Dusty is aging not so gracefully **UPDATE**

[Freedom]

Poor Dusty!!! Oh no, I can sympathize, as I just learned why I have such horrid pain in both knees - no more cartilage!

I hope you can find some things that will help her feel comfortable. Those heating pads you mentioned sound good. Give her a nice rub from me, OK?

[Catty1]

HUGS! poor Dusty...

I hope this doesn't sound stupid...but you know those wheeled things made for dogs who can't use their back legs? I wonder about one for Dusty.

Though...if she has any muscles left, she maybe should use them as much as she can?

I just thought the wheely thing might take a lot of pressure off her back legs, and help her feel more comfy.

Give that darling girl a kiss and hug for me, ok?

[Catlady711]

Freedom- my mom has the same problem in one of her knees, and she said it's very painful. I will be sure to give Dusty a cheek scratching for you.

Catty1 - I thought about a wheeled cart, however there are a few problems with that..
1) we have an upstairs which Dusty loves to spend alot of time up there.
2) Dusty won't walk at all with anything around her body, we can't even use a harness on her because she'll just lay and not move at all.
3) a few of the other cats stalk and pounce her, and a cart would make it much harder for her to hide from them. Dusty has limited eyesight in dim lighting, no pariphial vision, and her hearing is going. I have often thought that the other cats know she's getting older and more feeble and that's why they hound her so.

It was a great idea about the cart though.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear about Dusty. I hope that you can find something that will make her more comfortable.

[Randi]

Oh poor sweet Dusty. It's so hard to tell if they're in pain isn't it. I'm afraid I don't have any advice, but you should let her be where she wants to be, even if you have to carry her upstairs. Glad to hear she's eating and wants to play, if only for a short time. I think the heated cat bed is a very good idea, that might help ease the pain. You're such a good kitty mom, and I do hope you'll find a medicine that helps her.

Lots of kisses to Dusty, and hugs to you.

[catmandu]

If Theres A Cost In Being A Pet Guardian Is Not The Food Or Vet Bills , Its The Knowledge That We Will Outlive Our Furry Little Friends.
And We Will Have To Live With The Agony Of Watching Our Once Vibrant Companions Get Old And Frail.and The Agony Of Having To Decide On The Time When Its Time For Them To Be Angels.
We Are Praying As Hard As We Can For Our Friend Dusty , That Shes Not In Pain And Still Has Year S Ahead Of Her To Be Your Dear Little Pal.

[kb2yjx]

Prayers for dear Dusty. Growing old is no fun...but Dusty is lucky to have you looking out for her well being...