Discuss the specific cat’s specific condition with your vet.; but, just for general information – nearly all of mine have made it to between 16 and 22. I, at least, certainly wouldn’t consider 9 to be too old for treatment, if the vet. thinks the treatment has a reasonable chance of working.
Nine isn’t that old for a cat. And there are some cases where medical treatment works well.
One of ours got an infected gall bladder, which would have been fatal if it ruptured.
Surgical intervention saved him for several more years of happy sleeping in the sun: RIP Squeak (heart problems got him in the end)…
But cancer… that’s tricky.
He has a lymphoma in his kidney and in his belly, which is why he’s been spitting up blood about once a month. Sounds like there isn’t really anything that can be done except hope that the prednisone shrinks the tumors.
Oh, that’s awful. No cure, all you can do is try to maintain some quality of life for as long as you can.
Don’t let him suffer.
Ouch. Yes, that’s bad.
I once had a cat who had a complete cancer remission due to prednisone. Very rare, but possible. He got three more years during which he had no idea that he was sick; during most of which he was back off the prednisone.
When it came back, the second time the prednisone bought him about one more good day. But I hope, against the odds, that yours gets the three years; or at least another few good months.
He started spitting up white foam a year ago; we mentioned this to his vet during his annual check-up last year. We’re not sure when he started spitting up blood; he was doing it when neither of us could see so all we knew was that these mysterious red spots had been turning up every few weeks.
Our two boys 18 months ago:
I’m sorry you and your kitty have to deal with this. Our family lost our two younger cats to lymphoma within a year of each other seven years ago, and I still hold my breath whenever one of the cats pukes until I can reasonably assure myself there’s no blood in it. It’s an awful disease.
I am so sorry that you and your kitty are having to deal with this. Here’s hoping the Prednisone helps a great deal.
My baby, a cat named Pitch, suffered from melanoma. By the time we found it, we new there was nothing we could do that I could afford. I cuddled and coddled him until his eyes told me that enough was enough. He was 11.
Hugs to you and scritches to kitty.
How beautiful.
I guess he’s feeling better. He just chased his sister out of his favorite perch.
That’s good to see!
Seems his appetite has returned, for the most part. Hell of a way to lose weight.
Oh good, at least some remission. Hope it lasts a long time.
He’ll probably not going to be around much longer. We think he’s tired of taking his medicine; he only eats if there is no medicine in his food.
Poor baby.
Both get ground-up pills in their moist food.
He seems to be having a good day today. Ate almost all of the little bit of food I gave him, even though it contained his morning dose.
Cuddle that cat and feed him what he wants. (I very much doubt that I needed to tell you that.)
Try to get the meds into him anyway, if the vet thinks they’re still doing any good. Otherwise, stop.
– this wouldn’t post yesterday, I don’t know why. I’m glad he’s doing better today!
He has a check-up scheduled in two weeks; we’ll decide what to do then.