Lainey, I see that Jetta is 15. Nobody can advise you on your own companion of so many years, but I can at least add a few observations from my own experience with my darling old lady Lolita. At 15, Lolita was reaonably healthy, but she started to vocalize a lot more than previously. I'm sure you know this, but 'elderly' cats (golden oldies) need more reassurance as they become more fragile. The way they show this is to call more - the calls become more varied too, so you may find that Jetta has her 'middle of the night, waking up, bit confused - where are you mom?' call; her 'a bit of food now' call; her 'I want up here' call; her 'ah, there you are mewmy!' cry, and so on - only you know the full extent of the repertoire! (Lolie even had a 'I'm in the bath, and I want the water turned on NOW' cry, as she liked to drink FRESH water). So, I would suggest this is what the vocal development is - simply becoming old and needing to be reassured of your presence.
When Lolita was 16, she started to throw up a lot. She was longhaired, but a lot of the puking was just as you describe, bile, or just froth. The vet said her digestion was wearing out, as it does in older cats (and people) so she was put on a sensitivity food, which was very simple, and plain, and I could buy at the vet. It was Royal Canin (not sure if you have that there), but all that was in it was chicken and rice, and some nutritional supplements. She would eat about 3 pouches a day, but by the time she was 17, most of her food was just going straight through her system, and most of her bms were liquid. Still, she had reasonable quality of life, and she had her quiet routine, and she was loved. She had a few little 'episodes' that year, mini-strokes, the vet said, and once I found her, very disorientated, with her eyes turning in circles. The vet got her better again, but she was slipping downhill. Still, she was not in pain, and she loved being home. Maybe Jetta needs a simpler diet, one her elderly system can digest more easily?
At 18, Lolie had stopped grooming herself, and her coat became unmanageable. It was just too difficult to brush the mats out, because she had become very frail and bony, and it hurt her. She had to have a large part of it cut away, and this necessitated an anaesthetic. As you can imagine, this was just too hard on her, and she died 4 days afterwards. I knew she was at the end. There was no question. She was not 'present' anymore. And yet, all those previous years, and months and weeks, I never thought that. I always knew what she meant by a particular call, or action. I always knew when she wasn't feeling good, and when she was ok.
I suppose my point is, if there is any question in your mind, then Jetta is still ok. The coughing sounds very upsetting - that I have no experience of with previous kitties. When her time is close, you will know. For now, the only thing to do is to make her golden oldie time as comfortable as you can.
Posted 6 months ago by eleniki #
