NCEPR - Cat people (and pet people) - Question

[AJL]

So last night we kind of figured out that DH's cat has asthma. This is the same cat that a year ago had severe pancreatitis. He was in hospital for a week with fluids and meds and push feedings, etc. He recovered great but now he's a bit tubby and, yep, wheezy. DH did some research on treatment for asthmatic kitties.

*sigh* So the diagnostics can run about $700-$800. Then...THEN...if he does have asthma, he'll be prescribed a rescue inhaler for a cat (but the same stuff that humans take, except with a special attachment to go over kitty's muzzle.) He'd likely also be put on prednisone which carries a risk of developing diabetes and cancer. Total medication costs can be about $100/month.

Between both cats being super sick last fall, we spent almost $5000. We are NOT in a place to spend another $800-$1000 this fall. We're just not.

DH's kitty is 15.5 years old. He eats and drinks just fine and is active, but asthma is apparently quite dangerous for cats and they need medication. I feel like a total dick that I'm not just jumping up and saying, "YES! Get him the best treatment possible." Pet lovers here probably think I'm an asshole, but what's the cut off of how much money you'll spend that you don't have to help an ailing pet? Ugh.

What would you do?

[Deleted]

I'm an owner of two senior cats, one of which we got at age 16 with the understanding from his previous owners that no heroic measures would be taken.

So I would do nothing, assuming that the cat was generally living a reasonably pleasant and pain-free life. This cat is going to die of something within a few years. I wouldn't throw all the money in the world at it. I'm kind of a heartless bitch that way. I do care for my animals, I swear.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Am I correct in assuming you don't actually know kitty has asthma?

I'd that's the case I'd just koko until kitty seems bothered.

[savan]

I'm a huge cat lover.  We dropped $4k this summer for one of our cats to have ACL repair surgery. In your case, as long as your kitty still seems to have a good quality of life, I would do nothing. If your cat was 10 I'd think differently but not at 15.5

[omgzombies]

I wouldn't do anything apart from maybe making an extra effort to get his weight under control. That may help with the wheezing too.

[Deleted]

Nov 6, 2015 14:42:00 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

I wouldn't do anything apart from maybe making an extra effort to get his weight under control. That may help with the wheezing too.

This is something we have done - we have one fatty and one skinny. We've increased the quality and amount of wet (vs. dry) that they get. It seems to be befitting both. The Costco Nature's Domain cat kibble is really good quality for not a horrible cost. And then we buy boutique wet food that is a horrible cost. 

[AJL]

Nov 6, 2015 14:39:09 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Am I correct in assuming you don't actually know kitty has asthma?

I'd that's the case I'd just koko until kitty seems bothered.

Correct. We don't officially know. 

[CallingAllAngels]

Nov 6, 2015 14:40:37 GMT -5 savan said:

I'm a huge cat lover.  We dropped $4k this summer for one of our cats to have ACL repair surgery. In your case, as long as your kitty still seems to have a good quality of life, I would do nothing. If your cat was 10 I'd think differently but not at 15.5

I agree with this.  If the cat is uncomfortable, I would see if a vet would give you the inhaler without the $700 in diagnostic tests.  

[kittycatlove]

At 15.5 I'm not sure I would do anything. I know it's tough decision.

[ajj]

I would take him to the vet and discuss the symptoms, age and the issue of cost. In my experience the vet has been very understanding and will recommend things that may help that will fit your budget and take the age into consideration.

[pixy0stix]

Nov 6, 2015 14:46:51 GMT -5 ajj said:

I would take him to the vet and discuss the symptoms, age and the issue of cost. In my experience the vet has been very understanding and will recommend things that may help that will fit your budget and take the age into consideration.

This.

Although at that age I wouldn't worry about the side effects of the prednisone. 

[Velvetshady]

It the cat a Siamese? Because that might change me answer since their normal life expectancy is in the 20s.

Otherwise, *I* would probably spend the money if it would improve the cat's quality of life. And I might see about getting the inhaler to use, but not the steroids and tests, and see how often the cat has attacks. If it's ~1 a month of less, I'd stick to that. But, as a total crazy cat lady that has spent ~$10K on two cats over 3 months once (and as an asthmatic), I would not judge anyone for just letting nature take its course in this situation.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Nov 6, 2015 14:44:09 GMT -5 AJL said:

Nov 6, 2015 14:39:09 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Am I correct in assuming you don't actually know kitty has asthma?

I'd that's the case I'd just koko until kitty seems bothered.

Correct. We don't officially know. 

That is honestly really important to me, including his age. I have a 12-year old cat that occasionally gets a little wheezy. She's not bothered by it, chipper as a kitten, and only really happens in the spring and fall... So we think she has some seasonal allergies.

If you knew for sure kitty had asthma and then did nothing, I'd think differently. I'd also probably see if the vet can give you an inhaler to try out and see if it helps.

I know humans and cats are different, but my SIL is a pulmonologist, and she gave me an inhaler script to help determine if I had asthma or vocal chord dysfunction. She said that if the inhaler did nothing, the chances of it being asthma were slim to none and thus no real need to go to the doctor.

[pixy0stix]

We have one cat that develops asthma when she's fat. We keep her trim and haven't had any issues.

[AJL]

Nov 6, 2015 14:54:48 GMT -5 Velvetshady said:

It the cat a Siamese? Because that might change me answer since their normal life expectancy is in the 20s.

Otherwise, *I* would probably spend the money if it would improve the cat's quality of life. And I might see about getting the inhaler to use, but not the steroids and tests, and see how often the cat has attacks. If it's ~1 a month of less, I'd stick to that. But, as a total crazy cat lady that has spent ~$10K on two cats over 3 months once (and as an asthmatic), I would not judge anyone for just letting nature take its course in this situation.

No. He's an American short hair mutt. 

[AJL]

Nov 6, 2015 15:00:23 GMT -5 @licia said:

Ok.

I have an asthma kitty.

We did not go through the crazy diagnostics. He had 1 x-ray that showed some of what the vet was looking for, responded well to steroids, so asthma it is!

We do not have an inhaler, and he is not on daily prednisone. What we did was a hefty prednisone taper after diagnosis. I think he was taking 4 pills a day to begin, then back down to 3, etc.

After that, we stopped prednisone completely, until we notice his sides are sucking in/a cough with no furball production. Then, we give him 1 a day until the symptoms subside.

I doubt, unless his case is really bad (and it probably isn't, because your kitty is an old man), you'd need a aerokat or anything like that. Those are usually for pretty advanced cases that can fully restrict a cat's airway. Feline asthma is actually really manageable. The medication cost is minimal, so I wouldn't shy away from that.

Thanks for sharing your experience!  Apparently Dr. Goolge DVM is as much of a fear monger as Dr. Google. 

[aurora]

I would absolutely consider cost when deciding on diagnosis and treatment options for an elderly pet.

And honestly, it's easy for me to say now as a healthy 30-something, but I'd also consider treatment costs for myself near the end of life. If I'm in a bad accident now with a high treatment cost, I don't know that I'd put a limit on spending to get back to a full quality of life. When I'm 95, I think I will feel differently.

[BeagleMama]

Nov 6, 2015 14:34:28 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I'm an owner of two senior cats, one of which we got at age 16 with the understanding from his previous owners that no heroic measures would be taken.

So I would do nothing, assuming that the cat was generally living a reasonably pleasant and pain-free life. This cat is going to die of something within a few years. I wouldn't throw all the money in the world at it. I'm kind of a heartless bitch that way. I do care for my animals, I swear.

As the owner of an 18 year old tabby, I agree!

[Deleted]

Great. Worst pet owner ever here. We have one cat that fairly infrequently has an asthma attack and our vet was all breezy about it. Didn't offer up any treatment other than giving him Benadryl daily if we wanted, which we haven't since the attacks are so few and far between.

[Deleted]

Nov 6, 2015 15:53:55 GMT -5 @licia said:

Nov 6, 2015 15:49:48 GMT -5 @queequeg said:

Great. Worst pet owner ever here. We have one cat that fairly infrequently has an asthma attack and our vet was all breezy about it. Didn't offer up any treatment other than giving him Benadryl daily if we wanted, which we haven't since the attacks are so few and far between.

This was our cat. We thought he just had a furball every now and again, but we never found the furballs.

Then he went into distress and I honestly thought he was choking. The vet was like, "Ummm...no," and that's when prednisone became necessary. So, keep an eye out! It may stay the same, but it may get worse.

Thanks!  You've made me feel a bit better.  How long did your cat have infrequent attacks before it escalated?  Our cat has had them since he was a kitten;  he had a bad URI when he was kitten that I'm guessing instigated the whole thing.   He's 8 now and the attacks seem to have gotten more infrequent over time as he's aged.  

[katietornado]

Our cat has asthma. He's About 12 years old now. We are those people who act like pets are children, and we did spend $5000 a few years ago to save his life after he was attacked by a dog.

BUT.

We aren't treating his asthma. He seems fine, albeit occasionally wheezy.

If the cat seems otherwise comfortable, I would KOKO.

The only place this gets blurry is when asthma symptoms could be masking something else. Breathing difficulties (I've learned this week after a scare with this cat) are part for the course in congestive heart failure (which is treatable).

[ksun]

Prednisolone is not that expensive, if you're concerned about cost. My IBD kitty has been on it for 2+ years. He's 12 and now has small cell lymphoma most likely as a result of the extended prednisolone use, but that's after 2 years. Just make sure to order it from a place like Diamondback Drugs, etc, that does compounding. Getting it from Walgreens WILL cost about $700.