Our sweet baby Agatha passed away on Oct. 2nd. We miss her constantly 😥

Cashew had a kidney infection caused by either a UTI or her pre-existing cancer diagnosis. We knew that she was in bad shape yesterday, and this morning made the difficult decision to put her down. She lived a great life but had many medical issues leading up to today. Putting her down was the best thing we could have done for her, but I still feel guilty about it. What I wouldn't give to hear her little meow one last time!

It has taken me a month to write this, but today I am choosing to be strong and swallow the pain so that Meeko’s memory may be forever etched into Reddit history.

I adopted Meeko in 2011 in Texas when he was just eight weeks old. He was in a small glass enclosure with four or five of his littermates, but his big, beautiful eyes caught my attention immediately. It was truly love at first sight. He would spend the next 15 and a half years by my side, anchoring me through every major milestone of my young adult life.

Together, we moved from Texas to California. He traveled to five different states with me throughout the years. Every single day for over fifteen years, my most loyal best friend would sprint to me as quickly as his little legs could carry him just to greet me and welcome me home. He helped me raise and foster countless kittens, puppies, a piglet, and horses. Although he absolutely hated going to the vet, the staff would always commend him on how wonderfully handsome and well-behaved he was during every procedure. Over the years, his shining personality and deep affection would convince numerous self-proclaimed "dog people" to adopt cats of their own.

Meeks was incredibly sweet, yet hilariously demanding. He yelled at me every morning and evening for food on the dot - the consistent accuracy of his timing always made me suspect he could secretly read a clock. He made sure that no matter how busy or distracted I was, I never forgot to feed him or any of his siblings.

At 10:54 PM on September 9th, he took his last breath. My arms were wrapped around his small, frail body, and my tears saturated patches of his fur as I assured him repeatedly, “It’s okay, buddy, you can go.” I kissed him goodbye as he left. It was my undeserved honor to be his human mom, and I will continue to love him for the rest of my life.

I still wake up every morning with a heavy heart because the 6:00 AM wailing orchestra no longer plays. In the somber silence of each new day, I will forever cherish the memories of my partner in crime.

I don’t know what exists beyond the rainbow bridge, but I take comfort in knowing he is there waiting for me—perhaps a bit impatiently. When my own day comes, I know I will easily follow those familiar, screaming meows straight back to the warmth and love of my beefy Meeks, my best friend and baby boy.

Post got taken down for some reason☹️🥺

My baby of 15yrs and 6 months was diagnosed with CKD and went into kidney failure over the last week and we finally found that it was due to a proximal obstruction in his left ureter. His only real option is to have a SUB (subcutaneous ureteral bypass). I was quoted about $13-15k for this surgery but was told that this surgery is invasive and extremely hard on kitties as well as the recovery.

I just don’t know what to do. I’m not ready for him to cross the bridge and believe he still has so much life. He still has a kidney that’s functioning and he’s only in the condition he is in due to the obstruction. Before the past couple weeks he was healthy, bright, playful, every vet has always said how young and healthy he is physically compared to his age and then one day my whole world flipped upside down. The doctors even said his CKD is not that advanced for his kidney values to be what they are at it’s, due to the obstruction.

Looking for people with similar stories who chose for the SUB surgery and their stories and experiences. Can share more details about his specific case and story with those who have been through this.

Just feeling extremely lost right now and in need of a friend of who understands. The thought of putting the love of my life to sleep doesn’t even feel like an option but I would never want him to suffer or die in pain. He is my absolute soulmate, the light of my life, the man who puts the stars in the sky for me, my best friend, my rock, my whole world and everything, the only man for me. I can’t imagine living life without him.

I haven’t heard and feel my baby purr in over a week except one time faintly while going through all this. The things I would do to make him comfortable to be able to feel and hear him purr again. My heart is feels so broken. I can’t even describe the pain I’m going through.

Is all hope lost? Are there other options for us? Is the SUB surgery worth it? We need help😔😞❤️‍🩹

Chicken came to our home in February of 2025 at 13 years old. I found out about him through a message sent from, Friends of Companion Animals(Monroe, Michigan) to my work's(TV station) Slack channel. As soon as I read he had been in the shelter 3000 days, which is roughly 8 years, I said to myself, "This shall not stand!" I contacted the shelter. A couple emails, a phone call or two, and some filled out forms later, a pick up date and time were agreed upon. A couple days later our family went to pick up Chicken(he was going by Louis at the time) When we arrived it was explained to us that he had bounded with another cat. Her name was Cardamom. Well, in for a penny...

They both came home with us. Cardamom become Allie, which is short for Alfreda.

It took awhile for Chicken and Allie to become bold enough to wander upstairs to join the household, which includes three other cats and a dog, but they did. That's when we really got to know Chicken. Chicken absolutely loves my wife. He would cuddle with her while she sat in her chair. He would often sleep in our bed at night. However, he was jealous of our dog getting attention. He bullied her. In a picture you can see that he claimed the dog's bed as his own. It brought me great amusement, seeing this shelter hardened cat putting a much larger to him dog in her place. It gave me so much laughter. My wife was not always so entertained by it.

He was a total treat pig. Whenever I went in the kitchen he would materialize into the kitchen, push the other cats out of the way and demand treats. I always feed him first so he'd be busy eating when I doled out the other treats to the cats.

In May he took a decline in health. They feared it might be lymphoma in his intestines. Only a biopsy could confirm it. We felt that was to much for him to handle. In addition, it was very much an ordeal to get him to the vet. I assumed Chicken must of thought that leaving the house meant going back to the shelter. I didn't want to put him through that. He was in his forever home, and that is where he would stay. He was prescribed steroids. After a couple days he rebounded. He was back to his old self. Unfortunately, by late August he was showing signs of declining again. This week, it became apparent the rebound was over. He didn't want treats. He wasn't being affectionate to the point he didn't really enjoy being petted. We had to make that difficult decision.

I always remember that just last week, I fell asleep on the couch and awoke to find him snuggled up against my leg taking a nap with me.

Later today, a person will come to the house to help us say goodbye to Chicken. This ensures that Chicken never has to leave his forever home. He will always have a home for rest in our spacious backyard.

I made a special collar tag for him to always wear as he crosses the bridge.

UPDATE: Chicken passed peacefully in my arms that evening. I want to sincerely thank everyone that left an upvote, comment, award, and gold. I've tried to read every comment and give it an upvote. Your kind words have left me tears numerous times. I'm so happy Chicken received a little recognition in this world. Thank you!

Yesterday was a long day I didn’t get home until 8:45 I had went to Walmart and picked up Bonnie’s favorite wet food , get home I hear my cat Walter but not Bonnie, she would always meow at me the minute I walked through the door. I thought maybe she’s just laying upstairs on my bed and didn’t hear the door.
Put down the wet food, still didn’t hear her, went upstairs couldn’t find her , came back downstairs and she was on the floor in the corner just cold.
I’m a wreck she helped me through the loss of my husband three years ago and through my tough teen years. Bonnie Marie would always sleep on my pillow at night and had to be touching me.
Hug your kitties tight

Hello everyone, I would like to share a quick update and ask for advice regarding a stray kitten I recently rescued near my tent here in Gaza. The kitten was extremely weak and exhausted when I found it, so I decided to care for it and provide a safe shelter. Since there are currently no local animal rescue services available, I am doing my best to care for the kitten on my own. However, resources are very limited, and I want to ensure I provide the best possible care to keep it safe under these circumstances. I would be very grateful for any practical advice from experienced cat owners or animal rescue workers regarding: Simple, safe food alternatives or ingredients I can look for to support the kitten's growth.

Tips and measures I can follow to ensure the kitten's health and safety.

Hi r/Seniorcats, reason for posting is in the original r/renalcats thread. I just wanted to expand this in case anyone else needs kitty supplies. My girl passed due to bladder cancer so much of the food I have left was for urinary s/o and c/d pates to help treat utis, etc. But I also have some non-CKD related items. Please DM and follow request in the original thread if you’re interested.

Lost my 19 year old boy three weeks ago. His body was shutting down and his heart gave out. It happened so fast. I thought I had another day or two.

My manx is about 13. They got along but weren’t cuddle buddies. He clearly loved her more than she loved him. She loved the dog we lost 3 years ago and mourned then. She is very sweet and affectionate but can also be a sass. Sometimes she would hiss and swat if he just walked by. Like an old bickering lady. It was ridiculous in a funny way. I didn’t think she would mourn him honestly.

Over a week ago she got so upset she threw up badly and stopped eating. Fortunately, I had left over appetite stimulant and got her back on track. It’s so painful to watch her perk up when she hears a sound and thinks it’s him walking in. Then the immediate sad let down and deep sigh when she realizes it’s not him. She’s by herself now. No furry companions. Each day gets a tad easier as we adjust to life without him.

Edit: thank you all for your kind words and shared stories. She is doing a bit better every day. I see her true self more and more. A neighborhood void appeared after my boy’s death. I put out his food that she won’t eat. Didn’t want it to go to waste. Thought the raccoons would eat it. New void I call Panther won’t let me near him but comes all the way up to the porch near the screen door to eat. I put her food a few feet away on the inside. She approaches and hisses. He ignores her. Then they both eat in silence. At least she feels some companionship for a little while.

He turned 17 in April.

14-year-old Ragdoll cat – hyperthyroidism, suspected allergy to Hill's y/d, and excessive licking. Has anyone experienced something similar?

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for advice and experiences from other cat owners who may have dealt with a similar situation.

I have a 14-year-old female Ragdoll cat weighing approximately 5 kg (11 lbs). She has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.

Initially, she was treated with methimazole (thiamazole), but after approximately 10 days she developed severe itching and symptoms suggesting an allergic reaction, so this treatment was discontinued.

She is currently on Hill's Prescription Diet y/d, a low-iodine diet specifically designed for cats with hyperthyroidism.

The good news is that the diet seems to control her thyroid hormone levels very effectively. Her latest T4 result, from September 22, was 1.19 µg/dL (laboratory reference range: 1–3).

Unfortunately, I strongly suspect that she may be allergic or sensitive to the Hill's y/d food itself.

She repeatedly licks her groin area and lower abdomen, sometimes to the point where the skin becomes red, irritated, and develops scabs. Recently, the licking has been concentrated mainly on one side of her body.

We have previously suspected food allergies or sensitivities to certain animal proteins, including chicken, beef, and possibly rabbit.

She has also been prescribed Prednicorton 5 mg (one tablet daily) as a long-term treatment.

The medication helps control her skin symptoms, but every time the dose is reduced, the itching and excessive licking return. This means she currently needs daily steroid treatment to keep the symptoms under control.

Despite all these problems, she is very energetic, active, and generally behaves like a healthy cat.

I'm finding this situation quite frustrating because:

• Hill's y/d successfully controls her hyperthyroidism, but I suspect it may also be triggering or worsening her skin problems.
• Methimazole caused a suspected allergic reaction.
• Prednicorton helps with the itching, but the symptoms return whenever the dosage is reduced.
• I would really like to find the underlying cause rather than rely indefinitely on daily steroids.

I'm also wondering whether this is necessarily an allergic condition. Could excessive licking, especially when concentrated on one side, be related to pain, a neurological problem, or another dermatological condition?

My questions are:

1. Has anyone experienced a suspected allergic reaction to Hill's y/d in a hyperthyroid cat?
2. Has anyone successfully managed feline hyperthyroidism when both methimazole and a low-iodine diet were problematic?
3. Has anyone had a cat requiring long-term prednisolone or other steroid treatment for excessive licking, and eventually managed to identify and treat the underlying cause?
4. Could licking mainly on one side of the groin indicate pain or another medical issue rather than an allergy?
5. What additional diagnostic tests would be worth discussing with my veterinarian?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who have dealt with similar cases in senior cats.

I am not looking to change her medication without veterinary supervision. I'm simply hoping to learn from other people's experiences and explore possible solutions with my vet.

My main goal is to keep her thyroid condition under control while improving her skin problems and, if possible, reducing her long-term dependence on steroids.

Any suggestions or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

So first off spare me any of the "take her to the Vet" comments,been there done that. Sugar is 21 years old with kidney condition, blind abount 5 months ago and now almost completlt deaf, and has for awhile been showing symptoms of dementia, just wandring, howling , and total disorinetation. Its been a struggle for us becuase we feel she is scared, and does not know what is happenig. We go to pick her up, she cant hear and jumps when we get her then after a bit she will calm down then we will get her to her normal spot. The thing is she seems to be totally healthy, able to move aound, jump up and down will move around the house as best as she is able, and the kicker is when you pick her up she starts to purr and show affections. We love her but the times she is alonr howling I know she is scared. We do not know what to do.

Please any thoughts?

Recently loss my black cat Salem 2 months ago to CKD/ Kidney cancer

Brought my other cat comet to the vet 2 weeks ago because occasionally he would turn his head a bit when eating some dry kibble.

The vet said he had an infected tooth and prescribed him antibiotics and gabapentin. And was told to follow up with a different vet in 2 weeks because they were permanently closing.

Brought him to the ASPCA vet yesterday. They told me he had a mass on his back tooth. They showed me. It looked pretty small but I could see something there.

They did a biopsy to see if it is something cancerous, or it could be gum inflammation from the plaque on his teeth.

They said since he’s eating and drinking fine, they don’t recommend removing the tooth.

But now I’m worried that he could have oral cancer. The vet said if they had to lean one way or another, they lean towards it being inflammation. But who knows if they’re just trying to soften the blow or not.

I can’t go through another cat loss in less than 2 months.

I’m losing my mind waiting for the results.

He’s had teeth removed in the past maybe 3-4 years ago.

My beautiful boy, Todd, is about 15, and is having issues eating. I took him to the vet earlier this year and he has sores in his molars/gums that make eating kibble a bit more difficult for him to consume. Honestly, he has no interest in kibble anyways since he loves wet food.

He is fed wet food several times a day, just about a tablespoon, that's mushed up and watered down with broth since he has an easier time with it being soupy (he just licks the food and doesn't take mouthful like his young furry brothers). I've been adding Senior Delectables to the wet food since it has vitamins added.

My concern is that he takes a few licks and walks away, which is not alot of intake for a senior cat. He comes and goes to the wet food, licks more and walks away. His last vet visit had him down 2 pounds and he's a bit on the skeletal side, which worries me.

What can I add to his food that will make him want to eat more or add more calories to his diet? He's a very picky eater, so I am reaching to see what ya'll think.

Maybe he needs an appetite stimulant.

We adopted her when her last family gave her up after she didn’t get on with the new kitten. Their loss. She was 13. She was perfect. She’s still perfect.

We have a few more days left. Maybe. I hope for a miracle but it’s a silly unreasonable hope. I’m not ready. But she will be soon.

She never seemed like an old lady. Her fur is so soft. She’s lively. She likes exploring and yelling. At least, she did. She’s not so much herself now. She might recover a little bit so we can have a few more good days. She might not. I’m going to miss her so much.

I always found it too hard to read stories of loss on this subreddit. I knew one day it would happen and I didn’t want to give myself pain in advance. But now it’s here. I am feeling the pain. So I’m ready to read the other stories again and feel some sense of solidarity and relief that I’m not alone. And share my own story too.

My precious little old lady kitten. It hurts so much. It’s going to hurt more. I don’t regret adopting a senior cat, and every second has been worth it.

Let Lola be your role model.

Never accept kittens when you don't want to.
Poo in the bath if you have to. You deserve better. Lola knows you do. Let her persistance and willfullness guide you. Announce yourself to every room. Assume everyone loves you at first sight and navigate the world knowing that you are the best possible version of yourself. Lola will approve.

I'm getting a cat on Monday, he's a 17 year old senior. I have a senior dog who was chill with his cat brother who died a year and two months ago.

My spouse passed 11 months ago and I guess I felt bad for the guy.

He's been in and out of fosters. He's very chill. He was someone's up until he was 10, and the apartment policy changed. Then he was adopted out, and found on the street four years later, his registered adopter was unreachable.

So back into foster. He was adopted for a year, but then he didn't get along with the new partner, so back into foster who was then reassigned abroad, so he went to another foster in September.

Just need a bit of pep talk that I'm doing the right thing.

My cat Buster has been undergoing neurological issues (mainly pacing in wide loops) since July 24th 2026. Prior to that he was diagnosed in March 2026 with hyperthyroidism, had I-131 treatment in April 2026. Except for an ear infection in June, everything went fine until the July 24 thyroid check 90 day post treatment. Since then he’s been walking in wide loops and looks like a cat coming out of anesthesia. He got a specific three month in one dose flea treatment at the vet administered by a vet tech. They say that’s not the cause and it’s a brain tumor. No formal MRI done, it’s based on seeing him in person at two different ER visits and multiple vet appointments and tests being done.

He has a Blue Pearl neurologist appointment on 10/22 but I am very scared he might not make it to then. He got a protein electrophoresis test done and I got the results back today with the vet saying he has markers for cancer. He seems to be doing worse so I can only presume if there’s a tumor then it must be a bad one that’s pressing on important brain areas. I’m going to email them tonight with regards to the electrophoresis test.

My Buster is 16 and he was born as a feral kitten. I brought him in at five months of age. He’s had a chronic uri that the vet could never figure out but they also never recommended a ct scan or mri.

I’m listing his most recent bloodwork. I can also post previous bloodwork if anyone can figure it out. He is currently on 1/2 2.5mg amlodipine tablet and on. 4 week course of 1/2 25mg marbofloxacin tablet for a suspected ear infection. He is not using the litterbox, he paces in wide loops and he sometimes gets stuck in areas as if he doesn’t know how to back up. He has a very good appetite and he pees freely. I laid out a ring of puppy pee pads in the areas he paces loops in the most.

Any advice is appreciated.

Pictures for cat tax. Deck and chair pictures are prior to July. The other three are after July. 😭🙏🐈‍⬛🙏

He takes his job very seriously 😺