Target recovering on the sofa with his mini pillow. — ELLEN WHYTE
Target pulled a face as he ate his tuna. We thought he got a bit stuck in his teeth but then he did it again. Our old boy had a bad tooth.
Cats are notorious for being tough. They simply refuse to show they are in pain. It’s a huge problem because owners don’t realise there is a problem until it is serious.
Dental issues are particularly problematic as the tooth can rot, poisoning the kitty, before they lose their appetite.
I looked at Target’s teeth, and saw his big fang was yellow. Although it was hard to see (he fought my inspection tooth and claw) a back tooth also looked problematic.
We had one fang removed in Malaysia some years ago, and Target bounced back. This would be our first encounter with a British vet, and frankly, I was worried.
Vets in Britain are under investigation for huge markups for medicine, for advocating for expensive treatments instead of cheaper ones, for not being transparent about costs and other shady practices.
Also, Target is approaching 18, which is 84 in human years. He needed the tooth removed, it hurt him, but operations always carry risk.
To complicate matters, I can sit and work easily, but since August last year, walking has led to back spasms. Sitting in a car is difficult too. Anything over a 10-minute trip has me in screaming pain.
With those circumstances, ringing around vets was miserable. Many talked money, not care. Thankfully, a kind vet who was too far away to visit recommended a mobile practice.
I thought it would be a kitchen table operation, just like we had in Indonesia and early days in Malaysia.
Boy, was I wrong! The mobile vet was a state-of-the-art operating room with an X-ray machine. As the vet had a nurse with her too, I wasn’t needed.
The price matched regular vets: £600 (RM3,500) minimum and £900 (RM5,150) if it involved two teeth.
The price caused heart palpitations but we had no choice: we couldn’t leave Target in pain.
The cat staggered downstairs, shivery but bright-eyed.
A blood test too
The vet was gentle, thorough, and professional. Because of Target’s age, she recommended a blood test to check his overall health. I wanted to know too, so I agreed.
Target was knocked out, taken to the van, and an hour and a bit later, he was back, wide-eyed and minus two teeth.
As we expected, the root of his fang had started dissolving, a bad sign, so we were relieved he was rid of it. The other tooth had been bad too. The vet had cleaned his remaining teeth and with the blood test, total cost was £1,000 (RM5,722).
The vet said Target had injections, so to just let him recover. She left painkiller medication for the following days.
A few hours later we got a call to say the blood test showed Target’s kidneys were not working well.
This is very common in old cats. However, he could not take the painkiller and we would receive food advice by email.
We bought special renal food, and in case he didn’t like it, some Ipakitine powder, a phosphate binder sprinkled on regular food that helps manage kidney disease in cats.
Target ate a little, but his mouth hurt. He drooled and kept pawing at it. We petted him and hoped that he would heal quickly.
Tic Tac and Inkie visited, sniffing their old friend over with concern. They were upset, skittish, and needed extra cuddles.
To my surprise, they refused their evening tuna. Thinking it might be a bad tin, I chucked it out. Then they refused a second tin. Frustrated, I handed them biscuits and left them to it.
Target seemed to perk up the first day but then he got worse. He had trouble with his mouth and he looked sad. We were told it might take him a week as he was an old boy.
But Target kept pawing his mouth. His fur looked awful and he was depressed. Worried, I rang the vet and insisted something was not right.
What followed shocked me.
Apparently, there’s an advisory about not giving animals antibiotics, so the vet had not given it to Target! After a big dental operation! With a 17-year-old cat with two bad teeth!
I had assumed that they’d given him an antibiotic injection. It hadn’t occurred to me to even question that.
I was polite but firm. Frankly, it cost me because I was very angry. Another vet came the next morning, confirmed Target had an infection and gave him an antibiotic.
Our poor old cat was really sick. He was cold, shivery, tired and he gagged as he ate. He was so thin and shaky that I despaired. For two days, we thought we might lose him.
So I tucked him up in bed, and went into pamper overdrive.
Target in bed, under the covers, cold and feeling sick.
Rest and recover
He didn’t like the special kidney food. But when I stirred the phosphorus binder into a creamy treat, he lapped it up. An hour after, his kidneys safely protected, I handed our old boy slivers of roast chicken.
That went down too, although he could not eat a lot as his mouth hurt.
For days, I fed him every two hours, by hand, in bed. He sleeps with me, so I hand-fed him while he was warm under the covers at 2am, 4am and 6am.
All this time, Tic Tac and Inkie were off their tuna. They ate biscuits and hung around the office, taking turns on my lap. It occurred to me they might be upset, although Inkie was so greedy that it seemed a stretch. In a panic, I checked their teeth: all perfect.
All three cats were low, but Target improved slowly. A week later, he sat up in bed, had a full bowl of food, and staggered downstairs. He was shaky and shivery but bright eyed. Target had turned the corner.
From there on, Target was still too thin and cold easily, but his cattitude returned.
Finally, three days ago, Target came downstairs, entered the kitchen, and demanded food. I produced tuna with shrimp, and he gobbled it up.
Seeing him, Tic Tac squeaked with joy and demanded food too. A big thump from upstairs signalled Inkie jumping off his favourite windowsill. He barrelled downstairs and we had our first tuna together in three weeks.
Target is too thin but his energy is returning. He insists on a 2am tuna and I’m so happy he’s better, that I jump to it.
I put the binder in it, and offer a 2pm snack with some more, so he’s covered for the day.
I’m very grateful my old orange has made it through.
As for the cats, they’re in a holiday mood.
Tic Tac and Inkie celebrated Target’s recovery with massive mock battles up and down the stairs, sofa, dining table and both cat trees.
We’re also back to proper cat breakfasts and suppers. They ate a whole tin this morning, with Inkie shovelling it down with greedy abandon and Tic Tac and Target swapping bowls.
It’s been a tough month, but with our old orange back on his paws, every day is a celebration – midnight feasts, tail flicks, zoomies and all.
Photo: LILY LENG/SPCA PenangFIONA is an adorable girl who likes toys, other cats and treats.
She is very calm and is a sweetheart companion.
Fiona was born in January 2024. This pretty lady is fully vaccinated and spayed.
Interested adopters, please contact SPCA Penang, Jalan Jeti Jelutong, Jelutong, 11600 Penang. You can call 04-281 6559 or log on to https://spca-penang.net
