Feeding tubes, I highly recommend it if your cat has the right personality. Peewee did fantastic with it, he never bothered the tube and the one problem we had was that he gained so much weight a new tube had to be placed. It was so easy to give any medication(pharmacist made everything liquid), and our routine was I would give him people tuna and he would eat while I was pumping the good stuff in him. I was also able to give extra water so sub-q's were reduced. My baby survived 2 wonderfull years with that tube and when his kidneys starting to get worse he had a heart attack while at the vets getting iv fluids. It was a combination of crf and the heart attack that took him to the bridge.

The feedings brought his appetite back and he could do anything he wanted. I also let him eat anything he wanted because I was filling him up with the good stuff.

Now for the downside. Runt, my other kitty, was a diabetic and we found he had a cancerous kidney. The kidney was removed Jan 1998 and a feeding tube was inserted at that time. He was a high strung kitty who tolerated the insulin injections but never got used to the tube. It irritated him and even with the elizabethan collar he still got to the tube site and actually chewed it off and swallowed part of it. That required emergency surgery to remove the plastic from his stomach and to place a new tube. I finally made him a coat that I had to keep on him except when feeding and around the area of the tube I sewed in a thin piece of metal so he could not get to the tube site with his teeth. He did look handsome in his plaid coat, but he was not happy. He survived 8 months and the tube was a great help to me with his diabetes and beginning crf. He never thrived like Peewee but it did give us 8 months more than I would have had and for awhile he really seemed to be bouncing back but his body started to give up. He was 18 when this started so on Aug 9, 1998 he told me he had had enough and we helped him cross the bridge that dreadful sunday.

Peewee was 14 when this started and I am so thankful that I had an extra 2 years with him and 8 months with Runt.

Would I do again ??? YES!!!!! no questions . I knew I had done everything in my power to give my boys the best life possible. I have no regrets and my vet tells everyone how great peewee did !!!

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Dpage924@aol.com

Sandy, Cyclone, Squirt, Shades and Tribyl

Thank you for remembering my boys
Peewee 9/82-8/18/98
Runt 1/80-8/9/98
Smokie 6/91-8/19/98