My cat is 15 years old. She has been loosing hair, and for the last few months, has been throwing up every single day. I have tried to switch her food and just nothing seems to help. I know she is old and probibly doesn't have all that much more time, so I'm looking for a vet who can check her out and make sure there is nothing wrong with her other than old age. We are moving across country and I don't want to put her through that long of a car ride (CA to VA) in about 4-6 months, and so I am also wondering if I should find another home for her, or have her put down since she is so old. She pretty much just sleeps all day. Only comes out at night to eat, use the cat box, and drink water. So, I need a vet in the south OC area, also someone who won't drain our account as we are on a very tight budget. THank you!!
Hi C.!
I just had to put my very dear sweet kitty, Monet down. Should it come to needing to put your kitty down, I just wanted to give you the $ amount for the vet . 176.00 for the vet care, this did not include costs for the remains. I hope it all turns out well for your family.
S.
I was a supervisor at a veterinary clinic for 10 years. It sounds like she has some signs of hyper-thyroid. A condition easily treatable and common among older kitties. You would be surprised at what hyper-thyroid conditions can cause and a pill can almost cure it. I’ve heard so many people say that the pill or the I131 (Radioactive treatment) has given them their cat back.
I know at the clinics I worked for, no one would euthanize a pet for convenience reasons.
PS. I would never go to Banfield. They are completely set up to make money and that is it! Their vets don't even decide what tests are done....Their technicians go from a list of what the corporate office tells them to do....Oh your pet has diarrhea, we need to do an exam, bloodwork, fecal, fluids. Where as you go to a regular vet and the doctor listens to the symptoms before doing diagnostics. Banfields doctors don't even examine the pet until the techs have done all the required testing.
Hello,
We see Dr. Wheaton at the Alicia Pet Care center in Mission Viejo. He's the best of the best, but can also be pricey because he's very, very thorough. He also used to own Affordable Spay and Neuter in Laguna Hills (http://www.affordablespays.com/) and just sold it in December so he could focus on his practice at Alicia and also his new Pet Rescue Center. I know that he worked with the new owner/vet over there extensively and was quite picky about choosing a high-quality vet to take over the practice. If you look at the reviews online, it's rated very highly.
Anyway, the first visit is free as far as the examination goes and everything else is cheaper than it usually is. We are taking our new puppy there this month to have him neutered, etc. and we'll be saving a bundle by taking him there.
Good luck to your family and your kitty!
My old girl has a hyperactive thyroid. She was diagnosed around 15. Simple blood test to examine. Pills are small and inexpensive. She gets one daily (optimally 1/2 the dose twice daily, but vet said entire dose at one time was okay). A two-month supply costs $14. We just celebrated her 20th birthday in March. She's still going strong! Her hair loss is dramatically reduced since being on her medication, so regurgitation is rare now, too. If I miss her dose a couple of days, she gets constipated which causes her to vomit from the effort of trying to push the poop out.
I truly hope you don't put her down just because she's old. It sounds like she's an easy cat to be a great companion for someone else if you feel like you don't have the emotional energy to take care of her while moving. I wish you good luck on your move.
J.
I would say ask neighbors and friends in your area for recommendations. Get her a full exam and probably some blood work so you can find out if and what is going on with her. It may be something that can be treated easily and give her back some of her spunk. So before you make the end decision at least get her looked over.
Most animals do surprisingly well on a car trip. We have gone cross country twice in the last two years with 3 cats and a dog. The car ride and moving really didn't bother them much at all. Two of cats do need sedatives for travel, but I could give them once a day and they would be fine until we stopped for the night and I would just give it in the morning as soon as I woke up and it would kick in by the time we were leaving. Overall they were all very calm and just hung out in their carriers with harnesses and leashes attached, just in case for the cats. I do use a carrier that is big enough that they can have a small litter pan of some sort in there. The last time I got several small tin foil pans 9x9x2 and then could just throw them out when they were dirty. Make sure if all is going well that you test her out on a 30min to 1 hour car ride and she does okay before traveling, so if she needs something you can talk to the vet about it beforehand and have it ready. Good luck and hope she has something that can be treated or taken care of easily.
If there is a Banfield, The Pet Hospital, in your area I would recommend them. My daughter works in administration here in Portland and so we do take our dog to one of their clinics. I have been impressed with their warmth and friendliness on a professional level. They can quote fees for you over the phone. I've been irritated that the cost for the care of animals is as expensive as that for people. However, the Banfield clinic is less expensive than the clinic I was using before them.
Also, here in Portland, we have a clinic named Companion.. I don't know if they're a chain. But if they are they are the least expensive that I've found. My brother takes his dogs there and says that they're about 1/3 less than usual. We also have a non-profit.
I suggest that you look in the yellow pages to see if you can find a non-profit clinic or one that advertises lower fees. You may have to call a few. IF you ask any of the offices they can probably tell you of a non-profit. Or call your county animal control office or the Humane Society. They will be able to give you information.
I am sorry that your cat is so ill. I have seen 2 cats who acted in a similar way to your cat and it was because of their age. I put down one of my cats, who was old and had cancer, when my daughter was around age 10. My regular vet was so cool and unsympathetic that I didn't have her put down at their office. I was fortunate to find a vet, recommended by a friend, who allowed my daughter to be present. He gave us a tour of the facilities and was so very kind and supportive as he gave the cat the injection. They wrapped her in a towel and put her in a box so that we could go home and bury her.
I hope that you find such a vet for your cat. It's painful to lose a pet even when they've lived a good life.
Check out:
http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/
They let you spread the cost of veterinary care over a long period of time.
Good luck!
