Is one hour a day of exercise okay for the next week?

[Cocoa]

So my seventeen year old cat is very sick. She won’t eat unless I feed her and I have to constantly clean up after her because she won’t use the litter box. Because of this and taking her to the vet, and just spending time with her, I have been very busy. I’m really worried about her and want to spend as much time with her as possible. I was only able to spend an hour with the bunnies today. Is it okay to do this for the next week or so? I am going outside and checking on them, and giving them treats throughout the day.

[OnyxMoon]

I’m really sorry to hear about your cat, it is always so hard when we see our beloved animal friends get older and sicker. 

I’m sure the bunnies will be okay, you’re checking on them and giving them as much as you can now and that’s what matters. I would be doing the same thing, spending as much time as i can with the older pet and give them extra loves. Positive vibes all around. 

[kurottabun]

I think as long as you are not totally neglecting the bunnies’ wellbeing, a week or so should be alright. After all if they are under your care, it’s important to balance your time among other pets as well.

[Cocoa]

She is doing better today but we think it my be kidney failure. She has more energy today and has been meowing at me like she used to. She also bit me when I touched her paw so she’s feeling better. They are still getting some attention even though they need more but I still bring them treats and pet them throughout the day

[professorzap]

I’m so sorry to hear about your kitty not doing well, though gladdened to hear she’s doing some better. I recently lost Betty (my previous bunny) to kidney failure. I tried to be especially loving and attentive to her in her last few days until I finally decided to end her discomfort. My other two furbabies got less attention for those last few days, but I think that’s OK. Sometimes one needs that extra TLC, so if it’s for a short time, it should not be a big issue.

Sounds like you’re not sure it’s kidney failure…The only reason I know that was my bunny’s problem is because of blood tests over a few weeks. She would wax and wane, seeming like her normal self for a while and then being lethargic. As the disease progressed, there were more of the down times than good times, as well as other signs (not eating, peeing outside her litter box, etc.). However, when it comes to older cats, they can have many different urinary issues, as mine often gets UTIs and some have FLUTD. That can lead to many of the same behaviors (like mine recently stopped eating due to a UTI) and you probably wouldn’t know unless the cat is tested.

[Cocoa]

We did have blood work done but won’t get it back until tomorrow. She won’t eat her dry cat food and hasn’t pooped is three days. She pees right outside of her litter box and drinks a ton of water. She used to be 14 pounds and now she’s only 7

[Cocoa]

We’re hoping it’s something treatable and she’ll be okay though. I’m sorry to hear about you losing your bunny. They seem happy to be able to get that time even though it isn’t much thank you

[professorzap]

I’m so sorry to hear the specifics. From talking to some of my friends, it seems that older cats often go off their food for various reasons. I hope the blood work comes back with good news–something treatable (as you said).

[Cocoa]

She seems to have totally gotten back to her normal self. We think it might be her teeth. I don’t think they checked them and she is eating soft food just fine. I will probably be able to do two hours with the bunnies today since she’s feeling better so they will be happy. Thank you

[Cocoa]

The vet just called and it’s kidney failure

[professorzap]

I am so sorry Cocoa…I know how hard it is to hear such news and I am sending you positive energy.

[Cocoa]

Thank you. Today she seems to be feeling better. She ate almost an entire can of food on her own and meowed at me until I carried her to her favorite spot. She used to always sleep on this old bunk bed so I convinced my parents to let me bring it so she would feel like this is home. She can no longer climb up the ladder but today she decided she wanted to go up there again so I had to carry her. She loved people watching out the window from up there.

[professorzap]

Sounds like you are taking great care of her emotional needs. Is there anything they can do for her?

[Cocoa]

The sub q fluids that we will give her at home will prevent dehydration. There is some special food with medication in it that helps but most cats hate it. We will mix it in with her favorite food to get her to eat it. Neither of those will help completely and will only work for a few more weeks. She’s eating on her own and ate an entire can of food yesterday.

[Deleted User]

Way back when I was in high school we had a cat that was diagnosed with kidney failure, and they go downhill so quickly. I’m not trying to be mean, but honestly for the cat’s quality of life it’s much better to put them to sleep. We tried for a few days to fight with the medicine and the special food, but it wasn’t worth it considering the vet only gave two weeks to live, so we just had him put to sleep.

Good luck with her!

[Cocoa]

Well we are mixing the medicine food with her regular that she loves. She eats on her own. We are going to try to help her. When her quality of life isn’t good, then we will have her put to sleep

[professorzap]

Right, Cocoa. That’s what I did with my bunny. Once it was obvious she wasn’t doing well (stopped eating pellets, peeing outside her litter box, being lethargic), I made the tough decision. My vet said that kidney failure doesn’t usually cause pain. However, I think other things that come from the kidney failure can cause suffering. I know my vet often says as long as the animal (whether rabbit, cat, etc.) is eating, eliminating normally (at least not seeming in pain while doing so), and able to enjoy life–like you talked about with looking out the window–then keep helping them. Once ithe animal stops eating (or is not eating much), does not seem to be enjoying life (like my just previous bunny was having maybe 10% “normal” times), and didn’t seem able to control her eliminations, you have to do what’s best for the animal. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. I found this on WebMD pets: https://pets.webmd.com/features/put-pet-to-sleep#1

[Cocoa]

Okay thank you

[Cocoa]

I have been able to go back to the 4-6 hours out of the cage a day but there are some days where i can’t be outside for more than 30 minutes. Would covering the x pens in chicken wire and then putting a sheet over the top of the chicken wire so hawks are way less likely to see it and it would provide shade work? When i do school i can’t be in the grass by their pens for a few reasons. I could be on the back porch though so I’m still really close. This would give them more time out of their cages thanks.

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