How to know it’s time- cats

[ste]

How do you know when it’s time to put a cat down? I feel like the signs with a dog are a little more clear/identifiable, but I’ve never been in this situation with a cat before.

My grumpy old cat is 19. She has thyroid issues, which we treat. Her grooming essentially stopped when her thyroid got bad, but had improved. It’s dropped off a little again, but not to where it was. We’ve had issues with her peeing outside of the litter boxes, but after lots of changes it stopped. Until this week.

She’s otherwise still social, wants to be petted, sit with us, etc. She’s been tested countless times for UTI and diabetes, and it’s always normal/negative.

[karinothing]

I asked this question a few years ago with my cat, who was suffering from cancer. However, when it was time it because VERY obvious. My cat didn't pee outside the litter box until the end, but it wasn't just peeing outside the litter box. She was unable to get up to pee. So she would just pee on herself in my bed or her bed and then not move or clean herself. We called the vet as soon as we realized.

[ste]

Sept 13, 2021 7:22:52 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I asked this question a few years ago with my cat, who was suffering from cancer. However, when it was time it because VERY obvious. My cat didn't pee outside the litter box until the end, but it wasn't just peeing outside the litter box. She was unable to get up to pee. So she would just pee on herself in my bed or her bed and then not move or clean herself. We called the vet as soon as we realized.

Ugh I’m so sorry. 🙁 She’s definitely still very capable of going in the litter box, she’s never once (possibly in her life, although I probably just jinxed it lol) pooped outside of it. So it seems like an active choice but idk.

[Patsy Baloney]

We had an old girl and an old boy who went within a year of each other.

Our gal had thyroid issues and a heart concern as well. The bad boy had cancer.

The sign for both of them was when they stopped eating or meaningfully eating. They would both lick the gravy on the wet cat food or eat a piece of chicken, but it was not eating-eating. Ada lost a lot of weight fast and her blood work showed her heart was getting worse, so we said goodbye. Inky we didn’t even realize was ill until he stopped eating and bloodwork showed signs of advanced cancer.

Genuinely, I do think a week too soon is better than the potential trauma of a day too late.

[ste]

Sept 13, 2021 7:40:36 GMT -5 Patsy Baloney said:

We had an old girl and an old boy who went within a year of each other.

Our gal had thyroid issues and a heart concern as well. The bad boy had cancer.

The sign for both of them was when they stopped eating or meaningfully eating. They would both lick the gravy on the wet cat food or eat a piece of chicken, but it was not eating-eating. Ada lost a lot of weight fast and her blood work showed her heart was getting worse, so we said goodbye. Inky we didn’t even realize was ill until he stopped eating and bloodwork showed signs of advanced cancer.

Genuinely, I do think a week too soon is better than the potential trauma of a day too late.

She’s DEFINITELY still eating normally. Ugh I wish it was more straightforward.

[aprilsails]

Our 17 year old guy had thyroid issues and we made the decision this winter. He was very food driven right up to the end so that wasn’t the trigger, and he still used the litter box. However he was eating food too fast and getting sick, completely stopped grooming himself, and was crying all the time for food. He didn’t feel well and was hoping food would fix the problem. We felt good about the decision once it was made.

[ste]

Sept 13, 2021 8:07:05 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

Our 17 year old guy had thyroid issues and we made the decision this winter. He was very food driven right up to the end so that wasn’t the trigger, and he still used the litter box. However he was eating food too fast and getting sick, completely stopped grooming himself, and was crying all the time for food. He didn’t feel well and was hoping food would fix the problem. We felt good about the decision once it was made.

This is helpful, thank you. It sounds a little more similar to what we’re experiencing.

My H thinks it’s time, but he’s also not a cat person. So I’ve been struggling with whether I’m being reasonable or not.

[eddy]

For us it was when his conditions became too costly/unrealistic to treat. He hated the vet and hate taking meds as well.

Also he wasn't a super social cat but when he stopped doing the couple social things he normally did, we knew it was time. The norm for him was to come out at 8 pm when the boys went to bed for his pets. We realized he was no longer doing that and started to realize his quality of life was going downhill.

It was agonizing to make the decision. Once we did it though a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders. I never doubted we made the right decision.

In the end we tried to give him the wet food he loved and he didn't touch it. We had already made the appointment but that was our sign we were making the right decision.

[eddy]

Also one thing we did was had the conversation with the vet early. She told us she would euthanize that day, but also didn't think his quality of life was at the end. So we talked through all of the logistics. She gave us to the go ahead that we could just call at any point and they would euthanize. So we got the "approval" out of the way. That made things so much easier. She also gave us hints on what to look for to help us make the final decision. We probably put him down a couple months after that appointment. It was really helpful to have those conversations when we were feeling less vulnerable and to be given permission to make the call at any point going forward.

[aprilsails]

Sept 13, 2021 8:09:32 GMT -5 ste said:

Sept 13, 2021 8:07:05 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

Our 17 year old guy had thyroid issues and we made the decision this winter. He was very food driven right up to the end so that wasn’t the trigger, and he still used the litter box. However he was eating food too fast and getting sick, completely stopped grooming himself, and was crying all the time for food. He didn’t feel well and was hoping food would fix the problem. We felt good about the decision once it was made.

This is helpful, thank you. It sounds a little more similar to what we’re experiencing.

My H thinks it’s time, but he’s also not a cat person. So I’ve been struggling with whether I’m being reasonable or not.

He also had lost a great deal of weight in a period of 1.5 years (he started fat!) so medication and eating his special diet was no longer fixing his problems.

[chickadee77]

We had a cat in her 20s with no underlying health issues. She slowly started not being able to see very well - she would do circles until she got to her litter box, then circles until she got back to the couch. She still ate and used her box fine, she even tried to groom, though it was haphazard, but we had to pull the couch cushion off because she could no longer get up onto the couch. One night, as she was going to her litter box, she literally laid down on the way there to rest, and when she tried to stand back up, her back legs wouldn't even support her. We probably waited a few days too long, honestly, but my H just wasn't ready to let go until he saw that and realized she wasn't going to be getting better. Apparently, when he took her in, the vet did a quick exam and said there was nothing specifically *wrong* with her, just old age and her organs and body were simply failing.

Hugs to you - it's a hard decision to make even when there really isn't a decision to make, if you know what I mean.

[cville]

My girl also ate all the way through the end. For us, we noticed she started getting really still. Yes, cats sleep a lot, but she was like a statute in her sleep to the point where a couple times I thought she'd passed. And when she was awake she just would carefully walk someplace and then freeze in a position for awhile. We realized she was in pain and trying to minimize it. We were scared it was too soon, but then also that if we let it go it would be too late.

We had someone come to the house because she hated the vet. That was the best decision.

[macmars45]

We found out our girl had spleen cancer and it was spreading last May. We were given pain meds to keep her comfortable until it was time. To that end, we knew it was time when she stopped eating and hid under our bed. She only hid when she was scared or in a lot of pain. It was probably 10 days or so after we got the official diagnosis from the vet. We probably waited a day too long. Once we were sure H made a same day appt at our vet and he stayed with her until the end. Due to covid only one person could go in.

[Aloe Vera]

It knew it was time when he was unable to go to his litter box or his food/water. It only lasted a day. We brought him to an emergency clinic because it was a Saturday and it was much worse than we thought. It didn't happen overnight though. He started peeing outside his litter box a year prior. Countless exams and ultrasounds showed nothing. Then he developed diabetes (his glucose was being tested twice a year so he had it less than 6 months for sure), then a tooth infection and 2 weeks later we put him down. His heart was enlarged and he had liquid in his abdomen. He was 19.

[lo]

Our cat is almost 17 and has been having litter box problems for awhile. In our case it’s apparently due to arthritis so we’ve moved a box downstairs, got a “senior friendly” low box, etc etc and it still isn’t helping a ton. She seems fine I’m every other way but it’s very tiring to take care of. She jumps on the high chairs just fine to eat leftover oatmeal.

[mcsangel2]

That sounds like kidney disease/kidney failure. Has she been tested for that? I've had a couple of cats who passed from it. One was on a daily ear cream and thrice weekly subcutaneous fluids for over a year. The other had it with conjunction with lymphoma and we just did the ear cream because she was much to skittish to consider giving fluids to, she lasted another year and a half.

By the end, they stopped grooming themselves and their fur was really ratty. They had lost a LOT of weight. They spent almost all the time sleeping curled up very tightly (body language that indicates they are in discomfort). They were much less interested in interacting with us.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

All I have to contribute is that our old guy had thyroid disease as wel. Weirdly he enjoyed taking his pills for H and even let me give him them once in a while. He was still eating and affectionate, but skeletal skinny. He died in the night and I still feel terrible that we didn’t help him.

[ste]

Sept 13, 2021 9:11:33 GMT -5 lo said:

Our cat is almost 17 and has been having litter box problems for awhile. In our case it’s apparently due to arthritis so we’ve moved a box downstairs, got a “senior friendly” low box, etc etc and it still isn’t helping a ton. She seems fine I’m every other way but it’s very tiring to take care of. She jumps on the high chairs just fine to eat leftover oatmeal.

I admit I am so beyond tired of cleaning up cat pee constantly. And we are half way through a basement renovation we decided to pause vs have it ruined with pee. She also has NO issues jumping up for specific things she really wants (or like I said, getting to/into the litter boxes to poop).

mcsangel2 she’s been tested multiple times, and the vet has said over and over that she is in perfect health except her thyroid, which is controlled. Having something WRONG would make it so much easier. Ugh.

[ste]

Sept 13, 2021 9:29:35 GMT -5 ProfessorArtNerd said:

All I have to contribute is that our old guy had thyroid disease as wel. Weirdly he enjoyed taking his pills for H and even let me give him them once in a while. He was still eating and affectionate, but skeletal skinny. He died in the night and I still feel terrible that we didn’t help him.

Ugh also a fear of mine, although morbidly in some ways that would be (totally selfishly) easier.

[tacokick]

Sept 13, 2021 9:29:35 GMT -5 ProfessorArtNerd said:

All I have to contribute is that our old guy had thyroid disease as wel. Weirdly he enjoyed taking his pills for H and even let me give him them once in a while. He was still eating and affectionate, but skeletal skinny. He died in the night and I still feel terrible that we didn’t help him.

I don’t know the particulars but this sounds like a pretty peaceful way to go. If I got to chose for myself I’d love it to be at home, enjoying taking my pills, eating and being affectionate and just not waking up the next day.

[tacokick]

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this! I would think that like dogs, it might become very obvious?

Your vet should be able to give you some things to look out for too that you might not think of but the increases in “accidents” when everything else is basically fine seems like a sign to me.

[ste]

Sept 13, 2021 9:54:12 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this! I would think that like dogs, it might become very obvious?

Your vet should be able to give you some things to look out for too that you might not think of but the increases in “accidents” when everything else is basically fine seems like a sign to me.

The one vet we talked to (not our regular vet, but one who does home euthanasia) implied that it’s definitely time, and this was a few months ago. Our regular vet has pretty much always been very “come in and we’ll run more tests!” and not really providing clarity or concrete info.

[mcppalmbeach]

Sept 13, 2021 9:54:12 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this! I would think that like dogs, it might become very obvious?

Your vet should be able to give you some things to look out for too that you might not think of but the increases in “accidents” when everything else is basically fine seems like a sign to me.

The one thing I have learned through my mom’s love of cats is that, way more so than dogs, they are very good at hiding their pain. Her vet has always said that if you are noticing things then it has probably been going on longer than you think and is worse than you think.

[moreace01]

shoot, this post is making me second guess myself a little. i have a 17 year old cat with thyroid disease and early stage kidney failure. he eats kinda sorta. he's super into it but doesn't always eat a ton and is so skinny now. he howls a lot and we don't know why. and doesn't groom himself anymore. but doesn't pee outside the box or anything like that. he sleeps a lot.

he does still have the zoomies a few times a week, and chases his much younger brother and is still his jerk self. sometimes.

i figured once he started peeing outside the box a lot (like with a fresh box and he's not just telling me i'm a bad cat mom) or when he has no interest in eating, that's when it's time for us. he still has signs in him that things are ok-ish. and i guess, i'm not ready yet either.

hugs to you. this is rough.

[ste]

Sept 13, 2021 10:19:00 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

shoot, this post is making me second guess myself a little. i have a 17 year old cat with thyroid disease and early stage kidney failure. he eats kinda sorta. he's super into it but doesn't always eat a ton and is so skinny now. he howls a lot and we don't know why. and doesn't groom himself anymore. but doesn't pee outside the box or anything like that. he sleeps a lot.

he does still have the zoomies a few times a week, and chases his much younger brother and is still his jerk self. sometimes.

i figured once he started peeing outside the box a lot (like with a fresh box and he's not just telling me i'm a bad cat mom) or when he has no interest in eating, that's when it's time for us. he still has signs in him that things are ok-ish. and i guess, i'm not ready yet either.

hugs to you. this is rough.

Ugh she also does the howling. 😞