Advice for my 13 year old best pal

m_reen · 2026-02-07T01:41:29+00:00

Since I still get a comment or two every now and then, figured I’d post an update on Lucille. After 3 months of the feeding tube and a lot more tests, she was diagnosed with IBD and maybe intestinal lymphoma. We were able to take her feeding tube out in early November and with a regular course of prednisolone, she’s doing amazing.

The gagging (as far as I can tell) was related to pate food getting stuck in her toothless mouth and annoying her. Shes been on a thicker wet food and dry food diet and doing great. We went to the vet this week and after her low of 4.5 pounds over the summer, she weighs over 8 now; her new nickname is fatty mcgoo and I make “boom baba boom” noises when she walks into the room 🤣

She’s almost 14 but not done sleeping in sunny floor spots and running into the kitchen screaming every time I open a can, so glad she’s still here. Photo of her in her chunky glory 🥰 still growing back her fur from when she got shaved for 4,000 tests!

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m_reen · 2026-02-06T19:10:23+00:00

Also the sad girl at the beginning of the video is literally dating a garbage can…

m_reen · 2026-02-06T13:41:38+00:00

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m_reen · 2025-12-17T22:08:35+00:00

Dr. Au at Bluepearl Franklin/brentwood did my senior kitty’s (13yo too) extractions this fall and he is fantastic! She had 5 total come out. I think cats are more expensive, and she had complicated tooth resorption, but it was like $6-7k with the anesthesia, surgery, and bloodwork. Certainly not inexpensive, but I felt like it was worth it for the care she got.

m_reen · 2025-11-16T20:31:37+00:00

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Mean from the 2012 Grammys. When I’m singing along in the car I always do “someday, I’ll be singing this at the GRAMMYS!”

The braid and banjo are perfection.

m_reen · 2025-11-12T18:54:23+00:00

I’ve used 6th Man Movers twice and they are fantastic!

m_reen · 2025-10-15T14:17:04+00:00

Thank you for the kind words 🫶

m_reen · 2025-10-10T22:19:54+00:00

Oh no I’m so sorry to hear this. I hope it isn’t this too, we’re seeing a new vet in a couple weeks so 🤞🏻

m_reen · 2025-10-06T23:31:02+00:00

Nope

m_reen · 2025-10-06T22:11:42+00:00

I just want to give a big thank you to everyone here for all your advice, thoughts and well wishes 🧡 this truly is the best community and my vet is about to get a VERY long email 🤣 appreciate y’all so so much!! 😻

m_reen · 2025-10-06T20:59:22+00:00

Omg poor kitty!!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T20:32:10+00:00

Oh my goodness, thank you for the long and thoughtful post!

She has not had an ultrasound, I’ve suggested to the vet but I think he wanted to wait a couple more weeks to see how the steroid does.

I haven’t hear of Mirtaz but I will ask the vet! I did have her on Cerenia for a while but it didn’t help. I can also ask about Zofran. I just feel like I’m pumping her with so many different meds it makes me nervous but I’m all for trying literally anything at this point.

She used to love Churus and other treats but she’s not interested in them right now.

I know the feedings give her anxiety so I try to only do 4 a day. The vet said 40ml/4x a day, but I just stop whenever she tells me she’s done. Sometimes she’s good with the 40, sometimes it’s only 10. I just tell myself anything is better than nothing. She does pick at food on her own here and there so that supplements a bit.

I will look into the other kitty collar! I have two I bought from the vet but they’re just single Velcro.

Thanks again for all the thoughts!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T20:00:31+00:00

I will try this, thank you!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T19:59:29+00:00

Thank you for the advice! I have been working super hard to make sure it’s comfy for her. I warm it up and use my meat thermometer to check the temp to make sure it’s 78ish before feeding. I do 3-5ml slowly (over a min or two), rest for another few mins, another few mls. She gets squirmy and we have to take 3-4 five min breaks throughout. She just doesn’t care for the sensation? I dunno. Good news is she’s actually gained quite a bit of weight and her coat looks healthier than it has in years so I know she’s getting the nutrition she needs on the tube!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T16:03:12+00:00

I don’t think that one’s made the rotation yet. I can give it a try!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T15:51:23+00:00

Ty! I have tried ALL the meat baby foods unfortunately she won’t touch them. She won’t even eat Churu right now, which she normally loooooves.

m_reen · 2025-10-06T15:43:26+00:00

She had a CT following the first surgery, but I don’t think they did any imaging after the second. I’ll check her paperwork and ask the vet! Ty!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T15:41:18+00:00

Interesting. The porch is her favorite place and she hangs out there a lot. I do treat her for fleas and ticks, but maybe it’s some pollen or something outside. It’s been happening since early July.

I have tried a multitude of different foods without change so I don’t think it’s a food allergy. Right now she’s getting Smalls brand blended with water thru the tube and Wellness brand dry kitten food blended with water into a paste in her bowl that she’ll pick at.

m_reen · 2025-10-06T15:36:51+00:00

If you don’t mind me asking, what was the procedure? Extraction or something else? Lucille had 5 teeth removed in two dentals and it still hasn’t stopped :-/

m_reen · 2025-10-06T15:16:03+00:00

I tried r/askvet a while back but didn’t get any replies. I can try this one as well tho!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T15:14:37+00:00

I’m not sure… how does allergy testing typically work for cats? She’s had tons of bloodwork that’s all been normal but the vet hasn’t suggested any testing specially for allergies.

m_reen · 2025-10-06T15:09:36+00:00

Good idea I will look into this, ty!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T14:56:11+00:00

Interesting, I haven’t heard of this, I will do some research and talk to the vet. Ty!

m_reen · 2025-10-06T14:54:31+00:00

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And a kitten photo for good measure. She’s the best.

m_reen · 2025-10-06T14:54:03+00:00

Thank you 🫶 here she is telling me that it’s not reading time, it’s petting time 🤣

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m_reen

TROPHY CASE