How will I know it's time?

Question

My cat is 15 and seems to be in some pain. I owe it to him not to let him suffer. I don't want to let him go before it's time. How do I know? I always thought I would know. I'm so sad.

Answer 1

I personally try to gage how much they are still enjoying life by observing their behavior. Does he still like to play? Does he still greet and cuddle you? Does he enjoy his normal food, or at least treats? If he does not eat on his own, will he eat if you encourage him to? Does he cry when he gets up or you try to pet him? If he cries, does he do the action that hurts anyway?

I have a 15 year old cat who has noticeable stiffness as well, but I noticed improvement after feeding him some glucosamine supplements and moist food made of fish every other day. Your vet should be able to help you choose a treatment for him, and might give him an anti-inflammatory shot for temporary relief while he begins his new treatment.

I had a rabbit (I know, cats and rabbits are like apples and oranges, but in this instance I think its relevant) who suffered from wry neck and became very ill three times. Wry neck is a disease that rabbits are normally euthanized immediately for, but I couldn't put him down when I realized that he was *trying* to eat. So I spoon fed him baby foods and applesauce, and used the time I would normally spend letting him hop in the backyard to quietly pet him and feed him soft treat foods like crushed bananas. He recovered two out of the three times.

So, even if you ultimately can't save your pet, you can take comfort in the fact that you took great care of him for 15 years, you were vigilant enough to notice he was in trouble, and were able to make his last days happy.

Answer 2

I am very sorry about your cat. My husband and I had 2 older cats- one was 15 and very healthy the other was 17 and had kidney disease.

Our 15 year old died unexpectedly, The 17 year old cat lived on. She was 14 or 15 when she was diagnosed. We took her for fluid treatments for about a year. Finally, her heart began to give out and we had to make the sad decision.

My advice is take your cat to the vet and see what he/she says. You may be able to give him medication for a while. Maybe he has arthritis?

Let the vet help you make this big decision.

Answer 3

One way to know, at your cats age, is when he stops eating, drinking, losing weight and incontinent, and by that time it's usually too late to save him.

If he is eating and drinking then your vet can determine what is the cause and if he is a good vet, not after your money, he can tell you if he is worth saving or letting go.

In any case, I would get him in and find out what is wrong.

You may never forgive yourself if you just let him die a painful death. He gave you 15 years and now you owe him the best care you can.

My cat was 14yrs and very healthy. One day she shopped eating, drinking and lost weight. After a week or so I took her to the vet and he took x-rays and blood tests. Found out she had lung cancer and would ultimately die at home suffocating. We brought her home and kept her another week. She got worse and I didn't want her to suffer any longer.

How I knew is was that time was when she stopped eating her favorite food.

It's so hard because we love them so much. Best to you.

Answer 4

Almost all cats over 15 years old have a collapsed vertebral disc in their spine. Most don't show any signs of pain but some can appear lame in the hind limbs or show signs of pain when walking or rising from lying down. I would go to your vet and they can do an orthopedic exam to see if there is in fact bone or joint pain associated with the pain you notice in your cat. The pain can easily be managed with joint medications and you might have another few years with your cat than you thought.

Answer 5

It is hard to tell with cats, as they will often try to hide illness from others out of insinct. I would take the cat to a vet that has a cat themself, or that specializes in cats, and she what they say.

15 is getting quite old for a cat, however there are many medical advancements out there that could enable your cat to live happy and health for a while longer.

Also, if you suspect your cat is ill be VERY careful not to let it get in a situation where it could run outside - like I said above, cats will try to go hide if ill, and you don't want it running off by itself!!

Answer 6

This is a very hard thing to have to go through, my thoughts are with you and your kitty. I had a siamese that I just lost a couple years ago. She had been with me for 17 years. More than any wife of mine *LOL* She saw me through 3 wives. That's alot of memories.

She had developed some renal failure (common in cats) and when she just got too tired and weak to walk, that was time. She never was in any obvious pain, but I could tell it was just time. It still brings tears to my eyes to have to take her to the vet, and it was heart-rending to leave her there and leave without her. It still brings tears to my eyes to think about it even as I write this.

But you'll know when the time is right. You just have to separate your need for him to stay with you and balance it with his right for peace. Whether or not you want it, when you got him, you became his caretaker (and with that, a bit of a "god" to him). You need to let him go before he suffers. You should be able to see when that point arrives.

I'm sorry for your friend.

Answer 7

I am sorry your cat is having problems. He should be examined by a vet and have a blood panel done to see if there is something treatable or to get some opinion as to what might be causing him to be uncomfortable.

It may cost around $150 and I feel you owe it to him. If he has something incurable then it may be best to let him go so that he does not have to suffer unduly.

Answer 8

15, though young to a human, is very old for a cat. I suggest taking him to the vet's, or if you don't want to do that, look online at pet health sites for information. Try google and searching for something. I suggest taking him to the vet, though. $45 is like nothing when it means the health of your animal friend. Just prepare yourself for the worst so it's not like a smack in the face.

Answer 9

I think that putting him down seems like a good idea.
It really hurts, ive had my cat put down before.
But if you dont want to you dont have to.
But i think if hes in that much pain then you should take him out of its misery. I'm really sorry.

Answer 10

i swear on my life..this girl's good. she helped me find my cat over 60 mi away. (not kidding) ask her....just give it a shot even tho u dont believe its tru.

http://www.moonwindsrescue.com/Moonwindsrescue/animal_communicators.htm