The anxieties of cats

[hrj]

Collegium yesterday was a blast, as usual. I did a presentation on "surviving albs and undertunics of the 11-15th centuries" to a small but dedicated audience. (It was probably a good thing that it was small, since -- as mentioned previously -- I had to do the PowerPoint on the iMac rather than the malfunctioning projector. This is one of what I expect will be a long series of "digestions" of specific types of garments from the database. I did one on socks a few years ago. One of the benefits of doing these classes is that it gives me a reason to really work over the data on a particular set of records. For example, in this case, it helped me identify some duplicate records.

Oh, yes ... cats. I'm working on coming to terms with the conclusion that my cat isn't going to be around much longer. Details behind the cut. There's nothing specific and acute (like last fall when she had the infected neck wound), just a general fading. She's still eating and drinking regularly, although she's gotten really picky and the quantity is less. She's still eliminating regularly, but has gotten really shaky on the connection between urination and the cat box. So far in the last week we're up to twice (possibly more) on the kitchen counter, once in the fruit bowl on the kitchen counter, and once on the sewing table. It doesn't seem to be incontinence, per se -- I sat there watching dumbfounded as she walked over to the sewing table, hopped up onto it, squatted, and let loose. And there's no sign of bladder infection (no blood in the urine). It's more like she's just forgetting things. (Except that -- fortunately -- she still remembers that cat boxes are for defecation.) She's also been grooming neurotically and currently has very patchy fur on one side. And she's gotten shakier on her feet and her jumping aim and balance have been steadily declining for some time.

Since there's nothing acutely wrong, I've been hesitating on taking her to the vet. My current vet has leanings on the "aggressive treatment / heroic measures" side, which make it difficult to discuss treatment issues with him. On the other hand, she's due for a regular checkup, so I should probably take her in for a discussion. In the past, when I've had "old cat syndrome", I've probably let things go too long before taking the last trip. It's hard to know what to do.

As a sort of a "birthday thing" I did take BART over to SF this morning to pick up a new piece of my china pattern at Macy's. A serving dish, to make it a special occasion, although I've pretty much filled up all the regular place-setting piece categories at this point. Back when I decided I wanted china, I fell in love with the Portmeirion Botanic Garden pattern for a bunch of reasons. First off, they're Welsh -- how cool is that? Secondly, rather than having to settle for one pattern, there are dozens of different pictures on the pieces and they keep coming up with more. Thirdly, it has a really wide range of different pieces. I was getting really frustrated with patterns where you just got a plate, salad plate, bowl, and cup and that was it. The number of different pieces is astounding. And one of these days I'll have my house organized enough to start having dinner parties like I want to, and I can use all this stuff properly.

Comments

[folkmew.livejournal.com]

That's a really pretty china pattern! Someday, if I ever get a house, and settle into a routine enoguh to keep it clean enough, I'll have to drag out my Grandmother's china and have dinner parties too! :-)

[madfilkentist]

Decisions with an old cat are difficult. Johann died just the day before I was going to take him to the vet; it didn't seem he was in imminent danger, just a little more than the usual lethargy. Some friends of mine gave their cat IV fluids every day for the last six months of his life; I don't think I could do that, or even that it would be fair to the cat. The important thing is to keep them as comfortable as possible for as long as it's reasonably manageable.

[twistle.livejournal.com]

sympathetic noises about cat situation, I'm currently dealing with twice daily medication and once daily subcutaneous fluids for tych, her kidneys are failing, and I get to find out on wednesday whether even this level of intervention is being sucessful. I hope she goes quietly when it's time.

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

Eight years ago my house came with a 16-year-old cat. Aout 3 years later she was failing and no longer making the effort to use the litter box. She actually squatted right next to the box in front of my eyes after I'd moved it to a location more convenient for her.

I had a long talk with her on that subject just before I had to go on a trip for a few days. My housesitter said she'd disappeared the day after I left (she was indoor-outdoor but never left the yard). To this day I have not found her remains.

She clearly wanted to leave on her schedule rather than mine.

[liadan-m.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the dishes. I need three of the shallow soup bowls left to compleate the 12-set of my good set. Now I just have to get people to come over...

[mamaalanna.livejournal.com]

Just from reading, I'm wondering if elderly cats can develop senile dementia. Both the urination thing and the mad grooming thing look like some sort of neurological problem. My sympathy; my cat Kirk is almost 17, fortunately still in good health.