Author Topic: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat  (Read 119038 times)

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Offline Lola

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #300 on: February 18, 2018, 11:18:30 PM »
For what?

Heart?  Lungs?  Nighttime coughing can be a not so good thing.
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #301 on: February 19, 2018, 06:51:26 AM »
Heart?  Lungs?  Nighttime coughing can be a not so good thing.

Thanks for explaining but can you please elaborate on what you mean?  Hug1

Anyway like I said, the vet said to monitor and if it gets worse we would start with an x ray. I still feel that I don't intend to put Mazy cat through a lot. She will have to be anesthetized, or at the least, sedated, for anything.   

Maybe I will change my mind when the time comes. 

Offline Middle Child

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #302 on: February 19, 2018, 07:59:02 AM »
We're on day 3 with the slow transition to the new formula Rad Cat chicken.  She's getting a tenth of an ounce a day of it, .05 oz added to a morning meal (I change up which serving per day) and half added to her supper pre meal.

Offline Lola

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #303 on: February 19, 2018, 10:24:38 AM »
Thanks for explaining but can you please elaborate on what you mean?  Hug1


Coughing for two years, especially when rested...worse case scenario... heart or lung disease.  It is more common in dog, but...
The heart and lungs can sound good, but still have a serious problem. 
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #304 on: February 19, 2018, 10:43:25 AM »
Coughing for two years, especially when rested...worse case scenario... heart or lung disease.  It is more common in dog, but...
The heart and lungs can sound good, but still have a serious problem. 


Okay thank you. But if she has lung or heart disease, I am not going to do anything different for her.  I am not putting her through a lot of invasive diagnostics or trips to specialists, and that is the only way to diagnose and treat these things?

When you say "coughing for two years" makes it sound like an acute problem. It isn't.  I hear her cough maybe twice a week.  Some weeks not at all.  She may be coughing when I am not home but there are many times, especially lately because of (my own) illness, that I am home all day and night, and there is no sign of coughing.

Anyway I do appreciate your input and making me aware of these issues, thank you. But this is Mazy cat, and she cannot tolerate a lot of vet trips and sitting in stainless steel cages. I won't do it to her.

Offline Lola

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #305 on: February 19, 2018, 10:57:26 AM »
It is the occasional cough, for two years, that got me wound up.  I don't mean to come off as gloom and doom...
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #306 on: February 19, 2018, 11:02:05 AM »
I know.  I understand, especially after what you've just been through with your Lacy dog. Cats cough. People cough.  It could be anything or nothing.  For Mazy cat, at least not now when her quality of life is already what I would consider superior,  I'm not willing to put her through a lot of stuff to find out.

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #307 on: February 22, 2018, 05:50:53 AM »
Mazy cat is on day 8 between vomit episodes.  It's worth remarking on because she is also in the middle of the transition to the new Rad Cat formula.  It's going well and she should be fully transitioned by this weekend.

Then back to the status quo.

 I feel like the denosyl may be causing her some problems.  Nothing serious but she's a bit less active now, after being on it 9 weeks.  She's not playing her Solitaire Games anymore, for instance.  And while she is still playing nightly, she is not as active about it.

Offline Middle Child

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #308 on: March 31, 2018, 09:01:32 AM »
I see it's been a long time since I have updated Mazy cat's thread.  Her vomiting cycles continue as usual. Sometimes she goes more than a week between vomits. When she goes more than 7 or 8 days, after she does finally puke up a meal, with or without fur, she generally will skip a day then puke two more days in a row.  Other weeks it seems she has a lot more trouble and pukes every 3 or 4 days.

These "pukes" would be considered regurgitation, because it IS meals she is vomiting, except for one thing.  When it comes up, it comes up with muscle contraction and force.  That is not the definition of regurgitation, and that is why I have stopped using that term.

Anyway.  Her blood work results from February 16 were not great.  Everything fine except her ALT (liver values) still rising.  Vet was all about x rays and ultrasounds at the specialist.  I said, again, I am not doing that with Mazy cat. I said I would agree to x rays there at the clinic, IF she would agree to do it under sedation.  I said then you can take your time, get good pictures, and look into her mouth as well. (Mazy cat has not had a mouth exam since her dental almost 2 years ago)

Vet does not want to sedate/anesthetize for x rays, presumably because, if further diagnostics are needed she will need to be anesthetized for that. I said again, I am not going to do that with Mazy cat.

Anyway that was a month ago we had that discussion and I have done nothing.  Mazy cat takes her denosyl every day, continues to enjoy her excellent quality of life.  Her arthtitis is under control, she runas and plays and sleeps and eats and poops and pees.  her coat is incredible, here eyes are bright and clear, you'd never know there is anything wrong with her at all.

That is what I want for Mazy cat.

Further into the discussion with vet, I did express my feelings about how hard I worked on and how long I kept Ootay alive.  More and more over the years I've found myself wondering if I did right by her.  I THINK I did, because in the end, like I asked her to, she told me when she'd had enough, and I listened.  Both for the regular vet trips, and the end.

 I did it, trying to keep Ootay going, mostly for Tolly, because I didn't feel he could spare her. She was always able to handle all the vet trips and stuff, the fluids and the medications. Then one day when I was putting her into the carrier she cried.  She'd never done that before so when we got to the vet I said this is the last time I'm bringing her in for a 3 month check.  She's said she's done and I will listen to her.

6 months after that she had her 3rd and last stroke, she told me she was ready and I brought her in for the final time.

But Mazy cat cannot handle all that stuff. She's okay with that one pill a day. But I'm not dragging her back to the vet every three months, and I'm not putting her in the carrier and taking her for a 2 hour drive in order to be terrorized in a strange place  with strange vets and invasive procedures.

I'd like to have the x rays, and even the ultrasound from my vet (they don't have a great machine, but it's something) and her mouth exam, all under anesthesia to reduce Mazy cat's stress.  I know anesthesia is a risk, but she won't be under long, and I feel it is best for her.

I may just wait until her 6 month check up, re-do the blood work and try again to convince her to do x rays, and mouth exam under sedation.

Some cats can handle a lot of stuff.  Ootay could, Tolly could. Jennie probably could, if she has to.  Not sure about Queen Eva yet.  But I'm not doing it to Mazy cat.  Even if she did seem to "get used to it" (which I doubt) I don't see why she should have to.


Offline Lola

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #309 on: March 31, 2018, 01:38:09 PM »
Remember.... We do the best we can. 
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #310 on: March 31, 2018, 05:13:45 PM »
Remember.... We do the best we can. 

Thank you Lola dear friend  Hug1 Hug1 Hug1 but that's not really the issue with Mazy cat.  I am doing my best for her and, going forward could do other things, if I felt it was in HER best interests.  This isn't about what I can or cannot do for her, because I could do other tings, if I wanted. This is about what I am willing to put her through, not what I can do, if that makes any sense to you.  It does, to me.  HeadButt

Offline Middle Child

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #311 on: April 08, 2018, 08:44:38 AM »
Aside from Mazy cat's normal patterns of vomiting, I do have good news to report.  She is down to 10 meals a day.

What this means is, her supper to bedtime meals have been reduced from four meals to three.  Her quantity per meal has been increased from 0.5 oz to 0.7 oz. for two meals and 0.6 for one. (This includes water and bone broth added).

Mostly what it means is it is a tiny bit easier on me. Feeding her still covers the same time span (6:30-9:30), but I can rest longer in between.

Of course it also means Mazy cat has had some healing, because this is the first time ever she has been able to handle that much food and liquid all at once.

Her morning meals remain at 0.45 per serving - 4 meals spaced 45 minutes apart. (5:15-7:30)  Her lunch is still .03 and her supper pre-meal is still 0.2 and 0.2 15 minutes apart.

The new supper meal quantities have been completely in effect for almost 2 weeks now. I wanted to be sure, before I announced it. :)

PS This a a very big deal.  When we firt started this journey 6 years ago Mazy cat was getting 22 meals a day.

Offline Pookie

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #312 on: April 08, 2018, 05:51:46 PM »
PAWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy DrLisaPiersonWorthy multistars multistars multistars
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #313 on: April 28, 2018, 07:54:04 AM »
Thanks Pookie.  I am really thrilled with the drop of that meal in the evening.  You woulnd't believe how much easier it makes things, just eliminating that one serving.

Mazy cat had one of her 10 day spans with no vomit ending this morning.  Every time she goes this long, (or longer) I dread the fall out.  Her normal pattern is to skip a day, then puke 2 or 3 days in a row, after going 10 days or more.

I always hope it will be different.  Maybe this time.

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Re: The on-going ever-evolving process of feeding Mazy cat
« Reply #314 on: April 28, 2018, 10:34:10 AM »
 fingerscrossed
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