He's nearly 9 and we woke up to find him downstairs lying stretched out on the floor by the radiator (nothing unusual). I thought I'd heard him miaowing in quite a yowly way but didn't go to him straight away because it didn't sound too disturbing. Went down and stroked him and he miaowed strangely again when I stroked him. I then noticed that he was lying funny and he then just opened his mouth quite wide but no sound came out - he tried to move and could only pull himself along by his front paws. I called for my DP and we watched as he dragged himself a little further and then he kind of stretched out his front legs in a slow contorted way. That was over 3 hours ago - he very quickly went to having no mobility AT ALL - just lying there breathing in a very laboured way - eyes glazed, whiskers limp. It just looks like the light has gone out.
We rang the emergency vet and arranged to go in but when we looked at him we thought that it would be too stressful to move him - his body is so flaccid and unresponsive - we've put him on a blanket, are stroking him and watching him - we think that getting into a car and carrying him into the vets would just make his possible last hours too traumatic. He's not yowling in pain - every now and again he will pause breathing for a few seconds and we think he's gone and then he will start up again. He was sick a short while ago and he's drooling but apart from the occasional slow spasm where his head slightly lifts or his front paws stretch out he's just lying with a blanket over him going from rapid shallow breathing to barely-there breathing.
As it continues on I am having thoughts of maybe we should take him to the vets but wouldn't it be better for him to die at home under a familiar blanket? Can't work out if we're doing the right thing or not. He was OK first thing - jumped in the bath looking for water in his usual style. It's just so sudden - we tried to move him again just now and wrap him up more and he's just so limp and lifeless.
Don't know what to do for the best so thought I'd post here - am off to check on him again now (DP is with him in the hallway) I did ring the vets again and they said it's up to us whether we bring him in but it does sound like he might be dying and that perhaps we are doing right by just staying close by. The kids are witnessing it all and are confused to say the least.