

Mimi has been with me since she was a six week old kitten in 1989 and has been the healthiest, easiest pet I have ever had. And oh so loving. My goal in the last year has been to let her do what she wants, when she wants and where she wants. If outside is where she wanted to be, I have been able to trust her to stay in our yard, usually sleeping in a flower bed or under the car. Thank goodness we don't have problems with stray animals around here or I would be more fearful. But if I can keep her in, that is what I plan to try and do.

I will keep you posted. I didn't even share pictures of her on her birthday because she looks so bad. I would prefer for you guys to remember her when she was healthier and a little more plump.

Tucker is amazing at 23 years old. Wow! I guess I've always thought that Mimi would live forever. Its not just that I'm still grieving for Murphy and Zip, although that does play a part in my struggle right now, but I just don't want this huge piece of my life to leave me. Not yet. She has been the one stable thing in my life, through thick and thin, for the last 17 years.

Logan

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Oh Logan, I'm so sorry to hear this. But, along with Meg, I know exactly what you're going through since Peanut's tumor is getting worse - I can tell by the amount of blood in her urine.

I would suggest that you do whatever you can to make Mimi comfortable and let your heart guide you the rest of the way. Either she will die peacefully and you will find her afterwards, or she will give you some kind of sign that it is time. My first thought about leaving her outside was "if that's what she wants, that's what she gets" but the thought of having her wander off and die is just too horrible, so I would keep her inside also, and if the upstairs closet is where she prefers to be then that would be good enough for me - as long as I knew where she was.

She could have arthritis making it painful when you pick her up. I gave Tubby Cosequin for his arthritis and it seemed to help a bit. Also, when Tubby was at his worst, I finally got him to eat a bit of baby food. What I did was put the dish in the microwave for about a minute to make it warm, then I put the baby food on the warm dish. That way it was warm - making it more smelly so they're more likely to eat it - but it wasn't HOT which wouldn't have been good. Tubby preferred the beef and turkey mushy baby food. The only other thing I can think of to stimulate her appetite is prednisolone. It's a steroid which makes them hungry and usually you have to worry about them gaining weight when they're on it, but it sounds like that would be a good thing in Mimi's case.

I'm just so very sorry this is all happening right now. You've been through so much in the last few months with losing precious pets, and this is the last thing you need right now. I will be hoping and praying for a positive uppydate, but know that we are here for you no matter what the news. {{{hugs}}}

[catmandu]

I think that she would be better inside, as at that advanced age she could not get away from danger.
And you can keep Mimi a lot more comfortable if you could keep her indoors, and we pray that you can help that Poor Old Cat.