Cat dying - should I get her euthanised?

Kermit.de.frog

Hi,

My cat is dying (shes had a great life) and I was wondering should I have her euthinised?

She refuses to eat or drink (tried everything) strong rotting oder off breath, is docile and generally not responsive.

This started 3 days back. Thought she would pass last night but she's still alive.

She does not appear in much pain, the odd attempted meow. You can't know of course.

I did some research and apparently most cat owners allow nature take it's course.

I'm torn though.

Thanks

Dtp1979

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Hi,

My cat is dying (shes had a great life) and I was wondering should I have her euthinised?

She refuses to eat or drink (tried everything) strong rotting oder off breath, is docile and generally not responsive.

This started 3 days back. Thought she would pass last night but she's still alive.

She does not appear in much pain, the odd attempted meow. You can't know of course.

I did some research and apparently most cat owners allow nature take it's course.

I'm torn though.

Thanks

Stupid question but did you bring her to a vet? She might only have an infection and as a result is off her food. Just because she’s old doesn’t mean she’s dying

Kermit.de.frog

Yes, he said prepare for the worst. Couldn't diagnose though.

The bad breath is classic sign of organ failure. Vet gave antibiotic and painkiller. Unfortunately has not worked.

She is around 17 years

s15r330

3 days?! Get that cat to a vet immediately ffs

Edit: from your 1st post it looked like you hadn't visited a vet.
Return and they will advise what is best. It's hard but it coild be the best thing.

Kermit.de.frog

s15r330 wrote: »

3 days?! Get that cat to a vet immediately ffs

Edit: from your 1st post it looked like you hadn't visited a vet.
Return and they will advise what is best. It's hard but it coild be the best thing.

Vet said little could be done based on her age (or rather could be done but realistically unlikely to do much other than very brief extension at best). I do expect her to pass today hopefully. She is comfortable.

s15r330

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Vet said little could be done based on her age (or rather could be done but realistically unlikely to do much other than very brief extension at best). I do expect her to pass today hopefully. She is comfortable.

I went through this twice woth my 2 dogs, hardest thing i've ever had to do was to watch them go.
But if your cat had a great life it couldn't ask for more.

Staph

My cat was unwell and i brought her to the vet. She was old and they performed some tests, she had renal failure. They called me to tell me the results and said that if it was their cat they would euthanize. It was very hard and I would have loved to have been there with her, but it wasn’t possible. The reality was that it would have been unfair for me to extend her time here, just so I could see her beforehand. I called in to collect her body later that evening.

I will always be grateful for the way they cared for her and how they guided me during that time. They are the professionals and know what the animal may be really experiencing during an illness. I felt that their input helped me make a hard decision more definitively.

I wish you and your cat the best, it’s always a hard time when a pet is unwell.

Malayalam

I waited a bit too long with my 18 year old dog, earlier this year. She faded gradually over a year, but still seemed content and there was still so much light and life in here eyes. Everyone advised me to have her put down but I could not face making that decision, it seemed too cruel to a long time friend. In the end the day came when her symptoms led me to bring her to the vet for the injection - it was a horrible moment when she finally slumped, and for ages afterwards it felt very sad. But looking back now I think it was a good decision. Like you I had hoped she would die in her sleep, but she held on and on. It's a horrible decision, but sometimes it needs to be made

spurious

Years ago, I waited too long with a beautiful dog of mine. I will never do it again. I still feel guilty over the unnecessary pain I did not save him from. I had one job to do....

If you are absolutely sure she's not in pain I suppose you could wait, though I dont think death from prolonged organ failure would be very pleasant for her.

Knine

Seriously I think you should bring your cat to the vet or even better -have the vet call out to PTS. Leaving her for days like that is IMO not acceptable.

It is the kindest thing to do for her. 17 is a good age.

Tilikum

Our own cat is only a 1yr. We got her from <snip>. We’ve spent over €1k on her in the past month alone. Tryinginv to find out what’s wrong with her. The vets think it’s some form of IBS. Her digestive system isn’t working right it seems. She can’t go for a number 2.

My misses is a Vet nurse. I fear they’ll put her too sleep today. She’s going to be hearthbroken, we both are.

Teyla Emmagan

You poor thing. Sure an awful time Hope the cat passes soon.

Kermit.de.frog

Thanks for kind words and advice.

I'll make the call this morning. I'm still hoping she'll have passed naturally in her home.

I hate these moments.

Latatian

Natural deaths are often not pleasant. I made the call for my own dog last year and I wished I had made it a week earlier when she was still happy and lively. I would have saved her some unnecessary suffering. It was just hard to make the call when she still seemed happy and excitedabout life.

I wish I could go back.

My thoughts are with you.

Bunnyslippers

I'd get her pts, it's rare for animals to pass naturally without feeling awful!:( If your cat is in renal failure then the urea that is building up in the brain and body makes them feel very very sick indeed, I watched my grandpa suffer like this and it was awful way to die, with animals at least we have the option of being humane and giving them a quick and painless death rather than letting them suffer hoping they'll die eventually by starvation and dehydration!:(

Kermit.de.frog

I did this yesterday (euthanaisa). Asked was I doing right thing with vet. They said yes.

In hindsight I should have done it sooner but I was not in a position to.

I'm hopeful the many years of a good life and companionship have gone some way to make up for her pain in the end. I know I left it too long.

Weird feeling, house not the same.

Best wishes to pet owners, these situations are inevitable such is life, you can only do your best.

Staph

My thoughts are with you. It's a difficult decision, but ultimately the most humane. It's weird when your little friend is not around, but I'm sure they had a great life with you.

Speedwell

I'm so sorry you lost your friend... it's a hard day; be kind to yourself today, all right?

17 is a good age for a cat. I've had several who were so ill they needed to go before that. It's a quality of life thing, my vets told me. Yours clearly had no significant quality of life left. I don't think you have anything to blame yourself for.

I have two cats who are 18 this month. One will likely see 20, but the other is feeling his age. That's extreme old age for a cat, but it is totally possible. Don't hesitate to adopt an adult cat if you are feeling inclined to fill the space left behind. I would, but I know everyone grieves differently (and it is grief even if it isn't for a human) and you do what feels right for you.

Wanderer78

Best of luck Kermit, not a nice experience but for the best

Ashbx

OP please dont feel like you left it too long. You did the best you could do for your little pal. You gave her a good life and she's in a happy place now!

Thoughts are with you today!

forgodssake

Im so sorry you have lost your loyal pet . It sounds as those she was very much loved and looked after . please don't beat yourself up . warm thoughts to you

Cocksy

let the cat live as much as it possible

tk123

Cocksy wrote: »

let the cat live as much as it possible

Suffering in pain isn't living

Ashbx

Cocksy wrote: »

let the cat live as much as it possible

They did that. Unfortunately yesterday was the cats time to go and the OP absolutely did the best thing for her.

Roanmore

Reading this thread has brought back some memories for me.

About 3 years ago our cat of 11 years got sick, wasn't in great form and couldn't keep food down.

Brought her to the vet and said he'd try his best to help her. We had her a few days at home and no luck, brought to the vet on Sunday afternoon, he kept her in over night to do tests, said he'd let us know the outcome the next day.

I was working when my wife called to say the vet said the best this was to put her down. That was a hard day.
I asked if they could keep her alive until I got there after work, no problem, she was sedated and not in pain.

Minute I saw her I started crying, vet and his assistant left me alone with her.
Told her how she made our lives better (we don't have kids), hoped she enjoyed her time with us and that we'd never forget her (no chance with all the photos around). It was over in seconds.
I spoke to her all the way home in the car.

I will never forget the cries from my wife, I think only a close family member dying will get those cries again. We buried her in the garden and planted a shrub on top. It flowers every year around her anniversary.

Putting her to sleep was the right thing, she wasn't at all well but had a good innings.

We swore we'd never get another cat so a few months later we got 2:)

Two black fellas from a shelter, they walked in to our cat basket.
Two different mothers, two different personalities.
My only fear is having to go through the same thing with them:(

Kermit.de.frog

Thanks Roanmore for sharing that experience.

Thanks for your help everyone. Really appreciate it.

I miss the cat around the house. This was her home.

I was wondering is it worthwhile getting the ashes back? I don't want to be silly about it but I have been offered. I miss the cat now but we do all move on.

Is it normal to do that or do you just leave it?

Thanks.

Speedwell

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Thanks Roanmore for sharing that experience.

Thanks for your help everyone. Really appreciate it.

I miss the cat around the house. This was her home.

I was wondering is it worthwhile getting the ashes back? I don't want to be silly about it but I have been offered. I miss the cat now but we do all move on.

Is it normal to do that or do you just leave it?

Thanks.

It's not uncommon, if you want them. My cat's old vet used to do a charming thing; they'd take the impression of the cat's paw in clay and send it to you afterward so you'd have a keepsake. if the ashes have been offered and you'd like to take them, by all means do so. But if you don't, cat people will understand you choose to grieve a different way. I figured that when all was said and done I'd already had the part of the cat that mattered, and the rest was a shell. But that's just me. You do you.

beertons

I welled up reading this.

Then I thought I had posted here before, seeing my cartoon head here.

Gael23

This brings back memories for me. I lost my dog to renal failure nearly 3 years ago and it all happened very rapidly in the end. We only knew afterwards he was showing signs for a while but he has the best quality of life possible for a 15 year old dog up until the last week. Things just go downhill so rapidly, in the end it was only 4 days from when he really deteriorated to dying.
The day he died I still remember so clearly. I knew it wasn't good and odds were he wasn't getting better but its only when the vet tells you those words it really sinks in. We wanted to take a few hours to digest it before making that final decision but thankfully he died soon after and it was out of our hands.