[grizmom]

This doesn't have a lot to do with bipolar per se, but my anxiety is getting bad...my cat has been throwing up for a few days now; at first I thought she might be trying to get up a hairball (she has long hair, so that happens a lot), but it's been more than 3 days and the hairball medicine isn't helping at all. I called the vet and he said to watch her for a few more days (she is still eating, drinking and using the litter box, and she isn't acting tired or grumpy or anything) and if she is still throwing up she'll need to go in for tests. She is all that I have right now and I've had her for over 10 years; if something happens to her I will totally lose it. I'm afraid this is triggering my depression also; I'm just really worried and anxious and scared and I don't have anyone to talk to...sorry to go off topic...

[BNLsMOM]

I'm sorry. I hope your kitty gets better soon. It is sad when pets get sick, and it is hard on us because they can't tell us what's going on so we can fix it. I'll keep your kitty in my thoughts.

[gravyyy]

It's all good things that kitty is still eating, drinking, and using the litterbox. As hard as it is to do, live in the present with kitty. Focus on right now, and right now you have you cat and you can give her all your love and caring. I have cats too and I've had sick cats, and cats die suddenly. It's very sad but if you think about it, if all you think about i that eventually something may happen to take your cat away, you will always be very upset and fearful. Like I said, I realize this is easier said than done but I have been there myself and as I get to the point that I start feeling sad and depressed because I think that eventually my cat won't be with me anymore I try to steer my mind away from it.... almost like grounding. It's hard when your cat is ill. If you're overly concerned then absolutely take kitty in to see the vet. I hear you when you say you're concerned. Please take care of yourself so you can continue to care for and love your cat. I'll be thinking of you.

[WendyAussie]

Oh Griz, I totally get you. I too have a kitty who is 10 years old and she is my child. She sleeps on top of me. There is this God awful cat next door that sits on the top corner of their house and howls for Teddy (Teddy is a 2.9kg tiny girl) to come out and fight it. If I can't find Teddy and I think that "Gargoyle" is fighting with her I run around the outside of my house yelling at the top of my voice for Teddy. The neighbours know about my mental illness so I'm sure that just confirms thing for them!! lol

Teddy is all I have too.

And it's not OT because I believe that every Beeper I have come across has panic and anxiety disorders too.

All I can say is try to use all you anxiety management tools, keep posting as much as you need to and take kitty to the doc when you feel it is right.

[kadesgirl09]

(((grizmom))) sneding good kitty vibes your way

[sugahorse1]

yup, anxiety is very real for the majority of us. My p-doc knows this and therefore gives me benzo's which are low dose and I can take whenever i'm battling to cope

[grizmom]

She did throw up again this morning, but just a small amount and there was a small hairball in it, so I'm hoping that maybe that was the problem. I did call the vet again and talked to someone else, and she said that Grizabella might have become sensitive to her food, so I'm supposed to get some hypoallergenic food at the pet store today, and get some stronger hairball medicine at the vet. She said to not give her any food for 24 hours (to help settle her stomach if it's irritated), and to give her 2 doses of the stronger hairball medicine today to help coat her stomach, and then tomorrow just give her small amounts of the new food mixed with the old food on a flat plate (helps them not eat as fast, in case that is what she is doing). This lady was much more reassuring and since Griz was just seen a month ago and since she is only throwing up about once a day, and everything else seems to be fine, she thinks it is most likely that her stomach is irritated either because she has/had a hairball in there or she has become allergic to her food (she said that happens a lot in older cats), or she is eating too fast.

So I do feel better today; I'm still worried, but at least now I know there are a few things I can try before taking her in for an appointment. The lady I talked to yesterday was saying Griz could have asthma or worms or a blocked intestine, which is what got me so upset. The lady I talked to today said those are all highly unlikely because she is not wheezing (asthma), she's never been outside (probably not worms), and she's been using her potty (rules out blocked intestine).

I'll try the new food and new hairball medicine and watch her for a few more days, hopefully that will be all that it takes, and if she continues to vomit or starts acting sick in other ways, I'll get her in to see her vet. Thanks everyone!! I'll keep you posted.

[RRU96]

Well glad you seem to be getting kitty help. The anxiety may still be there though. Enjoy the company you have. Take pictures of those cute, funny moments. We understand the cycle of life, and MANY MANY MANY years from now, when that time comes.... those pictures will help bring back all those great and funny memories you have had.
Nobody is promised tomorrow, so enjoy today to the extreme. Your obviously a great 'mother' to Griz. No doubt she will start turning around for the better.

[gravyyy]

hurray Griz!! Glad to hear your kitty is hanging in there. It does seem a bit silly for the vet yesterday to tell you all the horrible things that could possibly be when they don't really make a whole lot of sense. Sometimes "professionals" are odd. Anyway, keep us posted about the cat. Hopefully the new diet will help.

[BNLsMOM]

It sounds more hopeful for Griz. Love her name, by the way.

[HereIamBp]

I'm keeping Griz in my heart and prayers. We become so attached to our pets that they become family members. I wish Griz the best and a quick recovery.

[grizmom]

Thanks everyone...I think she's going to be fine I did what the lady told me, I got some of the stronger hairball medicine, and went to the pet store and they gave me samples of three different foods that are for senior cats and have better ingredients and are easier on their stomachs. She had some hairball medicine last night and this morning, and I took her food away for 24 hours. (She kept waking me up last night by pawing at my face and licking my hand...I know she was hungry; I felt so bad for her!) So then this morning I gave her a small amount of her new food mixed with a little of her old food, and she hasn't thrown up since yesterday morning!! (I put a few bites of each of the sample foods on 3 different plates, and she likes the Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Senior Hairball Formula) So on Monday my mom is giving me a ride back to the pet store so I can buy a full bag of the food that Grizabella picked out. I am still worried, but it does look like she is better now. Thanks again for the support!!!

[HereIamBp]

Thanks for the update. That's great news!!!

[Eloise42]

My parents have had cat problems you would not believe. If she is doing most normal things normally it is probably okay. We had a cat who seemed to cough up a hairball every single day for fifteen years.

That said, the health of your animal is not trivial to your mental health. There is a lot to be said for animal therapy. I can't tell you how many times I held it together just because another creature was dependant on me. If anything happened to my bird, my next stop would be in-patient.

I was raised in Cat-land and as a former citizen of of Cat-land I am telling you that at ten years you getting close to facing the mortality of your companion. Normally I am against "replacement pets" but you might think about hedging your bets and bringing home a kitten sometime in the near future. Hopefully you get another five years with your cat but just in case you will already have someone else you have bonded with and will be there for you when you need them.

[grizmom]

Originally Posted by Eloise42

I was raised in Cat-land and as a former citizen of of Cat-land I am telling you that at ten years you getting close to facing the mortality of your companion. Normally I am against "replacement pets" but you might think about hedging your bets and bringing home a kitten sometime in the near future. Hopefully you get another five years with your cat but just in case you will already have someone else you have bonded with and will be there for you when you need them.

I wish I could...I'm only allowed one pet in my apartment building. If I could have 2, I would have brought home the little orange farm cat that lives on my family's farm. He is adorable; he is light orange with dark orange circles on his sides (almost like bulls-eyes) and he has orange eyes. He is SO friendly; he just loves to sit in my lap when I visit and go outside for a cigarette and he has a loud purr. He would be a great indoor cat...I worry about him living on the farm because they live such short lives (usually get run over within a couple of years). I know that indoor cats can live up to 20 years, and this is the first time that Grizabella has ever been sick with anything besides the ear mites when I first got her, so I'm praying that she will live for several more years. As you said about your bird, when Griz is gone, I will also probably need to go inpatient. But since she seems to be feeling better, I'm feeling more positive again about her living a long life.

[musikcrazy]

I am so glad your kitty is feeling better! I have two cats and they are my babies. I will say prayers for your kitty for a long and healthy life.