My wife used manuka honey, with her surgeon’s approval, to help the healing process after her mouth cancer. It occurred to me this could be an option for Chester, in combination with standard interventions. Googling this just now, because I had no idea, it seems honey is used on cats as a palliative so it is worth discussing with your vet.
Fingers crossed for you. My cat was under the care of the vet two weeks ago and for a couple of days we feared recovery was unlikely. I know what you’re experiencing and understand.
@februarysgirl - our 15-year-old rescued cat had to have all her teeth except the canines extracted, a year or so after we got her (when she was around 3, we think). She had terrible gum disease. For a long while after the extraction she continued to eat only dry cat food - her choice - and managed perfectly well. We knew we'd done the right thing when she started chasing her sister round the house and playing with sweet wrappers again. I'm sure the vet is giving you the best possible advice and Chester will bounce back. Not surprised you're worried though - these cats get under your skin... even my hubby, who claimed not to be a cat person, adores ours.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
@Valley Gardener the headache has gone now that I've chilled out a bit (and had some pusscat fuss) although I expect it'll be back with a vengeance in the morning. Ill pets are so stressful, they can't really tell you what's wrong and you can't explain to them what you're going to do and why 😟
@BenCotto When my mum had cancer they used manuka honey. I shan't go into detail as it goes realms beyond TMI, but the area they were putting it on wasn't going to heal, only get worse. They were using it to try to keep the area clean and prevent infection so I can see how it would definitely help post surgery. Glad to hear your cat is on the mend. They really do put us through the mill with worry but it's worth it 🙂
@Liriodendron Chester was our neighbour's daughter's cat. I'd made friends with him when he was this little kitten who'd ventured into the back garden in April 2010. I remember it well as it was a month after my dog had died and this little black and white fluffy thing made me feel better. I eventually gave in to the pleading looks (I'm a soft touch) and let him in and over time he began spending more time here. I thought that as he was here so often, I'd get him some treats for a snack. It was getting to the point where he would be here all day so I thought I'd get some biscuits for him. One morning in 2016 as I was coming home from work, I saw my neighbour and asked if Chester was still going back there because I was getting suspicious. Apparently he hadn't been back for a while, he'd taken it upon himself to move in with us and we didn't get a say 😆 It turns out, the daughter had moved out and hadn't been able to take him with her so I think he liked all the attention he gets here. After we realised we'd been adopted, we took him to the vets for a check up and jabs which was when we first saw that his gums were a bit of a problem. It was easily remedied to start with but then a couple of years later they really flared up. We've tried having his teeth scraped, various foods, treatments, steroids and immunosuppressants and none of them have really been able to provide a long term solution. I know cats are able to manage without any teeth at all so I'm sure he'll adapt easily enough. He'll no doubt have the hump with us for a few days so we'll get some guilt chicken (as we call it) to cheer him up a bit. My OH is a total cat person, sometimes Chester will sit on his lap and gaze up at him in complete adoration. It's not an exaggeration to say they're besotted with each other!
I cant imagine life without a cat or two. Normally our two are very soothing,but do have their fisticuff moments! Glad your head is better @februarysgirl.
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Cats do fine with just one or two teeth @februarysgirl. We adopted one when she was about 2 yrs old after we found her sneaking in to steal our cat's food. She belonged to an Italian family who bought the fish and chip shop next to our flat share above the hairdresser's and they got a mad, untrained Alsatian puppy to guard their potatoes. The cat was fed on leftover spaghetti and then what she could scavenge after the dog arrived so by the time I got her to a vet her teeth were mostly rotten. I took her with me when we bought our first house.
12 years later she moved to Belgium with us and 4 other cats and she lived to the ripe old age of 23. She was a loyal and loving companion and put up with all sorts of waifs and strays arriving in need of TLC. It was a rare cancer of the jaw that took her in the end.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Well, today's been horrendous. We dropped him off at 8:20 and the vet said we should hear from them early afternoon. Got to 4:30 and I still hadn't heard so I gave them a ring but the receptionist couldn't find anyone to ask and said she'd ask someone to call me back. Fortunately that didn't take too long, everything had gone OK and we were to pick him up at 6:30 and the vet would go through everything with us. So it turns out that he had bigger problems than just his gums, it was the teeth themselves causing the problem. Tooth extraction had indeed been the best course of action. All his cheek teeth have been removed and it turned out that some of his bottom teeth were loose so she took those out as well. We get home and he's a bit unsteady on his feet and not quite with it and we give him lots of fuss. OH notices there's some sort of string hanging out of his mouth but we're not sure what it is (but suspect it's something to do with the stitches). To be on the safe side we call the vet back but by then, they're closed and we get through to the emergency vet. They want to check on his stitches to make sure nothing has happened and so we have to try to bundle him back in his carrier and he is not happy. He's a very sweet natured cat, very calm, never gets narky so this is just awful. We get him into the carrier (not before OH gets all scratched) and he's scrabbling to try to get out 😟 Fortunately, the stitching hadn't been trimmed properly, no other problems. We're now back at home and are fairly certain he hates us right now and doesn't trust us either. This is horrible. I know it's far from the worst thing that can happen but it still makes me feel crappy. Hopefully it won't take him too long to forgive us 😟
He's groggy and drowsy and probably has a bit of pain. It takes a while to come round form an anaesthetic, just like humans. Be patient, keep him calm, leave him small amounts of soft food and water but don't worry if he doesn't eat. Have an easy access litter tray ready. He will eat, drink and use the loo when he's ready.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Ah poor soul. Just be there for him, he knows you love him he’ll come around when the grogginess wears off. Lots of love over the next few days. Obelixx I thought my cat was old at 18... and yes she still knows exactly what she wants even if she’s deaf, hypertensive, has renal problems...... amazing animals cats!🐈
Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
Posts
Fingers crossed for you. My cat was under the care of the vet two weeks ago and for a couple of days we feared recovery was unlikely. I know what you’re experiencing and understand.
@BenCotto When my mum had cancer they used manuka honey. I shan't go into detail as it goes realms beyond TMI, but the area they were putting it on wasn't going to heal, only get worse. They were using it to try to keep the area clean and prevent infection so I can see how it would definitely help post surgery. Glad to hear your cat is on the mend. They really do put us through the mill with worry but it's worth it 🙂
@Liriodendron Chester was our neighbour's daughter's cat. I'd made friends with him when he was this little kitten who'd ventured into the back garden in April 2010. I remember it well as it was a month after my dog had died and this little black and white fluffy thing made me feel better. I eventually gave in to the pleading looks (I'm a soft touch) and let him in and over time he began spending more time here. I thought that as he was here so often, I'd get him some treats for a snack. It was getting to the point where he would be here all day so I thought I'd get some biscuits for him. One morning in 2016 as I was coming home from work, I saw my neighbour and asked if Chester was still going back there because I was getting suspicious. Apparently he hadn't been back for a while, he'd taken it upon himself to move in with us and we didn't get a say 😆 It turns out, the daughter had moved out and hadn't been able to take him with her so I think he liked all the attention he gets here. After we realised we'd been adopted, we took him to the vets for a check up and jabs which was when we first saw that his gums were a bit of a problem. It was easily remedied to start with but then a couple of years later they really flared up. We've tried having his teeth scraped, various foods, treatments, steroids and immunosuppressants and none of them have really been able to provide a long term solution. I know cats are able to manage without any teeth at all so I'm sure he'll adapt easily enough. He'll no doubt have the hump with us for a few days so we'll get some guilt chicken (as we call it) to cheer him up a bit. My OH is a total cat person, sometimes Chester will sit on his lap and gaze up at him in complete adoration. It's not an exaggeration to say they're besotted with each other!
Glad your head is better @februarysgirl.
12 years later she moved to Belgium with us and 4 other cats and she lived to the ripe old age of 23. She was a loyal and loving companion and put up with all sorts of waifs and strays arriving in need of TLC. It was a rare cancer of the jaw that took her in the end.