Please Help! Should I put my cat to sleep?

Question

My cat is 10 years old and has been with me her entire life. She has not been the healthiest of cats. We have been through 2 surgeries for bladder problems. After the last surgery, she has not been the same since. She now urinates & soils on my carpet. When she isn't doing that, she pukes on the carpet. The doctors can't figure out why. I've spent a lot of money on her already & can't afford anymore. She acts perfectly fine, just like a typical cat. I would love some extra advice. I love my cat more than anything but she has cost me a lot of money on top of ruining my carpet. I don't think I could find her a home, who would take her? Also, she is declawed so I don't think it would be safe for her outdoors. Please help! I don't know what to do, I love her but can't put up with this anymore.

Answer 1

First thing I would say, I do think you should go to another vet for a second opinion. There may be something your own vet has missed which could turn this around, and it may not be a very expensive solution at all. Doctors do differ, as the saying goes, and it could be something as simple as a veterinary food that they haven't tried, that could turn your cat around.

Alternatively, it is also possible that the medical issues have in fact been fully resolved, but you may now have a behavioural pattern that has set in as a result of them, or of some other factor that you haven't even noticed (cats are odd and quirky little critters, after all!) This is part of why I would seek a second medical opinion: it may simply help rule out further medical involvement.

If it is behavioural, or you even suspect it is, one simple solution to try is a Feliways plug-in. This is just an electrical plug to which you can attach a bottle of kitty pheromones, which can help a lot to relax a stressed cat. A lot of behavioural problems do occur because of stress.

In any case, I wish to refer you to a higher authority than myself, so I very much recommend that you log on to;
http://kittenadoption.proboards80.com/index.cgi
Set up an account there. I have never come across anyone more experienced with kitty problems, both medical and behavioural, than thesausage (Jan), who set up Kitten Adoption here in Ireland, and who is the Admin of that board.

I would love you to be able to resolve the issue without having to euthanise your cat. 10 isn't all that old, and I would guess by the sounds she does still have a high quality of life, so I would love if she could continue that without compromising yours. Please do ask the great people on that site for help. They do know so much, and I am sure you won't regret it.

Edited to add: People jumping down this user's throat: I work hard for the most humane solution to animal welfare problems here at home all the time, and I really do think this cat sounds like she wants another few years of life. But the best way to achieve that is to try hard to help the person find a solution to the problem. Which almost always can be done with this sort of thing, and is why I am posting a link to some people I really do think can help her resolve it.

It is rarely constructive to jump down the throat of an owner, tell them how horrible they are, or give them high-handded orders what to do with their pets.

Softly, softly, catchy monkey, as they say; it is chiefly through ignorance that animals get the raw deal they do in society, and it is chiefly through education that this will be put to rights, if it ever is to be. Sermon over lol!

Answer 2

While generally i say that if you can't afford an animal, don't get one, I have learned over the years that unforseen circumstances occur and you can only do what you can. Obviously your cat has a persistant problem, something more than just a simple bladder infection, though it does sound like that would be the case. I don't know what tests you have had done since the last surgery, but a urinalysis would be a great start.

To the meat of your question: ultimately it is your choice (obviously). You have had the cat for 10 years, and have cared for it and loved it, taking great care of it. I mean, you did go through two surgeries (not cheap!) to try to ensure her a better life. If they haven't helped, and no other option (medicinaly or surgicaly) can be reached, then putting her down would be the next option. Take the time to think it over, and make sure you are comfortable with the decision. It isn't murder, it may perhaps be the best thing you can do for her. Do not let her outside, that could be the worst thing for her, as with no claws she has no defense from any other animals. I hope things work out for you.

Answer 3

I understand what you are going through. My dog's diarrhea caused by colitis took us months to figure out. The prescription meds & prescription pet food did not help at all. It took prescription meds plus human food to get her straightened out. I also had a male cat that had urinary blockage problems. He had surgery & had to eat low ash food. Is this the health problem with your cat?

There are lots of online groups for about any kind of pet health problem there is. That is where I found the solution for the colitis. It could be a simple thing that is causing her problems and someone else may know what to do to resolve these issues.

If you do not want to keep her anymore you could contact your vet & see if they could find a new home for her. You could put a free ad on Craigslist. You could make a page for her on catster.com & indicate she is available for adoption. And there are many rescue groups out there.

Your cat is not old. I adopted a stray cat & the vet said she was very old. That cat lived 16 more years.

I can see that you want to do the right thing for her. It is just so frustrating when we do not know what to do. I wish both of you the best. Let me know if you need any help with research or finding her a new home.

Answer 4

I am sorry that you and you cat have been through difficult times. My Cedrick (soul mate) passed this summer. It has been difficult and do realize how fortunate we are to have had each other these beautiful years. The past year he was not the healthiest, I spent a lot of money. He gave me a beautiful last year and it was worth it. Now the only regret I have is that I should of always given him these medical treatments (i was in school and couldn't afford it for many years). His brother had surgery this last month and he is taking his time to recover. He has been vomitting often ... the doctor tells me it's ok. But I know better, he was never vomitting before. I decided to give him more blan chicken and small tiny dry food, not the big pieces of senior dry food. He has time that he feels good and he shows us. Take care of her, make sure that she is happy. Ask the vet if you should change her diet to something more sensitive

Answer 5

First of all - winer pit, it's past your bedtime, nimrod. Stick with the video games and don't discuss things you can't possibly comprehend.

Secondly and most important - There is another option for your cat as long as she's not suffering and in pain. Stud pants are like cat diapers and will prevent your home from smelling like a litter box. Since you know more about your situation than I do, nobody can really make this decision except for yourself and your family.

As you've already had the cat for a decade, I have to question your statement about having to spend a lot of money on her and your carpets needing to be replaced. People have children with the same type of severe handicaps, but they accept the responsibility for that kid's care. Of course, if she's just a cat to you, then nothing anyone can say here will likely be of influence in your decision.

Edit - To Pookeygirl

So by your reasoning, when our parents begin to get old and a little incontinent, the doctors should simply stop treating them for ailments and allow them to die, huh? This cat has had two surgeries already to correct the problems and the owner stated that she doesn't seem to be in pain and acts perfectly normally other than vomiting and the bladder issue.

Entropy isn't an easy concept to grasp for a living creature, but it happens all the time. If the cat were in pain, I would absolutely agree with you, but it's not. There is still a certain quality of life there. This owner stepped up and is asking for advice on how to cope with the bladder issue, rightfully so. I would do the same simply because I like living in a clean home that doesn't smell, but it's not your place to arbitrarily condemn people for anthropomorphizing their pets. You elect to view your pets as something less than family members. Not everyone shares your attitude.

2nd edit for Pookeygirl - You digress significantly from the issue at hand. There is no question about giving up a pet voluntarily to a good home. This owner's problem is whether to put a cat down for a medical issue that's already been resolved, albeit not to her satisfaction. Your debate brings in irrelevant issues such as whether you would give up a pet if it hurt children in the home. What does that have to do with this owner's problem? The answer would be 'nothing'.

To the owner of this cat - I apologize for the veracity of this discussion and am only pointing out that in asking for help with a very personal decision, you consider ALL factors and not just what's convenient. You've already spent a great deal of money on new carpets and several surgeries for this animal. It's not that much more money to get her stud pants, particularly if you're attached to her and she's not in pain. I would also recommend that you get some Zero Odor to deal with the smell of urine. Combined with the stud pants, this should alleviate 90% of your current problem.

Answer 6

The drug used to place animals to sleep is truthfully an anaesthetic agent for horses and cows. Basically the positioned-to-sleep process it to provide an overdose of anaesthetic - the animal actually falls asleep because the anaesthetic takes outcome, after which dies at the same time asleep. It is an overly peaceable procedure, real the high-quality approach to cross. The 'first shot' persons are speaking approximately is a sedative. This is not continuously given, simply frequently if an proprietor requests it. Is traditionally pointless, as a unwell animal might not be energetic and can preserve nonetheless for the intravenous injection. I've attended actually hundreds and hundreds of euthanasias. The best time animal ever react to the injection in any respect is that if they are historical and possibly scared, frequently feeling out of the blue sleepy makes them believe bizarre they usually would leap round somewhat. The injection is so fast although - as soon as it is within the blood (and it's injected immediately into the blood) it takes actually seconds to take outcome. There isn't any affliction within the procedure, the drug does not sting. Chalice

Answer 7

Try taking your cat to another vet for a second opinion or a referral center. Sometimes, some one else can see the problem in a different angle and figure out a way to solve the problem.
Have you tried changed her diet for a more bladder friendly diet like hill's C/D.
Or try a pain medication, she might be painful.
Euthanasia is a difficult decision, it something you have to figure out what is the pet for your cat and what is the best for you. Keep in mind your cat's quality of life, and would it be fair to the cat for any of the options you decided.
You can talk to your shelter and see what they can do, many larger shelters have programs for assistance with medical problems or what they would do with your cat if you surrender it.

Answer 8

First to bail out because you "can't put up with this anymore" is selfish and hardly a responsible pet parent. Having a pet is for life. Putting your pet to sleep or adoption is hardly a solution. If you love your cat so much, how could you have the heart to actually do it harm. A second opinion from another vet, perhaps ?

Answer 9

ok first of all never put the cat outdoors. It would be better put to sleep. I am not for putting her down because you can't put up with it. If she is suffering and in pain then put her down, would you want to be living like that. But if she is fine put up ads in pet stores, newspapers, anywhere you can think of. I'm not sure where you live, but you could try a humane society. If you take to a pound they will probably put her asleep because she isn't the healthiest. I'm sorry about your problem and good luck

Answer 10

That's not a reason for putting your cat down. Try another trusted veterinarian. Yours may be missing something. If she is vomiting you should change her food to one for sensitive stomachs. When you see her ready to eliminate take her immediately to the litter. If she is not feeling well, she may just start soiling at the most convenient place. Be consistent. But again, find another vet who may give you a better diagnosis.