Cat update
Well, as advised by the Emergency Vet yesterday I took my cat to the non-emergency vet today. She had still eaten hardly anything. The non-emergency vet was Eastern European by accent and speech pattern - "I think cat is sick, yes, but maybe we not go straight away with tumor?" and seemed very competent.

As you can tell, he is not so quick to leap on the carcinoma bandwagon, as the placement on the side of the tongue would be unusual - it's usually on the underside bit. He says there's no way to know for sure without operating to remove it and sending it away to be analysed; it might be a benign, malignant or even just an infected scratch/abscess. That last is an interesting theory, because at the weekend I did notice a tiny scratch on her nose.

He also replaced the twice a day antibiotic tablets I got with once a day antibiotic capsules - much easier to administer - and also gave her a painkilling injection. He recommends monitoring her quality of life for the next week or so and see how it goes.

Getting her home I mixed a capsule in with some whiskas rabbit with gravy and she leapt on it and ate most of it. I suspect the painkilling injection has something to do with that but it's very encouraging.

So rather hopeful now and not feeling like blubbing.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:20, 26 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

good to hear Light.
Pretty sucky sitch all around but I'm glad things are looking better.
(Poppet some assembly required., Mon 11 May 2009, 12:23, Reply)

that sounds a lot more promising
fingers are crossed for you
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:24, Reply)

again, repeat the echoes of good to hear...
If it comes to an op tho, at 18, think you may have to consider whether it is fair to her to put her through a GA (very stressful both physically and mentally) and a painful recovery... Depends much on the op, but it may be kinder to her to have her put down in that situ...

Not very comforting, sorry, but sometimes the right thing to do by the animal is the hardest thing to do for yourself. Have had to have pets pt down in the past, and it's horrible, but I hope I've always done what's best for them, rather than prolong any pain for my own needs.
(Psyche finishes work at the end of June! Yay!!!, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:28, Reply)

My thought also
but at the moment she's still quite active and attentive. If it *is* just an infection and she keeps eating i.e. getting the antibiotic, then she shouldn't need an operation.

If she doesn't keep eating then the difficult decisions come.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:35, Reply)

Good luck!
Sounds like she is going well
(CaptainInnuendo One mouthful contains all your vitamin C needs., Mon 11 May 2009, 12:29, Reply)

Fingers crossed
.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:30, Reply)

Emotional rollercoaster
I go in there braced to take "the final option" and the guy says, "could just be an infected scratch" and "sure we could operate, she's old so there's some risk but it's do-able" and "2-3 days without food is not so bad for cats, sometimes they do that themselves if they're sick".

Phew.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:30, Reply)

Oh!
Then if it's just an infected scratch that sounds very reasonable, don't put her down for that!!
(Psyche finishes work at the end of June! Yay!!!, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:32, Reply)

It *might* be
and I don't know if it's really the most likely explanation or just the one I want the most.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:36, Reply)

That's
excellent news, especially after yesterdays' poor tidings!
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:32, Reply)

Best of luck LiC
At 18, she's reached a fair age but here's hoping she's going to be around for a while longer.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Mon 11 May 2009, 12:37, Reply)

Glad to hear it
Most painkillers contain a [word that I can't remember] that acts as an appetite stimulant.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:38, Reply)

Love it...
There are so many of those [words I can't remember]!
(Psyche finishes work at the end of June! Yay!!!, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:41, Reply)

I'm terrible with words and stuff
I fail at sentences.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:43, Reply)

so does
the justice system.
(CaptainInnuendo One mouthful contains all your vitamin C needs., Mon 11 May 2009, 13:11, Reply)

ZING!

( WormuIus, Mon 11 May 2009, 13:20, Reply)

I imagine that's your fault, Wormy. Or JMG's?

( thealternativefact, Mon 11 May 2009, 13:35, Reply)

Anti-emetic?
*shrugs*
( Cawl, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:42, Reply)

anti-emetics
prevent patients from vomiting.
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:44, Reply)

*buys some for Wookiee*

( thealternativefact, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:46, Reply)

Yep,
So might give 'em their desire to eat back?
( Cawl, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:46, Reply)

'cos I wouldn't fancy eating
If I felt like I was gonna hurl.
( Cawl, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:48, Reply)

Nope
Anti emetics tend to make them sleep and not vomit. Appetite stimulants and morphine make them eat
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:52, Reply)

Having a bit of an internet mooch
it may be that the reason you can't remember the word is there isn't one - they seem to be referred to everywhere *as* appetite stimulants or appetite enhancers.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 11 May 2009, 14:16, Reply)