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Original poster

When to put kitty to sleep?

27 replies

Crunchymum · 12/09/2020 12:44

Our beautiful 12yo girl is poorly.

She's had urine tests at the vests (she was too aggressive for them to take blood Shock) and I'm awaiting a call back from them now as she has gone downhill overnight.

Is it our decision to have her PTS, or will it be down to the vet?

I'm absolutely gutted to lose her, but seeing her so poorly is making me really upset.

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Hoppinggreen · 12/09/2020 12:46

I’m so sorryOP, but better a week early than a week too late
Prolonging a really sick animals life benefits it’s human rather than the animal.
If the vets thinks she’s suffering then it’s time to say goodbye and do one more loving thing for her no matter how upsetting for you.

Wolfiefan · 12/09/2020 12:46

I wouldn’t PTS without necessary tests and some idea of diagnosis and prognosis. We had a very sick cat of similar age. Surgery and then fine for another good few years.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 12/09/2020 12:48

100% agree and praying my vet can see us today.

She got so poorly overnight, took herself off and then popped up again Smile

I know ending her suffering is the kindest thing we can do, just wondering if the vets insist on diagnosis etc before they agree to PTS.

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Thelnebriati · 12/09/2020 12:48

Its your decision, your vet can only advise you how much quality of life she has and the most likely prognosis.
Better a week too soon than a day too late imo. Flowers

YesItsMeIDontCare · 12/09/2020 12:52

just wondering if the vets insist on diagnosis etc before they agree to PTS.

My vet didn't for one of my previous cats. The investigations would have been invasive and traumatic and there was only a possibility of the outcome prolonging her life in any meaningful way. We (myself and the vet) made the decision not to do it. She was insured so cost wasn't a factor.

Be guided by your vet. Sending you love and (((hugs))), it's a very difficult time.

RandomNameForRandomThreads · 12/09/2020 12:54

I agree with better early than late.

Our vet refused to put my 18 year old cat down - dh came back with him and some tablets for kidney failure. He had been going downhill for ages and we knew it was time, but dh didn't put his foot down.

The following morning his fur had gone matt and dull, and he was obviously in pain. I took him straight back, and he was so dehydrated they couldn't find a vein to inject to put him down. The end result was that I couldn't stay with him, they just took him away and phoned me later to say he was dead.

I was absolutely gutted and changed vets for my other cats. It's all very well to try to save an ageing animal, but vets should listen to owners, especially to owners of very old and much loved animals; often we just know it's time.

Flowers Crunchymum.

madcatladyforever · 12/09/2020 12:58

My 19 year old has been on the doorstep of being PTS so many times over the years, somehow she always bounces back and is here today killing a piece of string I'm dangling.
I make a point of never rushing it, get a diagnosis and a prognosis and ask what you can do to help her through it.
My vet said he wanted to DTD 5 years ago and can't believe she is the happy healthy cat she is today. I never gave up on her and she really wanted to live, I knew.
I've had 5 other cats all now deceased and have always known when to have them PTS but this one is different.
Get all the information before you make a decision.

BabyMoonPie · 12/09/2020 13:01

We had our boy PTS on Tuesday. He was diagnosed with kidney disease in May and the treatment is special food which he wouldn't eat. He had another episode 2 weeks ago and the vet did blood tests which confirmed it was a deterioration of his kidneys. He gave us an appetite stimulant to try over the weekend but it didn't work. We took him back in Monday and the vet talked us through everything and gave us 2 options: euthanasia or 4 days as an in patient at the out of hours vet with lots of fluids and then see where we were. We knew he was ill and the prognosis was bleak. Admission wasnt going to make him better, it would likely just make him miserable and his quality of life was getting less. When we told the vet our decision he said he thought we'd made the right choice and our cat looked sad (he's seen him a lot recently). Your vet will give you the options and their professional opinion but the ultimate decision is yours. It's awful and I'm so sorry you're in this position

Original poster
Crunchymum · 12/09/2020 13:05

I took her in due to increased urination and drinking, her urine results expected Monday. They said they'll decide then if to sedate her for bloods. She was generally OK though.

Overnight she seems to have has a few seizures, several accidents and has taken herself under the bed (sadly she is still holding on). She hasn't eaten for 12 hours, hasn't left this one room or even been out from under the bed much.

Vet won't be able to even call us until after 3pm Sad

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Original poster
Crunchymum · 12/09/2020 13:07

Our vet isn't allowing us in? I had to drop cat in her basket and return to collect her after her appt? Is this not the norm?

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Pelleas · 12/09/2020 13:09

It's your decision but your vet will guide you based on the likelihood of successful treatment and recovery to a good quality of life.

You have to consider whether it's fair to 'keep her going' on medications, with stress of regular vets' visits or whether the kindest thing to do is give her a peaceful end. Flowers

notapizzaeater · 12/09/2020 13:10

Our vet doesn't allow us in either, they have one person only in reception where they take your pet off you and you wait.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 12/09/2020 13:11

Sorry to hear that @RandomNameForRandomThreads

How upsetting for you. At least kitty is at peace now Flowers

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user1471538283 · 12/09/2020 13:49

Oh how heartbreaking. It's so unfair that our pets don't live as long as we want them to. It is about the quality of life though. I really hope she bounces back. I think most vets would advise the best option and what is the least traumatic

millymollymoomoo · 12/09/2020 14:01

Do you actually know fest is wrong or had a diagnosis? I would not put a cat to sleep without that.

BabyMoonPie · 12/09/2020 14:12

During covid we've had to hand puss over in the car park. We were allowed inside when he was PTS but had to wear mask, gown and gloves

Original poster
Crunchymum · 12/09/2020 14:53

@millymollymoomoo

Do you actually know fest is wrong or had a diagnosis? I would not put a cat to sleep without that.
No we don't know exactly what is wrong.

Initial symptoms pointed towards renal failure or diabetes or hypothyroidism. We could only get a urine sample for these, and depending on what that shows the plan was to sedate cat for bloods.

But cat has gone rapidly downhill since, has developed other symptoms (seizures being the most concerning) and she can't manage the stairs actually she hasn't been out from under the bed since 7am

My worry is taking her for more diagnostics is just going to cause more distress.

I know my girl and she is very, very poorly.

OP posts:
Manolin · 12/09/2020 15:11

Put her in the sunshine.

Wolfiefan · 12/09/2020 15:33

I wouldn’t put to sleep without ruling out something completely treatable like a thyroid issue.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 12/09/2020 16:49

We are at the emergency vets now.

Blood successfully taken and results will be available soon. They want to rule out some things and will then schedule some ultrasounds for the seizures...

Cat perked up a lot when the car basket came out Shock

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Original poster
Crunchymum · 12/09/2020 16:49

@Manolin

Put her in the sunshine.
Why?
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Original poster
Crunchymum · 14/09/2020 19:42

After a hairy weekend (and a £500 emergency vets trip / overnight stay) we had our girl PTS this morning.

She had diabetes but separately started to seizure, couldn't walk, couldn't even take herself under the bed. Was utterly heartbreaking to see her in such a bad way (she was worse after the emergency vets trip Shock) so I did the final thing I could do for her.

Am so sad but my beautiful girl wouldn't have wanted to live like that. She was a shell this morning.

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Horsemad · 14/09/2020 19:52

Flowers I am so sorry. You did the right thing for her though. ♥️

BabyMoonPie · 14/09/2020 20:18

I'm so sorry. I've been thinking about you but didn't want to intrude by asking on this thread in case things weren't going well. It sounds like you made the right decision

Original poster
Crunchymum · 14/09/2020 20:25

@BabyMoonPie

I'm so sorry. I've been thinking about you but didn't want to intrude by asking on this thread in case things weren't going well. It sounds like you made the right decision
That is very kind of you.

The diabetes diagnosis gave us a bit of false hope but there was something much worse at play. Poor little girl went from being OK on Friday to lying, unresponsive in the middle of the room in her own urine.

The emergency vets only diagnosed diabetes despite me telling them I'd seen several seizures. Kept her overnight for fluid and insulin. She came home an utter shadow of herself. I couldn't have coped with seeing her like that indefinitely. She didn't even lift her head when someone came into the room.

A stranger outside the vets (I didn't go inside with my kitty and she was waiting fir her puppy to be released) gave me a huge hug and held my hand why I waited for the vet to examine puss and get the consent form. Meant the world to me.

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