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The litter tray

Is it time?

7 replies

PlentyOfPubeGardens · 13/01/2015 20:52

Our old lady is going on 23. Physically she's not in bad shape. She's got a good appetite and good teeth to go with it. Her organs are holding up fairly well - she's drinking a bit more than she used to but not excessively and her weight is stable. She's getting a bit stiff and doddery but doesn't appear to be in any pain. She can still run up and down stairs and still goes out occasionally. She seems happy - purrs and chats a lot and loves a cuddle.

However I think there might be issues with dignity. She's become very unreliable with using the tray. She usually goes near it, sometimes she then gets in to try to bury it. She doesn't wash herself properly any more. Partly this is because she is stiff but mostly she's just forgotten I think. We spend a lot of time brushing her and rubbing her down with those 'grubby pet' wipes but, to put it bluntly, she smells.

The last week or so she has taken to climbing into the cat tray and curling up to sleep. This is what is making me feel that the time might have come to say goodbye. I don't think she has much of a clue what's going on, she is literally curling up and going to sleep on her own poo Sad I don't think she's suffering but she always used to be such a dignified, clean cat and I'm finding this latest behaviour really upsetting. It's not something I'd wish for my own old age, even if I was too senile to be bothered.

DH thinks I'm anthropomorphising and that as she still seems happy and not in pain we should carry on. We all love her to bits and just want to do right by her so I'd be grateful for others' opinions.

Sorry to post yet another 'is it time?' thread - I can see there are a few on this topic at the moment. Flowers for anyone else who's facing a difficult decision.

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SacredHeart · 13/01/2015 20:58

Personally if she's not suffering or in pain poor toileting and grooming habits wouldn't be enough for me to say goodbye.

But only you know what's right - better a day early than a day late.

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cozietoesie · 13/01/2015 21:08

I would suspect that her recently changed behaviour is a signal that things are winding down seriously for her. Only you can make the decision but I would stay very alert to further changes in her - as SacredHeart said, better a day too soon than a day too late.

I feel for you in this. My own boy is getting old and I think I may be in your position soon.

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PlentyOfPubeGardens · 13/01/2015 21:28

Thanks. It's a huge blessing that she's not suffering and so there's no immediate emergency. OTOH I don't think I could bear for this to go on for months.

It's the sleeping in the tray that's bothering me the most. She was smeared in shit when I came in this evening and she didn't seem to even notice.

This sounds awful but ideally I'll come down one morning soon and find she's just gone in her sleep.

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cozietoesie · 13/01/2015 21:39

She sounds old and tired - and maybe if she's becoming used to all the smells, she doesn't notice the extra poo smell. I'd maybe get her another tray for the duration and train everyone to remove soiled litter and solids the moment they're aware of them. (I do that for Seniorboy although, luckily, I work from home so am in a position to so do.) That way, you can be sure that you've gone the full mile for her.

All the best.

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PlentyOfPubeGardens · 16/05/2015 20:33

Update: Ancientcat went this afternoon. She had some seizures over the last few days but was quite happy inbetween. She spent her last day eating sushi and having a little dodder around the garden.

She had a good four months after I started this thread, so thank you Cozie and Sacred, I wouldn't be without these last memories x Flowers

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cozietoesie · 16/05/2015 21:31

I'm glad she and you had that good last four months.

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hiddenhome · 16/05/2015 21:57

So sorry to hear about your kitty. 23 is a great age to get to. Lovely that she had some sushi and a last walk around the garden.

Flowers

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