Should I put my cat to sleep?

Question

My cat is 14 years old.He has started to pee/poop in different area's Outside his cat pan.*Yes the cat pan is always cleaned* We have never had this issue before.I dont know what to do! I dont want him to distroy my home.I love this cat and we have had him since he was 7 weeks old.Any advice? Please Im just having a real hard time with this.

Answer 1

No.

You should have him evaluated by a vet. He is trying to tell you something is wrong. It could be as simple as constipation or as serious as numerous other problems.

Think you are summarizing that he's old, and he's sure getting there, but I get this sense from your question that (sigh) what do I do.

I've had animals that have renched my heart out with "what to do?" and it sounds like that's what you are going through.

My vet once told me (after I called her crying) "You will know when the time has come". I really didn't understand until I DID know that the time had come. No more pain, no more suffering for the pet.

I don't think your kitty is suffering just yet (though cats hide it). Just have him evaluated, hopefully by a vet you've developed a bond with. S/he can give you guidance.

My prayers are with you & your kitty.

Answer 2

First, get your cat a thorough veterinary checkup. But until you can get to the vet, I'd suggest putting small litter boxes, cleaned daily, near or where your cat is pooping/peeing. By that I mean "near" if the cat is pooping on the bed because he'll probably use the nearest box if he doesn't have to hop up. If he's going under dressers, tables or behind furniture, that's where you put the boxes. I used to use disposable roaster pans where there was room, and disposable aluminum pie pans where the spaces were tighter--I had kittens who Did Not Want to use the regular catbox for a while. You do have to check the smaller, strategically placed boxes daily, and clean them daily. Still, it's easier than cleaning messes off of carpets, hardwood floors, furniture and the like.

Oh--if you have just introduced a new family member, whether that's a love interest, new spouse, new child, new pet--it may be that the cat really doesn't like the new family member. I had a cat who would very carefully remove all my clean clothes from a laundry basket and poop all over my new boyfriend's clothes. Once I figured out what she was doing, and what the boyfriend was doing, I thought it was GREAT. I and the cat dumped the boyfriend not long after.

Answer 3

Several things to think about. Is the cat in pain? Has a vet been consulted? Sometimes an older animal can get an infection and become so uncomfortable when eliminating that the litter pan becomes a source of pain in his mind. I would first consult a veterinarian before considering euthanizing your beloved pet. If the cat is in pain and the vet can do nothing then of course putting him down is a mercy. Just be sure you are with him until the end hold him and talk to him. Your voice will comfort him and allow him to know he was loved to his last breath.

Answer 4

While this is old for a cat it's not necessarily that old. One of my cats lived to be almost 20 before she died of old age. There may be other things you can do before you decide to put him to sleep.
There are many reason why a cat quits using it's litter box so I'm not going to try to list them all here. Go to: www.catchannel.com When you get there follow the link which says "Cat Behavior" from there click on the link "Inappropriate Elimination". There will be at least two articles there about how to diagnose the problem and cure it.
This is also the site sponsored by "Cat Fancy" magazine so it should have some very helpful information for you.

Answer 5

This is a decision that you should make with as much information on the health of your cat as possible.

Take him to your vet to rule out any health problems that could be causing him to avoid the litterbox. Once you have the vet's information on the cat's health, that should be the time you should make a decision.

It's hard sometimes for us to part with a pet that we have loved for so long, but it's also a matter of the cost of potentially replacing carpet or wood floors that the cat has destroyed.

Answer 6

That is not a good reason enough to put your cat to sleep, come on cause he's peeing and craping outside the cat pan..That's the same thing that happens to the elderly, would you kill them..Firstly check your cats health, and if the cat is in pain/suffering then you should but not cause of the reason you gave. With that reason i don't think you love your cat enough.

Answer 7

This is something that I see everyday at the vet I work at. You may want to try calling your veterinarian to discuss what your other options are other than euthanasia. Sometimes those type of things can be behavioral or an actual medical problem like a urinary infection. Try to decide what is best for your cat. Basically if he still has quality of life than try and help him before jumping into euthanasia.

Answer 8

The first thing that needs to be evaluated is his health. If he has an infection, it could cause pain while going to the bathroom. When this happens, cats often avoid the litter box because they associate it with the pain they experience while relieving themselves.

Don't jump the gun. Your cat may be sick. Only the vet will be able to tell you. So get him to one soon.

And good luck!

Answer 9

I lost my cat, Sam, when he accidentally fell from 13th floor. I will never never suggest you put your pet cat to sleep. That is too cruel! Since you have him for almost 14 years, what more to put up with him for a while longer? Given his age, he may not have much longer to live. Pray hard that he doesn't suffer anymore longer. If you love your cat, let him be.

Answer 10

Take him to the vet and have him checked. It may be a dietary problem or infection which can be treated. But, I do understand how you may be feeling. My dear Pretty Kitty had to be put to sleep a few years ago and I was very sick at the time, so it made me extremely sad. I hope it's something treatable. God bless you and your cat!