Mumsnet Talk

He's nearly 9 and we woke up to find him downstairs lying stretched out on the floor by the radiator (nothing unusual). I thought I'd heard him miaowing in quite a yowly way but didn't go to him straight away because it didn't sound too disturbing. Went down and stroked him and he miaowed strangely again when I stroked him. I then noticed that he was lying funny and he then just opened his mouth quite wide but no sound came out - he tried to move and could only pull himself along by his front paws. I called for my DP and we watched as he dragged himself a little further and then he kind of stretched out his front legs in a slow contorted way. That was over 3 hours ago - he very quickly went to having no mobility AT ALL - just lying there breathing in a very laboured way - eyes glazed, whiskers limp. It just looks like the light has gone out.

We rang the emergency vet and arranged to go in but when we looked at him we thought that it would be too stressful to move him - his body is so flaccid and unresponsive - we've put him on a blanket, are stroking him and watching him - we think that getting into a car and carrying him into the vets would just make his possible last hours too traumatic. He's not yowling in pain - every now and again he will pause breathing for a few seconds and we think he's gone and then he will start up again. He was sick a short while ago and he's drooling but apart from the occasional slow spasm where his head slightly lifts or his front paws stretch out he's just lying with a blanket over him going from rapid shallow breathing to barely-there breathing.

As it continues on I am having thoughts of maybe we should take him to the vets but wouldn't it be better for him to die at home under a familiar blanket? Can't work out if we're doing the right thing or not. He was OK first thing - jumped in the bath looking for water in his usual style. It's just so sudden - we tried to move him again just now and wrap him up more and he's just so limp and lifeless.

Don't know what to do for the best so thought I'd post here - am off to check on him again now (DP is with him in the hallway) I did ring the vets again and they said it's up to us whether we bring him in but it does sound like he might be dying and that perhaps we are doing right by just staying close by. The kids are witnessing it all and are confused to say the least.

He could be in pain. You don't know how long he will be like that.
Take him to the vets.

Take him to the vet. Let a professional decide if anything can be done.

Sorry to hear this. But please take him in. He must be suffering. 9 is no age for a cat.

One of my boys had similar aged 2. It was caused by an enlarged heart and a blood clot came away and paralysed him. By the time we found him he was in a right state as all his organs had started to fail Apparently it was genetic, mainly affected moggy males, usually tabbys. Sadly nothing could be done apart from making him comfortable and pain free.

ok thanks for replies...it just feels like he is going to stop breathing any second and he's somewhere warm and familiar... very difficult. I will report back.

If you keep him wrapped in his blanket and he is with you that's familiar enough.

Ourcat was much older but sort of collapsed too, like this. Turned out he'd had a massive internal blled and we had to let hyim go. If it was me, I would take him to the vets. You don't know how long he has, he might get better? It will upset the kids more by not knowing what to do. We got three of ours together and all went to the vets. I stayed in the room with no 2 ds and we just stroked and talked to our cat, after each one of us had been into the room, cried and said goodbye. Making me cry now.

Take him into the vets on your lap, wrapped in his blanket and talk to him. He'll know you're there and maybe the vet can do something for him.

Hope you're ok.

You are not a vet. You cannot assess what is wrong - this could be treatable - you must take him. If he needs to be put to sleep then it will be painless. Dying can take a long time. There are treatable conditions. Please take him.

Your cat is suffering and you are compromising his welfare if you fail to present him to you local Veterinary Surgeon.

Animals quite often go quiet when in alot of pain, it's a instinctual response so predators can't locate them while they are vunerable. Please take him to the vet, at least they could help him go peacefully even if there is nothing else they can do to help him

any news

He died 20 minutes ago. Thanks for all your replies I appreciate you may have different opinions on what should be done but we did what we felt was right - somethign pretty catastrophic happened to him and all his reflexes were gonr almost immediately.

I'm so sorry.

I hope you are ok, and your DC too.

I have been through this twice and it's truly horrible.

Oh no I am so sorry xx

So sorry it is so hard.

I am so sorry cart. <hugs to you and your DP>

I totally get it, Carteblanche. Sorry about your cat. A good death is a fine thing.

I doubt it was to do with money how insensitive

at threes. Uncalled for.

I don't think the cost of the vet was the issue

Hmm what other reason could there be to watch you cat die infront of you without doing ANYTHING to intervene? I'm a vet nurse and have euthanised dying pigeons and frogs that the public have found. Sorry it was intolerable cruelty.

threes, OP didn't mention money and it's wrong to jump a conclusion like that.

But she said she did call the vet but really did n't want to move him.

I think she knew he was near to the end

What other reason?

Because the vet she spoke to seemed to agree with her opinion that he was a)dying b) doing so in familiar and comfortable surroundings.
I am surprised a vet would say that btw, but don't blame OP for listening to him.