Is it time for my cat to say goodbye?

Question

My cat, the love of my life, is not doing well and I have to make the horrible decision of whether to put her down or not.

She’s old. Her age is unknown (adopted 2 yrs ago) but it’s estimated to be around 14. She has kidney failure and has been receiving treatment for about 9 months. The kidneys are really bad and the treatment has not “fixed” it but it has been effective in the sense that kidneys have been stable.

Problem: about two weeks ago, her right eye started getting bloody. The doctors said it’s due to high blood pressure. After all the treatments, the eye got worse and now my poor baby has developed glaucoma. The blood pressure came down a little but it’s still high.

Decision

Option 1: Removing the eye: given her physical condition, her chances of surviving the surgery/recovery are 50/50 %.
Her vet said she may have about six months to live after the surgery.
Option 2: Putting her to sleep.

I cant decide. Please help, SOON.

What makes it hard for me is that she's still eating and enjoys her tummy rubs and purrs when I hug her. If she was in a lot of pain she would stop eating and go hide is some corner....I keep asking what if she were to live another year or more if I do the surgery? Kindney failure is actually not painful; it's more like a silent killer. It's just the surgery may have complications. But it may not. I just don't know what to do.

I have got 4 opinions. Glaucoma in cats is not treatable like it is in humans especially when the cat is already blind (mine was blind when I adopted her). The eye has to come out because it's pain if it doesn't. So it's either risk the surgery or let her go.

My problems is that I do know if SHE is ready to leave. I'm willing to do whatever she wants only if she could talk and tell me. I would never keep her alive if she is suffering and I know she would tell me if she was ready to go. I don't she's ready to go yet because she's eating, purring, using her litter box...it's just that the outcome of surgery may not be good.

Oops, I meant "my problem is that I DON'T know if she is ready to leave"...

Answer 1

put her to sleep.

why?
1) u need to deal with it sooner or later
2) she doesnt have to suffer anymore and she can go off to heaven
3) u save the money

Answer 2

Glaucoma is no reason to remove an eye. For humans they use eye drops to reduce the pressure. We are not talking about blood pressure causing this problem. Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure of the vitreous humor (the fluid in the eyeball that helps the eye to keep its shape). I think you need a second opinion. Some vets just don't like to waste their time on cats and some just don't like to waste their time on fixing things... they have a cure-all answer... kill it.

Get a second opinion, and go to a vet that takes care of mostly cats (there are some who specialize in cats). That would be your best bet at this point in time. Don't let them talk you into euthanasia. You've invested this much in this kitty so far, and it seems like such a waste to kill kitty over something that isn't life threatening.

I had a vet tell me once that a cat I had, had cancer. Well the tumor turned out to be a bug larvae that hatched under the cat's skin. Once the bug was gone, so was the "tumor". Oh, I was the one who removed the "tumor", the vet just wanted to euthanize my baby.

Answer 3

I sympathize with you and the decision you have to make. I've been there before and based my decision on the fact that no matter what we did, the cat would not get better. Treatment would only prolong her life and at what cost emotionally to me and my cat? The pain of surgery vs. the pain of no surgery vs. perhaps success with the surgery or not.

Cat's don't make decisions on whether or not they're ready to go because they'll love you no matter what. By the time they show signs of acute problems, they've already suffered enough. I loved my cat so much, I still think of her and it has been 10 years ago I had to let her go. I was confident that I was releasing her from a life of increasing pain and disability. Even though it was rough on me, it could have been rougher on her and I think it's easier for me to bear the pain. Be strong.

Answer 4

Im so sorry to hear this. I had the same issue. My cat was 19 and was having kidney failure, diabetes and dehydration, the list goes on. She was my life. She has been my best friend for 19 years! (ok starting to cry) I refused to put her down. Yes, I pissed the vet off, but I could afford to keep her taken care of and comfortable. So, she was put on meds, IV treatments and everything, just to keep her happy. Eventually after about 6 months after she was diagnosed, she went on to heaven, on her own, at home with her sisters. The only difference is my cat wouldnt eat or use the litter box. Your wonderful kitty sounds so happy. Think about it, would you rather have her go in a cold, lonely vets office or would you rather her go when she is ready and with her loved ones? I would choose to let her decide when she wants to go. I am against putting animals to sleep. Im pretty sure that there is only one god, and he is not your vet. Dont let your vet decide life, only you know your cat. Give her a chance. I see animals as humans, and its illegal to take a humans life right?
Shes happy, let her be. My cat had surgery too and they gave her less than 50/50 and she was ok. But she had good vitals and good blood work at the time. Im not promising that she would be ok during or after surgery, but let her decide when she wants to go. Dont make the decision for god or for her. Just treat her, make her comfortable and be there for her when she needs you. I really hope this helps. BTW, about the 6 months left to live after surgery....think about it, thats a long time for your kitty, plus you never know, she could always do better and stay around longer. Im not trying to get your hopes up, and give you false hope. Im just trying to give you some advise from someone thats been there.

Answer 5

If she is still enjoying life, I think you should let her live. Euthanasia is a last resort, when the suffering is too unbearable. I would say to do the operation. If she dooesn't survive, at least you've tried. She definitely won't survive the other option, putting her down, will she? If she lives, she may live even more than the doctors expect, quite happily.

PS. Do get a second opinion, and in case the surgery can be avoided, even if she goes blind, let her be. Cats can live and find their way around well even if they are blind.

Answer 6

The main factors to consider are if she is still eating and drinking, the cost of treatment for prolonged time, the quality of life. Weigh them up, and see if she would have more good times than bad - if it'd be mostly bad, you know what you need to do.
It's a horrid choice to have to make, so I would go to another vet and get a second opinion, this isn't a decision to be made based on one person's prognosis of the diagnosis made.
Best of luck to you, and thanks for caring so much!

Answer 7

Oh my gawd your cat has been through a lot. I let one of my dogs go too long without making "the decision" and have never forgiven myself. Cats can not take pain medication as well as dogs due to their liver not being able to break it down and process it, so you need to get her out of pain and not put her through any more. And a word of warning, it will seem as if the day you decide, she will appear better. I don't know if it is a sense of peace they have, but it is strange. My prayers are with you both.

Answer 8

I know too well of the decision your are facing and how it just cripples you to even think of it. But part of being a responsible pet owner is to ensure you pet receives the best care that you can provide. And for me, personally, if that means my pet (whether it's a cat, dog, mouse, etc.) is suffering physically, it's time for me to do what is right and end the suffering.
I know this is breaking your heart and weighing heavily on your shoulders, but I think deep in your heart you already know what you have to do. She will always be with you in your mind and heart, and that is what means the most.

Answer 9

I would put the cat to sleep. You probably don't want the cat to live a painful life. I just recently had to put my cat to sleep. She was 13, and she was having strokes in her hind legs, and she had an enlarged heart. Due to what she's going through, I would put her to sleep.

Answer 10

I'm going to tell you the same thing my mom told me. Sometimes a parent has to learn when to let go.
It is time for your furbaby to cross over the rainbow bridge. Let her go, have her put to sleep. Its painless. They'll give her a shot to make her go to sleep that she won't wake up from.
I know I would rather give my furbabies a painless death than to let them suffer for about six months, just because I couldn't bare to be without them.
Light and Blessings to you and your furbaby

Answer 11

i think u should have a long talk with your vet and ask him if any of it is painfull for her, if it is put her down, but if not, then give her a chance and then mayby she will die peacefully in her sleep, but if the ye is causing her pain, then get it removed and then if she survives surgery and recovery, if anything after that is painfull for her, put her down, or if its not enjoy the time you had left with her