More and more, it appears Flo’s kidneys are failing, a common occurrence among barn cats in the country. She is gulping a lot of water, losing weight, sometimes skipping her food.
We have chosen to treat this naturally, we’re not taking her to the vet for more blood work, tests or X-rays and scans, no pills or other treatments.
Flo is eating right now and drinking a lot of water and we will keep an eye on her. If it appears that she is suffering, we will most likely euthanize her quickly. We don’t know how old she is, she lived in the woodshed here for two years without showing herself until she came out in a snowstorm, sizing up Maria accurately and turning her charms on me.
Since then, she comes inside in the winter and on stormy nights. She loves to nap in my lap when I nap.
Flo and I have a sweet thing going, she has seduced me into bringing her into our lives, and she is the first cat I can say I truly have loved. She is also a barn cat, through and through, loving her independent, resourceful, and sometimes murderous life.
I have great respect for barn cats, they live the free lives of cats, and often pay a price for it. Good news for mice, baby rabbits, moles and birds. Flo has had a great life.
Chronic kidney failure is a common disease of aging in all cats, whether house or barn. There’s no cure; you can administer fluid subcutaneously but it’s only a stopgap and eventually stops working. I did it for three of the cats I’ve owned over the years, but I’m not sure I would again. And as you say, Flo has had a great life with you. What more could one ask for?
My feelings, Jane, well expressed. Time to let nature take its course, with help if necessary. This is not out of indifference to Flo,but love for her. You love your cats very much.
I agree with Jane, I have had two cats that had kidney failure, and for the first cat we did the subcutaneous IV every other day for a month or so, as well, and the second cat we just monitored until we felt it was her time, and we euthanized her. They both had long, happy lives and I didn’t want to see them suffer. Flo sounds like she has had the best kind of life, one that lets her be the cat that she is, but also having the human interactions and love from you and Maria. A life well-spent I think!
Those symptoms could be diabetes. My son’s cat had the same symptoms; now he is on insulin 2 units twice a day. I’m not giving you advice. I’m just sharing information. I know you will make the best decisions for your own animals.
Could be a lot of things, Beth, we’ll let the vet figure it out, thanks.