I had a very rough night and I am convinced that we are prolonging Drogo’s life artificially. I dread waking up in the AM because I fear to see him pass in the night. The man and I had some half-sleep conversations of bringing this to the end; we just don’t see any more progress and we don’t his last days to be full of suffering and misery.

Dropped him in his crate, he went #1 in litter. Spent most of the day on the bed.

10a 10mL Hills a/d, 1mL prednisolone

Let him outside in the backyard, he explored the patio between rest breaks. He was definitely alert to the new environment but his energy didn’t allow him to explore his surrounds fully..

Made a few calls, Dr Cowser concurred that PTS was the humane option. We scheduled an appointment at Eldorado Animal Hospital due to distance and affordability.

Drogo was put to the final sleep on Monday afternoon. The procedure was quick and painless, perhaps too abrupt. Many tears were shed as even at the last minutes of his life, Drogo displayed vestiges of his old self, meowing incessantly for reassurance and rolling on his back to allow his tummy to be rubbed.

This was one of the most heartbreaking days of my/our lives.

Drogo exhibited some interest in going outside in the backyard in AM, but was still lethargic and walked with effort. Took a swat at the scratching post early AM but mostly crouched under cat tree or on dog bed.

He favored the Hills Prescription Diet Urgent Care a/d canned food so we have proceeded to feed him all day with it. The thick pate texture is also a plus since there’s little risk of aspirating. To get it into the syringe, we add a few drops of water. With the exception of the corn flour and guar gum, I am pleased with the ingredients of this canned food. It seems that Drogo also has no problems with it as he is receptive to being fed. On one occasion he nibbled it out of the dish, but we still have to syringe feed him since he is not eating enough.

Had a concern that for the afternoon feeding he wet the bed.

2a 10mL formula #2
9:30a 10mL Hills with prednisolone
3p 10mL Hills with orbax
6:30p 10mL Hills
9:30p 10mL Hills with mirtazapine

Observed another incontinence incident on bed. Must call vet ASAP.

Energy: low energy AM/PM, slept most of the day, very low energy PM
Movement: Mobile, requires effort, will move toward bed or cat tree
Tracking: Slow tracking, did not engage in play. Tracked cat teaser wand.
Appetite: Hills a/d diet, formula #2
Attitude: Passive, will lay down next to dogs, tail swishing when petted
Hygiene: Has exhibited some self-grooming, fur matted around ruff, urinary incontinence
Hydration: Derived from syringe feeding

Very lethargic and sluggish AM, showed some weakness standing.
Tracked cat teaser, alert to bell sounds.
No appetite for solid foods either dry kibble or Applaws canned.
Sipped at big dog bowl.
Did not seem very strong or alert during first AM feeding.

Came home mid-afternoon to let the crew out. Drogo jumped out of his cage and immediately went outside to explore. Was alert, but had to rest every few minutes. Was vocalizing excitedly, came back to me every once in awhile for reassurance but continued to sniff and explorer. He ventured out as far as the middle of the backyard, then went back inside to have a long drink. Still a little unsteady.

Gave formula #1 10 mL for 3:30p feeding. Rested on bed.
Formula #2 ~8mL @ 5:30p feeding. Kneaded cuddler before settling down.

Found more hopeful reading here:
http://www.askthecatdoctor.com/feline-fip.html

Energy: Alert for new objects, but low energy AM/PM
Movement: Mobile, requires effort, made passes at scratching post, slipped out the back door for some backyard grazing, jumped out of cage, wandered the kitchen and living area until settling on bed both AM/PM
Tracking: Slow tracking, did not engage in play. Tracked cat teaser wand. Almond eyes, pupil dilation/contraction, slow response AM/PM.
Appetite: Ate some lifesource bits from dry dog kibble, force fed liquid formula #2
Attitude: Passive, some lethargy.
Hygiene: Fur very unkempt, dry, matted around neck/head area. Observed super-brief self-grooming. Crusty butt*, did #1
Hydration: Sipped from big bowl, took liquid formula

Administered 5mL x2 AM feeding, 8mL x2 PM feeding with formula #2.
Received AM 1mL prednisolone dosage.
AM: jumped out of his cage to hit the dog bed, he was observed to be on top shelf for the majority of the time.
*Exhibited crusty butt (failed cleaning/hygiene, possible diarrhea), but vocally protested baby wipe application, man took care of this.
Directly afterward he then used big litterbox.
Attempted to rinse ruff with water to clean off food spills, fur still matted.
Noticed licking himself around neck afterwards.
Very little vocalization AM/PM.
Continues to exhibit nasal discharge and sounds congested.

Drogo was not disturbed by Hodor coming over to plop down next to him (it’s his bed after all!). Personality seems to indicate he is not stressed or perhaps just oblivious to everything around him.

Formula #1 is quite potent methinks (and very fishy), not to mention that I disliked the vegetable content in the chicken broth. I decided to whip up a new batch of liquid formula (#2) that has more vitamin C to boost Drogo’s viral defense.
3oz raw Pilgrims Pride chicken liver
1 extra large egg yolk
.5oz Simple Truth Organic tomato paste
1 500mg Natures Bounty Vitamin C tablet, crushed to powder (contains vegetable cellulose)
2oz warm water

Blend until liquified.

The question of how much to feed a cat on a liquid diet answered in this article:
https://virtuavet.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/how-to-syringe-feed-a-cat/

The volume a cat can take is 3-6 cc at a time, every 1-2 hours maximum, for a total of about 40-60 cc to fill the stomach at any one sitting.  In a sick cat, it may take 3-6 hours for the food to leave the stomach enough to get a new batch in there!  Good luck!

What a difference zygomatic arch control does for syringe feeding!

Also, based on several reads, warmed food via steam basket and hot water bath, this coupled with the technique in the article led for a successful and quick evening feeding.

I also found a 4-ingredient canned food which looked promising (Applaws Chicken with Pumpkin) but Drogo did not eat.