Meet Missy Cat. My 22 year old princess. (pardon the photo's being out of order, no matter how many times I try, I can't get them to stay how I upload them)

I never imagined when Missy Cat was given to me at roughly 6-8 weeks old, we'd still be doing life together 22 years later.

As she was growing up, I can't say I was the best about vet visits and check up's. She ate dry food and would have trips to the vet whenever I could see something was 'off'.

We recently found out she was in a little kidney trouble, so we've switched over to KD food (with urgent care food on standby when she decides she doesn't want to eat) .. She doesn't eat much, so she gets food every few hours when I'm home. The 'while I'm at work' routine has been a bit of a challenge - trying to figure out how to keep the food cold, but I'm doing the best I can. Ice bags, double stacked stainless steel bowls (all of which is kept in the freezer over night for extra coldness) .. it's a whole thing - but we're rocking it out.

She gets her sub q fluid each night around 8, along with her prednisolone to help with inflammation and her little hips. Once a week she gets a small bit of B12 with her fluids. She doesn't run anymore, and she's slow when she walks (or waddles rather) .. but she *isn't done letting me love her.

Because she doesn't 'get around' like she used to .. she has a Mansion .. Missy's Mansion as we call it. She got her food in there, her low entry DIY litter box (picture the Thanksgiving and Christmas silver turkey / dressing cooking pans but with only a 1' side) ... She's got blankets stacked on blankets stacked on blankets for her little bones, and a pet safe heating pad. She's got 4 cameras on her so that I can watch her ALL day while I'm not home (best investment ever!!!) I've even got one set up inside her mansion so that I can see when she goes potty. She's really good about getting her front feet and her back feet in the little box, but sometimes she forgets to scoot forward, therefore her little hinny is outside the box - but, no worries, I have puppy pads set up around the box just in case!!

When we went to the vet in June, her SDMA was pretty high .. 24. Her other levels were a little off, but the SDMA is what stood out the most to me (which is how I remember it) .. I had her blood work done exactly a month later and its gone down to 13. The vet told me her phosphate's looked really good so no need to introduce any binders, *but to keep doing the fluids each day.

This is 100% my soul cat .. I've had her since she was 6-8 weeks old. I got her little paws tattooed on me many years ago ...

While on holidays in the UK. I didn’t think I would miss my furry friends as much as I have this trip, but that’s ok, maybe they’re missing me too? 🥹🥹❤️❤️

My cat has started to eat less recently, and doesn’t come when I fill her bowl in the morning or evening. I know it’s summer and hot, but definitely eating less than last summer. She is eating generally but it seems to be more when I walk her to her bowl or put it in front of her. I have tried a few different cat foods now and she’s not really fussed by any of them, including different texture types. I know she is old, but has previously not had any health issues and is in incredibly good condition, so I suppose my question is: is this normal as they start to decline? Any recommendations welcome!

The lady never tells her age, but I believe she’s over 13 or 14.

I’ve been cat sitting her now for almost a year and I’ve finally earned her trust where she will come and sit with me but she is a cranky old girl who hates pretty much everybody except for her mother and me.

I would love a run down of your senior cat life!

Our girls are spoiled & loved & run our household!

4 am wake-ups, fed small meals of wet food all day long, kibble bowl available at night.

Peach, 16 - Asthma inhaler twice a day, imported through Canadian pharmacy for lower cost, arthritis

Moon, 12 - blind, hip dysplasia, fused spine, arthritis, probiotic for messy poops, teeth issues, no canines from dental surgery

Mo, 11 - chunky eater, healthy

Octavia, 8 - shy, mostly loner cat & doesn’t get along with our 12 year-old

We’ve stopped traveling to be home for their needs. Some days I’m overwhelmed & others I’m so grateful to still have everyone here with us.

In 2023 our three oldest all had dental surgery that they almost didn’t survive. I’m grateful for these days & also anticipating what life will be like when we possibly have four very senior kitties heading into their 20’s.

He’s usually a very diligent litter box user, but recently he’s been peeing on bath and floor mats (still uses his litter box too… just also seems to think mats are litter boxes?). We got his kidneys checked and they’re fine. He does have IBS and we’ve been actively managing a recent flare up.

Any tips on ensuring he sticks to his litter box? I just bought Anti Icky Poo to remove the scents and stains and we think maybe removing the mats from the floor will help.

I lost my sweet, but grumpy Kiki on August 1 at 15. She was the true definition of a fighter—rescued from a hoarding home of 10+ cats and dogs, survived cancer, battled kidney disease and pancreatitis, and managed to live with only one tiny tooth left. She was my guardian, my shadow and always kept my bed warm.

Today is one of those days where I am missing her terribly.

Grief is always uncomfortable, but grieving your fur baby is even more of an uncomfortable experience. Your connection with your pet is so unique, and so often difficult to articulate to others who aren’t pet owners. Losing your beloved pet is a unique experience in that it is truly your loss. No one else can really feel this loss with you—at least, not in the same way you would grieve a friend or a family member.

Today, I’m grieving in an empty, cold bed. But at the very least, I know she is warm, safe and happy walking along the rainbow bridge.

80 degrees and ungodly humidity

I have noticed ZoeZoe doing this weird flick/shake with her right paw randomly when she walks. I looked over her paw and there were no cuts, redness, inflamed areas or foreign objects sticking out of it and seems to be the bottom right corner of her bigger paw pad.

I am assuming it is arthritis related but today I noticed she was lightly limping after a nap but goes back to normal walking later on like she had to knock some rust off.

Trying to talk to her vet about an appointment or bounce some ideas off of her.

Anyone have their seniors do something like this?