Maya is nearly fourteen years old, and in the past months she’s started to show signs of disease. I suspected kidney disease as she began to lose weight and interest in food and was wasting away. She was down to skin and bones and weighed less than six pounds. So off we went to the vet for an exam and blood work. Turns out not only does she have kidney disease, but she has hyperthyroidism too. Not wanting to leave her at the vet hospital, we started with sub-cutaneous fluids and an appetite stimulant to see if we could get her interested in eating again. In addition, the vet supplied a thyroid diet for her. Well, the sub-Q fluids and appetite stimulant did their job and she started showing an interest in food again, just NOT the thyroid diet. So, not one to give up, we bought her canned cat food (the kind that comes in the tiny cans), and gave that a go. She loved it and began to eat (like a boss), and has put on weight. After a couple of weeks of this, I reported in to the vet, and we started Phase II: once daily thyroid meds. Luckily, these come in a fishy-flavored chew which she finds quite the treat, so I don’t have to subject Maya to getting ‘pilled’ daily. In a week or so, I’ll take her back for blood tests to see how she’s doing.
So, for now, she’s holding on. She’s still affectionate, and is not isolating herself. I know that when the time comes, she’ll let us know. For now, however, she’s not just hanging on, she’s doing pretty well.
Carissa Snedeker Photography 
I’m keeping everything crossed for your beautiful Maya. She’s gorgeous and I still miss my old cat Deebo and the others we were fortunate enough to share our lives with.
Glad to hear you’re offering her a fighting chance.
Enjoy her is all I can say.
Sending healing thoughts
Bob x
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Thanks so much, Bob. As I said, she still very much wants to be with us, and for that I am very grateful.
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They are so intelligent and so comforting to have around. I’ll be thinking of you guys x
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That worked for us for a long while, but we’re still not sure if we helped ourselves or her. We hope both, but it’s difficult to gauge discomfort in cats. Hopefully, you can enjoy her company for a good while longer (and she yours). Kitty, our last cat, lasted almost 20 years. In her last year, we had to give her subcutaneous injections every few days.
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We did the sub-qs before with another kitty a number of years back, so we know what to be on the lookout for. She tolerates the treatments, so far. If she did not, we wouldn’t do them. Brad and I had a long conversation about it. If she starts to isolate, or is no longer able to negotiate the furniture, we’ll have another one, I’m sure. Thanks for your good wishes.
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We are going through the same thing with our sixteen year old cat. Fluids every other day now, and 6 pills a day for her various ailments (high blood pressure, gall bladder, kidney, glaucoma, tumor…), poor baby. She won’t eat any of her special foods anymore, but loves things that are bad for kidneys because they’re so high in protein, like baby food and salmon. We figure she has a few weeks left, and she can have whatever she wants at this point. She is still amazingly active–purrs and hangs around for lap time. We waited a couple of weeks too long to euthanize our senior cat we had before her, so we will be more watchful this time. Best wishes to you and your beautiful Maya! –L (with E)
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Thank you so much. I completely understand the “give them whatever makes them happy” diet. That’s where we are too.
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Carissa, it’s always hard when a beloved pet becomes ill! Maya is such a beauty and I’m glad she has you looking after her. If it’s any consolation, kidney and thyroid disease are the two most common illnesses in mature cats but they can be treated really well keeping your cat happy and well for a long time! I knew a cat that lived on for about six years with both conditions. She was 23yrs old when she passed which is a grand old age for any cat! It’s good that Maya’s taking the treatment chews well 🙂
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Wow…23? That is amazing! Yes, I understand the balancing act we are doing and keeping my fingers crossed!
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Yeah, she was an amazing cat! It sounds quite positive with the start you’ve had with Maya. We all need a bit more care and attention as we get older, human or animal!
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So sorry to hear about Maya’s troubles, it is heartbreaking when a beloved fur child becomes old and ill. We had to say goodbye to our darling Patchouli this last December, we are all still heartbroken. You are completely right though when you say you’ll know when she’s ready to return to spirit but for now it sounds like that is not going to happen any time soon and she’s doing just fine, yay for Maya! Lovely image BTW
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Thank you!
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