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Thread: when to put my cat to sleep

  1. #1
    Veteran Member stripperMBA's Avatar
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    Sad when to put my cat to sleep

    My cat is 16 years old. She has kidney problems, kidney stones, and has lost about a pound she really needed. I am trying to decide when I want to put her to sleep or if I do at all. I feel like she may honestly have another year in her. But I know her condition will not be getting any better. She is on science diet KD, a potassium vitamin, and pepcid ac to help relieve her upset stomach.
    Since Katrina (We lived in New Orleans till then) I have moved a total of three times. I am going to have to move again. The past two moves have been really hard on her, and she did not like it at all. So I am feeling awful that she is going to go through another move. She also has feas. But because of her condition she cannot take any drops behind her neck for that nor pills.
    I do not know what to do. I love my cat but do not want her to suffer. I also do not want to be a bad mother to her and give up on her to soon. Any one have any suggestions? Has anyone gone through this dillema before??
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    Veteran Member sexystephani's Avatar
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    Im so sorry to hear about your cab Im in a similar situation Scrounge is 13 she also has kindney stones pancrietitus (sp) and and enlarged heart. Ive always said that as long has more good days than bad days and she is happy then I want her here with me.
    Hun pm or email me if you need to talk, ok?

  3. #3
    Miss. Kristina Lee
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    look at it as a quality of life issue. is she able to do the things that she once liked to do? is she in constant pain? does she seem miserable? if her quality of life is going downhill then putting her down could be the most loving and caring thing you could do for her.

  4. #4
    exotisch23
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    Oh no! poor kitty... I don't know what kind of advice to offer since I've never been in that kind of situation but I hope everything works out for the best. Can you post some pictures of your kitty?

  5. #5
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    Yes, it's a quality of life thing. As long as she still seems to be happy with her life, then let her enjoy what she can and make her comfortable as possible. Once she seems to be in too much pain or misery to enjoy life anymore, then it's time to let her go.

    My kitty is 16 too. So far he seems to be in pretty good shape for such a toothless old man, but this week he stopped trying to jump up on the bed. He tried to climb a couple of times and just couldn't make it; he's too old. And he has arthritis which bothers him in winter - fortunately, winter is short in SoCal and we bought him a heater. He really is in excellent health, all things considered... but all week when he sits by the bed and howls for me to lift him up there, I realize this is probably the beginning of the end. I just hope it's a slow decline. He's a great cat and I love him so much.

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    God/dess NinaDaisy's Avatar
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    I feel for you. I had to put one of my cats to sleep in February. He'd had asthma for years and was a little weaker since his diagnosis a few years ago, but he went from not too bad to way worse in just a matter of days.

    It was really, really hard making the decision, but unlike you I literally had a few minutes to make it. The poor little guy just had all the fire gone from his eyes, like he was looking at me pleading to put him out of his misery. I was a mess for a few weeks after.

    It's hard to let go of a pet, but it sounds like your cat's had a good long life. I know you want your cat with you, but it sounds like she's in really bad shape and might be suffering. We can't tell you what to do, but it might be best to put the cat to sleep at this point.
    "She has written so well, and marvellously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer...But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers"

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    Veteran Member big_daddyII's Avatar
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    I'm in the same boat with my dog. She has be hit by 3 cars and has heart warms. We don't think she is strong enough to do the treatment to get rid of the heart warms. Her hips are so messed up from the last car hitting her that some mornings she is very slow getting up. She's 9 and I just don't think I can put her down. It makes me very sad when I think about it and I can't even think how it will feel when the time comes to take her to the vet and see what he thinks. I hate thinking about it.
    “Since the ACLU is trying to take away the word ‘Christmas,’ we thought it would be a great time to send the group a Christmas card this year. If everybody did this, they would be buried in mail.”

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    My cat was 18 years old. He had really bad kidney problems. But, he was still vibrant and active...until one day where he just didn't look good. He was extra cuddly with me that morning and I let him out, as usual, when I went to work. I remember having the feeling that I would not be seeing him again. And, I didn't. I think he went off to die. Every animal will give you a "sign" that they are ready to go. You just need to watch for it. When they become lethargic or they are not doing the things that they normally do due to their physical problems, then it may be time to let them go.

    It is VERY hard...we had to put our 12 year old german shepard down (my brother and I grew up with the dog and cat...we got them at the ages of 6 and 7...and were in our late teens/early twenties when they died). It's hard, but at the same time, it was the best thing we did for him.

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    God/dess Rhiannon's Avatar
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    I agree with VG and the others. If she is in pain, and can't do the things she used to do without a struggle, the best thing for her is for you to let her go. But, if she's not at that point yet, let her enjoy more time with you until it gets to a point where she can go no further without pain.

    It is definitely not an easy decision. Our family dog was 18 years old. She was the cutest little miniature springer spaniel you could ever see. The last couple years of her life, however, were filled with getting tumor after tumor removed. She had Cancer. Rather than let her go, my Mother just kept getting her treated and getting the tumors removed. We finally had to all get together and do an "intervention" on my Mother, because "Princess" had reached a point where even standing up was excruciating for her. She'd also chew through her bandages and get to the wounds, and couldn't make it outside to go to the bathroom, so she'd just do it where she was laying.

    She finally agreed to have her put to sleep, on the condition that my Little Sister take her and be with her during it all.

    My thoughts are with you and your kitty. Sixteen is a very good, long life for a cat.

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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    One thing about kidney failure is that it's not a painful disease per se, but causes nausea and fatigue. Is your cat on sub-Q fluids? My friend's cat survived several years with a higher quality of life due to getting frequent fluids (kidney disease makes cays dehydrated). Having been active in rescue and having a soft spot for the really senior critters that get abandoned, I've had to go through the process several times. If you need to talk, feel free to pm me!

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    God/dess Pretty_Penny's Avatar
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    i agree with the quality of life statement. if she is more often happy and comfortable than not, i would say you can wait awhile. when she is more pain and discomfort than is humane, i would put her to sleep. i'm sorry for your situation. i'm glad you've already had a lot of time together though. the fact that you are carefully weighing your choice shows that you are a kind and loving "mom" and that means your cat has had a great life.

    as far as the flea situation, will she handle a bath? you can use mild shampoos to get rid of the fleas on her and then treat your house to kill the ones in the carpet and etc. there's also certain foods that are supposed to kill fleas. maybe call your vet and ask what you can do besides drops? you can't be the only person who's had this problem so i'm sure they coud help you out with some alternatives.

  12. #12
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    Default Re: when to put my cat to sleep

    As for fleas, definitely do try washing her. There are also natural flea treatments that is not as toxic to the cat, so I would definitely ask your vet. Get a flea comb and comb her, too. For cats with kidney issues, I would also give them wet food only, no more dry foods if you can help it. They have a hard time retaining fluids, and my years of working with cats with kidney problems- I've seen them benefit from all the fluid they can get. I would definitely look into giving cats sub-q fluids at home, and watch for quality of life concerns.

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