What a pretty kitty Where did the name come from? Thanks for the photos.

Cats can surprise you!

We have a cat Sheba (all black) that is almost 22 yrs old.
Back when she was 16 the vet said she didn't have long.
2 yrs ago, I was told she had severe cardiomyopathy, but she is still here! Sleeps with me every night for a while (I have pet stairs so she can get up and down from the bed). This weekend she went out into the yard to enjoy the 90 degree weather and a sun pool for a while. She takes no meds.

Her only "therapy" is one food treat a day--- she begs for and demands one shrimp at around 4pm.
I believe this "treat" has enabled her to live longer. Since we started, she has lost about 4 lbs, and now her skin hangs. She is still BIG, but not fat like before. There must be something in the shrimp..some nutrient she is craving (I buy frozen size 50-60 and get them when the buy one get one sale is on at Kroger's etc). Our other cats won't touch them. Taking them on vacation where we go in the boonies is quite an effort, BUT what we do for our felines! Our Vet is truly amazed! Sheba's blood work is always good, but she limps pretty badly and enjoys massages for her aching. If she gets really bad pain...I have prednisolone for those days. Usually only 5 days every other day is enough for her.

I have a picture of each of our cats in my photo album on my profile. Sheba is shown on the dock with my husband,on a sunny morning.

Friday looks regal and great, suzy!

I would definitely try subq fluids and give it some time for both of you to get used to the routine. Most cats are very tolerant of this procedure. You should see a real improvement in how she feels if she remains hydrated. I've known many that lived a couple of years, good years, despite failing kidneys. Wishing you the best. Hugs, Jules

I also have a 22 year old cat. We adopted her when she was about a year old, and was a frat house cat that got abandoned on the vets door, because she was incredibly ill, and no one in the frat house could pay for her tx. She had cardiomyopathy, infected ears, eyes, sinus, heinie sac and so on. it was touch and go for a 3 year period with her. She was best buddies with my old man cat. He died at 19 y/o and I thought she was gonna die with him. She grieved, and hid under beds, and refused to eat. I gave her sub q fluids, and got her through the week. We have since added 2 baby cats to the house, and she decided to momma them. Its been 3 years since we lost the old man cat, and the old lady is chasing babies, and having a grand old time. Not bad for a cat we expected to just give a graceful ending to, more than than 20 years ago. I have no illusions. I know at some point she will lay down, but till then, she is living the high life.

its so hard! I have walked a fair mile or two in those shoes.

We're still trying to work out the best way to do the fluids. Picabo is NOT cooperating. Last night was the worst - she really tried to get away while I had the needle in and was hissing and growling. We only managed about 50ccs.

The first night I had to stick her about 4 times before I got the hang of it. The next time I got the needle in pretty easily but I thought the fluids weren't warm enough. Last night I know the fluid was warm, and the needle went in fine, so I'm not sure what the problem was. Maybe I just didn't have it in quite the right spot.

I may try putting her up on the counter with some food while we do the fluids, but I'll have to get an IV pole (or make DH stand holding the bag up high!). I found some really good websites with photo illustrations and personal stories, so that I feel a little bit more like I know what I'm doing.

Picabo does seem to be feeling better with the additional fluids and has stopped vomiting.