Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Cat end of life decision
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
February 27, 2014 at 10:23 pm #610586
snaParticipantHow do you know when it’s time to put your cat down? Obviously, you’ll say talk to your vet. I will, but I also admit I am a little cynical — why would a vet want to kill off it’s income source? So, I’m looking for unbiased opinions here….
Our 16 year old cat has been showing some big changes in the past 12 – 24 months (like losing half her body weight, lethargic, trouble with stairs, inappropriate pooping, random very loud meowing, etc.).
How do you know when the quality of life has degraded to the point where it’s better to put her down?
February 27, 2014 at 10:36 pm #804932
Goober1MemberDear SNA, Just went through this with my 18 year old cat and it was very hard. She finally told us that she was done by not eating or drinking one day. She went through everything that you described, loss of weight, unable to groom and very loud meowing for about a year. You know your cat the best and even though our vet went through different interventions we could try, we decided not to do them and let her go. Very hard decision, but the interventions seemed to be worse. I hope this helps.
February 27, 2014 at 10:49 pm #804933
furryfacesParticipantsna. It’s always a difficult decision.
A few questions/suggestions:
Have you taken your cat in for a check up in the last 12 months? By looking at the symptoms, it may be something treatable and/or manageable, plus several things sound related to just being a ripe, old age such as, trouble with stairs (arthritis), random/loud meowing, (deafness or senility).
Kidney failure, diabetes,or hyperthyroid cause weight loss. Most of the time these are age related maladies and are manageable, not curable. Sometimes not. A healthy pet check and geriatric blood panel would be a good place to start. Once you get those results back, you have more information on which to make an informed decision.
If cost is an issue, South Seattle Vet, is a good choice–242-8338. Otherwise Lien Animal Clinic, Greentree, or West Seattle Animal Hospital are all good choices that are in the Alaska Junction area.
As far as knowing when to know when our furry friends have no quality of life left:
–eat very little or completely stop eating
–stop interacting with you/other animals/choose to be alone
–stop drinking water
–appear to be in pain even when administering pain meds
If we can be of any assistance in your decision making, or answer any questions, please email us at furryfaces@hotmail.com.
February 27, 2014 at 11:05 pm #804934
hammerheadParticipantI just put one of my cats to rest. Still fresh in my heart. She had huge sores her mouth the meds were no longer working. I knew she was ready. It was me “holding back”. Listen to your gut/heart.
We all know it is a difficult decision, but remember she going to heaven and she will be at peace.
Most important do not feel guilty about your decision. Remember she has had 16 wonderful year with your family.
The signs she showing sounds like she is ready to go.
I wish you peace and my heart goes out to you.
February 27, 2014 at 11:11 pm #804935
datamuseParticipantA good vet will tell you that it might be time, income source or not. (And, uh, that process is not free, either…)
My cat lost weight, stopped eating, grew lethargic, basically all the signs. He had a tumor and if he’d been younger we might have tried surgery, but he was 18. I couldn’t put him through that.
February 28, 2014 at 12:58 am #804936
birdrescuerParticipantWhen I asked that question of a vet I was told “Usually a week or more BEFORE you finally decide to do it.”
February 28, 2014 at 1:32 am #804937
elikapekaParticipantThe post from Furry Faces said everything I was going to, so I’ll just second that. Quality of life is something only you can judge because you know your pet, but if she is not eating or drinking and appears to be in pain or distress and is not interested in the things she used to be interested in, it’s time to consider letting her go.
A friend of mine just made that difficult decision for her elderly cat and said “Better a day early than a week too late.” I have usually waited too long.
If you don’t have an established vet relationship, I can assure you that the folks at Lien will compassionately and objectively help you make the decision by giving you all your options without regard to their financial benefit.
February 28, 2014 at 3:33 am #804938
shihtzuParticipantWe had to put our dog to sleep a few months ago. I had never had to do it and really expected the vet to kind of tell me it’s time or at least suggest it as a possibility, but it was obvious that was something they didn’t address and it was only up to us. I was a little disappointed.
He was 15 and had a horrible recurring infection that I’m sure could have been taken care of with surgery and bought him a year at most, but we decided against it, because well, he was in pain, 15 and not the same. And I think it’s OK to admit that at some age or point, money is a consideration.
In hindsight, we waited too long. I read that that is often the case. Good luck with your decision, it’s awful, but also nice that we can help end their suffering.
February 28, 2014 at 5:23 am #804939
HunterGParticipantI made the choice to put my beloved Winnie into kitty heaven more than three years ago and it still haunts me. If you are thinking about it, it is probably time. I too most likely waited much too long. Trust your gut, the last vet visit I had the tech said very insensitive things, but were probably dead on thinking in hindsight.
We chose to euthanize her at home so she would not have the added stress of driving to a vet and being injected in a forgiven place to her. She passed soundly in her bed right next to me.
When you decide, consider an at home euthanization, City Cat Mobile Vet is wonderful. dr. Amy Castor is amazing, and what’s even better is if you wish you can choose a private cremation so you know for sure your cats ashes are not mixed or separated with any other passed furry little ones.
February 28, 2014 at 5:23 am #804940
HunterGParticipantI made the choice to put my beloved Winnie into kitty heaven more than three years ago and it still haunts me. If you are thinking about it, it is probably time. I too most likely waited much too long. Trust your gut, the last vet visit I had the tech said very insensitive things, but were probably dead on thinking in hindsight.
We chose to euthanize her at home so she would not have the added stress of driving to a vet and being injected in a forgiven place to her. She passed soundly in her bed right next to me.
When you decide, consider an at home euthanization, City Cat Mobile Vet is wonderful. dr. Amy Castor is amazing, and what’s even better is if you wish you can choose a private cremation so you know for sure your cats ashes are not mixed or separated with any other passed furry little ones.
February 28, 2014 at 5:47 am #804941
dhgParticipantThe quote is “better a week early than a day late.” Those of us who have waited too long understand that sentiment. When the poor cat really suffers, you’ve waited too long.
February 28, 2014 at 2:59 pm #804942
JoBParticipantFebruary 28, 2014 at 6:35 pm #804943
WSBKeymasterSNA – good luck with your difficult decision.
I wrote here last year about our cat Sweetie, who was diagnosed with cancer at a relatively early age – only 13. She was doing OK for a while, albeit so, so thin, but then she stopped being able to jump up on the chair to sit with me, and then she stopped using her box for urination … she would lie down on the floor and there’d be a puddle when she got up … and I was thinking, oh dear, we might just have to do this. She did not seem to be in much pain, though, although I have since read that they just hide it VERY well, so perhaps she was. She spared us the decision, though, and stretched out behind the couch and died while we were out covering something on the 4th of July. Keep in mind the part about them hiding their pain well … we probably could have spared her a needless week or more of suffering, but I just didn’t have the guts to make the call.
-Tracy
February 28, 2014 at 6:53 pm #804944
wakefloodParticipantChiming in here late and without reading all of the heartwrenching posts above. (I just lost one of my kitties a short while back and saving myself a little empathetic pain.)
So if this is redundant I apologize in advance. There’s no wrong decision if it’s made with the best available information, love and intent to do what appears to be best for the pet.
I once flew home early from a business trip to put down a family pet who had been ailing for many months. My then wife called in tears to tell me that her kitty looked into her eyes and said, “I’m done now”. I never doubted her interpretation for a second and got on the next plane.
Conversely, my sister recently spent weeks looking for a definitive sign that she never got from neither the vets nor the kitty. Her decision was much tougher but it was still the right one. She did everything she could and that kitty got/gave more life and love than could have been expected given the circumstances.
Trust your gut and respect your own emotional/physical limits. Whatever happens after that, is OK, IMHO.
February 28, 2014 at 7:48 pm #804945
B-squaredParticipantHopefully you have a vet you can trust to give you an honest assessment (i think that would be the rule here in WS rather than the exception). I went thru this two years ago and it was excrutiating – still is if i let myself go there. In the end, Spartacus let me know it was time. He didn’t seem to be in pain but had finally stopped eating. he had liver cancer so I knew there was an approaching end. My other cat Eddy will be 20 this year. he meows at night, which Dr. kraabel has told me is an “old kitty” trait. He has been on blood pressure medicine for over two years and is also on thyroid medicine. Just had a yearly exam and he’s fine given where he is at. Point is that many things you have described have plagued Eddy, but the meds, which he takes eagerly, keep him going and have corrected some of those things.
In the end, i had a visiting vet come to the house for Spartacus, which i would highly recommend. http://www.doctorannakihara.com/Kihara%20Veterinary%20Serives/Welcome%20.html
February 28, 2014 at 9:05 pm #804946
KevinParticipant@sna,
.
I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. The vet at Lien Animal Clinic was great. He told us the options – additional testing, but said that it was probably time. We took our little Yorkshire Terrier home for one last night and then brought him back the next day for a final goodbye.
.
The vet assured us we were making the right decision, sitting with us and giving us plenty of time both before and after. Our little dog perked up for a bit before drifting off to sleep, on his way to “Rainbow Bridge.” http://www.rainbowbridge.com/ As others have said, Lien is very compassionate, as even the vet had tears in his eyes.
.
We chose the private cremation, and here is what we received a week or so later: http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3488948
.
It’s a tough decision to make, but you will know when the time is right.
.
February 28, 2014 at 9:19 pm #804947
wakefloodParticipantNicely done, Lien.
I just wanted to add another vote for the “home visit” vet if you can afford it.
The stress to make that final trip can be really difficult to endure for the owner and sometimes the pet. (Especially if, like mine, your pet doesn’t like vet visits and ABSOLUTELY knows that’s the destination when the carrier comes out.)
February 28, 2014 at 10:27 pm #804948
snaParticipantThank you all for your perspective! Not an easy decision. And once it becomes an easy decision, you’ve probably waited too long.
February 28, 2014 at 11:18 pm #804949
amaliaParticipantFor me, I fear I may have waited too long and my poor kitty may have suffered because I was reluctant to let go.
.
The next time around, the vet recommended some expensive treatments that he thought were long-shots, but since my cat was only 10, I decided to try. It worked miraculously for four years!! Now I’m facing her slow demise again, and I too hope I can see past my own desire to keep my beloved kitty alive, and instead make certain she doesn’t suffer. The truth is, euthanasia is a humane choice and the cat doesn’t care. Maybe some people believe in a god and afterlife, but I am sure that life just ends, period, no consciousness after that. That said, I had it done (the first kitty, that is) at home and gave her a sedative first, because I couldn’t stand the thought of her being in fear or discomfort during last moments.
Follow the vet’s advice, that would be my suggestion. No vet will advise someone to put down a treasured pet to generate a few bucks! The treatment to keep a sick pet alive costs much more than euthanasia anyway. Oy, MUCH more.
February 28, 2014 at 11:47 pm #804950
justduckyParticipantsna-my heart goes out to you, it’s never an easy decision. I lost my kitty of 17 years last August. He had lost weight, but was still so happy and ran around the house. He suddenly ‘crashed’ one day (he was diabetic and in renal failure), my vet was not open and he passed at home.
I learned, as others have said, earlier is better than too late. I was a vet tech for several years, and I don’t want to go into details, but just know that it’s better to remember your furry friend in their ‘good days’, rather than their ‘bad days’.
Hugs to everyone that has gone thru the pain of losing a treasured friend.
March 1, 2014 at 6:57 pm #804951
Spring ChickenMemberOur sympathy too, and hugs… let friends know so they can support you in grieving this loss.
March 2, 2014 at 1:37 am #804952
SemeleParticipantI feel for you, making that decision is a rough one indeed. Last year I had to make the decision to let my 17yr old cat go when after living with CRF for almost four years things had gotten to a pretty bad state. With high blood pressure as well she finally quit eating much and all she would do was hide. They will normally let you know and if you are thinking it might be time there is a good chance it is. In the end you need to consider their quality of life.
My heart and sympathy goes out to you. It’s hard to say goodbye to a beloved companion.
March 3, 2014 at 1:33 am #804953
westseamikeMembersna, it’s a tough decision. I honestly believe it’s in the cat and your best interest to talk to a vet first, since they’ll also be the one that ends up having to put the animal down. I recently had to make a similar decision with our cat. We typically go to Admiral Vet Hospital, but Dr. Schaffer was out of town while our cat really took a dive for the worse. I ended up going to West Seattle Animal Hospital where I have never taken my pets before. We ended up spending a lot trying to keep him alive and see if he might rebound. West Seattle Animal Hospital is run more like Swedish Hospital, very impersonal in my opinion compared to the small Admiral Vet Hospital that Dr. Schaffer runs. After over $1,000 in treatment bills, our kitty died on his own after a few days. I’m 100% sure that Dr. Schaffer would have offered the same treatment opportunities, but also been more forward with the honest outcome our kitty was going to end up with. No vet wants to just prolong the pain a pet is enduring, nor do they want to make a pet family/owner endure emotional pain.
If you feel it’s time, then it’s time. I do suggest getting a vet to look at and give you options. Ultimately, you need to think about your kitty and yourself and decide what’s best.
So sorry you are going through this and be sure to give your kitty hugs and kisses.
– Mike
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.