WWYD? Our homed stray cat is either getting old or is ill..

[ppeatfruit]

He's got a swollen stomach {we've given him a worming pill) but is still eating well and crapping in the dirt tray but peeing on the floor (luckily he's in the concrete floored heated boiler\utility room). he's not in pain can stand ok and he could be about 16.

DH thinks we should take him to the vets but unless he's in pain I don't want him fussed over and worried by the transporting,injections etc. and I'm about the cost.

You can't honestly say he isn't in pain, animals are very good at hiding discomfort as if they showed it something bigger and badder would come along and eat them.
Please take the cat to the vet, a bloated tummy and change in toileting routine sounds like it could be serious, older male cats can get a lot of bladder problems which, if left untreated, can be fatal.
If you're concerned about the cost then ask your vet if they have a payment scheme to help out.

I think you should take him. He could have a kidney infection or something more serious. As a responsible pet owner I think you owe it to the cat to have him checked out.

Yes thanks but he's possibly very old and we've had cats before who we've taken to the vet only to have them 'treated' for the natural problem called dying IFYSWIM.

Also ASFAIK he's never been in a basket in his life and it would definitely distress him which i don't want to do in his last months.

Surely if the vet says its a fatal condition you could at least administer some steroids and pain killers to make those last months a bit comfier though?
And how has he gotten so old without being in a carrier? What do you do when he needs his annual vaccinations?
I don't mean to be a nosy nelly but I just can't get my head round why anyone wouldn't take an obviously poorly animal to get treatment. Geriatric or not.

He's a stray that we've homed (I give frontline and worm pills but don't think the annual vaccinations are neccesary (maybe for the vet's income [sceptical) I'll get Dh to take him next week as he's looking perkier ATM i've been giving him turmeric which seems to have worked ). we've had lots of cats all were healthy and never had annual vaccines.