One of my fur girls.

[hippywife]

This is Lena in some old photos. The top photos were taken in 2008 when we first got our kittens. The bottom ones were in 2010. She now has hypothyroidism and is down to half her weight. She had a bad reaction to the meds, so can't take those, and refused to eat the prescription food. So, the vet says we just have to let her go.

She still acts like she's fine, except she used to be the quiet kitty. Now she's yowls for food a lot because she's hungry more often, so I feed her more than she used to eat. I also have to stay on top of their water fountain. Had to get the fountain to begin with because she kept scooting the water bowl across the floor, even a heavy ceramic one, and sloshing it all over the place. She loves the fountain, but won't drink out of the fountain part (Lucy does, tho), it's just got to be full enough to bubble to her liking and making the proper amount of waves in the reservoir.

[Lovie777]

1. Pretty. . ..

[hippywife]

3. Thanks, Lovie.

She's my velcro girl. Can usually be found by mom's side.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

2. Aww poor kitty

Dont feel bad sweet kitty I have hypothyroidism so I know having a messed up thyroid sucks.

Wish I could give you cuddles,beautiful.

[hippywife]

5. Thank you. I'm sorry you have to deal with that, too. nt

[soldierant]

38. I do too - and I also sleep a lot (which I can do, being now retired.)

(which I can do, being now retired.)

[Yonnie3]

4. Wow, the difference is large in those photos

It is tough having a sick pet.

We are having a similar time with Manny. FLFC is at 3.9 pounds down from 6.6. He wasn't supposed to make it through January last year, but he is hanging in there. He's lost hearing and vision. I'm sad tending to him sometimes.

[hippywife]

6. It is really hard.

Sometimes I lose patience with her when she's still yowling after being fed. It's just out of frustration and not being able to figure out what it is she wants sometimes.

It's really sad when she wants but scritches. Her butt has become so bony.

I'm sorry you're in the same boat.

[Yonnie3]

26. Thanks

You do the best you can. Losing patience means you care.

Someone told me that Manny was living off our love. I think it was an ICU nurse when he was doing my hourly neurocheck. He was right in a way. If the love wasn't there Manny wouldn't still be with us.

[hippywife]

28. That's a good way to think about it. Thank you! nt

[jfz9580m]

7. Very cute

Love orange kitties..

I have a cute one of one of my girls sleeping all curled up inside a flowerpot, but I am too lazy to do that whole imgur thing.

Btw I thought the pets forum would like to know about this video game:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cat_Lady

I so want that game...A relatable protagonist !

[hippywife]

10. Thanks, jfz.

I had never considered a ginger cat before. Not sure why, but if I were going to have any more after these two (which I'm not), I'd get another ginger in a heartbeat.

[Tammie]

8. Beautiful Girl

So sorry Lena’s having a rough go of it. Have you tried the transdermal thyroid med? It isn’t ingested so easy on the stomach. I dealt with hyperthyroidism last year and had my Ruby on the transdermal til she went in for I-131 treatment. Best wishes to you and Lena!

[hippywife]

11. Thanks, Tammie.

I haven't tried the transdermal. I can't remember right now why. The radioactive iodine treatment was out of our financial reach, even on the payment plan it was more than we could afford each month.

[applegrove]

9. She is a rare female ginger. I had one named Samantha. She loved

being in crowds of humans but was not much of a lap cat. I blame that on only adopting her when she was 4 months old so I didn't socialize her. But have a living room of people over for Christmas dinner and she was right in middle of it.

[hippywife]

13. This one is my velcro girl.

Wherever I am, you'll find her right with me or within steps. She's been like this since my mom passed away 10 years ago. I was away for a little over a week, and she just wasn't letting me out of her sight after that. Sometimes she'll be nearby, dead asleep and she'll hear my cough, she starts meowing and has to come over and make sure I'm okay.

My sisters were here a couple years ago and she didn't mind company at all. Lucy hid the entire time, though.

[applegrove]

15. I have a velcro kitty now. My younger one spends all day beside me.

[hippywife]

16. Which is great

until they also want to squeeze their butts behind you on the seat of the same chair!

[applegrove]

19. Yes. When I lay down to watch TV my cat is inches away from my head.

Funny guy he is.

[hippywife]

20. Sometimes when I stop to think about it

I find it amazing that these little furry sentient beings, which by all rights should be wild, actually live and interact so personally with us.

When she was younger, she used to jump up on the toilet seat and wait for me to finish brushing my teeth. She loves the smell of mint and was waiting for me to bend over and lightly blow the scent in her face. Sometimes she'd even lick my lips. LOL

[applegrove]

21. Wow. Mine hates most smells. My older one used to attack fruit

he disliked so much, she'd smell it then wack it away.

[Nanuke]

12. What a lovely sweet kitty.

I imagine how much you love her.

[hippywife]

14. Thanks, Nanuke. Love her big muchs! nt

[Duncanpup]

17. So adorable

[hippywife]

18. Thanks, Duncanpup.

Like I can take credit for that.

[Karadeniz]

22. My vet prescribed the hypo medication that's rubbed inside the ear. You can't get any on you, so I

cut a finger off an exam glove... I have a ton...and cover my finger with it.

[hippywife]

24. The vet we use

is more of a country vet. I think I asked him about that when I was researching and can't remember now why we didn't try that. I'll have to check it out again.

[Karadeniz]

31. Yes, do! He can order it. We're in the country, too...2500 in the county!!!

[hippywife]

33. He's got a younger vet

working with him now. Maybe I'll talk to her and get her advice and assistance on that. Thanks, kara!

[LoisB]

23. Ooh, she is beautiful.

[hippywife]

25. Thanks, LoisB!

That she is. She's sitting here in the chair waiting for me to go lay down with her. Guess bed time early tonight.

[Blue Owl]

27. Salmon oil

If you can, try getting a bottle of salmon oil and put a squirt on her food or mix it in with some wet food. I had a sickly, older girl who was losing weight and vomiting a lot — since spiking her food with the salmon oil I have seen noticeable improvement and she’s feeling a lot better!

[hippywife]

30. Thanks for the suggestion, Blue Owl.

I just don't know how that would change the fact she has hyperthyroidism, but maybe it might make her feel better.

[keithbvadu2]

29. Family member

[hippywife]

32. Indubitably, kieth. nt

[StarryNite]

34. What a beautiful kitty.

Have you tried any of the natural potential remedies? Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't but that's the same with the prescription treatments too. You never know just what might do the trick.

I would like to add my own experience I had with my dog to show that sometimes the vets may not know of some alternative treatments that can work. Out of the blue my dog started throwing everything up she ate or drank. She was hungry but couldn't keep anything down. So I took her to the vet who couldn't figure out what the problem was but put her on two prescriptions and gave her sub-Q liquids. I gave it a couple of days but still she was unable to keep anything down. Back to the vet for an x-ray to rule out blockage. No blockage, so a third prescription was given. So now she was on three and another liquid sub-Q treatment. The following day she was still no better. So I sat outside and thought. I knew she wouldn't be able to go on this way but the drugs did no good at all. So I took her off the drugs and decided to try giving her some kefir. She kept it down for an hour! Everything else had come back up immediately. I gave her a little more. Late that night she threw up just a little. I kept her on only kefir for the next day, giving her a little at a time but often. She never threw up again. I started feeding her her regular food, slowly back up to her normal amount. I continued giving her some kefir with her food every day. She died a year later from some other health issues. I know it's not the same health issue as your kitty but there are natural things on the market for hyperthyroidism in cats that are worth trying.

[slightlv]

35. Our lives were graced

with a beautiful female ginger tabby - a polydactyl, to boot! Like yours, she was pure Velcro. We named our "Puter" cause she was always at the computer when I was. Keep researching... there are always new meds out there. And even if nothing can be found, you'll feel better better later that you know you did absolutely everything possible you could do. Meanwhile, she's adorable. Love on her all you can.

You've also given me a reason to take my old girl to a new vet. She's skin and bones and wants food all the time. Reminds me every 2 hours it's time for her soup. The old vet says it's just because of her age, and it may be... she's 24. But then, maybe it's her thyroid? I think when they get to be a certain age, people (including vets) see things along a certain continuum and don't look outside the box. I'd hate to lose Mikki too early for something that could be treated, regardless of what age she is. So, I am so sorry for your baby's trouble, but maybe you helped to save another furbaby's early demise, if that helps. I thank you...

[hippywife]

40. Thank you, sligtlv.

Sending healing wishes for your old girl, too.

[Fla Dem]

36. So sorry your girl Lena is going through a tough time.

My girl is 16 and has issues. So I understand the uncertainty and concern you’re feeling. Give her a hug from my Baby Girl (she’s an Old Girl now) and a scratch behind the ears from me.

BTW, she’s a beautiful girl!

[hippywife]

41. Thanks, Fla Dem.

Will deliver scritches from your baby and send good wishes for her, too.

[Raven123]

37. Sorry for you and your kitty

Last edited Sun Feb 6, 2022, 10:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Originally posted about radio ablation, but I see someone said something earlier. Sorry again.

[hippywife]

42. Thanl you, Raven for the thought. Appreciate it. nt

[PittBlue]

39. All the best to you and your beautiful kitty.

We had three rescue cats at one time. They all found us…the last one passed last March at age 20. Miss them so much.😢

[hippywife]

43. Thanks, PittBlue.

My condolences on your losses.

[niyad]

44. What a sweet and beautiful ggirl. May Lady Bast hold her gently.

[hippywife]

45. Thank you so much, niyad. nt

[hermetic]

46. Aww, sweet little baby

I have a cat who likes to turn over water bowls. I now keep a plastic bowl full of water in the bathtub and she can turn it over to her heart's content. And, of course, she does. I love watching her watch it as it goes down the drain. She thinks that is fascinating.

This is Pinky.

[hippywife]

47. Thanks, hermetic.

That was a smart solution. Not something I want to deal with given there are two cats, and two adults needing showers, but glad it works out for you.