Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [16]
“I get a lot of joy out of being able to help that animal do really well throughout the rest of its geriatric life,” says Dr. Beebe. She says that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes acupuncture and herbs, offers wonderful advantages for treatment of chronic diseases because there are so few side effects. “The animal does so well that lots of people tell me it’s hard to believe they’re that old or that they have cancer or kidney failure,” she says. When holistic treatment is combined with mainstream Western medicine, she says the cat is more likely to remain vital and enjoy life up until the very end—rather than experiencing a traumatic decline with intermittent hospitalizations. “My clients want to try everything they can to have a good quality of life for their animal. And when they can no longer have that good quality of life, then it’s time for that animal to pass on.”
A whole host of emotional issues confronts the owner who chooses euthanasia of an aged cat, says Dr. Little. “Sometimes they’re living alone, their spouse may have died, their kids may be in another city, and they stay in an apartment with an elderly cat. And then the cat dies. And they’re alone. That’s a huge social issue.”
We know that our cats won’t live forever. But we can take comfort in also knowing our cats don’t fear death, and don’t worry about tomorrow. Cats live in the “now.” And that frees them to greet you each day with joyful, purring abandon.
Witnessing that freedom teaches us great lessons. “If you choose to treat an animal for cancer, you see them die with a lot of dignity and tremendous grace,” says Dr. Kitchell. “Death is a process. And you see an animal go through that process. They say I love you. But it’s time for me to go. You see them get themselves ready,” she says. “It’s so beautiful to watch, and it’s so beautiful to be with them, and there’s so much peace at the end that it’s a lovely thing.”
Four out of ten dogs and cats are aged seven years and older. This aging population constitutes more than 50 percent of patients seen by veterinarians—about 45 million pets, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association and others. The numbers will climb as loving cat owners continue to provide the best care possible for their aging companions.
Golden Moments: Loving Hershey
Linda Parker of Pittsburgh went looking for a kitten at the local pound. “At the time we were very poor, living on one income, and my first husband was going through college,” she says. She thought a cat would be less expensive, and also they wouldn’t need a kennel if they went away on weekends. “We got Hershey. She’s a chocolate brown Burmese and she’s gorgeous.” All the other kittens seemed ordinary next to Hershey. “I felt pretty fortunate to find her. We brought her home, and still haven’t gotten used to her incessant talking 16 years later,” says Linda. “She needs to be talking. If she’s awake, you know it because she’s talking to you.”
When Hershey was adopted at 6 months of age, Linda had a one-year-old baby. “I’ve since had three more children, other pets, and she’s been through two husbands, five moves, and various and sundry things, and doesn’t seem daunted by it. She’s more like a family member than a pet.”
Hershey has always been a lap cat, and wants to be near people or at least in the same room. She recently celebrated her 16th birthday, and has never had any health problems. Hershey isn’t picky about her food, but does insist on cool (not warm) water, with no floating hairs, if you please. She even has a special meow-demand when the water has run out. “She’s very purposeful about that,” says Linda.
Hershey visits the veterinarian once a year for routine vaccinations, and Linda says they’re always amazed by her age. She did not have any gray hair until recently, and now has only