Yet another kitty thread...

eminenz2

eminenz2

Cathlete
My cat is 16. She has hyperthyroid, a heart murmur, and the beginnings of failing kidneys.

She is on a special diet of prescription food and gets sub-Q fluids 3x week. She also gets thyroid meds 2x/day (Tapazole), Pepcid AC for her upset tummy on the bad days and an appetite stimulant as needed (which is moreso than not these days).

She is basically a 5-pound (on a good day) walking skeleton. The vet explained to me that eventually her hyperthyroid would outpace our ability and her ability to keep up with it, and control it.

Lately her 'rough' days, which are still about once every couple of weeks, seem to be getting a lot rougher. She still moves OK - not great, but she can still jump on the bed. Feeding her is a nightmare. She is an incredibly reluctant/fussy eater.

She is intermittent about using the cat box. She will lay right next to the space heater to keep warm. She has no body fat.

How will I know when it is time to put her down? I am OK with her dying, but I don't want her to die, if that makes sense. I don't want her to suffer because I was too dense to see the signs.

Could somebody please decide for me? Just tell me what to do? :(

Thanks!

Susan L.G.
 
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So sorry for what you're going through. My cat was 17 when I finally decided to put her down. It was soooo hard for me to do, I cried and cried. But looking back, I know I made the right decision.

Your cat is 16. She's lived a nice long life, right? In my opinion, if you think she is really suffering (and it sounds like she is), it's probably time to put her out of her misery, so she may rest in peace.

Sorry if that sounds blunt, just trying to be honest. Hopefully others will chime in with their opinion.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do...
 
If I decide to put her down, and it's too soon, will she suffer while the meds do whatever voodo that they do? Like, will she fight it and be in more pain?
 
I'm no vet, and there are some on these boards, so hopefully they will chime in here too, but I believe that if they euthanize your kitty, they use enough that it is quick and painless for them... So, if that is what you decide to do, please know that she will not suffer. That does not make the decision any easier I'm sure....

Hugs to you and hope you will know when her time comes.
 
I'm so sorry for your situation. I have 2 terminally ill cats at home, and will be facing these choices soon.

I am a veterinary technician and have seen thousands of sick animals. It comes down to a question of her quality of life. If an animal is refusing to eat (which is the point where I will put my cats down) and is having a very difficult time getting around, they are telling us that they are suffering.

The euthanasia procedure will not cause her to suffer. The vet will give her an intravenous injection and it works within seconds. It is up to you whether you would like to be present when they actually give her the injection. They will give you all the time you want to spend with her.

My heart goes out to you. Spend some time just sitting with her--our animal friends often tell us when it is time.
 
I was in your position last Christmas and for a couple months prior. I was in and out of the vets so often I lost count. Then there came a time when she looked so hopeless, and so despondent, and completely disassociated. He meowing was so sad and heartbreaking I couldn’t just ignore it and hope tomorrow would be a better day - I knew it was time. When I took her to the vets it turned out that she had a stroke.

The vets were so wonderful. They gave her pain medication and sedation so I could have some time to say goodbye to her. The vet that gave her the lethal injection was crying too. When it finally sunk in that my kitty of 18 years was gone I didn’t just cry I was howled. It will be such a heartbreaking experience for you and my heart goes out to you.

I think you will know when it is time and she will tell you too. I know it’s very hard to finally make that decision but it will be the right thing to do. From the sounds of it she is steadily going down hill so there is no need to think it is too soon or that she might rally. She already has so many strikes against her. She has had a good many years behind her.

If it should be....
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for we know this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
but don't let grief then stay your hand,
for this day, more than the rest,
your love and friendship must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
Would you want me to suffer? So,
when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
only stay with me until the end,
and hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.

It is a kindness that you do to me,
although my tail it's last has waved,
from pain and suffering I have been saved.

Do not grieve, it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
 
Matiana said:
I was in your position last Christmas and for a couple months prior. I was in and out of the vets so often I lost count. Then there came a time when she looked so hopeless, and so despondent, and completely disassociated. He meowing was so sad and heartbreaking I couldn’t just ignore it and hope tomorrow would be a better day - I knew it was time. When I took her to the vets it turned out that she had a stroke.

The vets were so wonderful. They gave her pain medication and sedation so I could have some time to say goodbye to her. The vet that gave her the lethal injection was crying too. When it finally sunk in that my kitty of 18 years was gone I didn’t just cry I was howled. It will be such a heartbreaking experience for you and my heart goes out to you.

I think you will know when it is time and she will tell you too. I know it’s very hard to finally make that decision but it will be the right thing to do. From the sounds of it she is steadily going down hill so there is no need to think it is too soon or that she might rally. She already has so many strikes against her. She has had a good many years behind her.

If it should be....
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for we know this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
but don't let grief then stay your hand,
for this day, more than the rest,
your love and friendship must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
Would you want me to suffer? So,
when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
only stay with me until the end,
and hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.

It is a kindness that you do to me,
although my tail it's last has waved,
from pain and suffering I have been saved.

Do not grieve, it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
Click to expand...


I had to to make the decision to put my beloved Spyro down last April, but he passed away before we made it to the vet. That poem just brought a flood of tears to my eyes. Having to make the decision was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I loved him so much, but there was no way I could watch him suffer, and he was only 8. I think if you are really considering putting your kitty down, then you know its time. It's hard, but waiting won't make it any easier, it will probably just make it worse. My FIL dog was very ill for 2 or 3 YEARS with tumors all over and she was blind, and having problems waiting to get outside to go to the bathroom. But he couldn't bear to put her down, becuase she had been his wife's (deceased) dog, and couldn't stand to part w/ the dog becuase it had been his wife's. I can't imagine the suffering that poor dog went thru. No matter what anyone told him, he wouldn't listen and wouldn't do it. Thankfully, the dog finally passed and was out of her pain and misery. Only you know how your kitty is feeling and the complete situation, but if you think its time, it probably is. If you know kitty is only going to get worse, and not better, it is probably time. I send you great big {{{HUGS}}}, and big boxes of tissues because I know it is not easy. Its the hard part of having furbabies, but they know we love them and I think they know when its time to go, too.

Nan
 
I have to agree with everyone else here. If you haven't felt it already there will be a moment when it just becomes obvious he's counting on you to ease his suffering. I had to do it with a neighborhood stray I'd been caring for last summer so I know, somewhat.

When I was growing up I had a cat that lived to be 20. Every time she got sick I'd get her to the vet, crying and carrying on. She was so ready to leave this world but she'd always rally back for just a little big longer, not wanting to let me down. Then I got recalled to active duty during the first gulf war and had to leave. Soon after, I talked to my mom on the phone. She told me how the family had to put Blossom down because she was so sick. Since I wasn't around she was finally able to die in peace. I regret guilting her into hanging on so long. I just couldn't let her go, I guess. But I wouldn't do that now.
 
Honestly, I think it's time. Her quality of life has to be considered, and it doesn't seem like she's got much. It's very very hard to put an animal down - I had to do it 2 years ago to a cat that was just 3. I was with him and it just broke my heart to see him suffering. My daughter still cries a little when she thinks about him. But you have to think about what the animal is going through, and not how you will miss her, when you make your decision.

It's a very peaceful way to go. Really quick, and they literally just "go to sleep". It's extremely humane, almost beautiful, because you can be there to say goodbye.
 
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It's never an easy decision. Right now we have one 17 year old cat, who is also down to about 5 lbs and is very gradually fading. Long ago before husband and kids I did cat rescues and I had a large number of cats, she is the last one, so this is a decision I've faced many times. You always hope that they will gradually fade away peacefully on their own and I have had some that have done that, but others needed help on their way. The vets I've worked with have always been wonderful and euthanasia is painless and the animal really feels nothing. A fast, painless death can be your last gift to them.
You'll know when it's time. My thoughts are with you.
 
Susan,

I am so sorry to hear about everything you are going through with your cat. At the end of the day, I think that you have to make the decision based on your cat's quality of life and on your quality of life. Some of the things we talk about are objective - is she still eating/drinking? Is she able to move around without pain? Others are more subjective - does she still enjoy her daily routine and interacting with the family like she used to? Some of these are questions that only you can answer because you know her better than anyone. I also believe you have to make the decision for you too. I think for some families, it can be very hard to watch a pet go through a terminal illness, so I think sometimes euthanasia is for the relief of the pet's suffering as well as for the family's. Does that make sense (it seems easier for me to say it in a soft tone than to write it - sorry)?

I think that most of us straddle the fence at times like these. On the one hand, no one wants to see a pet suffer. On the other hand, no one wants to seem like they're giving up on their pet too soon. It's not an easy place to be, and you have everyone's sympathy. I believe (as with others who already posted), that your cat will help tell you when it's time. And until then, I think you continue to love and care for her as you always have, and know that you've given her a great home to grow old in.

Sincerely,
Carrie
 
Its a sad situation no matter what. My brother just put his dog down yesterday. He cried all night. Its sad to see these animals that give us so much love sick or suffering.

Its unfortunate your not close by. My son is moving here in a month from up north. He has two cats that I cannot have here with four dogs. He would like to find someone that will take care of them until he gets settled in (probably six months or so) until he can take them.
 
I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. A couple of years ago I had to my put my 14 1/2 year old cat to sleep. His kidneys were failing and he had stopped eating and was peeing outside his litter box which I knew was bad. I took him in and the vet called me the next day and said we could put him on meds which would lessen his symptoms for a few months but his quality of life would never be what is was but he thought it would be best to put him to sleep. I thought do I want to go through this all over again in a few months? And it is fair to him to keep him around for a few months because I don't want to let him go if he can't be healthy and happy? I put him to sleep that day, and signing that piece of paper was one of the worst things I've ever had to do...I cried for a week afterwards. It's been 2 years and I still miss him like crazy but the thought of allowing him to suffer needlessly just made me sick. I think I did the right thing for him and now I know he's romping and playing in the sun and grass with the other pets who are waiting for the human parents to join them.

It's a hard decision to have to make but I agree with the others -- you'll know in your heart when it's time to let her go.
 
I emailed my vet this morning and this is his reply:


I know this is always a very difficult decision to make and certainly the time to take that step varies with each individual and family. The biggest determining factor for me though is always quality of life and it certainly sounds like that has significantly declined in reading your message. Are the good days more than the bad is always my question. No matter what though, the decision you make has to be the right one in your heart.

Hope that is some help. Please let me know if you have questions.

-Dr. A----

So I replied:

Thank you for your reply.

Since Sadie seems to be on the downward side of the spiral, would it selfish or heartless of me to put her down too soon, before she gets much worse? I mean, I don't want wait too long, but I also don't want her last few weeks/months to be full of poking her with needles and shoving pills down her throat.

So, since you have gently shared so much wisdom and good sense with me, I put this question to you as well, fellow Cathletes. It won't seem like I'm just trying to get rid of her, to put her down now, before she gets much worse?

Thanks for all your support!

-Susan L.G.
 
eminenz2 said:
It won't seem like I'm just trying to get rid of her, to put her down now, before she gets much worse?

Thanks for all your support!

-Susan L.G.
Click to expand...

Oh don't say that!!!! You are not trying to get rid of her! But I know the thought process, two years ago I had to put our Labrador, Jake down. Jake and I always had a love-hate relationship - I watched the movie Marley and me, and DH and I turned to each other and said "Oh my gosh, this IS Jake".

I didn't know when the right time was to let him go and I struggled with the decision for months, it made me literally sick, I felt so guilty and didn't know when the right time was and I also had just gotten two puppies and thought, he might think that I want to get rid of him. It haunted me for a long time and I thought, geeh, maybe I did want to get rid of him - kind of subconsciously because for 9 years he had driven me NUTS, it was only in the last year things got better but I was focusing on everything bad that I had done to him - like the night when he ate my favorite boots and I started screaming at him "You are off to the pound, you *bleepin* dog", DH actually had to drag me out of the room because I would have driven Jake to the pound in the middle of the night - I probably would have turned around once I got there and taken Jake back home, but hey.

What I am trying to say there will always be a feeling of not knowing for sure when is the right time and there will always be the question "Did I wait too long", "Did I go too fast" and there will probably always be a feeling of guilt and uncertainty. Your kitty knows that you love her and that you have her best interest at heart.

I guess the question would be if you had to leave this earth, would you want to go while you are still have some good days and with dignity or would you want someone to let you suffer until there are no more good days? Do the same for your kitty than what you would want for yourself.

Unfortunately, no one can make that decision for you. That is a very heart wrenching and lonely decision. I wish I could take that load off you. ((((((Susan)))))
 
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Susan,

I am sorry to hear you are at the time where you need to decide what is best for your kitty. With my last two cats who had to be "put to sleep", they both started to not want to be with the family anymore. If we picked them up to sit on our laps, they would get down and go back to a private spot away from us.

It definitely will not be a selfish thing for you to do this when you are ready.

(((((hugs)))))

Sherry
 
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