Update on Puddy; she's gone*9/29* see post #421

[jazzcat]

I'm sorry. Do you think it's behavioral or do you think she's confused?

[Medusa]

I'm sorry. Do you think it's behavioral or do you think she's confused?

I think that I may have just figured it out and I'm heartsick over it. I took a shower just a while ago and while I was in the shower, she was sitting on the toilet, instead of on the sink countertop, and she was crying. I got out of the shower and said "What's wrong, Puddy?" and she kept crying, then hopped back up onto the sink countertop and into the sink and peed. Sigh. Ok, she's done that before and I did have the bathroom door closed, so she couldn't get to her litterbox, so it's easily forgiven. So I proceeded to blowdry my hair, put on my moisturizer, etc. and she began to cry again, went into the sink and started scratching the sink. I thought "OMG, she's going to have a bowel movement!" So I quickly moved her to the litterbox and she did indeed go. So. I think her senility has taken over; she thinks the sink is her litterbox and if she has the urgency to go, she wants to be near it. She has her lucid moments but by far, she's more out of it than ever. Senility is one thing but if it's going to keep her from enjoying life forever and keep her emotionally chained to the bathroom sink countertop, then I'm afraid that I'd be doing her a disservice if I allow it to continue. I'm just heartsick about this. I fear that I've lost my little Puddy.

[jazzcat]

I think that I may have just figured it out and I'm heartsick over it. I took a shower just a while ago and while I was in the shower, she was sitting on the toilet, instead of on the sink countertop, and she was crying. I got out of the shower and said "What's wrong, Puddy?" and she kept crying, then hopped back up onto the sink countertop and into the sink and peed. Sigh. Ok, she's done that before and I did have the bathroom door closed, so she couldn't get to her litterbox, so it's easily forgiven. So I proceeded to blowdry my hair, put on my moisturizer, etc. and she began to cry again, went into the sink and started scratching the sink. I thought "OMG, she's going to have a bowel movement!" So I quickly moved her to the litterbox and she did indeed go. So. I think her senility has taken over; she thinks the sink is her litterbox and if she has the urgency to go, she wants to be near it. She has her lucid moments but by far, she's more out of it than ever. Senility is one thing but if it's going to keep her from enjoying life forever and keep her emotionally chained to the bathroom sink countertop, then I'm afraid that I'd be doing her a disservice if I allow it to continue. I'm just heartsick about this. I fear that I've lost my little Puddy.

Mary, the stories you have told reminded me of my dog Disney who had Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (dog alzheimer's) and that is why I asked if she might be confused. When it came to going to the potty Disney became very confused and since I worked with her about going in the appropriate place she eventually associated me with going and would sometime drop and go at the sight of me. It broke my heart.

I'm so sorry that Puddy is suffering the same horrible thing. (((HUGS)))

[Catty1]

Awww, Mary...

Just wondering if she acted weird immediately after each dose of Epogen...

It's sweet but painful how she cried to you as if for help. "Mommy knows!"

Would a covered litterbox in the bathroom help at all? (or uncovered if that doesn't gross you out).

I hope Dr Lee has some insight - even over the phone. I know she is taking lots of meds already - just wondering if Omega 3-6 oil mixed in with her food would help? My boys get about 1/2 tsp each if that, mixed up in their wet food.

I am so sorry this is happening...I do hope there is another answer.

HUGS!

ETA - I am at work, but I just HAD to try and look something up. This page is interesting, and I copied this part from it:

Breathing becomes less efficient at delivering oxygen to the blood, because the lungs become less flexible and the muscles involved in breathing weaken. This may contribute to problems such as tiredness on exercise, and altered behavior associated with senility.

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aging.html

Also, Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS):

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/senility.html

The cat’s response to this stress is to show more obvious signs of CDS (e.g. anorexia, hiding, and/or upset of toileting habits).

The most commonly seen changes include spatial (space) or temporal (time) disorientation, altered interaction with the family, changes in sleep-wake cycles, house-soiling with inappropriate urination/defecation, changes in activity, and/or inappropriate vocalisation (often displayed as loud crying at night)

Mary - in the second link, scroll way down for Max's case story. This article is in small print, but it does list treatment options. Just scan for the parts relating for that; it's a lot to read.

If nothing else, print out both links and fax 'em over to Doc Lee. Also - and I am not making this up - both pages referred to the Omega 3 - 6 stuff.

There IS a drug too, but that's not what poor Puddy needs!

Just trying to picture her with a wee kitty nebulizer for her doses of oxygen! :-)

[Medusa]

Awww, Mary...

Just wondering if she acted weird immediately after each dose of Epogen...

It's sweet but painful how she cried to you as if for help. "Mommy knows!"

Would a covered litterbox in the bathroom help at all? (or uncovered if that doesn't gross you out).

I hope Dr Lee has some insight - even over the phone. I know she is taking lots of meds already - just wondering if Omega 3-6 oil mixed in with her food would help? My boys get about 1/2 tsp each if that, mixed up in their wet food.

I found this online; she has nearly every symptom.

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/senility.html


I am so sorry this is happening...I do hope there is another answer.

HUGS!

My bathroom is so small that, w/the little stairs that I put in there so that she can reach the sink, there's no room for a litter box. I'd have no way to get around in there. I'm going to leave a message for Dr. Lee to call me tomorrow morning. It's after the Epogen shots that she seems worse.

I found this online; she has nearly every symptom.

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/senility.html

[cassiesmom]

Thoughts and prayers for Puddy and her Mom

[Medusa]

I just realized that Candace and I posted the same link. I'm so stressed that I don't even know what I'm doing any more.