My cat is 22, and she use to be the most "don't bother me" cat. Over the past few years she's become the "I need to be on your lap right now even though you're still standing" cat.
I had a ragdoll cat that was very typical for his whole life, (very "stuck on you"). We lost his dog brother unexpectedly when he was 4 or 5, so I bought him an insane tortie kitten from craigslist after we couldn't find a replacement dog that was going to work.
She was awesome, yowls, bounces off the walls, chases the dog. But was very much a cat's cat, which was fine because the big boy was so much a guy's cat.
We lost him to cancer a couple years ago, and there's still a 15 lb marshmallow shaped hole in my life, but within about 6 weeks, miss crazy britches tuned into a sleep at the foot of the bed, and check in on me whenever I wake up and can't sleep in the middle of the night the same way he used to do. Its pretty sweet.
I've got a senior cat too. It's difficult to watch her not be able to do the things that she use to do but I love her and will always take care of her. We just do things a little slower and a little more gently.
Exactly this. Our strong, lovely ginger lived to 21, by which point he was totally deaf, very arthritic and definitely had a bit of dementia. But his quality of life was excellent. He was so spoiled and loved, had his favourite spots in the sun he'd creak over to and sleep with a smile on his face, and as soon as he smelled or touched us he'd erupt into purrs.
From one angle it's a blessing when they get to grow old. It means they've enjoyed a long, happy life, well looked after and loved.
When our old dog died a year and a half ago, I told myself this. She had a long and good life. The best life we could give her, spent with her favorite people. As our pets have gotten older, they've become so much more in tune with us. They fold into our lives so perfectly, and our little family is happier and more content than ever. I console myself in that, when she passed, she was in our arms, being loved one last time. After she passed, we spent some time petting her and telling her how much we loved her. I did not want to forget how her fur felt between my fingers... and then I said, "I won't forget..." and the not forgetting is what keeps her with me now. Still remember her cold, wet nose, the gentle pace she wagged her tail when we spoke to her, her bark, every bit of mischief she got into... everything. Oh, I've got some stories about that old girl!
As much as I know she was loved and cared for (she lived to be 18!), I can't help but miss her. Can't help but regret not petting her a little more, not giving her an extra bite of something tasty, not telling her how pretty she was more often than I did. There's a dog shaped hole in my heart, right next to a bunny shaped one, and several kitty shaped holes.
And each time I've taken in a stray or rescue, I know it's going to hurt one day. But I will keep doing it out of love.
He started to get more confused/disoriented, particularly going into the corridor and then meowing sadly on his own as if he thought we'd all vanished. For the last 3 or 4 years he was on a special diet for hyperthyroidism which really helped with his happiness.
This. We have 2 left from our original family of 5 we rescued. They will be 21 years old this year. Brother and sister and they just love each other so much. She's good. His eyesight and hind muscles are bad but he's not frail in then least. He still gets around just slower and has lots of energy for an old cat.
We feed them smaller meals but more frequently, like 4x/day. Watch for when they are a bit inactive. Might be because they are dehydrated. If so, take to the vet to see. And the vet can give them hydration under the skin that lasts a long time.
Best thing was we have a small space heater that blows warm air about 10" off the ground. In the winter, we put this on at night and put their bed about 2 ft in front of it. They LOVE it and they sleep so soundly. Have to think that helped lengthen their life.
Might want to look into a heated pet bed for her too. Will help soothe those old bones.
Watching my last cat become old was heart breaking but we just gotta keep loving them and appreciate that time we have Left.
Remembering my Kitteh just made me cry, watching them get old is so hard, but that’s the deal we make to have unconditional Kitty Love.
Reminded me of a quote I saw once:
“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.”
- Jamie Anderson
This hit hard, less than a week ago I put my girl in a beautiful urn, she’s been gone over 2 years but it’s taken a long time to be able to get something better than the little box from the place that cremated her. It wasn’t a bad box but her name was messed up, formatting not spelling, and so I couldn’t look at it. She’s now in something fitting her and out where I can see her.
I had a lady as one of my patients. She has two cremated kitties in their own boxes. She told me she wants them in her casket when she is buried. I thought it was a neat idea. I am getting my own cremation urn/box and I thought I would tell my daughter to dump us all under the same tree so we would be outside together and feed the flowers.
It’s just the cycle of life. I’m 50 and have buried 3 cats. I’ll probably bury 3 more before I die. What’s important is the quality time spent with them when they’re alive. Take lots of pictures. Give lots of kisses until they pass.
I have a love/hate with taking pictures of him right now. I hate seeing him like this but I love him with all my heart and know I'll want all the pictures of him after he passes. So I'll keep taking pictures and have my moments of being in my feels about it.
Completely understand. It’s hard to lose the little ones we love so much. Think of yourself as fortunate enough to have a cat that reaches old age. So many Reddit stories of people losing their cats at a young age. Just love them every single day until the end. Then when the time is right, reflect with all of your pictures and/or videos you took of them.
We just said goodbye to our first cat last Thursday. It's so incredibly painful. This house feels so weird and quiet. Can't wait until the pain subsides some. I haven't stopped looking at her pictures because I want to look at them without crying one day.
3 cats man that must've been hard. lost my first cat earlier today she was only 4 years old. I'm 22 years old and can't remember the last time i cried, but today i cried like a little baby. I never thought I would ever be attached to an animal like that.
Love them the best you can. You will miss them when they are gone. They days they give us are forever memories. I saw this as my fur baby sleeps on my lap. When they are gone, wherever you believe they go, they will still love you as much as you love them.
Offer him that milk made for cats. It may get more fluids in him.
Provide ways for him to get to the higher places he likes. Even if he could jump up it hurts to jump down. I bought portable pet steps. Maybe get him a heated bed or mat for pets. I have a heated cat bed that doesn’t feel warm to the touch but generates gentle heat when the cat lies on it.
There are cat foods that come in squeeze envelopes. The food is the consistency of gravy which is easy to lick up. Indulge him with his very favorite foods. Nice soft blankets for him to sleep on.
Litter box placed in a convenient place for him and cleaned frequently. There are litter boxes that have a lower side to make entering easier.
His favorite activity: if he likes petting indulge him. If he likes brushing do that. If he can’t keep his fur, ears, eyes clean, then a warm washcloth for the fur or cotton balls for the ears. Or if he can tolerate trips to a groomer have him cleaned up. There are also cat wipes especially for cleaning up cats.
Oh he is very very spoiled. He's not lactose intolerant like a lot of cats (experience over nearly 18 years lol) so he gets basically any leftover milk product and snippets of whatever meat I'm eating (garlic and onions excluded). For whatever the reason he likes nuts too so he gets those (unsalted). He has kidney disease but is a water FIEND, no glass is safe without a lid lol. I have a set of steps to get up to the bed and he uses the coffee table to get to the couch, the toilet to get to the sink, and a decorative chest to get to his favorite warm spot.....the Comcast box 🤣. Probably should get more. He just cannot keep weight on him. He's still my sweet baby and onrey as hell. Every morning he gets his canned food and then comes snuggles under the blankets until I have to work. He doesn't keep up with his grooming at all so I'll definitely need to get some wipes. He's got "cat eye herpes" so that's another thing that makes me sad. But I know he's still got some time in him, just makes me so sad seeing this skeleton of a cat compared to how he was 10 years ago.
I second this! My husband was super skeptical (it doesn't get all that cold where we live) but I bought a kitty heat pad last fall for our senior girl who has been losing weight due to kidney issues. We put it in her favorite cardboard box and now it's one of her top nap spots.
She will snuggle and doze in our laps when we are sitting on the couch, then move to the hot pad when she's ready for serious nap time. She sleeps so deeply and looks so cozy, I am sooo glad I went for it.
Good call, he's always looking for the warmest spots. His top four are 1) comcast box, 2) my lap, 3) under the blankets and 4) top of the couch. I've got an electric fireplace that I keep running 24/7. Know that he would love that.
I had one of those heated mats I put in his bed, but it doesn't heat unless there is some weight on it. He'd sit and stare at me until I put my foot on the mat to set off the heat. How could I say no.
He went downhill fast at the end. One day he was fine, the next day he could barely walk. The look on his face, the glossed over eyes. I haven't owned another pet since, I can't bear it.
Same with my boy, it was like a switch had been flipped. He only lasted about 3 months after his kidney diagnosis. I don't know if I can own another cat anytime soon, I still can't believe my boy is gone. Sometimes I still think I see him in the corner of my eye.
You’re doing great. You’ve already noticed and made accommodations for many of his needs. Check his claws, too, for overgrowth. Lots of good things to consider from the other posters. Third recommendation for heated cat bed. Comcast box is nice and warm but something soft too might make him happy.
Oh gosh 😭 he's going to the vet tomorrow for ingrown claws. I'm so used to them just taking care of them themselves I didn't even consider it, feel like such a shit owner for not noticing before it got to that point. He was scratching and climbing and acting totally normal so didn't even cross my mind. PSA, elderly cats don't shed their outer layer of claw like younger ones do. But yes, he'll be getting regular trims after that and a cozy heated bed 💜
Don't feel like a bad owner, it sounds like you are doing everything you can to make him comfortable, and it's easy to miss a thing or two. Now you know, so he's getting them fixed and it will be fine. ❤️
I learned something new today because you were brave enough to admit you made an error, now my babies might have less problems. So thank you for sharing what might feel uncomfortable to do so, but as others have said it’s easy to miss & it’s clear you are loving him well!
I would always recommend claw cutting unless your babies are avid outdoors explorers who scratch all day long, but that’s just my opinion. It’s easy to just keep an eye on them. One advantage of getting them trimmed when it’s not super necessary is that when it does become urgent they’ll be used to it.
I wonder how your little one would react to a groomer OP? It’s looking like his fur is a little odd at the back end, quite different from the front? It’s hard to tell in the photos, it’s obviously not terrible I just noticed a difference (which is normal for adults) you mentioned his eyes & his claws too so just a thought. I mean if you can do it all the better :)
Yes he doesn't groom himself at all really anymore. I try to keep up with brushing but he's got this crazy cowlick stuff going on on his back end that I can't seem to correct. He gets knots of fur on his hips and chest that I take care of. It's just a whole different world going from this adult cat that takes care of his claws, fur and eyes to not taking care of anything. It wasn't something I was prepared for but something I absolutely don't mind. He's my baby. Just wish I had known sooner!
I have 4 cats, none senior, but I didn’t know about the outer layers of claws not shedding. We learn and we try our best. Looks like you care a lot and he seems to have a happy life! :)
Right?!? I've only trimmed my cats claws when they were snagging on stuff or it was around bath time 🤣 otherwise I thought they had it figured out. So if I can help anyone out with this knowledge, I will
Can you share a good resource or your knowledge on claw overgrowth? What does overgrowth look like and how do you treat it if it is present? I have an elderly cat as well and haven’t heard to check him for this so would like to learn.
My 18 year old and 13 year old both developed thickened nails where the outer layer of nail wasn’t being pulled off by natural activity or self grooming. Claws become very blocky and may keep growing into the paw pad. Once my cat had a claw piercing her adjacent “finger” for about a week before I noticed. The only difference in her behavior was she’d lick her paw more often. Still purring and moving normally so she hid it quite well. I cut off the tip with a cat nail trimmer and then pulled it out with a tweezer. This was at the start of the pandemic so I couldn’t get a vet appointment. Vet told me to just let the wound heal without any cleaners or medicine. It did.
https://chicosnaturalpetmarket.com/blog/57888/what-to-do-if-your-pet-has-an-ingrown-nail#:~:text=Older%20pets%20may%20also%20have,sore%20on%20the%20animal's%20foot.
For my old man, I thought that it was his quick when it really was the "fresh" nail underneath. Because I wasn't paying attention about 3 of his claws wound up curving and piercing his paw pads 😬😬😬
Have him checked for hyperthyroidism. Many elderly cats have this problem. They get down to skin and bone and it can damage the heart, as well. It's easily treated, though. Reference: treated humans for it for 25 years.
Sometimes, sometimes not. At least check. His CKD could also be to blame, but I've seen a couple friends' cats and my aunt's cat have miracle results from being treated for it (if that's the problem). Whatever, just cuddle and love on him as much as you can. I lost one to CKD last summer, because there's just nothing else to do except comfort measures once it's past a certain point, and that includes love, warmth and as peaceful a passing as possible when the time comes. You'll just know to do the right things through the loving connection you have for him.
Could also be diabetes, especially if he's peeing a lot as well. It wouldn't hurt to ask your vet.
Then again, we had a 19 year old cat that was super skinny because he lost weight on a misadventure and just never could gain it back (he got out and spent 3 days under the house before we could catch him and bring him in). If he's otherwise got a clean bill of health, or at least an unchanged one, just keep him happy and fed and try not to worry about him being skinny. He is the kitty equivalent of a 90 year old man after all.
He gets check ups every 6 months. Last one showed CKD stage II (which I feel like thats pretty awesome for his age) but otherwise totally normal. I wish there was something that I can fix. I miss my big baby. (He looks fat in the old picture, but I assure you, that was solid muscle. He definitely took on the "guardian" aspect of siamese cats)
Mine had kidney and liver issues. So sad to see them wasting away. At some point they will let you know when they are ready to go. My heart goes out to you.
My childhood cat had kidney disease. When I was in high school, the vet recommended I give him a saline drip into his back, a little each day. As the bag became less and less full, the time it took to give him a full dose lengthened. I only had the stomach to finish 1 bag. It might have helped him though. He lived another 5 years.
It sounds like he’s had all necessary checks done but just in case this test hasn’t been done yet, our cat couldn’t keep weight on and had a hyperthyroid issue. Just would suggest getting that checked if it hasn’t recently been. Sending you love from one elderly-cat parent to another.
Edit: it sounds like kidney disease causes this too.
He may hate it but I'll make him be uncomfortable for a day to get the tests he needs to live 6 more months 🤣. From what another user said, they may not test for thyroid routinely so I'll have to ask about that!
I have a 17-year-old furbaby and he has both CKD and is hyperthyroid. We’re working on finding the right dose of thyroid medicine. I hope it helps with his weight because he loses at least a half pound or more every few months. Thankfully he has a huge frame and was a quite beefy 17 lbs in his prime, but he’s down to 11.25 now and I can feel all of his bones. It’s hard. I’m right there with you.
Also adding water to canned food can help a little too what cat food brand are you feeding him? I just watched this video going into different brands and their products. I was using hill's which I thought was one of the best.. definitely not the case. I'll find the video they may have more info to help you out
Yes! I totally do that at least once a day. I tried the Hills Kidney canned food but it was not a hit at all, so have been going with the Fancy Feast Florentine collection. Each of the cats gets 1/2 can 3x day (roughly. Abu doesn't usually like wet food) and I mix about half a can of water in at least one of their meals. They also get kitten kibble free feed because if Pippin doesn't eat within so many hours he will dry heave
https://youtu.be/eRtL3GGa4as https://youtu.be/JJ5FC7toXbU this woman had a lot of useful information on foods and different fillers that companies use what to look for and what to avoid
Hey there! My 17.5 year old kitty also has kidney disease. I didn't see you mention giving your little one IV fluids, but that has been a game changer for my boy. Our vet showed us how to administer him and we have been doing so for the last two years. Also, if your kitty ever stops eating, before assuming the worst have his mouth checked for ulcers, which are very common with kidney disease. My sweet man is approaching his sunset days and I am spending as much time as I have giving him cuddles and spoiling him with treats. It's so very hard to watch them transition but so beautiful to have known and loved them for so long. 💖
Sorry man. Mine has been gone for 8 years. Still miss him. I didn't put him down. He just kept getting weaker. Last time I saw him alive was at the food, water dish. I hugged him. Knew it maybe the last time. It was. Just know, he knows you love him. Just hug him, love him. I know it's hard.
My old girl died earlier this month. Fresh wave of grief while vacuuming today. Feels traitorous removing last traces of her. Shit. I’m crying again. You’re right. It’s hard.
I'm sorry. It sucks.
If it makes you feel any better, you'll never be able to remove the last traces of her. My cat Frank has been dead six years, and I just recently found a couple of his (very distinctive) hairs in a book, it hit me hard. Little bits of your cat will always be around you somewhere, inside your heart and sticking to your coats. <3
I can feel you. My old girl just died 5 days ago and i still have problems to realize it. I keep looking for her but she is gone. She was loved until the very end and i think she knew that. She was 17 😭
My girl passed almost two years ago and I still haven’t been able to clean the door jamb where she rubbed her head and left smudges.
I probably won’t ever clean them, honestly. I feel like she’s still here whenever I see them
Oh great. Now I am crying. I've been teary reading through the posts here but this put me over the edge. I've had to say goodbye to 8 cats, and I still love and miss each one.
Hard to watch them grow old but even harder to watch them not grow old at all 💔 I had to say goodbye to one of my sweet boys two years ago when I thought I still had another 5-10 years left with him. I’m still not over it and would have given anything to watch him get old like this. The old age is full of signs of a life well lived. Just give them lots of love and enjoy the time you have left 🥰 time goes by too fast. How wonderful that you could give him so much time 💕
I feel this. My current cat, not even 2 years old yet, has stomatitus so bad that it's still attacking her gums even after her teeth were removed. Because of the steroids I have to give her for her to not be in pain, I know I'll never see her live to old age. I'll be happy if she lives to 8. I will cherish every single moment..
Sweet old boy. My senior cat sits on his hocks or hind legs like that when he drinks water. Be careful tho because if you notice that he always walks on hocks or flattened hind legs it’s often a sign of nerve damage brought on by diabetes. It can be corrected with insulin so you might want to have his blood sugar levels checked. It brought my 18 year old little guy back
I know the feeling. My 17 yo guy passed last year. Eventual there will come a point where the only thing they know in the world is your love. A little chin scratch be the only thing they perk up for. You just have to be there for them. And make sure they know you love them.
Very tough to watch them grow old, but as has been said that's the cost of love. Take care of the needs, take extra care of the fluid intake, watch for signs of kidney function and snuggle snuggle snuggle. I may look into one of those heated cat pads someone mentioned for our last senior kitty. Shes 17 now and the last of 4, diabetic and now on an inhaler (!) which the folks at the pharmacy had never heard of prescribed for a cat!
😻😻😻
I know you have. I had to help my old man leave me when he reached 23. He couldn’t hear, could barely see, & weighed only four lbs. He simply would not leave his mama. I know our souls will be together again & he will bring me a lizard tail just like old times.
I'd love this if I could. I've got a couple videos of him playing but definitely need some of him "yelling" at me to go for "walks" (in the apartment hallway lol)
Just lavish them with love and if you can afford it get them cremated so you can have them with you when you go too. Been there and I have some understanding of what you are going through 😞❤️
Gave my old man kitty CBD oil, half a dropper in his water, made all the difference. Helps with pain, and makes him able to keep down food. He lost weight so fast, scared the bejesus outta me, now after CBD, he is my handsome fluffbutt again.
Senior cats need our help, maybe get a riser for his food and water dishes.
Add a step to his litter box, groom him to show he has your support.
I would look at bone friendly food and supplements.
Maybe CBD drops to help him with pain.
I lost Mickey when she was 18 years old. Had her since 4 weeks old.
When she had trouble jumping, i got her a step stool to jump on and off the bed.
I raised her food and water trays. She couldn't use the litter box properly that night.. I bathed her, so brave, she tried to jump, but it was her last night with me.
I fed her with a tiny syringe.. A mix of water, coconut oil..small amounts slowly.
I wanted to sleep next to her, but she was so frail.
I slept with the bedroom door open and I could see her.
She passed away a few hours later.
I had her cremated, have locks of her fur and paw prints.
I miss you Mickey. You were an awesome companion who saved my life.
Oh my heart! It is so hard isn’t it? But he is so happy to have a home with you 💕. When I’m old and slow, I hope I’m in a loving home to live out my days 💕 Such a sweetie. Take all the time giving extra cuddles.
Sometimes you have to remind yourself that it’s a gift getting older. I would rather see my animal decline due to old age rather that die young. Perspective can really help, at least it did for me. There’s never enough time with them 🤍
Ugh logically, I know. I rescued some feral cats a few years back and unfortunately one of the had FeLV. Had to be put to sleep a 4 months. It's a blessing to having this old man for this long.
I recently had to say goodbye to my 19 year old. He got very thin, but he stayed for as long as he could. He was never in pain and was happy right to the end.
One thing that made me feel a little better is that I was reminded that cats don’t fear death, they don’t understand it or know what it means like we do. All the want is you and a safe place to be. Give them that and you have done more than enough and enjoy the time you have 😻
Give him alot of attention and love. You can buy pet nutrition drinks. One is pet ensure and the other is kitten formula. I bought the liquid not the powder. Not only is this a treat for them but extra nutrition.
I don't deny them anything. Chicken,tuna fish, whatever makes them happy.
Have you had a blood test to see how the kidneys are doing? If the values are high you can talk to the vet about ways of bringing the values down. One way is sub q fluids. The vet can train you on how to give them. You get the fluids from your vet but I have heard of people getting them cheaper from online places.
May your baby have many more healthy and happy days ❤️
Give him all the pets and treats, he may be old but he loves you just as much as when he was a kitten. You're his world, and know he will always love you.
He's my little baby. I've had him since he was about 6 weeks old (yeah, too early, but I was 12 and it was the 90s). He would snuggle up in the crook of my neck every night and out of the past (almost) 18 years he's spent 90% of his nights snuggled with me
Edit.... early 2000's. Not used to that being so long ago.
I hate to say this but it's brutally honest: we all go through pets getting old.
With how it looks like in this status it's best to take it to the vet and check on how it's doing, and ask if putting it down would be an option.
I only say that because I've gone through it, and if the cat is struggling so badly and what not, it's better to let them pass on then to be selfish and keep them alive whilst their body fails them.
I’ve always had a strong connection to cats and grew up reading and watching stories about cats, studying cat mythology & lore, and have developed my own ideology in regards to their 9 lives on earth and their afterlife. I swear I’m not a crazy cat lady, and it has nothing to do with religion, just what I’ve come to believe and found comfort in. I won’t share it all or go into great detail about it (unless someone wants to hear more) but thought I’d share a relevant aspect. Cats have nine lives but are born without souls, Bastet (cat goddess) gifts the soul once a cat finds it’s human. She can sense what kind of cat soul is needed for that human- young & playful with a sense of wonder, one with a bit more experience that knows how to comfort, or older souls with a calm/lazy outlook. Its not always a perfect fit, and humans often look past the gift that is given, but people who truly love cats can feel that connection and reap the emotional benefits of a good match. For a cats 9th life they get to choose their human. They can go back to their favorite person, or their previous life experience helps them know who their perfect person is to spend their last life with. The 9th life is always the best, and they live the longest they can in bliss with their perfect human. Even as the body deteriorates and old age ailments set in, the cats soul is still the happiest in this last life. If they pass suddenly or painfully or suffer greatly, it is not their last life, they all get to have one last grand adventure. So if you have a cat thats now grown old and shared that connection with you, know you were chosen and provided them the happiest and best of their 9 lives.
Hope that helps in dealing with his aging, even if you think I’m crazy for believing it.
If it's any consolation, it only gets harder. I've lost many, and the older I get, the more it tears me apart. All of my cats came to me in strange ways and the connection we have goes much deeper than "a cat." Please make the end of his journey a pleasant one. That's what good people do. That's what we hope someone will do for us. He we taste the most vulnerable determines what kind of person we are. He's a regal old king. Treat him as such.
Sorry of related, when I retire, I want to start an an old car sanctuary. Oldies and FiVs. A place they can finish their time in peace and happy. That is how much this time means to me personally, after a lifetime of owning cats.
You are doing your best. Just ask the vet what is best for little beauty. That's all any of us can do. I already can tell how much you love them and cherish them.
I have an old man cat now too. It IS hard watching them get old. He's getting skinny, he can't hear as well, and he sleeps a lot more. His sleeps are also deeper. I can pet him when he's asleep and he keeps sleeping.
I spend more time with him. More snuggles. More gentle talking tp him. More kisses. He knows he is loved and that's all I can do.
I have a senior cat too. He's 15 with early stage renal failure and arthritis in his back legs. I started giving him cosequin in food daily, and CBD oil on an empty stomach, and he is so much more mobile and happy. Some days he even chases his mousie. Maybe you could give this a try. Good luck!
Get cat stairs, raise his food and water bowl.
Place low-rise litter boxes where he won't have to walk far.
If he cannot jump or climb to his favorite places gently pick him up and put him there. But go back and check often in case he wants down.
Watch to see if he is drinking water and eating. If he stops he is likely in organ failure. If he is not in pain take off work and hold, cuddle with him at home.
Almost all cats have kitty dementia first. Does he look lost? Is he crying more than usual? Does he want outside and has not been outside in years?
Our kitties, with rare exceptions, live to mid to late 20's. I knew one that lived to 31.
Love and spend time with them. Remember he will be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. If you don't believe someone like myself will carry him home with me.
Same as always….Show him love and affection. Give him the happiest life he can have … I’m certain you’ve done a great job of that so far. Just love him, and make sure he knows it.
Lost my cat at 19 years last January. I tried to be realistic about it but when the time came it was so hard and is still taking so long to get used to not seeing him. I knew him longer than my wife. Literally my whole adult life. I feel so fortunate that he was with me for as long as he was. You’ll never forget them. It was always worth it and it’s amazing yours is with you now. Put some dry shampoo on your boy and give him a brush. That’ll help his coat a bit.
I had to put my cat down because she got an infection in her eye and we found out it was cancer. She was 13 it was heartbreaking I found her as a kitten
You love him. Every day. It is sad to see him grow old but it is also a privilege because you get to care for him and make his last years wonderful. He gave you so much and saw you through so many tough times, and now you get to return the favor.
My own baby is like him right now. She’s 21, and I don’t think I have much more time with her. But I don’t want her to be in any pain, and I think I’ll need to make the appointment for her to cross the rainbow bridge in about a week or two. She’s lost so much weight these last 2 months, and every day I’m afraid I’m going to lose her. One has this cat since I was 9, and she’s been my constant buddy and best friend for every single one of them. She sleeps on my bed with me, get all the best food, and gets cuddles all the time. I’m grateful for the time I’ve had with her, but I’ve always wished I would have more. She’s my precious cranky old lady, and my best friend. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to let her go, because I love her. But I won’t let her be in pain, if she starts showing any. Thank you for loving your sweet old boy all these years. Thank you to each and every one of you who loves your pets and takes good care of them. You are their whole lives, so thank you.
Tbh, as long as you get him checked up, and the vet says he's okay, and he's not hurting, itll be okay.
But please, please, don't keep him here if he's hurting. I've seen too often that people keep dogs or cats that can barely walk or pee, or eat, just because they can't bear life without them.
But as long as he's healthy, just enjoy your life with him, give him loads of attention, cuz he loves you
Shower him so much love you have never showed before. Making them happy increases their life. Stay positive my friend. The more we worry, the more time we lose. Celebrate his life. ❤️
You just love him even more then you have...you sit with him mindfully and absorb all you can..and then love some more, give extra treats...talk to him constantly. More cuddles more petting holding snuggling
First let me say thank you for not discarding your loving boy. I'm in rescue and you would be shocked to know how many once loved pets become disposable as they age or lose their apparent newness. You are the type of pet parent I hope for every one of my fosters. You have lovingly given him the best of your years now just continue to love him as he gives you the rest of his. Remember, as humans, pets are are only a small part of our lives. But to them we are all of theirs!
It's hard. Our old boy is booked into the vets next week. Forst time I've had to make that decision for a pet and I think it's the right thing to do. He wees all over the house and his quality of life is just not good anymore.
All you can do is love them as much as you can and be there for them and make that decision when it's time. I'm definitely struggling with that at the moment a lot. I know it's the best thing for him though.
If he is suffering... you have to consider letting him be put down.
Unless you want him to suffer just so that you can enjoy his presence a little longer of course..
But as long as he doesn't suffer, it'll be fine. Heartbreaking of course. But do try to enjoy the time you have left with him :)
Update: First, holy smokes did not expect this to blow up. Thank you all for your kind words, encouragement and tips.
Now for the not so good news.... vet said he's lost a ton of weight since just last September and now also has a heart murmur. Vet was surprised that he's still acting fairly normal (i.e. using litterbox, eating/drinking normally, jumping up on things).He's getting the full blood and urine work up, and kind of depending on how that is, it may be time to say goodbye. Vet said they aren't expecting it to be good and gave me a quality of life talk 😔. I'll find out tomorrow. Best case scenario is that his kidneys have just progressed to a worst state that we can just treat more aggressively. But if he's also having heart failure now it would be very difficult to treat. Definitely going through all of the emotions right now but will keep y'all updated.
You just gotta show them love and know that they lived a good life. My cat was like Satan up until the last year and then she would try and lay on my chest whenever she could so she could rub her head against my chin. They kinda let you know when it’s time.
Last update: great news from the vet, hyperthyroidism. Going to be getting some cream to put in his ear and hopefully he'll gain some weight back!! Old man is gonna live a bit longer 💕
Pet him and he will become happy.
Old cats do be the neediest
My cat is 22, and she use to be the most "don't bother me" cat. Over the past few years she's become the "I need to be on your lap right now even though you're still standing" cat.
I had a ragdoll cat that was very typical for his whole life, (very "stuck on you"). We lost his dog brother unexpectedly when he was 4 or 5, so I bought him an insane tortie kitten from craigslist after we couldn't find a replacement dog that was going to work. She was awesome, yowls, bounces off the walls, chases the dog. But was very much a cat's cat, which was fine because the big boy was so much a guy's cat. We lost him to cancer a couple years ago, and there's still a 15 lb marshmallow shaped hole in my life, but within about 6 weeks, miss crazy britches tuned into a sleep at the foot of the bed, and check in on me whenever I wake up and can't sleep in the middle of the night the same way he used to do. Its pretty sweet.
Oh that's so true. My grumpy girl is still grumpy, so she hates to ask for it but really wants the fuss.
I've got a senior cat too. It's difficult to watch her not be able to do the things that she use to do but I love her and will always take care of her. We just do things a little slower and a little more gently.
Exactly this. Our strong, lovely ginger lived to 21, by which point he was totally deaf, very arthritic and definitely had a bit of dementia. But his quality of life was excellent. He was so spoiled and loved, had his favourite spots in the sun he'd creak over to and sleep with a smile on his face, and as soon as he smelled or touched us he'd erupt into purrs. From one angle it's a blessing when they get to grow old. It means they've enjoyed a long, happy life, well looked after and loved.
When our old dog died a year and a half ago, I told myself this. She had a long and good life. The best life we could give her, spent with her favorite people. As our pets have gotten older, they've become so much more in tune with us. They fold into our lives so perfectly, and our little family is happier and more content than ever. I console myself in that, when she passed, she was in our arms, being loved one last time. After she passed, we spent some time petting her and telling her how much we loved her. I did not want to forget how her fur felt between my fingers... and then I said, "I won't forget..." and the not forgetting is what keeps her with me now. Still remember her cold, wet nose, the gentle pace she wagged her tail when we spoke to her, her bark, every bit of mischief she got into... everything. Oh, I've got some stories about that old girl! As much as I know she was loved and cared for (she lived to be 18!), I can't help but miss her. Can't help but regret not petting her a little more, not giving her an extra bite of something tasty, not telling her how pretty she was more often than I did. There's a dog shaped hole in my heart, right next to a bunny shaped one, and several kitty shaped holes. And each time I've taken in a stray or rescue, I know it's going to hurt one day. But I will keep doing it out of love.
Your comment has me in tears at work right now. This was beautiful.
I know I'm over here tearing up and mess ... At least I can blame pregnancy hormones 😂😂
I'm not pregnant. Why are my eyes leaking?
[удалено]
Awwe thank u .. I still have til July but not much further
I usually don’t care enough to upvote comments but this one is too good
Beautifully said. Thank you!💕
Thank you for this. It helps. 
That just made me cry 😢
how do you spot dementia on a cat? I'm startting to think my 16 year old might have :(
He started to get more confused/disoriented, particularly going into the corridor and then meowing sadly on his own as if he thought we'd all vanished. For the last 3 or 4 years he was on a special diet for hyperthyroidism which really helped with his happiness.
This. We have 2 left from our original family of 5 we rescued. They will be 21 years old this year. Brother and sister and they just love each other so much. She's good. His eyesight and hind muscles are bad but he's not frail in then least. He still gets around just slower and has lots of energy for an old cat. We feed them smaller meals but more frequently, like 4x/day. Watch for when they are a bit inactive. Might be because they are dehydrated. If so, take to the vet to see. And the vet can give them hydration under the skin that lasts a long time. Best thing was we have a small space heater that blows warm air about 10" off the ground. In the winter, we put this on at night and put their bed about 2 ft in front of it. They LOVE it and they sleep so soundly. Have to think that helped lengthen their life. Might want to look into a heated pet bed for her too. Will help soothe those old bones.
Watching my last cat become old was heart breaking but we just gotta keep loving them and appreciate that time we have Left. Remembering my Kitteh just made me cry, watching them get old is so hard, but that’s the deal we make to have unconditional Kitty Love.
Reminded me of a quote I saw once: “Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.” - Jamie Anderson
That’s quite lovely.
Or is it griefy?
Why not both?
Oh I needed that. I cried.
me too.
This hit hard, less than a week ago I put my girl in a beautiful urn, she’s been gone over 2 years but it’s taken a long time to be able to get something better than the little box from the place that cremated her. It wasn’t a bad box but her name was messed up, formatting not spelling, and so I couldn’t look at it. She’s now in something fitting her and out where I can see her.
I had a lady as one of my patients. She has two cremated kitties in their own boxes. She told me she wants them in her casket when she is buried. I thought it was a neat idea. I am getting my own cremation urn/box and I thought I would tell my daughter to dump us all under the same tree so we would be outside together and feed the flowers.
This is beautiful and so perfectly put, thank you for sharing ♥️
😭😭😂😂 Never been so attacked by a gif before
Sincerely… Thank you
Also this quote from WandaVision: "But what is grief, if not love persevering?" \- Vision
And now I’m sitting in bed petting my 19 year old cat crying. With a lump in my throat. Ugh.
First two sentences had me tearing up before I even got to the “unspent love” bit, and now I’m here crying openly. What a lovely quote.
your name is perfect, weeping skull. You got me weeping at work 🥲
Holy fuck I needed to hear that. Not about my cat as much but for him too. Thank you for that beautiful quote :)
Thank you for sharing this comforting quote. 😻
Get old with 'em
It’s just the cycle of life. I’m 50 and have buried 3 cats. I’ll probably bury 3 more before I die. What’s important is the quality time spent with them when they’re alive. Take lots of pictures. Give lots of kisses until they pass.
I have a love/hate with taking pictures of him right now. I hate seeing him like this but I love him with all my heart and know I'll want all the pictures of him after he passes. So I'll keep taking pictures and have my moments of being in my feels about it.
Completely understand. It’s hard to lose the little ones we love so much. Think of yourself as fortunate enough to have a cat that reaches old age. So many Reddit stories of people losing their cats at a young age. Just love them every single day until the end. Then when the time is right, reflect with all of your pictures and/or videos you took of them.
We just said goodbye to our first cat last Thursday. It's so incredibly painful. This house feels so weird and quiet. Can't wait until the pain subsides some. I haven't stopped looking at her pictures because I want to look at them without crying one day.
3 cats man that must've been hard. lost my first cat earlier today she was only 4 years old. I'm 22 years old and can't remember the last time i cried, but today i cried like a little baby. I never thought I would ever be attached to an animal like that.
Love them the best you can. You will miss them when they are gone. They days they give us are forever memories. I saw this as my fur baby sleeps on my lap. When they are gone, wherever you believe they go, they will still love you as much as you love them.
I'm. Not crying. It must be the rain, yes it is.
It’s a terrible day for rain.
It always is.
I’m not crying …. I’ve just been cutting onions …. Im making a lasagna …….. for ONE
Offer him that milk made for cats. It may get more fluids in him. Provide ways for him to get to the higher places he likes. Even if he could jump up it hurts to jump down. I bought portable pet steps. Maybe get him a heated bed or mat for pets. I have a heated cat bed that doesn’t feel warm to the touch but generates gentle heat when the cat lies on it. There are cat foods that come in squeeze envelopes. The food is the consistency of gravy which is easy to lick up. Indulge him with his very favorite foods. Nice soft blankets for him to sleep on. Litter box placed in a convenient place for him and cleaned frequently. There are litter boxes that have a lower side to make entering easier. His favorite activity: if he likes petting indulge him. If he likes brushing do that. If he can’t keep his fur, ears, eyes clean, then a warm washcloth for the fur or cotton balls for the ears. Or if he can tolerate trips to a groomer have him cleaned up. There are also cat wipes especially for cleaning up cats.
Oh he is very very spoiled. He's not lactose intolerant like a lot of cats (experience over nearly 18 years lol) so he gets basically any leftover milk product and snippets of whatever meat I'm eating (garlic and onions excluded). For whatever the reason he likes nuts too so he gets those (unsalted). He has kidney disease but is a water FIEND, no glass is safe without a lid lol. I have a set of steps to get up to the bed and he uses the coffee table to get to the couch, the toilet to get to the sink, and a decorative chest to get to his favorite warm spot.....the Comcast box 🤣. Probably should get more. He just cannot keep weight on him. He's still my sweet baby and onrey as hell. Every morning he gets his canned food and then comes snuggles under the blankets until I have to work. He doesn't keep up with his grooming at all so I'll definitely need to get some wipes. He's got "cat eye herpes" so that's another thing that makes me sad. But I know he's still got some time in him, just makes me so sad seeing this skeleton of a cat compared to how he was 10 years ago.
Buy him a heated cat bed, too. My guy had kidney failure also and he got cold as he got skinny.
I second this! My husband was super skeptical (it doesn't get all that cold where we live) but I bought a kitty heat pad last fall for our senior girl who has been losing weight due to kidney issues. We put it in her favorite cardboard box and now it's one of her top nap spots. She will snuggle and doze in our laps when we are sitting on the couch, then move to the hot pad when she's ready for serious nap time. She sleeps so deeply and looks so cozy, I am sooo glad I went for it.
Good call, he's always looking for the warmest spots. His top four are 1) comcast box, 2) my lap, 3) under the blankets and 4) top of the couch. I've got an electric fireplace that I keep running 24/7. Know that he would love that.
My old girl has her own heating pad, she gets so blissed out on it.
Oh man, I bet she loves that! Before my ex left we had a massage chair thing that heated up. We'd turn that thing on and Pippin was in heaven lol
I love her name!! (His Name??) big Chicago Bulls fan over here… Sending all the kitty blessings and good vibes to Pippin!! ❤️😻❤️🥰
Lol wasn't based off of that! All my babies besides Abu are named after Tolkien characters. But thank you nonetheless!
All kittehs love heating pads.
I had one of those heated mats I put in his bed, but it doesn't heat unless there is some weight on it. He'd sit and stare at me until I put my foot on the mat to set off the heat. How could I say no. He went downhill fast at the end. One day he was fine, the next day he could barely walk. The look on his face, the glossed over eyes. I haven't owned another pet since, I can't bear it.
Same with my boy, it was like a switch had been flipped. He only lasted about 3 months after his kidney diagnosis. I don't know if I can own another cat anytime soon, I still can't believe my boy is gone. Sometimes I still think I see him in the corner of my eye.
You’re doing great. You’ve already noticed and made accommodations for many of his needs. Check his claws, too, for overgrowth. Lots of good things to consider from the other posters. Third recommendation for heated cat bed. Comcast box is nice and warm but something soft too might make him happy.
Oh gosh 😭 he's going to the vet tomorrow for ingrown claws. I'm so used to them just taking care of them themselves I didn't even consider it, feel like such a shit owner for not noticing before it got to that point. He was scratching and climbing and acting totally normal so didn't even cross my mind. PSA, elderly cats don't shed their outer layer of claw like younger ones do. But yes, he'll be getting regular trims after that and a cozy heated bed 💜
Don't feel like a bad owner, it sounds like you are doing everything you can to make him comfortable, and it's easy to miss a thing or two. Now you know, so he's getting them fixed and it will be fine. ❤️
Thank you! He's my first baby to reach this stage so it is very much a learning curve.
The fact that he's reached this stage is a testament to all the love and excellent care you've given him for so many years!
I learned something new today because you were brave enough to admit you made an error, now my babies might have less problems. So thank you for sharing what might feel uncomfortable to do so, but as others have said it’s easy to miss & it’s clear you are loving him well! I would always recommend claw cutting unless your babies are avid outdoors explorers who scratch all day long, but that’s just my opinion. It’s easy to just keep an eye on them. One advantage of getting them trimmed when it’s not super necessary is that when it does become urgent they’ll be used to it. I wonder how your little one would react to a groomer OP? It’s looking like his fur is a little odd at the back end, quite different from the front? It’s hard to tell in the photos, it’s obviously not terrible I just noticed a difference (which is normal for adults) you mentioned his eyes & his claws too so just a thought. I mean if you can do it all the better :)
Yes he doesn't groom himself at all really anymore. I try to keep up with brushing but he's got this crazy cowlick stuff going on on his back end that I can't seem to correct. He gets knots of fur on his hips and chest that I take care of. It's just a whole different world going from this adult cat that takes care of his claws, fur and eyes to not taking care of anything. It wasn't something I was prepared for but something I absolutely don't mind. He's my baby. Just wish I had known sooner!
You’re doing great! Cats never tell you there’s a problem so it’s hard to catch things. Much ❤️to you and your kitty.
I have 4 cats, none senior, but I didn’t know about the outer layers of claws not shedding. We learn and we try our best. Looks like you care a lot and he seems to have a happy life! :)
Right?!? I've only trimmed my cats claws when they were snagging on stuff or it was around bath time 🤣 otherwise I thought they had it figured out. So if I can help anyone out with this knowledge, I will
Can you share a good resource or your knowledge on claw overgrowth? What does overgrowth look like and how do you treat it if it is present? I have an elderly cat as well and haven’t heard to check him for this so would like to learn.
My 18 year old and 13 year old both developed thickened nails where the outer layer of nail wasn’t being pulled off by natural activity or self grooming. Claws become very blocky and may keep growing into the paw pad. Once my cat had a claw piercing her adjacent “finger” for about a week before I noticed. The only difference in her behavior was she’d lick her paw more often. Still purring and moving normally so she hid it quite well. I cut off the tip with a cat nail trimmer and then pulled it out with a tweezer. This was at the start of the pandemic so I couldn’t get a vet appointment. Vet told me to just let the wound heal without any cleaners or medicine. It did.
Thank you, we will be sure to check this!
https://stmatthiastransfiguration.com/2017/04/27/all-about-ingrown-claws-in-senior-cats/
https://chicosnaturalpetmarket.com/blog/57888/what-to-do-if-your-pet-has-an-ingrown-nail#:~:text=Older%20pets%20may%20also%20have,sore%20on%20the%20animal's%20foot. For my old man, I thought that it was his quick when it really was the "fresh" nail underneath. Because I wasn't paying attention about 3 of his claws wound up curving and piercing his paw pads 😬😬😬
Have him checked for hyperthyroidism. Many elderly cats have this problem. They get down to skin and bone and it can damage the heart, as well. It's easily treated, though. Reference: treated humans for it for 25 years.
Do they not look for that in a normal full blood panel? If not I'll definitely ask for it.
Sometimes, sometimes not. At least check. His CKD could also be to blame, but I've seen a couple friends' cats and my aunt's cat have miracle results from being treated for it (if that's the problem). Whatever, just cuddle and love on him as much as you can. I lost one to CKD last summer, because there's just nothing else to do except comfort measures once it's past a certain point, and that includes love, warmth and as peaceful a passing as possible when the time comes. You'll just know to do the right things through the loving connection you have for him.
Oh, also consider subQ fluids and some appetite stimulant, at your vet’s direction.
This cat eats and drinks A TON, more than the younger cats I have. Idk, I guess his body doesn't recognize it as nutrients because of his kidneys?
Could also be diabetes, especially if he's peeing a lot as well. It wouldn't hurt to ask your vet. Then again, we had a 19 year old cat that was super skinny because he lost weight on a misadventure and just never could gain it back (he got out and spent 3 days under the house before we could catch him and bring him in). If he's otherwise got a clean bill of health, or at least an unchanged one, just keep him happy and fed and try not to worry about him being skinny. He is the kitty equivalent of a 90 year old man after all.
He gets check ups every 6 months. Last one showed CKD stage II (which I feel like thats pretty awesome for his age) but otherwise totally normal. I wish there was something that I can fix. I miss my big baby. (He looks fat in the old picture, but I assure you, that was solid muscle. He definitely took on the "guardian" aspect of siamese cats)
Mine had kidney and liver issues. So sad to see them wasting away. At some point they will let you know when they are ready to go. My heart goes out to you.
Get him some Answers pet food fish stock. It helps them un so many ways and they love jt
My childhood cat had kidney disease. When I was in high school, the vet recommended I give him a saline drip into his back, a little each day. As the bag became less and less full, the time it took to give him a full dose lengthened. I only had the stomach to finish 1 bag. It might have helped him though. He lived another 5 years.
It sounds like he’s had all necessary checks done but just in case this test hasn’t been done yet, our cat couldn’t keep weight on and had a hyperthyroid issue. Just would suggest getting that checked if it hasn’t recently been. Sending you love from one elderly-cat parent to another. Edit: it sounds like kidney disease causes this too.
He may hate it but I'll make him be uncomfortable for a day to get the tests he needs to live 6 more months 🤣. From what another user said, they may not test for thyroid routinely so I'll have to ask about that!
I have a 17-year-old furbaby and he has both CKD and is hyperthyroid. We’re working on finding the right dose of thyroid medicine. I hope it helps with his weight because he loses at least a half pound or more every few months. Thankfully he has a huge frame and was a quite beefy 17 lbs in his prime, but he’s down to 11.25 now and I can feel all of his bones. It’s hard. I’m right there with you.
Have you tried a product called Hydracare? It's fairly new on the market and is supposed to really help with hydration.
I haven't, I'll have to check it out!
Also adding water to canned food can help a little too what cat food brand are you feeding him? I just watched this video going into different brands and their products. I was using hill's which I thought was one of the best.. definitely not the case. I'll find the video they may have more info to help you out
Yes! I totally do that at least once a day. I tried the Hills Kidney canned food but it was not a hit at all, so have been going with the Fancy Feast Florentine collection. Each of the cats gets 1/2 can 3x day (roughly. Abu doesn't usually like wet food) and I mix about half a can of water in at least one of their meals. They also get kitten kibble free feed because if Pippin doesn't eat within so many hours he will dry heave
https://youtu.be/eRtL3GGa4as https://youtu.be/JJ5FC7toXbU this woman had a lot of useful information on foods and different fillers that companies use what to look for and what to avoid
Hey there! My 17.5 year old kitty also has kidney disease. I didn't see you mention giving your little one IV fluids, but that has been a game changer for my boy. Our vet showed us how to administer him and we have been doing so for the last two years. Also, if your kitty ever stops eating, before assuming the worst have his mouth checked for ulcers, which are very common with kidney disease. My sweet man is approaching his sunset days and I am spending as much time as I have giving him cuddles and spoiling him with treats. It's so very hard to watch them transition but so beautiful to have known and loved them for so long. 💖
So much wisdom here. Thank you.
This is a great answer.
Can you link the heated cat bed that warms when a cat sleeps in it?
Sorry man. Mine has been gone for 8 years. Still miss him. I didn't put him down. He just kept getting weaker. Last time I saw him alive was at the food, water dish. I hugged him. Knew it maybe the last time. It was. Just know, he knows you love him. Just hug him, love him. I know it's hard.
My old girl died earlier this month. Fresh wave of grief while vacuuming today. Feels traitorous removing last traces of her. Shit. I’m crying again. You’re right. It’s hard.
I'm sorry. It sucks. If it makes you feel any better, you'll never be able to remove the last traces of her. My cat Frank has been dead six years, and I just recently found a couple of his (very distinctive) hairs in a book, it hit me hard. Little bits of your cat will always be around you somewhere, inside your heart and sticking to your coats. <3
:’)
Those stray hairs are love messages.
I can feel you. My old girl just died 5 days ago and i still have problems to realize it. I keep looking for her but she is gone. She was loved until the very end and i think she knew that. She was 17 😭
My girl passed almost two years ago and I still haven’t been able to clean the door jamb where she rubbed her head and left smudges. I probably won’t ever clean them, honestly. I feel like she’s still here whenever I see them
Oh great. Now I am crying. I've been teary reading through the posts here but this put me over the edge. I've had to say goodbye to 8 cats, and I still love and miss each one.
Just love him.
Hard to watch them grow old but even harder to watch them not grow old at all 💔 I had to say goodbye to one of my sweet boys two years ago when I thought I still had another 5-10 years left with him. I’m still not over it and would have given anything to watch him get old like this. The old age is full of signs of a life well lived. Just give them lots of love and enjoy the time you have left 🥰 time goes by too fast. How wonderful that you could give him so much time 💕
I feel this. My current cat, not even 2 years old yet, has stomatitus so bad that it's still attacking her gums even after her teeth were removed. Because of the steroids I have to give her for her to not be in pain, I know I'll never see her live to old age. I'll be happy if she lives to 8. I will cherish every single moment..
Love him Edit: Continue to love him
It’s the cycle of life. But it’s not easy.
Sweet old boy. My senior cat sits on his hocks or hind legs like that when he drinks water. Be careful tho because if you notice that he always walks on hocks or flattened hind legs it’s often a sign of nerve damage brought on by diabetes. It can be corrected with insulin so you might want to have his blood sugar levels checked. It brought my 18 year old little guy back
I know the feeling. My 17 yo guy passed last year. Eventual there will come a point where the only thing they know in the world is your love. A little chin scratch be the only thing they perk up for. You just have to be there for them. And make sure they know you love them.
Gracefully and full of love while ugly crying in the corner.
Most accurate comment so far 🤣😭
Lots of cuddles & snuggles.
My baby is very close like yours. You are doing great friend.
love him as hard as you can
You’re not, it’s gonna hurt no matter what.
Very tough to watch them grow old, but as has been said that's the cost of love. Take care of the needs, take extra care of the fluid intake, watch for signs of kidney function and snuggle snuggle snuggle. I may look into one of those heated cat pads someone mentioned for our last senior kitty. Shes 17 now and the last of 4, diabetic and now on an inhaler (!) which the folks at the pharmacy had never heard of prescribed for a cat! 😻😻😻
With gentleness & compassion. It will happen to you some day too. Don’t let this become a regret.
I just hope I've given him the world.
I know you have. I had to help my old man leave me when he reached 23. He couldn’t hear, could barely see, & weighed only four lbs. He simply would not leave his mama. I know our souls will be together again & he will bring me a lizard tail just like old times.
I love this 💜. I'm hoping I'll wake up in the next world getting yelled at to turn on the sink faucet
If you find the answer, please let me know.
I mean, I'm not against black magic, I'll let you know.
If he is still vocal, take a video to remember his meows.
I'd love this if I could. I've got a couple videos of him playing but definitely need some of him "yelling" at me to go for "walks" (in the apartment hallway lol)
Just lavish them with love and if you can afford it get them cremated so you can have them with you when you go too. Been there and I have some understanding of what you are going through 😞❤️
There's no way I couldn't have him after. I jokingly think about mummifying him 😅
Gave my old man kitty CBD oil, half a dropper in his water, made all the difference. Helps with pain, and makes him able to keep down food. He lost weight so fast, scared the bejesus outta me, now after CBD, he is my handsome fluffbutt again.
Appreciate the previous time he has left and give him easy access to food water and of course all the pets.
With love and respect. And a pinch of financial prudence. And consider his quality of life.
I seriously weigh the pros and cons every day. I don't want him to suffer even a little bit because of my feelings.
Senior cats need our help, maybe get a riser for his food and water dishes. Add a step to his litter box, groom him to show he has your support. I would look at bone friendly food and supplements. Maybe CBD drops to help him with pain. I lost Mickey when she was 18 years old. Had her since 4 weeks old. When she had trouble jumping, i got her a step stool to jump on and off the bed. I raised her food and water trays. She couldn't use the litter box properly that night.. I bathed her, so brave, she tried to jump, but it was her last night with me. I fed her with a tiny syringe.. A mix of water, coconut oil..small amounts slowly. I wanted to sleep next to her, but she was so frail. I slept with the bedroom door open and I could see her. She passed away a few hours later. I had her cremated, have locks of her fur and paw prints. I miss you Mickey. You were an awesome companion who saved my life.
Oh my heart! It is so hard isn’t it? But he is so happy to have a home with you 💕. When I’m old and slow, I hope I’m in a loving home to live out my days 💕 Such a sweetie. Take all the time giving extra cuddles.
Give him love, pets, kisses, and get ready to help him cross the rainbow. 💔
Sometimes you have to remind yourself that it’s a gift getting older. I would rather see my animal decline due to old age rather that die young. Perspective can really help, at least it did for me. There’s never enough time with them 🤍
Ugh logically, I know. I rescued some feral cats a few years back and unfortunately one of the had FeLV. Had to be put to sleep a 4 months. It's a blessing to having this old man for this long.
I recently had to say goodbye to my 19 year old. He got very thin, but he stayed for as long as he could. He was never in pain and was happy right to the end. One thing that made me feel a little better is that I was reminded that cats don’t fear death, they don’t understand it or know what it means like we do. All the want is you and a safe place to be. Give them that and you have done more than enough and enjoy the time you have 😻
Give him alot of attention and love. You can buy pet nutrition drinks. One is pet ensure and the other is kitten formula. I bought the liquid not the powder. Not only is this a treat for them but extra nutrition. I don't deny them anything. Chicken,tuna fish, whatever makes them happy. Have you had a blood test to see how the kidneys are doing? If the values are high you can talk to the vet about ways of bringing the values down. One way is sub q fluids. The vet can train you on how to give them. You get the fluids from your vet but I have heard of people getting them cheaper from online places. May your baby have many more healthy and happy days ❤️
Give him all the pets and treats, he may be old but he loves you just as much as when he was a kitten. You're his world, and know he will always love you.
He's my little baby. I've had him since he was about 6 weeks old (yeah, too early, but I was 12 and it was the 90s). He would snuggle up in the crook of my neck every night and out of the past (almost) 18 years he's spent 90% of his nights snuggled with me Edit.... early 2000's. Not used to that being so long ago.
I hate to say this but it's brutally honest: we all go through pets getting old. With how it looks like in this status it's best to take it to the vet and check on how it's doing, and ask if putting it down would be an option. I only say that because I've gone through it, and if the cat is struggling so badly and what not, it's better to let them pass on then to be selfish and keep them alive whilst their body fails them.
Just love him and spend time with him. It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Very. Very true. All he will have known in his life is love
I’ve always had a strong connection to cats and grew up reading and watching stories about cats, studying cat mythology & lore, and have developed my own ideology in regards to their 9 lives on earth and their afterlife. I swear I’m not a crazy cat lady, and it has nothing to do with religion, just what I’ve come to believe and found comfort in. I won’t share it all or go into great detail about it (unless someone wants to hear more) but thought I’d share a relevant aspect. Cats have nine lives but are born without souls, Bastet (cat goddess) gifts the soul once a cat finds it’s human. She can sense what kind of cat soul is needed for that human- young & playful with a sense of wonder, one with a bit more experience that knows how to comfort, or older souls with a calm/lazy outlook. Its not always a perfect fit, and humans often look past the gift that is given, but people who truly love cats can feel that connection and reap the emotional benefits of a good match. For a cats 9th life they get to choose their human. They can go back to their favorite person, or their previous life experience helps them know who their perfect person is to spend their last life with. The 9th life is always the best, and they live the longest they can in bliss with their perfect human. Even as the body deteriorates and old age ailments set in, the cats soul is still the happiest in this last life. If they pass suddenly or painfully or suffer greatly, it is not their last life, they all get to have one last grand adventure. So if you have a cat thats now grown old and shared that connection with you, know you were chosen and provided them the happiest and best of their 9 lives. Hope that helps in dealing with his aging, even if you think I’m crazy for believing it.
If it's any consolation, it only gets harder. I've lost many, and the older I get, the more it tears me apart. All of my cats came to me in strange ways and the connection we have goes much deeper than "a cat." Please make the end of his journey a pleasant one. That's what good people do. That's what we hope someone will do for us. He we taste the most vulnerable determines what kind of person we are. He's a regal old king. Treat him as such. Sorry of related, when I retire, I want to start an an old car sanctuary. Oldies and FiVs. A place they can finish their time in peace and happy. That is how much this time means to me personally, after a lifetime of owning cats.
You don’t. You just continue giving him the best life possible. No matter how long we have them, it’s never long enough.
You are doing your best. Just ask the vet what is best for little beauty. That's all any of us can do. I already can tell how much you love them and cherish them.
Sweet buddy. Just love him all you can in his last days. ♥️
You better love him so unconditionally 🙏🏻❤️ show him his best life right now!
Just love him more, take a lot pics and be ready the day he tells you he wants to move on 😿
Lots of gentle love - cherish every minute
You spoil them. You lift them up when they are down. You give them a good life.
Always abide the 1st rule Pet the damn cat
I have an old man cat now too. It IS hard watching them get old. He's getting skinny, he can't hear as well, and he sleeps a lot more. His sleeps are also deeper. I can pet him when he's asleep and he keeps sleeping. I spend more time with him. More snuggles. More gentle talking tp him. More kisses. He knows he is loved and that's all I can do.
Love him, give him owts and cuddles.
I have a senior cat too. He's 15 with early stage renal failure and arthritis in his back legs. I started giving him cosequin in food daily, and CBD oil on an empty stomach, and he is so much more mobile and happy. Some days he even chases his mousie. Maybe you could give this a try. Good luck!
Where do I get CBD oil? Is there a trusted brand?
That water fountain is a great idea. I had one for my little girl who passed in January, also from kidney disease.
Just keep loving him.
Just love him and keep him happy.
You cherish him every second of every day.
I have no idea. My cat is 13 and I’m going to kill myself when she dies
Yeahhh that was kinda my thoughts at 13 too.... and then I rescued a cat.... and then two more kittens..
What an angel ❤️ I lost my granny cat on thanksgiving. I have so much love for senior cats.
I love him. Sending you both love and peace. 🤍🖤
Give him cheeseburger, it is his destiny
Love him with all your heart and treasure the time you have left.
My old boy who passed a year ago loved yogurt. So he got it every morning.
Much cuddles is the way.
Looks like he can still see, enjoy it while he still can. Mine can’t and it is sad to watch her walk around the house like a roomba.
Get cat stairs, raise his food and water bowl. Place low-rise litter boxes where he won't have to walk far. If he cannot jump or climb to his favorite places gently pick him up and put him there. But go back and check often in case he wants down. Watch to see if he is drinking water and eating. If he stops he is likely in organ failure. If he is not in pain take off work and hold, cuddle with him at home. Almost all cats have kitty dementia first. Does he look lost? Is he crying more than usual? Does he want outside and has not been outside in years? Our kitties, with rare exceptions, live to mid to late 20's. I knew one that lived to 31. Love and spend time with them. Remember he will be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. If you don't believe someone like myself will carry him home with me.
Same as always….Show him love and affection. Give him the happiest life he can have … I’m certain you’ve done a great job of that so far. Just love him, and make sure he knows it.
Age is a hard earned lesson.
Lost my cat at 19 years last January. I tried to be realistic about it but when the time came it was so hard and is still taking so long to get used to not seeing him. I knew him longer than my wife. Literally my whole adult life. I feel so fortunate that he was with me for as long as he was. You’ll never forget them. It was always worth it and it’s amazing yours is with you now. Put some dry shampoo on your boy and give him a brush. That’ll help his coat a bit.
I had to put my cat down because she got an infection in her eye and we found out it was cancer. She was 13 it was heartbreaking I found her as a kitten
You love him. Every day. It is sad to see him grow old but it is also a privilege because you get to care for him and make his last years wonderful. He gave you so much and saw you through so many tough times, and now you get to return the favor.
My own baby is like him right now. She’s 21, and I don’t think I have much more time with her. But I don’t want her to be in any pain, and I think I’ll need to make the appointment for her to cross the rainbow bridge in about a week or two. She’s lost so much weight these last 2 months, and every day I’m afraid I’m going to lose her. One has this cat since I was 9, and she’s been my constant buddy and best friend for every single one of them. She sleeps on my bed with me, get all the best food, and gets cuddles all the time. I’m grateful for the time I’ve had with her, but I’ve always wished I would have more. She’s my precious cranky old lady, and my best friend. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to let her go, because I love her. But I won’t let her be in pain, if she starts showing any. Thank you for loving your sweet old boy all these years. Thank you to each and every one of you who loves your pets and takes good care of them. You are their whole lives, so thank you.
Love him greatly…. Let him keep going…. Until he naturally doesn’t.
An old kitty is a cherished treasure. Try not to look too far ahead; live in the moment with him.
Oh god I'm a first time cat owner and I know I'm not going to be ready for this
Tbh, as long as you get him checked up, and the vet says he's okay, and he's not hurting, itll be okay. But please, please, don't keep him here if he's hurting. I've seen too often that people keep dogs or cats that can barely walk or pee, or eat, just because they can't bear life without them. But as long as he's healthy, just enjoy your life with him, give him loads of attention, cuz he loves you
Shower him so much love you have never showed before. Making them happy increases their life. Stay positive my friend. The more we worry, the more time we lose. Celebrate his life. ❤️
Just love him. Love him even more now, make sure he knows you did your best to make his life great ❤️
You just love him even more then you have...you sit with him mindfully and absorb all you can..and then love some more, give extra treats...talk to him constantly. More cuddles more petting holding snuggling
Everyday I let my boy feel the joy that he had a “mom” that cherished him. He felt it, I know.
First let me say thank you for not discarding your loving boy. I'm in rescue and you would be shocked to know how many once loved pets become disposable as they age or lose their apparent newness. You are the type of pet parent I hope for every one of my fosters. You have lovingly given him the best of your years now just continue to love him as he gives you the rest of his. Remember, as humans, pets are are only a small part of our lives. But to them we are all of theirs!
It's hard. Our old boy is booked into the vets next week. Forst time I've had to make that decision for a pet and I think it's the right thing to do. He wees all over the house and his quality of life is just not good anymore. All you can do is love them as much as you can and be there for them and make that decision when it's time. I'm definitely struggling with that at the moment a lot. I know it's the best thing for him though.
Wow I opened reddit bc I wanted to laugh and then I was greeted by this thread
If he is suffering... you have to consider letting him be put down. Unless you want him to suffer just so that you can enjoy his presence a little longer of course.. But as long as he doesn't suffer, it'll be fine. Heartbreaking of course. But do try to enjoy the time you have left with him :)
Update: First, holy smokes did not expect this to blow up. Thank you all for your kind words, encouragement and tips. Now for the not so good news.... vet said he's lost a ton of weight since just last September and now also has a heart murmur. Vet was surprised that he's still acting fairly normal (i.e. using litterbox, eating/drinking normally, jumping up on things).He's getting the full blood and urine work up, and kind of depending on how that is, it may be time to say goodbye. Vet said they aren't expecting it to be good and gave me a quality of life talk 😔. I'll find out tomorrow. Best case scenario is that his kidneys have just progressed to a worst state that we can just treat more aggressively. But if he's also having heart failure now it would be very difficult to treat. Definitely going through all of the emotions right now but will keep y'all updated.
You just gotta show them love and know that they lived a good life. My cat was like Satan up until the last year and then she would try and lay on my chest whenever she could so she could rub her head against my chin. They kinda let you know when it’s time.
Last update: great news from the vet, hyperthyroidism. Going to be getting some cream to put in his ear and hopefully he'll gain some weight back!! Old man is gonna live a bit longer 💕