Hi,
My 20 year old cat has recently gone blind and has adapted really well, but in the last few weeks she's had 2 fits, but again seemed to be fine. Yesterday she started having a problem eating and drinking and we noticed that part of her tongue is missing - I'm not sure if she's had another fit and bitten it - as she doesn't go out on her own so I can't think how else it could have happened. She seems to be foaming when trying to eat and drink. I've been trying to avoid having her put down while she's still happy (she's still purring) hoping that she'd pass naturally in her sleep, but now I don't know if her quality of life has deteriorated too much or whether she'll be better if her tongue heals. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Poor mite. I hope she gets well soon. 20 is a ripe old age.

Just a point though - don't judge every thing by purring, cats purr when happy, when stressed and also when in pain. Judge her quality of life by other things too.

__________________
please look at my website - www.finesthourcats.webs.com - for gorgeous GCCF registered RagaMuffins and Selkirk Rex

I'd suggest a trip to the vet is needed to get her tongue examined as it must be sore if nothing else.

As for the purring, while not intending to alarm you, one of my semi adoptees, William, collapsed with what turned out to be a tumour on his spine. He ended up completely paralysed with lungs rapidly filling with fluid, yet when the vets drained them he started purring like a mad cat.

20 years is a damn fine age, but you'll know when the time has come to say goodbye. Put your feelings to one side and you'll do the right thing by her, it's not easy, but the time for *that decision* comes for all of us sooner or later.

Here's some good luck vibes to hopefully help.

Ian

__________________
RIP Black Tom and Beckett, not just cats, they were my cats and the best ever.

I think a trip to the vets ASAP. It must be very sore and uncomfortable for her.
You have had her for a very long time and by reading your post you are worried about her.
These things always seem to happen out of vets hours or holidays but the sooner you get her to the vet the sooner you will know.

I and others on here can understand how you feel, having an elderly cat myself. It is hard everytime you take them to the vet thinking this could be it.

Hopefully it won't be. She just might need some medication and some pain killer for the tongue.

Please let us know how you get on.
Paws and fingers crossed for you x

__________________

Hi,
Thanks for all your kind advice, I'm going to take her to the vets now - fingers crossed.

The recent blindness and seizures point to high blood pressure which can be very easily treated with medication. How long has she been blind because it's possible in some cases to reverse this is treated early enough? I'd imagine she's bitten off part of her tongue during one of the seizures.

High BP can also cause strokes so you need to start her on meds now to prevent these. So a trip to the vets for a BP check firstly and some bloodtests today! I wouldn't leave it any longer-she'll only get worse.

Hi all,
Just to let you know I took Pepsi to the vet and she's got a bad tooth which might be why she's over salivating. She thinks the cut on her tongue might have happened a while ago and is not what's bothering her at the moment - it's just that we've only just noticed it while she's been drooling.
She had antibiotic and painkiller injections and seems to have perked up a bit and has managed to eat and drink a little. Her tongue is still sticking out a little bit now and again though. The vet thinks she's not ready to go yet, she keeps bouncing back bless her, so I'll keep an eye on her over the next few days. Thanks again for all your advice and good wishes x

Glad to hear this but did you mention the seizures to the vet? This and the blindness need to be investigated. As mentioned earlier it's most likely due to high blood pressure which is easily treated. The vets can measure this in the surgery. Seriously you really don't want to risk a stroke or similar. Otherwise she sounds a fairly strong kitty!

Yes I told the vet about the seizures. She said if she was having them regularly she could go on medication, but as she's not had any for a couple of weeks and came out of the two she had quickly, she wouldn't advise it as it makes them drowsy and would impair her quality of life for whatever time she's got left. She didn't mention blood pressure, I'll ask about that when I take her back. She's a little fighter, bless her.

Good! Actually the BP medication is fairly well tolerated in the cats I've heard about. It's just that a stroke would be such a devastating thing to happen which would not only adversely affect her quality of life but also shorten it! Same with people.