Am I being cruel to my cat?

[FlopsyandMopsy71]

She is 17 years old and has had hyperthyroidism for many years. Treated with twice daily doses of Thyronorm. She has health checks every 6 months. Last one yesterday. Unfortunately she's losing weight despite the dosage being increased. Last had bloods done to check thyroid levels about 18 months ago and at the same time had a big lump removed which was thought to be connected and also traces of cancerous cells were found.
The last time bloods were done was very traumatic for her. She soils herself and is sick on the way home then takes a day or 2 to get over it and eat again.
Because of this I don't feel it's in her best interests to do it again. The last check up before today the vet said she was on the highest dosage. So if she needs more Thyronorm she can't have it anyway. What would getting blood results do if I don't want to put her through any treatment? The vet just says do them and we find out why she's still losing weight. But what then?
All I want to do is let her live out the rest of her life happily and without invasive procedures or further treatment. Am I wrong or am I missing something?

Just do what is best for your cat. You can weigh up the pros and cons better than anyone else.

A 17 year old cat with hyperthyroidism could live another 3-5 years if well managed...on the other hand the stress of blood testing could cause complications. The vet only sees the benefits of optimising treatment, not the distress caused to your cat afterwards

Quality of life is more important than quantity for animals, they don't understand why they are being put through stressful experiences.

I agree with a PP above. The animal doesn't value living longer for the sake of it, that is for the owner's benefit. Quality of life over quantity any day. My cats are 11 and 12, but I don't intend to make them suffer (physically or psychologically) if I can help it. Better a few months too soon, than a few months too late.

What on earth would be the point in forcing to poor cat through the trauma of having further investigations if they don’t result in any action? I agree with you OP. I’d resist the vet’s suggestions. Just ensure your cat is comfortable and pain free.

I disagree that vets are only trying to make money. I think people don't realise what healthcare costs and the many regulations vets have to work under.

Vets and vet nurses have a vocation. It's a very hard intellectually, physically and empathically challenging job treating patients who can't tell you what's wrong, are many different species and may not live very long anyway, relatively. Psychologically vets are subjected to such stressors that the suicide rate is way above most professions.

If all treatment options aren't detailed, and someone WOULD have explored every potential treatment option, then vets can be sued. They have to tell us all the options.

Exactly this and exactly same cancer my cat 18yrs had. I just knew he had enough..i felt it. I had him put to sleep. 8 years ago and still i miss him. Its the love for him...i couldn't let him suffer. Youll know OP

And yet the vet who refused to prescribe medication for our cat with controlled hyperthyroidism without blood tests! How is that the best for him? Allowing him to suffer, as he certainly would have done without it.

I don't think you are being cruel and agree that there is no point in her having tests if there really isn't much more can be done. I've been in a similar situation, and I just let my cat enjoy the rest of his life. When she's ready to go you will know. I've had pets long enough to trust my own instincts at times, rather than always do as the vet suggests.

@longtompot Vets are only allowed to prescribe prescription only medication for animals they have under their care. There isn't a realy clear cut definition for what "under care" is, but it is accepted that if you prescribe the medication you are satisfied you have enough information about that patient to know it's safe to prescribe that medication and will take responsibility for any possible adverse effects that medication can cause. One of the adverse reactions of hyperthyroid medication is oversuppression of the bone marrow which can lead to very few white blood cells being available (which could make even the smallest infection very serious as white blood cells are responsible for their immune response), hence if you read the instruction leaflet that comes with the medication, it says that blood parameters should be closely monitored (and a blood test always done to an animal that is on the medication and unwell). Personally I would explain this to the owner (and the other reasons why blood tests are important) and discuss the risk of not doing those tests, ultimately I would accept whatever the owner's choice was (and record it in my notes). But if a colleague isn't comfortable with this and will only prescribe medication if he knows it is safe to do so, he wouldn't be unreasonable (I've seen people complaint/go to the media and try and destroy careers for much less).

No you’re not being cruel. If the results of a procedure won’t benefit your dear cat, then there is no reason to put her through trauma (or pay for it)! As long as you’re willing to let her go when it’s time, just love her and enjoy your time together.

If your cat is otherwise happy I'd just feed her more to help her stop getting skinny. You say she's already on the highest meds she can have for her thyroid issue.

My elderly cat had gotten very thin. She was accidentally fed puppy food for a bit and gained a whole load of weight! She is now on kitten food and keeping it on. You may want to look at switching her food for something high calorie.

You can get high calorie cat food and even high calorie paste. My friend's cat had this to build him up when he got very underweight due to dental problems (all sorted now). Fwiw I absolutely agree with you that when it comes to our pets quality of life is what matters. They have no concept of death or timescales. They live in the moment. You know your cat best. I have two cats aged twelve and thirteen. Thankfully both very healthy at the moment. But they are completely different characters: one is more highly strung and hates the cat carrier, the vet, taking pills, and any kind of being "messed about" as she sees it. The other is bold, confident and laid back. She doesn't mind the carrier at all, and as cats go she's pretty amenable at the vets: she'll "grumble" and give dark looks but you can tell she's not really distressed by it, just annoyed. When it comes to treatment you have to consider the wellbeing of the whole animal.

Thanks all I'm feeling much more reassured now that I am doing the right thing. The vets may do home visits but I cannot see the point in any further action if nothing can be done. I don't want to put him through any further treatment.
Never realised I could give him kitten food though. He eats 3 pouches a day of various brands from Iams to Gourmet then has a soup pouch too most days and unlimited dry food.

Not at all OP. My cat, who was on Thyronorm, was very tolerant of the vet and didn't mind having bloods taken. But after a time when they/the lab messed up conducting the blood tests not once but twice and asked me to take her back for the third time in a couple of weeks, I refused. They had said the bloods were just for monitoring so I didn't see why she should be put through yet another set of tests, regardless of how tolerant she was (plus they kept charging me for their mistakes). At this point, she was 19, and it wasn't going to extend her life or make her any healthier than she already was.
There is a balance OP, do what's right for your pet, no point in making them endure unnecessary stress.

*@zusje - great posts, thank you. (Just didn't want you thinking no-one was listening, supporting, and appreciating them!)

I am in the same situation. Smudge will be 18 in May 2024..and has been on Thyronorm and also a Renal food diet, for about 2 + years. Last week, I phoned to order his meds, and was told they can't give it, without his check up. (Last one was a year ago, due to him getting so traumatised on the 4 min. journey. Plus..the cost is a problem! ((He vomits, urinates, and has diarrhoea in his box!)
I am waiting for a telephone consult..in 2 more days..but not sure if I will be charged!
So, he's not had any meds since last Friday.. it's Tuesday.
Can I ask for his prescription and leave that vet practice?

Our DBoycat went a bit skinny (he was always huge) and then his breath smelt. We put him through tests which came back as cancer. He refused the medication and eventually stopped eating very much. We had to let him go at 18. But I often wonder if the trauma was worth it because it wasted a day of his precious life. But we just wanted to save him.

I think it would be kinder not to have more tests for your cat. She's had a wonderful life and seems content.

It's all about the quality of her life now. You are not being cruel.

When our very elderly cat suddenly got worse (long term kidney problems), we took him into the vet's and they kept him in for tests, monitoring, and hydration on a drip. After a couple of days of no improvement, he was PTS.

I really wish we had just kept him at home and called out the mobile vet to have him PTS straight away. Realistically, at 20 years old with chronic kidney disease, how much better was he going to get? Luckily he was very sleepy/unconscious and not too aware of where he was. But still it would have been kinder on him to stay at home.

There is a push to "try everything" and do lots of intervention, but actually with animals who hate going to the vet then there is a quality/quantity trade-off in some situations and it can absolutely be kinder to choose quality.

Definitely don't put them through any more procedures. The eating loads and never being satisfied is a symptom my cat had when he had cancer. He passed away peacefully at home.
Just enjoy her and make her as comfortable as possible. I know how sad it is when your cat gets unwell.

My cat is 18 with hyperthyroidism (on Thyronorm) and early stage kidney disease. The two go together.

She had a blood test to diagnose then another to ensure meds were working. My intention is now to leave it at that. No more blood tests or vet trips. The vet can come here to visually check her and keep prescribing and then eventually put to sleep.

There are mixed views on renal foods btw. Low in phosphorus which is good but low in protein which is bad. Also a lot of cats won't eat them.

I'm in online groups and the stuff ppl do to keep their cat alive...giving sub cutaneous fluids at home etc, just no.

I'd just feed him more frequently if he wants more food. I'd not put him through any more blood test. If he's happy going out and about and coming for some love I'd just leave him until his behaviour changes. If he stops moving around and stops eating you know his time has come for PTS. He might have another year or so or good quality life. My old boy was 18 and getting very skinny but like your boy couldn't have any more meds I just fed him 4 times a day. He was happy and not in pain. He lived another 10 months before I had him PTS and that was because he had a convulsion and couldn't move his back legs.

If she's on max dose for meds anyway I think your doing the kinder thing. If was younger or not already on max dose it would be different.

I had a similar problem, older cat wouldn't take the pills, started to hate me. I went for the op, but she collapsed a few days later not sure who's fault maybe the vet should have warned me/expected it. Eventually had to make the terrible decision.

So sorry, sadly it will continue to be a battle to try to keep her well with lots of stress. One of our beautiful cats had the same problem and she got so thin and vet said we could prolong her life but it would be just that, not comfortable or ideal for her. It really is heartbreaking when we have to make this decision to ease their suffering. My instinct would be to spend some quality time together, give her treats, cuddles, then you will know the time that is best for her. Bless you both. Xx

Some vets would definitely rather continue tests and treatments rather than looking at what is actually best for the cat. They often don’t want to explain any sort of rationale because they can’t justify it! Most aren’t like that though so might be worth getting a second opinion or just go with your gut. Cat had cancer last year and is losing weight despite maximum thyroid treatment. I’m not sure what bloods would actually add to it. I’d just let your cat enjoy their time unless the vet can explain a very clear rationale of why bloods are needed and how they would affect treatment