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Message |
    
Joanne G
Citizen
Username: Joanne
Post Number: 138
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 6:00 pm: | 
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I know some of you have loved quite elderly kitties and mine is a mere teenager compared with some of your distinguished felines. However at 16 years this independent minded female is quite stiff and sore most cool mornings, from below her shoulders all along the spine to the top inch or so of her tail. Vet agrees it's most probably arthritis, and her recent senior blood tests were all good (she was in for another prob now fixed). He's a good 30 mins drive away and she doesn't take kindly to travel so we're trying to avoid another trip in, hence my appeal to your wisdom and experience. Remember, we're just entering what promises to be a very cold winter with our first few below-freezing mornings this week.
She still climbs and jumps when warmed up; scampered to the column heater after breakfast this morning. She's mostly inside these days although happy to go outside for short periods if it's sunny. When her back hurts it hurts bad and she morphs into Hissing Hell Fiend. Her claws are so sharp I don't think a hot water bottle is the way to go. Any other suggestions for pain relief, please? I know we're gonna have to go the medication route too, but apparently there are no guarantees it will work long-term and we have enough trouble trying to get her to take ordinary antibiotics etc. We're open to naturopathy etc too but she won't let us massage her when she's sore.
Thanks for your help with this! |
hismom
Citizen
Username: Hismom
Post Number: 437
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 6:39 pm: |
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Does she sleep in a bed or where ever she pleases? A hot waterbottle in a super strength plastic bag in her bed may help. As strange as it sounds, a friend had a "water bed" for her elderly kitty. It was made of super tough plastic plus a plush cover (I think it was sheepskin) and had a heater.
I've noticed my 13 yo cat getting stiffer but atleast we're heading into warmer weather. Then again, it could just be the 7 mo old kitty wearing her out.) |
Mergele
Citizen
Username: Mergele
Post Number: 392
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 6:53 pm: |
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Joanne - don't know if they have these in your neck of the woods, but I'm hooked into a great group of cat people, many with creaky geriatric 4-legged ones, and everybody who's tried these swears by them - especially for the arthritic critters who don't take cold weather well:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=8982 |
Nancy - LibraryLady
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 3472
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 7:53 pm: |
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Jo, Let me know if you need me to buy something that isn't available 'down under:' I'll be gald to post t to you f they don't ship internationally.
One day S and I WILL get there. Promise! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7461
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 8:48 pm: |
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Would the cat curl up on a heating pad or even an old fashioned bed warmer if it was suitably padded and insulated to prevent her getting burnt. Could you wrap her in an electric blanket for short supervised periods of time? |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 219
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 8:51 pm: |
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Sounds like your cat needs meds. NSAIDs, (for humans-- ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) are sometimes given along with pepsid and antacid. There are a few safe for cats-- have your veterinarian prescribe what he/she feels is appropriate. Don't administer anything without your vet's instructions, as they can be dangerous if not used properly.
If they are not sufficient, prednisone or longer acting medrol works wonders. At your cat's age, I wouldn't worry about the long term downside of corticosteroids. |
Joanne G
Citizen
Username: Joanne
Post Number: 139
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 3:09 am: |
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Knew you would offer sage advice!!! Vet on phone yesterday did suggest that NSAIDS may be way to go if we didn't want to try injections first, but pointed out they're not backed with approved research in Australia. I had wondered about an electric blanket but as hubby has pointed out she has previously not stayed with any other bedding long enough to make a special purchase worthwhile - well, apart from hijacking MY pillow, MY chunk of bed, MY chunk of doona (quilt) etc and even only when I want to use them!
I love the look of the drfostersmith arthritis selfheating pads. Will check the site out more fully at home (curently about to leave my desk for the day - it's 5pm our time) and will let Nancy know if I need purchasing help. Maybe a personal delivery, courtesy of Suzanne???
I guess the biggest worry is as hismom says: at 13 we noticed she was getting stiff; at 14 it was little more pronounced and she sometimes was incontinent; at 15 she was better but limping then this year she's into pain-induced split personality stuff, or just sheer misery when the arthritis acts up. The rest of the time she's like a kitten - last night she was playing with her catnip mouse in front of the log fire and just looking cute, fluffy and alert. She's not the kind of kitty who will take to a new feline in the house, and we know she won't live forever but I don't think she's suffering enough for The Talk yet. I just want to keep her comfortable and engaged for as long as I can. (I'll try to get the camera sorted so I can get a pic for you, she's pretty cute even if she does look like a ratty carpet these days) |
Joanne G
Citizen
Username: Joanne
Post Number: 140
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:37 am: |
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Isn't always the way? Now I've opened up to you, Minnie's skipping all over the palce, doing the four-pawed pounce on her soccer ball, threatening to run up the curtains (she only ever threatens to run up then lets me know she got bored with the idea and decided to do something else instead - I actually think she knows she's too heavy!). She's spent most of the evening so far happily snoozing under the column heater (well, her head is squished under it!) when she hasn't been doing the above exercise program. |
Ms. Cooper
Citizen
Username: Ms_cooper
Post Number: 72
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 9:50 am: |
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Our vet reccommended Cosaquin (sp?) for Cats. It is a glucosamine supplement. Our 10 y/o, cat's arm was making clicking noises whenever he would walk or run. He was diagnosed with arthritis in the shoulders (exacerbated by his weight).
The Cosaquin has really helped although now I can't hear him coming and sneak attacks on food items are more frequent. The other good news is that our 11 y/o cat can eat it too and it is helping him even though he doesn't seem to have a problem. I might start taking it! |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 220
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 3:57 pm: |
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A lot of things are not officially recommended by manufacturers', both for people and animals, but savvy doctors know what is generally accepted as safe and effective. While a self-warming comfort pad may be useful and liked by your cat, it won't really work on the arthritic problem.
NSAIDS are available both by tablet and injection, and are often administered with pepsid and antacid to protect the stomach. The particular one is up to your veterinarian. Even aspirin is sometimes used, 40mg every three days.
Corticosteroids, both oral (prednisone, etc.) and longer acting injectables (methyprednisolone) are often very effective, and may help the incontinence if it is being caused by something like inflammatory bowel disease. The negative long-term effects aren't important in an elderly cat, as there really is no long-term.
Opioid pain medicine, such as buprenex, torbitrol, and fentanyl patches can be used too, if NSAIDS and corticosteroids aren't sufficient. Perhaps a combination if necessary.
Most important-- seek professional advice. Don't administer anything on your own or on the advice of a layman. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1137
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 4:07 pm: |
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Sort of bootleg semi-professional advice -
When our cat seemed stiff in the a.m. and started missing some of his jumps, we did what an M.D. friend had done for his cat. We give him a daily dose of about 1/4 of a "people" glucosamine tablet. It seems to be helping with the jumps, though he's still a bit poky going downstairs in the morning (as am I). M.D. friend said his vet had prescribed glucosamine, but the over the counter human tablets of the same stuff were a lot less expensive.
I'd hesitate to use anything electric if there's a chance kitty will bite or claw it.
Hope s/he'll feel better soon! |
cats
Citizen
Username: Cats
Post Number: 60
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 11:58 pm: |
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Another vote for Cosequin. Also, check out Snuggle Safe Pad. It requires no electricity. It looks like 2 frisbees fused together and has gel inside. Heat it in your microwave for 5 mins. and it stays warm for up to 12 hrs. |
Joanne G
Citizen
Username: Joanne
Post Number: 142
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:11 am: |
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I'm really old-fashioned - have no microwave!!!! Have also noticed heatpads don't work so well in pressure cookers  |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1138
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:27 am: |
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I should have said, with the glucosamine we buy, 1/4 of a tablet is 1/12 of the human dose. fwiw |
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