# \ My kitty is in the twilight of his life. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 6, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454 "2010-08-06T21:41:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/21 "2010-08-08T13:35:33Z")
> [@LouiseE](#): > > I don’t think anyone has mentioned it, but if the cat is having back leg weakness one thing you may want to watch out for is incontinence. When the beloved Inkster was in her last days (18 years old! pretty good for the runt of the litter) she lost strength in her back legs and had accidents on the bed and the couch a couple of times. Thankfully Schatzi hasn’t had any problems like this - he’s fastidious about doing his business in the kitty pan. In fact, I don’t think he’s EVER had an accident - it’s kind of crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/22 "2010-08-08T15:56:41Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Recently, he’s been having some trouble with his hind end. Specifically, he will sometimes lose control of his back legs and sit down hard on his butt. He always masks this by licking his butt hole (aren’t cats the best? My old Pounce used to do the same exact thing. Cracked me up. And later, as LouiseE mentions, she also lost control of her bowels in the final days. Pounce only made it to 20, but she did have a good long life. I very much enjoyed reading about Schatzi. What a guy! ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/23 "2010-08-08T16:15:00Z")
**alice\_in\_wonderland** , just enjoy each day. For all you know, Schatzi could live for years-- as he’s proven in the past when predictions have fallen flat. He might even become a new champion of cat longevity! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/24 "2010-08-08T16:17:20Z")
I decided yesterday that it’s time to say goodbye to two of my cats: [Halley](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/jsgoddess/yawn.jpg) and [Dickens](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/jsgoddess/dickensheadtilt.jpg). Halley was diagnosed with kidney failure 2.5 years ago. She’s so thin now, and she cries sometimes. Dickens has hyperthyroid which should be manageable, but she hates medication, she hates attention, she hates everything that in any way interferes with her being exactly how she wants to be, and how she wants to be is usually juuuust out of reach. She’s losing weight quickly, and has developed a sort of palsy. I waffle between being at peace and being devastated. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/25 "2010-08-08T19:17:25Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > **alice\_in\_wonderland** , just enjoy each day. For all you know, Schatzi could live for years-- as he’s proven in the past when predictions have fallen flat. He might even become a new champion of cat longevity! It’s true. He really does seem to have more than his fair share of 9 lives. Ever since he was a kitten he’s been predicted to drop dead any moment. At this point I think he may be sticking around just to be stubborn. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/26 "2010-08-08T19:29:24Z")
When my cat Triskadekaphobia died he was 21. He was an inside outside cat . The last month he stayed inside. I kept him in a shoe box next to the bed the last couple days. The dogs sniffed him, but kept a respectful distance. Beagles are going to sniff. When he died ,I was petting him. There must have been an abandon ship siren I could not hear because fleas I did not know he had, left at once. He was a pretty cat. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/27 "2010-08-08T19:42:55Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > There must have been an abandon ship siren I could not hear because fleas I did not know he had, left at once. :eek::eek: Really? That’s wild - I’ve never heard of that before. I’m glad I started this thread. These senior kitty stories are making me happy/sad, but also making me appreciate some of the goofball things that Schatz-Mo does. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/28 "2010-08-09T01:28:28Z")
When Fluffy was 18, one day she just quit eating. Even tuna and egg yolk. 🙂 That’s when I knew it was time. Still makes me sad. I even quit keeping up with her advice column. See here: [http://joker49.tripod.com/fluffy.htm](http://joker49.tripod.com/fluffy.htm) At least I gave her some immortality, although I wish she could have made it to 22. That’s gotta be some kind of record. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/29 "2010-08-09T01:35:01Z")
WOW…reading all these posts about cats living to 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, is giving me such huge hope. And here I’ve been worried and dreading the time when my cat goes. I’ve been thinking of her as “old” all this time and trying to make myself hope she still has a good year or two left. She’s about 11 or 12 right now. From the posts here, it sounds like she could live another ten years. :eek: And for the last year or so, I was growing sad thinking she probably didn’t have much more time left. Obviously I knew nothing of what an old cat was. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/30 "2010-08-09T02:57:35Z")
The vet told me that in the past it was rare for a cat to reach 15 and now he sees cats at 20 almost every week. He credits the improved food, neutering, and of course improved vet care. It’s great to have those extra years with our fur friends. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/31 "2010-08-09T03:07:44Z")
The longest living cat on record made it to 34. Yes, that’s a 3 and a 4. If Schatzi makes it that long…well, I don’t know what I’ll do. That’s a really old kitty. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/32 "2010-08-09T03:52:54Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > The longest living cat on record made it to 34. Yes, that’s a 3 and a 4. > > If Schatzi makes it that long…well, I don’t know what I’ll do. That’s a really old kitty. 🙂 If you mean Creme Puff, it was 38. ---
**Author:** ![MercyStreet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@MercyStreet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MercyStreet)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/33 "2010-08-09T13:16:01Z")
We said goodbye to my beloved 18-year-old kitteh two weeks ago. He had multiple little-old-man issues, including five years with renal insufficiency, but was a very happy guy until his last three weeks. He had overall weakness and other signs that he was in his Brave Last Days. I realized that many of our interactions had become unpleasant for him: wiping poo, administering fluids, picking clumped litter out of his feet, shoving pills down his throat. When it was clear that he was having more bad days than good, I made that last appointment. Peace to all of us who have been through this recently. Joy to those who have the privilege of caring for an older kitty. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/34 "2010-11-11T08:09:46Z")
Well, at about 11:30 pm Schatzi walked into the baby’s room where I was rocking him to sleep and colapsed. He began having sezures so we rushed him to the emergency hospital where they sedated him so we could say goodbye. They gave him his final shot as I held him in my arms. Bye Schatzi. I hope where ever you are there are lots of moths to chase and fluffy cushions to sleep on. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/35 "2010-11-11T08:12:00Z")
☹ RIP Schatzi. You were loved. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/36 "2010-11-11T09:12:32Z")
I knew I shouldn’t have read this thread again. I knew it would be bad. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Manwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Manwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manwich)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/37 "2010-11-11T12:43:40Z")
Bye Schatzi! You were a handsome dude and you had some lucky humans who looked after you well. I will chase a moth for you next time I see one. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/38 "2010-11-11T14:07:09Z")
I’m so sorry for your loss. Rest well, sweet kitty. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/39 "2010-11-11T14:31:17Z")
May you someday meet in peace at the Rainbow Bridge ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454/40 "2010-11-11T14:46:07Z")
I am sad to hear your news. I hope that time helps take the pain away. Sending supporting thoughts your way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-my-kitty-is-in-the-twilight-of-his-life/549454.md?page=3)