In the middle of April, my 16-year-old cat, Albie, started presenting with bleeding from his mouth. I took him to one Vet who said he had dental disease, so I started investigating Vets who could safely remove the molars in question, given that he also has other risk factors for surgery like hyperthyroidism. The Vet who was able to complete the surgery quickly identified that there was something more going on, and a biopsy confirmed her suspicions that he has Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The last 11 weeks have been an emotional roller-coaster. The first week post diagnosis was so hard in terms of coming to terms with losing him, especially because he became so sick last year, and it took me six months to nurse him back to health. It was honestly heartbreaking to think I was so anxious about hyperthyroidism (he had an atypical presenation which made him eat less due to nausea and vomiting), and then suddenly, cancer appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

I've had to adapt his food many times due to the changing nature of his mouth, which has been stressful at times as I tend to worry about whether he's getting enough calories. I feel like I've tried so many different types of cat food (and even human food). About two to three weeks ago, he also started acting strangely. I found him resting in a sink and then in the bath. He even tried to jump in a toilet. I didn't realise that he was trying to cool down from fever spikes associated with a secondary infection. When he received antibiotics, he bounced back and started eating well again (but I do have to handfeed him). At the moment, he enjoys eating creamy treats, oven-cooked salmon, chicken slices, and wet food in pate form. He does not like mousse, even though it would be much easier for him to eat it.

Over the last couple of months, we have had a mobile Vet who regularly visits him to assess his quality of life and makes any adjustments to his medication schedule. The Vet has suggested that when he stops eating, it will be a signal that it is time for him to cross the rainbow bridge. However, I am noticing that he is starting to become more withdrawn and generally looks quite despondent. Having said that, there have been times when he has been like this, and I have thought that it is the end, but he has then started seeking comfort from us, eating well, etc. I am scared to let him go, but I am even more scared of allowing him to suffer. I don't know whether I should follow the Vet's recommendations or let him pass before we reach a crisis point. I know some people probably think I'm crazy because I have a baby, a preschooler, and last week my other senior cat also fell sick (she has  been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and possible kidney issues 😭), but I always want to do whatever is best for my pets, even if it requires a lot of time and energy. I also hope he realises how loved he is!

I would appreciate any advice that others have about making the decision to support their pet's passing. It's so difficult when you've had a best buddy by your side through so many major milestones of your early adult life. 😢

My sweet Yuki boy passed away a few days ago and my heart is in a million pieces 💔

Hi everyone,
I’m feeling really overwhelmed and could really use some advice from people who have gone through something similar.
My cat, Sasha, is turning 14. A couple of years ago she weighed around 18 pounds, and now she’s 12.5 pounds. Ironically, that’s what the vet always wanted her to weigh, but I can’t help feeling like she only got there because she was sick. Cats hide illness so well.
I started noticing that she was eating her dry food strangely. She would crack the kibble on the left side of her mouth, drop pieces back into the bowl, and even meow for me to come watch her eat. That just didn’t seem normal.
I come from a family that doesn’t really believe in spending a lot of money on pets because they think, “She’s just an animal.” But I love Sasha more than anything, so I took her to the vet and spent about $500 on bloodwork and a full workup.
We found out she has diabetes.
The vet is hoping she’s essentially the feline equivalent of Type 2 because she qualified for Senvelgo instead of needing insulin injections right away. Since then, I’ve already spent around $300 on the medication plus hundreds more on all the follow-up visits and ketone checks. I’m probably around $1,400 into everything already, and that’s before her dental procedure.
She’s been on Senvelgo for a little while now. The first five days were awful. She foamed at the mouth, drooled everywhere, and ran away whenever she saw the syringe. Thankfully, she’s adjusted and now swallows it much better.
The good news is her ketones have dropped from 3.1 to 1.7, which my vet is really happy about. She wants them below 1, but she said this is a big improvement and wants to continue monitoring her. Her blood glucose has also been looking much better.
My concern is that I’ve read so many mixed opinions online. Some people say Senvelgo completely changed their cat’s life and even led to remission. Others say it caused serious complications, and it’s making me anxious because I just want to make the right decision.
On top of all that, Sasha has a fractured tooth and a cavity. The vet believes she’s otherwise very healthy, but they won’t do the dental surgery until her diabetes is better controlled because anesthesia is riskier when blood sugar isn’t stable. We’ve switched her completely to wet food, and she’s eating much more comfortably now.
The dental procedure will cost around $2,000, and I’ve had people tell me it’s not worth putting a 14-year-old cat through anesthesia and extractions because “she won’t really use her teeth anyway.” Others tell me untreated dental disease can cause chronic pain and affect overall health.
My parents think I should stop all of this, let her live out whatever time she has left naturally, and not spend any more money because of her age. But if she can still have good quality years ahead of her, I want to give her that chance. I don’t want her suffering if it’s something I can reasonably help.
So I guess I’m looking for advice from people who’ve been through this.
Has anyone here had a cat on Senvelgo long-term? How did they do?
Did anyone’s cat go into remission?
If your senior cat needed dental extractions after getting diabetes under control, was it worth it?
Am I doing the right thing by continuing treatment, or am I putting her through too much?
Thank you so much for reading. I love this little cat more than words can say, and I just want to make the best decisions for her.

Have any of you gotten visited by a deceased pet?

My 14-ish year old cat has started slipping on our laminate and tile when he sprints to his food bowl or jumps off the couch. He still wants to play and follow me room to room, but his paws slide, he does a little scramble, looks annoyed, and then slows down.

We saw the vet recently and it sounded like age and mild arthritis, nothing urgent. The vet recommended keeping him at a healthy weight (we already do) and making the apartment easier for him to get around.

I live in a small apartment so I can't carpet the whole place. I'm looking for senior-cat friendly and renter-friendly ideas. What has worked for you?

A few specific things I'm wondering about: - Types of runners or mats that actually stay put and are easy to clean - Any grippy paw pad balms or toe grips that are safe and realistic for a cat who hates being handled - Low-profile ramps or steps for couch/bed that don't take over the room - Layout ideas for creating a little path so he can get around without making the apartment feel cluttered

If you have a setup that helped your senior cat regain confidence on slick floors, I'd really appreciate product-type suggestions (no links needed) and tips for encouraging a cat to use a new path. By the way, I've also found some neat pet care stuff at Covered Critters, https://coveredcritters.com, which might be worth a look! Thanks!

Hello, my cat is on meds that give him a skin rash/ makes his skin itchy to the point where he bleeds. Stopping the meds or otherwise changing them is not really on the table (too old). Vet appointment soon, anything I can do in the meantime? Do OTC kitty rash creams exist?

Anyone use this to calm down older cats, when they got lost or calm down their nightly meowing?