The vet advised because of his age it may be best to just enjoy him while he is around instead of putting him through rigorous treatments that he may not even survive for his age. His kidneys are working a 10% capacity. As you can imagine, I'm completely devastated. Has anyone gone through this and wondering in anyone's opinion "how much time" before the inevitable. The vet thinks not much more time. When will I know the time is right to end his suffering.
2007-01-20 02:53:40 · 12 answers · asked by Jasper 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
I'm sooo sorry to hear that.. Just spend quality time with him while you still can! When his quality of life deterorates you will know when it is time.. Again, I'm so sorry :(
2007-01-20 02:57:45 · answer #1 · answered by debra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all let me say how sorry I am for you. I went through the very same thing last year, only my cat was 17. As the vet says, enjoy your time with it now. You will know from your cats behavior when it is suffering. It will become too tired to eat and will just want to lay sleeping most of the time. It will also prefer not to be handled. When it gets to anything like this stage then it is time to do the cat a kindness. It is very very hard to think about but it is your last act of love for your companion.
2007-01-20 11:59:21 · answer #2 · answered by artemis_of_the_woods 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your vet thinks that SQ Fluids are a good thing. Doing that 1 to 2 times a week will buy you 2 months to 2 years with your cat. I have seen it at my own clinic.
When your cat quits eating, drinking, showing interest in life it is probably time to end things.
I had to make this decision recently, but my cat also had an enlarged heart so I spent the weekend with him then had him put to sleep that Monday. Good luck with your cat I know what a sad time you are going thru.
2007-01-20 11:02:40 · answer #3 · answered by Jessica H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my 14 year old golden retriever began renal failure very suddenly in early December. she was at the vet hospital for 10 days being given fluids, etc but she never would eat without vomiting and she had watery diarrhea. she was very weak and not getting better. i took her home to see how she's do since the fluids weren't helping and it was the saddest thing I'd ever seen. she wouldn't even lift her face up without me helping her. the next day someone from the vets came over and she was put to sleep and then we buried her in the backyard. the putting her to sleep part was the most peaceful thing I've ever seen. she literally just closed her eyes and and you could see the peace. I'd never keep an animal that is that weak and helpless alive just for the sake of not wanting to let go.
2007-01-20 11:06:40 · answer #4 · answered by T G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll know when it's time. He'll look unhappy and ill. My Rupert lasted about another 6 months with chronic renal failure and then suddenly went downhill. It was a Sunday evening, and we thought we'd have to take him to be put to sleep the next morning. He dragged himself out of his basket, laboriously climbed up onto my mum's lap, miaowed once, lay down and died. He was 19.
Keep a close eye on him, if he's suffering, you will know.
2007-01-20 11:21:20 · answer #5 · answered by Liz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don´t know but I can tell you more about it.
Chronic renal failure (CRF, or "chronic kidney failure", CKF, or "chronic kidney disease", CKD) is a slowly progressive loss of renal function over a period of months or years and defined as an abnormally low glomerular filtration rate, which is usually determined indirectly by the creatinine level in blood serum.
2007-01-20 11:19:20 · answer #6 · answered by Robin V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really feel sorry for you and your cat. This did happen to me and my husband 5 years ago.We had a Siamese female with diabetes and renal failure. Our vet suggested a hospital in Columbia,Mo. saying there is always hope. We made 3 trips taking her there to stay for weeks at a time.Each time we brought her home we got our hopes up but she continued to worsen and was miserable so we decided to let nature take it's course.We just could not put her down so we kept her home. She would try to hide in a quiet place to die but it broke our hearts and we would retrieve her and put her in our bed. She died one night with us on either side.I have always regretted taking her to the hospital and leaving her and wished I would have let her stay home and enjoy the rest of her life peacefully.I hate to say this but I feel it was selfishness on our part for not putting her down sooner. She got to be so skinny and couldn't walk.But we just couldn't let go.I know it's silly to some but the next day we couldn't go to work and stayed home and both of us cried and mourned her.This was all in 5 months time.
2007-01-20 11:30:44 · answer #7 · answered by gabeymac♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know it's hard to do, but the only honerable thing you can do for him now is to put him to sleep.
I had a cat that I dearly loved and watched him die of kidney failure... I would never put any cat or other animal through that pain again.
2007-01-20 11:02:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same thing happen. When your cat stops greeting you at the door and pretty much is lying down in one spot, it is probably time. When it can't go potty, it will start to puff up. It may purr all the time trying to comfort itself.
It is a sad time.
2007-01-20 11:01:16 · answer #9 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had this happen to a cat of mine but she was much younger. It got so bad she could not stand or eat. If you see suffering, it's best to say goodbye now because it will get worse.
2007-01-20 11:05:40 · answer #10 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are very personal decisions. Put your cat needs above your own. I am sure you will miss him very much, but don't let him suffer so you can avoid your own loss.
When he stops eating, or is having trouble breathing is probably time.
2007-01-20 11:03:37 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋