put down my cat even though not in pain?

[jenniprice]

I actually put question not long ago about my cat having conjunctivitus.
Well now he has started weeing and pooing himself.
worse thing is he just lies in it!

He is 16 and very skinny and frail, and like say just stays asleep. understood the weeing but this morning came down and was just lieing asleep in his own poo.
It's like he's too weak to get up to go out.

he eats plenty and purrs loads still but my partner is saying i should get him put down.
but i just dont know if i have the heart to do it if not in pain it seems selfish.

i have brought cat litter today which he has used before so hoping he will go in there, but i dont have high hopes.
is it moral to have him put down?

[Rollo]

You really have to ask yourself the question "What is the quality of life of this animal?"

It sounds to me as if it is not very good.

No cat would want to lie in its own excrement if it could avoid doing so. Maybe it is not very happy about its situation, but you can't ask it, of course. You need to do what you really think is best for the cat - ignoring what you personally would like to do.

[DrFilth]

best to take him to the vet, my lad used to eat and drink and seemed to be ok other than when he had a poo . which he had been doing in different places round the ground floor of the house. the vet checked him over and said he had tumors (2) so i had to have him put to sleep.
i hope yours gets better , but it is best to see a vet. good luck.

ps , mine was approx 17 years old and did not show any sign of pain


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[andy-hughes]

Purring is no guarentee of happiness in a cat - some cats purr even if in extreme pain, so don't take that as a sign that your cat is OK.

He is obviously coming to the end of a long life, and he sounds like a poorly old man.

You have to balance prolonging the inevitable for your own feelings, which is totally understandable, with what is best for him.

Take him to the vet and ask for an honest opinion, and take your vet's advice.

If the vet says your old fella is fine and will simply die naturally in a few months, and is not in pain or suffefing, take him home, keep him comfortable, and love him for as long as he is there.

If the vet says he is suffering, or simply lingering on with no real quality of life, then you must let him go.

Remember, your vet will give a dispassionate opinion based on what is best for your cat, and you should go with what he says.

Hope you get the first decision, and are brave enough to be prepared for the second.

[afcjan]

Jenni

your post brought back some sad memories for me. I lost my cat at 16 not in a similar fashion to you. he had a stroke which affected his heart and paralysed his back legs.

I didnt want him to go to the vet because I was scared he wouldnt come home again which is what happened.

as much as it hurts take him to the vet, but believe me I know how much you are hurting over him.

god bless you

Jan xxx

[jenniprice]

I took him to the vet last week for the conjunctivitus in his eyes.
My cat was happy and alert then and purring again..

Vet gave hima check over and said seemed fine, just bit old and frail.

He litterally started this toilet trouble the day after he had been, so don't know whether to ring the vet to see what he thinks, since only saw him the other day? Though I'm never sure if remember them since probably see so many...

[Schutzengel]

FAO Jenni,
I did post an answer for you about the conjunctivitis, suggesting you took him to the vets. Did you do that?
As regards the present problem, the cat definitely needs to be seen by a vet. It is possible that the vet may suggest that your cat is coming to the end of its life. You really should be strong enough to do the right thing for a cat you obviously love. Please don't leave it any longer. If it is to be the end, then making the decision is the last loving thing you can do for him. I do feel so sorry for you and I know how hard it is, I have a female cat who is 21yrs old, and dread the time I have to make that final choice. Will be thinking of you. Schutz.

[Rosetta]

Jenni, as this is a totally new problem you need to take him to the vet again. As you know cats are very fastidious creatures and it must be horrible for him to be incontinent like this.

Its the hardest thing to do to let them go and something we all dread. But your vet will give you impartial advice so see what he says . You will know in your heart what is the right thing to do.

Best wishes Rosy xxx

[jenniprice]

Thank you for all your answers.

I will take him to the vets again to see what he says but I don't think I'll like the news.
But like say he hasn't got a very good quality of life as he used to be so independent when he was younger.
I would rather him die at home though so in a way it'd be nice if he's safe in his home but if not it's best to take him to be put down.

Again thanks for your support, I know what I need to do, I just dont know what I'll do without him :-(

[lankeela]

My criteria for keeping an animal alive is whether they can eat and drink and get out to go to the toilet on their own. I would not let an animal suffer the indignity that some humans have to. It is the one last act of love you can do for them.

Better a day too soon, than a moment too late.

[paddywak]

Jenni, please take everybodies advice and take him to see the vet, after giving you 16yrs of happiness he deserves some dignity at the end. If the news is bad but you still feel you want him to die at home most vets will come out to your house. When I lost Che my first dog (he was at 15yrs a very old gentleman for a GSD) I had the vet make a house call and Che just lay in his basket and went to sleep while I stroked his head. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope you have a happy result and a t least a few more months with your friend

[madboutcats]

Theres nothing more i can add as everyone has given you such sound advice. Its only a couple of months since my mums puss,big ginge took his final trip to the vets, we took him as he'd lost the use of his back legs and secretly mum was hoping the vet could help but i knew in my heart it was his time as in a matter of weeks he'd suddanly aged. He still purred like an engine right till the end. I hope we have all helped you make the right desicion and we are all here for you at any time. ((((hugs))))xxxxx

[ruthann58]

hi jenni there is nothing i can say that has not already been said apart from the vet will come to you if you want him to end his days at home it costs a bit more but its worth it if you would feel happier about his passing i had a cat earlier in the year that was being for ongoing cystitis by a young vet for over a month i took him in and saw my normal older vet he examined him and said he was 99.9 per cent certain he had cancer in his bladder and there was no good outcome to come and advised me to let him go which i did but i do regret not bringing him home and having the vet come out the next day and putting him to sleep here

[Schutzengel]

FAO Jenni,
How are you today love. Just a line to let you know you and puss are in my thoughts.

[jenniprice]

Hi
Oh thank you much appreicated.

I brought him a cat litter tray and he has been using it!
Does this perhaps mean he just was too weak to go outside or too cold?

i thought i will give it a few days and see if he keeps using it.
If he wets himself again then I will contact the vet-what do you think?

Thank you for all your kind words, I am still worried as think he has gone very old and frial, and don't know how long he has left..

[Schutzengel]

Jenni, I don't know if this will help, but my Tansy who is 21yrs, is also quite skinny, (old cats lose muscle tone which makes them look skinny) and is eating well, and seems quite happy, but since the weather became so very cold, she has never attempted to go outside, and has used the cat litter tray (which has always been there, not used very often, but there for possible night-time emergency use). Now she uses the tray all the time as needed, and likes to lie in front of the fire, or on a rug in front of the dining room radiator. So perhaps it is to do with it being so cold, as she is seeking extra warmth. It did occur to me that when your cat had its distressing accident, that it could have had a chill, which could have caused it. I'm glad that he is now using the litter tray. If he continues to eat well, keeps using his tray, seems content, and is kept warm, I think a few more days to see how things go might well be the thing to do. Then if things stay like that, I would suggest a trip to the vet to get him checked out. Old cats are like old people, they do feel the cold much more, and need extra warmth and care. By the way it seems we shouldn't be talking of him as 'him' when he has a name. What is it? You have had such a lot of good advice from the lovely people on here, which I'm sure has been a help to you. Every person who has replied has shown a lot of concern for both you and your cat. Please let us know how things are progressing, and remember there's always someone on here to talk to who understands how you are feeling. Love to you and cuddles for puss. Schutz.

[jenniprice]

Arh thank you schutzengel.

Yes I am hoping it is just the cold. Actually he has been sitting on the boiler alot for warmth.
He has always used the catflap to go outside so never thought he would need cat litter tray as got older, but hopefully this is all he wanted to use.

His name is Merlin by the way.
He's black all over so we thought was like a witches cat, so remember thinking that name suited him, but he's not horrible he's so lovely, little purrer!

Rest assured thow if he keeps wetting himself though I will take him to the vet, but I just hope this works, to keep him with us a little longer...

[Schutzengel]

Hang in there Merlin. You have a way to go to catch up to Tansy.

[kita1]

It could well be the cold, imagine if you had to go outside to pee!!!

I always think if an animal has a good appetite then things are usually OK. It is when they stop eating/drinking that I start to be concerned.

It could also be that he has just had a bad few days, sometimes animals have a few bad periods when they get older. My sisters cat recently had about a week where it was not eating much and did not move from its basket, she did not want to take it to the vet for fear of what they would suggest (it is old). I told her to just leave it in peace - it was not in pain, so there is nothing wrong in just letting nature take its course (after all that is what happens to feral cats). Thankfully her cat is now eating and back to normal. I think the vet would almost certainly have suggested putting it to sleep. Sometimes vets feel like they have to suggest a course of action, they cannot just say let it be.

I think if an animal is in pain then by all means have it put to sleep, but if it is not then there is no harm in letting nature take its course and allowing the animal to die naturally in its own surroundings.

Hopefully you will have your furry friend around for a while yet.

[Rosetta]

Jenni, please give Merlin a cuddle from me. I hope he goes on ok, they are such amazing creatures and we love them to bits.

Take care xxx