Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: JackSpratt on July 24, 2007, 10:13:01 AM
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I'm sooo tired.... :tired: My Old Mog is being utter hard work. She's crying for no reason all the time as far as I can see. (Apart from the being diagnosed senile, that is!) It's completely exhausting and I feel utterly useless because I can't do anything. And the problem is, I'm spending so much time reassuring her the other cats aren't getting as much fuss as I feel they should. :(
I know things could be worse, but we all want what's best for all our cats, not just one of them. I'm getting a lift to the vets (hopefully this week) for Madams T4 test. The vet has reassured me twice that hyperthyroidism isn't the problem (he hasn't done a blood test, just done a physical), but I need to do the test. If there's any way to make this situation less tense, I've got to try it.
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Aww Jack, Im sure your others understand. :hug:
Hope all goes well at the vets :)
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Thanks, CC. Just sat outside with a cuppa to get some fuss time with the youngest...she's the least demanding and she's the one that hasn't had so many cuddles in the last few days. Bless her. :Luv:
They're all lovely, it's just tiring!
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Has the vet discussed any other options to make old mog more comfortable? (I dont mean PTS BTW)
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The vet said that senility was just something that happened and isn't treatable. He's not a cuddly kind of vet, so he tends to be very black and white about things.
I'm currently using Rescue Remedy and the Feliway spray (thanks Ruth :) ) and have in the past tried a herbal remedy called Boost. I don't know what else to do, but Old Mog is now asleep on the bed completely oblivious to the break down she caused earlier!
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Good luck with the t4 test, at least you'll know for sure as a physical check cant be 100%.
Maybe a bottle of wine would be a good idea (for you not Mog :evillaugh: )
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I'm sooo tired.... :tired: My Old Mog is being utter hard work. She's crying for no reason all the time as far as I can see. (Apart from the being diagnosed senile, that is!)
I'm getting a lift to the vets (hopefully this week) for Madams T4 test. The vet has reassured me twice that hyperthyroidism isn't the problem (he hasn't done a blood test, just done a physical),
I don't know how your vet decided just on a physical exmination. I mean its true you can sometimes feel the thryoid enlarged, but I don't think thats always the case, the only way to tell for sure has gotta be a blood test as far as I know. Still at least with the test, you'll know one way or the other. In a way, it will be a relief for you if it is hyperT I think, because at least that can be managed pretty successfully.
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The vet said that senility was just something that happened and isn't treatable.
I am sure there is a supplement you can take to reduce the symptoms of senility. If I could only remember what it was :rofl: :rofl:
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Theres a product called Aktivait.
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for people or for cats??
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Cats of course ;D
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sorry, was being facetious - old age and senility loom .........
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I have heard of Aktivait but it's still undergoing tests as far as I'm aware.
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So sorry Jack cos I know it really gets you down :hug: :hug: :hug:
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She's currently sat next to me after sleeping all day so she can be ready to yowl at 4am! I think I'll try getting her to play a lot before I go to bed tonight. :)
All the other cats managed to get a bit of time today, thankfully.
Thanks for the support, guys.
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Fingers crossed the tests show something.
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Did you have a better night last night :hug:
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Thanks for asking, Clare. :) I did actually....hurrah!
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I have heard of Aktivait but it's still undergoing tests as far as I'm aware.
Its for sale on pharmacy sites ;D
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=238
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Brilliant! Thanks, MM. Will get the T4 test done just to rule it out. Then if that's negative will try these. :)
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Thanks for asking, Clare. :) I did actually....hurrah!
Glad to hear it ;D
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Any news how did it go at the vets ?
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I can't get a lift until the beginning of next week unfortunately. But we've all dealt with it this long, so I guess we'll cope!
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Oh that is sooo rubbish poor little mog and POOR YOU !!!
Fingers crossed though hun xx
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Hi Jack,
Sorry to hear Mogg is stressing you out can't really offer any advice I'm afraid but sending you and big :hug: all the same :)
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Fingers crossed.
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Hurrah! After being let down twice with the lift, I got an email from a friend saying he's off tomorrow and could be persuaded to help. (Usually that means "give me a cuppa and we're even!") Now I've just got to get Old Mog through the "trauma" of a vet visit!
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Good luck, hope all goes well
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Well, Old Mogs test has been done - she sat on a chair in the waiting room until we were called like she lived there. Extremely funny!
Anyway, the results came back at 18, which I'm told is normal. Can anyone who has a bit more experience of hyperthyroidism confirm this?
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No idea what the figures should be for hyper-t, but glad the vet says it is normal. Seems an odd value though, I would have thought the range was higher numbers.
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I don't know what the "normal" reading should be either, that's why I was hoping someone on here did!
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As far as I can remember it's 10 - 55, it will vary slightly from lab to lab though. Good news :)
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My lab readings for when Jasper had his T4 test, showed 13-64 as normal, 32-64 as borderline high, and over 64 high.
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Thats interesting.
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Phew, they aren't lying! Paranoid, me....? :shify: Only where my cats are concerned!
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OK, on to the next question then! What can I
harass ask my vet for to help Old Mog cope with her senility? So far, I've found two things: Aktivait and Anipryl. But I can't find the second on any of the online vet suppliers.
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I think Anipryl is just for dogs. If you look up selegiline (anipryls active ingredient) on NOAH it doesnt mention cats at all.
Have they considered mild sedatives at all, not sure if they would help a senile cat at all but cant hurt to mention it.
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I've looked up the Anipryl and apparantly it's been used successfully with cats. I don't really want to dope her up, just make getting older a bit easier. :)
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Ollie isn't directly senile but has similar periods of crying a lot - sometimes pretty much the only thing that'll settle him down is taking him into my bed for a proper snuggle :-: not that I begrudge him it but he's not too good at keeping his claws in these days.
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Nope I don't mind snuggling either, Rebecca. (Although Old Mog is not so good at sharing me with my partner - when we first got together she used to sleep between us!) It's just the bouts of crying are very unpredictable and so it's hard to know how to deal with them. My partner has been woken up three mornings in a row by her now, and although he's trying to be patient it's taking its toll.
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Ear plugs?! Lots of TLC and reassurance but why's it always in the middle of the night or the wee small hours that they do a pavarotti?! Denes seem to do some calming stuff but I can't vouch for its effectiveness.
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So far we've tried:
Boost (phytopet) - a herbal remedy recommended by a lady in the petshop she used on a cat that was unsettled frequently.
Rescue Remedy - another herbal remedy, that seems to work sporadically.
Feliway spray (Thanks Ruth!) - that works for a couple of days as far sa I can tell. I think the next step is to save for a diffuser.
Oh, and ear plugs don't work. She's LOUD! :) You're right, though. The preferred time to wail is apparantly around 4 in the morning. (It's a symptom of senility, the bodyclock gets messed so I'm told!)
She gets cuddled a lot, and sometimes that helps, but sometimes she'll still be crying while settling on my knee!
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Yes you are right, nothing really helps and Kocka would do this all day and all night, when she felt like it................I am a bit worried about Franta cos he has started but although he is nearly completely deaf, I think his is just a cry for more and more attention......the more he gets the more he wants. In fact if he could lie with me 24/7 he would prob want more!
I feel for you Jack as you know cos I have been there but at end of day it comes down to how much you love your best friend and dont do or not do anything that you will always regret. I got to the point of shouting back although I dont think she could hear it very well and I will always regret doing this and maybe not giving her enough attention cos I wanted to get away from the noise.
I didnt have the benefit of a site like Purrs to help and offer support and advice and so wish I had. I also didnt have transport or a decent vet at the end and I think that everything would have been so much easier with this.
I hope Kocka always knew I loved her but I have so many regrets that hurt me deeply.
Always make sure that Mogs knows you are there and love her :hug: :hug:
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I hope Kocka always knew I loved her but I have so many regrets that hurt me deeply.
Always make sure that Mogs knows you are there and love her :hug: :hug:
Gill, I'm sure Kocka knew you loved her and still do :Luv:
:cuddle: for Mog, how are you all today
xx
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Gill, she knew. :)
I too get to the point of shouting back. I think it's because I'm frustrated - I feel so utterly helpless about the situation.. But Mog still comes and cuddles up on me or by me in bed, so I know she forgives me pretty quickly!
She's cried a few times today, apparantly. (I've been out this afternoon doing voluntary work. )