Pets - specifically cats related (posting here for traffic) - sense check before I agree to get kittens!

Thank you so much for this. Our cat had a diabetes scare last year, after several tests it turned out it wasn’t diabetes, but we were told we should repeat the tests and monitor in case any symptoms return. At the time they only mentioned injections so if there’s an alternative I’d like to just keep it in the back of my mind. Thank you again!

Hello, it’s called Senvelgo and has been brilliant for my cat. I just measure a dose and squirt it over his food in the morning. Mine is covered by pet insurance … which is great as it’s pricey… approx £350 every six to eight weeks. It’s a new option at my vets practice so I don’t k so how widely used it is but it’s defo worth asking about. 😊

There’s a saying used a lot by many horsey people I know re euthanising animals - better a week too early than a day too late.

I would say that (as is the case with humans), as cats now live longer, their final years can often be more of a slow decline. I have two 15 year old cats, they both have CKD and arthritis.

The CKD is managed by diet and a daily food supplement. The arthritis is managed by a monthly painkilling injection and twice daily tablets. Thankfully mine are fine taking tablets and are okay at the vet, I imagine that wouldn’t be the same for a lot of cats.

I would say if you’re already worrying about it now, you’re not ready to get more cats.

I may be unusual in this but I’ve always found that adopting an older cat has been better (for me). They’re already housetrained, haven’t destroyed carpets or the sofa and I’ve been able to see how cuddly/ good with people they are. My current boy was 7 when j got him and he’s been amazing. Previous cats were 2,4 and 3 and again all settled really well and bonded with the family quickly.
Might be something to consider. Either way though I hope you have the most amazing kitten/cat experience. 😊

We had 2 cats who were kittens in about 1998. One lived to 15 the other lived to 18. Neither of them had particularly difficult senior years. In both cases their lives continued as totally normal for cats, just slowing down a bit/staying indoors more as they aged. With slightly different specific circumstances for each, their end of life journey was relatively brief - in each case we noticed symptoms which suggested they were ill, took them to the vet, and got a relatively swift diagnosis that this would be a very serious/terminal illness. In one case where the cat was clearly in a lot of pain and would have no quality of life with any more days, we agreed for her to be put to sleep as soon as we got the diagnosis. In the other case as the cat didn't seem to be in immediate distress but was clearly deteriorating, and we took him home for a week before the vet came for a home visit to PTS.

We had a few years cat-free and then got kittens again. One died before the age of one year so we now just have a solo cat. Next time we get kittens I will get 3 because I think cats are better off not being solo.

I do think you need a level headed attitude to euthanasia when a pet is in their senior years. They don't have the same cognitive understanding of their illness as a human would with the same prognosis. They can't tolerate their suffering with dignity while appreciating the blessings of life they can still enjoy. It is best to PTS once they can no longer live the full and happy life you have given them.

One of my senior cats developed a tumour at the age of 15 and became incontinent (pooing and weeing). At that stage she had become very withdrawn and was hiding away (from having been a sociable cat), so I felt the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep. It was heartbreaking and a hard decision because I worried I was doing it because she was incontinent, but it was the right thing to do, she wasn't happy.

My other senior cat eventually had kidney failure. We had two good years with him on meds, which were precious years to me, but then he started wasting away to skin and bone, so again I felt it kindest to put him to sleep. He was nearly 20 and I cried for weeks afterwards because he'd been through so much with me - when I first adopted him, my life had been completely different.

This hasn't stopped me keeping cats. It's the price you pay for years of love and companionship. It isn't necessarily easier if it's different. My elderly dog slowed down a bit but was healthy, then he died suddenly at home of heart failure. The shock was profound, and unlike the cats, I felt I had had no opportunity to say goodbye.

I never had runny poos with any of mine & they rarely ate what they killed as far as I know. I'd be reluctant to get kittens again though as I hate having to deal with the prey they being home

My senior cats just slowed down, slept more and eventually died. But (and I expect to be cancelled for this) I don’t think there is anything wrong-and a lot right-with putting an animal to sleep when their lives are no longer actively happy for them and for their humans. And I mean actively happy. That means more than just existing without physical pain.The cats I have met with dementia are obviously not actively happy. And a cat that can’t physically care for itself and keep clean is not actively happy.

Very easy. Just forget about the ear infection that will not go away and gunk all over my walls that can’t be washed due to the type of paint it is! Other than that yes, he’s 16 and has got more affectionate with age. Doesn’t groom himself much but will let me brush him every few days. Gotten more vocal with age. Rarely goes outside anymore and doesn’t hunt anymore (thankfully) but other than that he’s good apart from the affection thing which means if I’m sat then he is sat on me no matter what I try and do.

Haha good luck with that! Keep their nails trimmed. Have a scratching post as close by as you can so you can pick them up and redirect them to it if they're attacking the carpet. Wand toys and a laser pen are great distractors too.

We had problems with both of our OAPs, both pedigree. One got a tumour which cost a bomb in vets fees (even with insurance) and emotion. We spent a lot of time just being with her, tempting her with titbits etc but no other issues. She was 17.

Her brother developed thyroid problems, gut problems, megacolon, his kidneys failed and in his last weeks his bladder control failed. Again it cost a fortune in vet fees, emotion and carpet cleaner. He was 19.

Despite all that DH has just committed us to new kittens coming soon. What I would say is make sure you have insurance and are committed to having them.

A good rescue will be able to match you with a pair of kittens who are used to children. Kittens are chaos for the first few months though! Into everything, disappearing into hiding places you'd never think they could get into and when they're awake they're either eating or in search of fun. They need a lot of enrichment opportunities and playtime with humans. Getting two is a good idea because then they will also have eachother.

My older cats don't have those issues (yet). Occasionally they poop outside the litter tray but that's simply because they face the wrong way by mistake.
One is quite shouty but to be honest that has always been the case.
I'd say the thing is with older cats is to know when to call time. Mine are all rescues and I don't have fancy insurance (just enough to cover the basics of a car accident type thing) and so when they get to the point of chronic severe illness I then PTS. I feel like I've given them a good life off the streets and they have given me much joy so I don't like to eke out those latter years battling with illness.

Let your DC experience the joy of kittens.

We have 4 cats. I don’t yet have experience of older cats’ issues. The difficulty comes when there is an obvious option to have the cat put to sleep and you are surrounded by sentimentalists.

All I’d say is that the one who has to get the medication into the cat and pay the vet bills is the one who makes the call on getting another. That would be you. Your kids can get their own when they pay the bills.

I've had cats all my life and we got a puppy 6 years ago.

The cats are 100% easier.

My 13 year old collie got bowel cancer and had to be hand fed for his last six months but couldnt get up the stairs or no anything he used to. And was on a large amount of drugs. Dogs can have all the issues your cats had the difference usually is cats get on counters and in sinks and do stuff.

One of mine got dementia but I had seventeen years of love and cuddles from him. Definitely worth it.

I've had both and feel cats are waaaaay easier than dogs.

Beloved family senior went at 19 a couple of years ago. She had been deaf for a couple of years but never seemed to mind. She had kidney issues which we think caused a blood pressure issue though and she was blind the last 6 months of her life because of it- she'd been monitored but the renal issues had caused her little bother til then. My mum was devastated as we'd no idea that this could happen or she'd have done everything to prevent it. The cat was bloody fed up with not being able to see properly. No dementia but obviously it took her some time to re orient herself in the house. She absolutely knew us and felt joy with us for a few months but mum knew when it looked like she'd taken a downward turn and stopped it.

Overall, she was deaf and nominally had renal issues but bar the last six months the only thing that really showed her age wss that she'd stopped taking big jumps on to high surfaces for a couple of years. No toileting issues and had the occasional vom if she gobbled her dinner. Pretty standard!

My first cats died at 22 and 24 (litter mates). The 22yo ran away to die, after developing a thyroid issue a couple of months earlier. That’s an easy medication, but she took matters into her own hands/paws.

The 24yo got scrawnier, more grumpy, couldn’t groom as well - but he had a double coat so I think that’s fair! He did have mild dementia that came and went but it didn’t seem to upset him. He mostly wanted to sit on me or the toasty warm set top box. His only litter issues were as a youngster when he picked up bladder issues that scared him out of using the tray, and when we had neighbours whose entire tomcat regularly peed up our front door, triggering our poor moggy to defend his territory by peeing inside said door!

We overlapped him with kittens and we don’t regret it.

A couple of my cats had arthritis in later years which required £££ painkillers. For me the hardest thing about them ageing is when they get sick and need diagnostic tests. Vets fees are crazy expensive now and if the cat gets poorly you have a responsibility to find out what's wrong and treat it - or do the alternative.
Having said all that... they are also an absolute joy. I'm currently between cats and it's a very quiet house 😞

I’ve lived with multiple cats all my life. None ever got dementia. Most died of cancer. My last cat, aged sixteen was diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma. Admittedly, those last few months, she was doing poos outside the litter tray. The vet gave her three months - then we had her put to sleep at home.

It didn’t put me off cats - we got two rescue kittens six months later.