Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

1. 

   Update on Tigger. Test results show his thyroid is normal. Only indicators out of normal are two regarding heart function. Those blood test results plus the vet's exam of him hearing a galloping heart mumrmur have resulted in his royal kitty self being put on a low dose of the heart med Benazapril. I'm to take him back for a recheck and follow up blood work in a month.

   Still don't know why he is eating so much and yet still losing weight. I'm to get a stool sample from Tigger to the vet to check for any blood in the stool or other problems. It may just be that old age has his heart showing problems and that the elevated heart rate is burning so many more calories that he is hungry all the time and yet has an aged digestive track that doesn't absorb nutrients well. No clear answers yet other than old age issues but despite that, Tigger is doing impressively well for a 20 to 22 year old cat! So he's now on a heart med along with his arthritis med to supplement lots of love and attention. He keeps me well trained and spoiled rotten. :-)

   Posted 3 years ago by Marnet #

2. 

   ((Tigger))
   He's hanging in there that's for sure. I hope they can figure out the problem.
   At least his thyroid is normal, that can be ruled out.

   Posted 3 years ago by cricketsmama #

3. 

   CM, the vet and I both think it's really just old age catching up with all his systems -- arthritis, chronic renal failure, now apparent heart issues. It reminds me very much of having watched my parents develop increasing old age issues in their final years. It's what my Dad used to call time and mileage breakdowns.

   Vet and I are agreed we treat enough to keep Tigger comfortable, happy, and active without treating so aggressively it makes him more unhappy than it's worth. We are after high quality of life rather than longer life at this point.

   Posted 3 years ago by Marnet #

4. 

   Oooops, the title should have read HYPERthyroidism. Either way, his thyroid is normal.

   He's the energizer kitty who just keeps going and going! He's Tigger the Terrible because he's so terribly Tigger. LOL

   Posted 3 years ago by Marnet #

5. 

   I totally agree with you, Marnet, about keeping Tigger comfy and happy. That was my mindset with Jiggs. I knew he was getting sick and I suspected cancer in addition to heart disease, which they wanted me to get him to a specialist. He hated travelling. I feel that keeping him home where he was happy with his mama outweighed making him travel in the carrier for endless tests. Sure, the diagnosis could have been different, and treated, but the way I see it, 16 years is a ripe old age for a Maine Coon, and his soft happy eyes spoke volumes to me. Those beautiful eyes even told me when he was ready to go to the Bridge.

   Posted 3 years ago by JoanfromNewJersey #

6. 

   Thanks Joan. I just feel Tig has earned his old age ease. He's such a wonderful kitty. I want to keep him here alive with me forever and furever but I'm also willing to let him go Home to whatever place God has for his creatures when it is time. Just hope that isn't too soon.

   Posted 3 years ago by Marnet #

7. 

   Wow, Tigger is that old? Wonderful! My Tansey is 15, she has always been a very active kitty...runs around with the Wackas at least once a day, chases her tail almost every day...constantly hungry and very skinny. She used to weigh 10-12 pounds, but she's now about 6.8 pounds. Still lively...

   She has kidney disease and can't take meds for hyperthyroidism...so we're letting nature take its course with her, and watching her quality of life. So far... so good.

   Posted 3 years ago by Siobhan #

8. 

   This is kind of a blessing in disguise isn't it Marmet? At least if the tests had shown positive for hyperthyroidism you would know how to deal with it. It's hard to believe at 22 Tigger is still active. My Fluffy lived to be 22 years old and was fine right up until about 2 weeks before she passed. You have given Tigger a wonderful long life. It's quite unbelievable reall since there aren't many that live that long. Good luck and a special little (((hug))) for Tigger.

   Posted 3 years ago by petpntr #

9. 

   Yay, Tigger the Terrible!

   Marnet, as a former hospice nurse, I deeply believe in quality of life. You're doing an amazing job with Tigger!

   Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #

10. 

    How is tigger doing today? I'm glad he does not have hypothyroidism! What wonderful news

    Posted 3 years ago by gini #

11. 

    Marnet...I may have missed it somewhere or you may not have shared,but,do you by chance have a photo of Tigger? I really would love to put a face to his name. A furball that fights like he does,really loves the humans he with. :)

    Posted 3 years ago by feral #

12. 

    I have photos of my kitties but they are all developed film pics. I'm up to my ears in some financial and legal paperwork this week but when I can find/create the time, I'll see if I can figure out the instructions on my multi-purpose printer to scan and save photos to my computer and post from there. I don't have a digital camera. In fact, I haven't had a working camera in quite some long time now. It just isn't in the budget until I find steady work with an income that meets all my needs before I start spending on anything else.

    Tigger is a petite gray tabby with black stripes and bits of white peaking out here and there, mostly at his "underarms" and a touch on the tummy. He has what is called "ticked" fur. He is very cross-eyed and one of his ears has a couple of battle rips in it that go back to long before I or my cousin before me had him.

    I'll try to get pics posted of the babies one of these days reasonably soon. Bear with me, I'm technically challenged!

    Posted 3 years ago by Marnet #

13. 

    He's doing fine today, thank you. His chin is broken out w/ cat acne again, something he's been prone to for many years. I've cleaned it and put the antibiotic cream on it, over his protests.

    Little critter ate right around the teeny tiny pill fragment of his 1/4 pill of heart med when it was mixed into his wet food last evening. I ended up fishing it out and popping in him. I may have to do that every day. We'll see. Biggest problem was splitting pills so tiny into 4 pieces each to have the dose what is proper for his weight. Even with a pill cutter it was rather a chore getting them properly split.

    Posted 3 years ago by Marnet #

14. 

    Marnet...he sounds adoeably cute. A one-of-a-kind guy. I think the battlescars make them even cuter. My Naughtyboy (big Tuxie & outdoor feral) has one ear that bends down from an injury/hematoma that didn't drain properly. Altho he's become alot more feral since being dejeweled, he's as sweet as pie.
    I also understand about photos & all. I'm a puter illiterate,but,TDKers have helped a bundle with teaching me things.

    Posted 3 years ago by feral #

15. 

    Well, I take it the best way is to upload the photos (once I get them scanned into the computer) to making a Catster page?

    Posted 3 years ago by Marnet #

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