I have a cat who is 19 years old. She is in fairly good health - she is affectionate, can see and get around the house, knows who I am, etc. But she cannot hear, has arthritus and the beginning of kidney disease. That's fine, all treatable. The thing that drives me and especially my husband absolutely nuts is that she pees on everything. We can't leave a load of laundry in a pile or even folded in a basket w/o her peeing in it. Sooo stinky. I don't feel right about putting her down yet, she has been my baby for so long - but I wanted opinions on when it should come to that.
2006-10-09 08:30:43 · 24 answers · asked by Daisy 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
What quality of life does she have? You say she gets around fine...does she still eat fine? If she still moves around and eats fine she still has quality of life. Just need to keep laundry OFF the floor....make sure the litter box is easy for her to get in and out.......not make her go up or down stairs to get to it. Be safe and get her checked...could be her kidneys failing making her pee everywhere. My aunt had a cat that would do that............
When all they do is lay around and NOT move...perhaps pee where they lay , not interested in eating.....are looking miserable then it' s time.
There is medicine that can help with her arthitis and should be some to help with her kidneys.
I would do the best you can to make her comfortable and if she shows she is not and is not happy then it's time to let her have peace.
You have had a good number of years with her.........I understand completely sometimes ANY number is never long enough........... : ( .........but at least one day you can look back and be happy you had her this long and I am sure you have a lot of beautiful memories that will help you find some relief when the time comes...........
2006-10-09 09:02:26 · answer #1 · answered by bratty1 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have a 22 yr old cat much as you describe yours. She does always use the litterbox. She doesn't always get her little bottom IN the box however and I do put a pad of newspapers under the boxes to soak up the urine.
Does your cat seem to have trouble getting in and out of the box?
If I felt Cameo were having a problem with that I would just use the newspaper by itself on the floor. I don't have carpeting in my house so it is easy to clean up.
Are you sure she doesn't have a urinary infection or some kind? I would have the vet run a test for a possible infection and antibiotic can help with that.
So I would try to work around the problem - not leaving laundry and things around where she can get at them. I will only euthanize Cameo when she stops eating and does not seem to be enjoying her life anymore. She was a rescue cat and I have only had her for seven years and she is just as dear to me as if I had had her for all her twenty-two years.
2006-10-09 08:39:44 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had a cat who lived to be almost 18 and she was pretty healthy, except she used to pee around the house in her last years too. Incontinence is a possibility, but she could just be confused or her arthritis might make it hard for her to walk all the way to the litter box. You can try adding new boxes in the places she likes to pee, that might help.
I never put her down. She decided one day to stop eating. It seemed like she was just ready to go. After a couple of months of her getting thinner and thinner, I really considered putting her out of her misery. I took her out into the yard and laid her out in the sunshine. I told her that it was breaking my heart to see her this way and I thought it was really time for her to go back to Spirit. I told her that I would take her to the vet the next day and if she wanted to avoid that trauma, she should just go peacefully on her own here at home. I went into the house and within an hour she was dead. I've always been glad she died peacefully.
Gwen
2006-10-09 10:44:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You put a pet down when there are no more good days left...
Peeing on things is a behavior older cats sometimes do when they are arthritic and can't comfortably climb into the littler box.
If you have an extra bathroom or a space you can try this in, give this a try.
Use a baby gate to block the door way. Put down disposable diaper pads. It's possible she will pee on those, they are flat, take no work for her to get on- give it a try. One of my buddies does that with his 19yr old, and it solved the pee problem entirely.
If her urine is really stinky, consider that she may have a bladder infection as well, get her checked.
Don't just chuck her outside, she's an old girl, with sore bones....
2006-10-09 09:19:11 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. Max 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like the cat is getting incontinent. You and your husband will need to decide how much you can deal with in that area - I would keep the laundry picked up though.
If her quality of life has dimished, then it may be time to consider putting her down. But, if she is getting around okay with only minor problems, she may live another few years. I would talk to the vet and see what they recommend.
It's not an easy decision.
Good luck.
2006-10-09 08:33:55 · answer #5 · answered by bmbg2577 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Iv owned over 60 dogs in 22 years and have NEVER had to do that.Once we thought about it because Rascal was crying,,I discovered that because of diabetes,,his feet were cold so he then walked around with tube socks and was ok & stopped crying.There are solutions.This cat is your friend & part of your family.Do the best that you can,,the cat has earned that.Move the laundry off the floor.Try putting a litter box there & several more around the house.Even if you have to keep the cat in 1 room as it is older now & might find that easier for the cat & yourself as well.Good luck. ;O)
2006-10-09 08:36:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
We have young cats with this problem. Just don't leave things on the floor for your cat to pee on- start closing doors and giving your kitty access to only the main rooms of the house, like the livingroom and kitchen. If she's healthy otherwise and is getting around ok, this is probably just a behavioral problem. Ask your vet ...
2006-10-09 08:38:33 · answer #7 · answered by piratewench 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The question is not whether it's a good thing for you. The question is what is best for HER. If she's suffering or hurting or just not enjoying life any more, it may be time. Talk to the vet about her peeing. There may be something you can do for her. But weigh the options carefully. Sometimes our furbabies are just asking for our help.
I've been there, done that. It's not easy. Hugs to you.
2006-10-09 08:36:42 · answer #8 · answered by JoBos 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the cat is functioning well otherwise, we recommend that you do not put it down. You may have to change where you store your laundry or where in your house she's allowed to wander (if urination is a problem for her).
Just remember that some day we will all be old and unable to control our bladdersas well as we'd like to....
2006-10-09 08:34:20 · answer #9 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
have you checked w/ the vet to see if she has a bladder infection? Or is this part of her kidney disease? you have to ask yourself if you would want to live like that. If she is constantly in pain or appears to be fearful because she is deaf then maybe it is time. Don't just put her down b/c she is peeing every were
2006-10-09 09:36:02 · answer #10 · answered by tera_duke 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋