Thanks again for the replies. As far as any kind of sedative for Barney I forgot to mention that issue (gawd this cat has em LOL). Barney can't be sedated lightly. He hates being in a moving vehicle and the two times we've moved and had the vet give us meds to lightly dope him (sorry can't remember the name this early in the a.m.) he's reacted exactly opposite to the med. Instead of being laid back and quiet, he became crazy. Chewed his way out of a cardboard cat carrier we were using and bite my ex (smart cat really LOL).

Thank goodness Barney was neutered when we got him and the only two major medical issues he's ever had the vet techs put on big leather gauntlet gloves and wouldn't let me in the room (I should laff about this but Barney is a ripper really).

Pls don't get the impression Barney's wild or mean tempered. He's just never reacted to meds well and is a bit of an oddball but he's always been trustworthy until this last month. I know it's probably senility as I just fed him and he's wandering around right now hollering his food cry and checking his bowl. Our old female cat did a bit of this when she was 18 so maybe it's just an old cat thing (tho she never been aggressive).

I know that the final trip to the vet is approaching quicker than I'd like and I do appreciate your thoughts.