....and how did you make that decision?
Our cat is 19 so very elderly. She's always been in perfect health, although in the last year she's become very deaf and quite stiff meaning she can't groom herself very well - not bad considering she's 94 in cat years. In the summer she stopped eating and using her litter tray. She was diagnosed with early stage renal failure and gum disease. We changed her food to a soft renal diet and she perked back up.
Last month we noticed a large swelling under her mouth / jaw and it was causing her to drool constantly out of one side of her mouth. Ideally she would have been sedated for x-rays but that isn't an option due to her age. The vet thought it was most likely a tumour but gave her an antibiotic injection just in case it was an infection in her gums. The swelling subsided quite a bit so it's likely it is her gums although the vet can't be 100% sure. Ideally she would have some teeth out but again, that's not an option because of the sedation.
The swelling seems to be increasing again and the drooling is constant so we'll need to go back for another antibiotic injection but when do we decide enough is enough? We know she won't have much longer but she's eating, drinking, using her tray and wants to be with us all the time so seems happy. Equally, I'd hate for her to suffer or be in pain so will we know when the right time is or do we just have to guess? The vet's said not eating, drinking, using her tray or not wanting to be with us / touched would be signs to look out for but I'm just worried she could be unwell but masking it. Can anyone offer any advice?