Very poorly Digby

That's good news Phoenix - eating is a great sign. ?

anno thank you so much for the compliment and good wishes. If I could write as well (and particularly about cats) as the late Deric Longden, I would be very happy indeed!

Glad to hear Digby ate most of his food. Let's hope it's a sign of improvement.

Phoenix so sorry to hear about poor Digby. I remember your "tails" about him. I hope he stays comfortable .

Ah poor Digby - it's so hard when they get these diagnosis's isn't it. I was told one of mine had a heart problem and did we want to send him away to the vet school for trials? We elected not to - he was blind and we felt it would be of no real benefit to him. He spent the rest of his days ruling the roost over the other two until we finally had to let him go 3 years ago - he was 14 by then and had had a good life. Have you tried warming his food up a little? Another of mine had kidney failure and I did everything I could to get him to eat when he was really poorly - the vet suggested warming for a couple of seconds in the microwave as it stimulates their appetite. I did it with tuna in spring water and he would eat that for a while. My darling lady now is impossible to medicate - can't even pick her up so I have liquid meds which thankfully she doesn't seem to notice in her food - she's booked in for radio active iodine treatment next month which will be a huge trauma for us both but if successful will mean no more medication - for this condition anyway. Hope Digby improves a little to have a good quality of life for the remainder of his days.

Oh Willow, every good wish for your girl's treatment.

So far, Digby is doing quite well, eating, toddling out occasionally, happy to sit on laps etc.

I have to make a record twice a day of his breaths per minute while resting, just as well, as he is very rarely active.

I have been talking about Digby's prognosis and future with Mr P, that conversation is not going very well

Phoenix.

Morning all, just popping in with an update.

Digby had his check up with the vet on Monday and she was very pleased with him, his breathing was not too bad at all, and he had actually managed to gain a very small amount of weight! He hasn't got to go again for a month.

He's still being picky about food, so we are trying all sorts of things. He doesn't like sardines, enjoys prawns (but not straight from the fridge) loves that poncey cat soup, but not the "bits" in it. He quite likes a special "Outdoor Active" cat food, even though he could never be described as "active", I bought it as it has a higher calorie content and should stop him losing too much weight.

The feeding area now looks like a cat buffet.

Oliver Sprout has decided that he will have a bit of everything that's on offer!

I have just ordered a special Royal Canin High Calorie Senior Cat Vet Diet dry food from Pets at Home.

On the site there were strict warnings about only feeding it if the vet said you should etc. Problem is, it's going to be very hard to make sure only Digby eats it!

Oliver Sprout is a very healthy chap (touch wood) and has never had to go to the vet in all the time we've had him (touch wood again!) How embarrassing it would be if we had to present him for the fist time as the fattest cat in the village!

Phoenix I'm so glad your chap is managing to eat and put on a wee bit of weight,it sounds better not having to go back for a month the vet must be pleased with him.
I don't think there is anything that you can do to stop OS helping himself to the food I wouldn't know where to start really,my Oliver must invite all his pals into my kitchen through the catflap as I have found a few cats helping themselves to his food.

phoenix, Our elderly cat is on a high protein diet as advised by our vet and has developed a passion for Aldi's tuna in spring water. She paws at the cupboard when she thinks I ought to be opening another tin. She has dry biscuits in the morning and Aldi's chicken in jelly as a change from tuna now and again.

Her appetite has really picked up. Hope Digby continues to improve on his 'all-in' buffet lifestyle.

What good news that Digby is managing to gain a little weight! Long may it continue.

Well done Digby, and his mum nurse.

That is so good to hear that Digby has put on a little weight. At least any food that you buy for him and he rejects will not go to waste because it sounds as though OS will try anything.

Tara walks away from her bowl of dry food when she is full so does not gain extra weight, unlike her mother.

So sorry to hear this . DGD's were given a kitten each a couple of months ago. We are all besotted with them and love them to bits. I dread any such news as we now can't imagine life without them. I hope things go as well as possible for you all, sending much sympathy

Thanks to all for the good wishes, they are appreciated.

Merlot as Digby won't even eat the tuna bits in the poncey cat soup, I doubt if he would be impressed with the canned tuna in spring water, no matter if it came from Aldi, Harrods or Fortnum &Mason! (Mr P and I are very happy with the Lidl version)

Twice having pets in your life is great, the fun of watching them do daft things, the fact that they don't judge us, and providing we meet their needs, they will give us their version of unconditional love.

However, the sad fact is that we usually outlive our pets, and the sadness that we experience when we lose them, is the price we pay for having the happy times that we have had with them.

(Not very well put, but hopefully you will get the meaning)

I'm glad he's perked up, Phoenix!

I have to opposite weight problem with our cats. Fat Cat (FC) is nudging up to 16lb while Skinny Cat (SC) is normal size at about 11lb.

FC has been on a diet and has indeed lost half a pound. Unfortunately, SC has also lost a quarter of a pound, we think because he normally hoovers up FC's leavings, but currently, there aren't any to be had!

Have you tried Hills prescription I/D tinned food? Although it’s designed for cats with GI problems my big cat (all 16lbs of him) has been given this when he’s been recovering from various ailments. It’s easily digestible as you can add water and thin down the consistency so they only have to lap and not chew. The other food mine enjoy when off colour is baby food!! There are heaps of meaty meals and all
are unsalted-good for cat with with cardiac condition. Hope Digby continues to enjoy his box for a long time to come. One of mine has taken possession of a hessian Santa sack which she won’t part with!

Glad to hear that Digby is holding his own Phoenix.

I'm glad to hear that the vet is pleased with him phoenix and that he's eating.

Thanks for the bulletin on Digby's health, phoenix. It's good to know that he is none the worse. A big loud purr from me .

Seconding all the messages about Digby hanging in there. ?

Is MrP now fully trained to do the early shift?

Wilma unfortunately not

Glad to hear Digby is doing OK, poor boy, it's too young to be so ill.

We always hope that cats will live until at least 15. It's hard to come to terms with when that doesn't happen. At least if they are quite old, you can feel they've lived a full and happy life.

We lost a gorgeous little boy last year on the road, he was just over 1, much too young.

Best wishes to you and Digby.

Oh seacliff, so sorry to hear about your loss, that must have been heartbreaking.

Thanks Humpty, it was. I still well up when I think of it. He was such a loving little cat. I just console myself that he had a lovely life, and the end was quick.

The unbelievable thing is, we live in an almost dead end rural road, with fields all around, and set back from road by a field!! However, he had a thing about sitting on edge of road, looking in undergrowth for mice. We tried to discourage him. He was one of our foster kittens with his brother - we couldn't bear to part with the two of them. I wish we had now, he would probably still be alive.