Cat dying but still eating?

[Pollyell]

Hi all,

Our cat is 14 and has generally declined over last 3 to 4 weeks. She had a host of tests just over a month ago which were all normal, and vet thinks she probably has a brain tumour.

For past 2 days she has been mostly sleeping, when she does get up she walks very slowly and mostly goes into corners. She was also incontinent twice yesterday.

We have an appointment for the vet this evening which I feel will likely end in her being put down. However, she has still been eating (not nearly as much as previously, this cat loves her food!) and I am worried we are making the wrong call, though I suppose the vet will be able to do a proper assessment.

Does anyone else have experience with cats at end of life, do they still eat?

[Mindymomo]

I am sorry, but I really don’t think the vet should say probably a brain tumour, unless she’s had a scan, which presumably they don’t want to put her under due to age. Yes, they do eat until the end, if they can. It’s down to you to decide if she has any quality of life at the moment. A hard decision for you all the same.

[Pollyell]

@Mindymomo

I am sorry, but I really don’t think the vet should say probably a brain tumour, unless she’s had a scan, which presumably they don’t want to put her under due to age. Yes, they do eat until the end, if they can. It’s down to you to decide if she has any quality of life at the moment. A hard decision for you all the same.

Thanks, I didn't give the full story, she had been having seizures and episodes of leg weakness every few months for the past year, which is why the vet made that call. She has also been putting her head against walls for the last couple of days which I have read can be caused by a brain tumour.
Thank you for clarifying re. eating.

[Honeyandapple]

My lovely girl was a keen eater and ate well right until the end. She was 19 and had some problem with her kidneys and we did decide to put her down. I expect she could have gone on a little longer with continued medication but she was no longer the happy little cat we'd always known. And she was a very clean cat so pooing / weeing on the floor and making a mess on herself was stressful for her (and me). I do miss her.
Best wishes to you for your horrible decision.

[Pollyell]

@Honeyandapple

My lovely girl was a keen eater and ate well right until the end. She was 19 and had some problem with her kidneys and we did decide to put her down. I expect she could have gone on a little longer with continued medication but she was no longer the happy little cat we'd always known. And she was a very clean cat so pooing / weeing on the floor and making a mess on herself was stressful for her (and me). I do miss her.
Best wishes to you for your horrible decision.

Thank you, and sorry to hear about your lovely cat. It is such a hard decision, and I think cats aren't very forthcoming in showing that they are suffering. It is horrible having to say goodbye, but we would feel kind of selfish to keep her alive another few weeks, as you say distressing for all involved.

[Scweltish]

If she’s had all of that over the last year, and has declined so much further these last few weeks, then I’d say it’s around time. It’s good she’s still enjoying eating, it’s not necessarily the best thing to wait until she’s utterly miserable until you put her too sleep. I know vets like to say better a week too early than a day too late

[LilaButterfly]

Cats are really tough animals. Most of the time you dont do them any favours if you wait until they cant eat/walk etc. anymore.
Your cat wont know the difference of living a few more weeks or even months. Its better to have them pts a couple months too early than to wait until they are miserable.

I just read this again, and it sounds very cold. I know there are all sorts of feelings involved when its your own pet. I would just go with the vets advice, they are more impartial and only judge by the animals health.

[Unforgettablefire]

Hi
I’m sorry you’re going through this it must be awful.
I’m my experience with terminally ill cats if they still have an appetite then their organs are still functioning and her body isn’t shutting down.
Although the vet can recommend only you can decide either way what quality of life she has at home and if she’s miserable. I’d ask the vet about the head pressing in case it’s due to pain, there might be some pain relief she can have to make her comfortable.
My sister had a dog who took ill and the first vet said brain tumour, it turned out after tests she had kidney failure and she had a good quality of life for a long time after. Vets can’t decide just by looking at them so I would say go with your gut. Sometimes they can be made comfortable, but they do say a week too early is better than an hour too late.
I’ve been there and it’s so hard you have my every sympathy, I hope you have some good news.

[Pollyell]

Thank you so much for the responses and I really appreciate your kind thoughts. The 'better a week too early' quotes have helped put it all into perspective, thanks. She was a very purr-y cat up until a few weeks ago but has barely purred over the past week despite lots of cuddles. She is probably suffering more than it seems.

[villainousbroodmare]

I'm a vet. Most people wait far too long and they mostly say, "But she was still eating until Tuesday." I don't really understand why eating, which is a semi-instinctive survival behaviour is given so much weight when balanced against things like chronic pain, blindness, confusion, frustration, persistent nausea, distressing incontinence etc. It is a perpetual mystery to me.
Let her go.

[Pollyell]

@villainousbroodmare

I'm a vet. Most people wait far too long and they mostly say, "But she was still eating until Tuesday." I don't really understand why eating, which is a semi-instinctive survival behaviour is given so much weight when balanced against things like chronic pain, blindness, confusion, frustration, persistent nausea, distressing incontinence etc. It is a perpetual mystery to me.
Let her go.

Thank you, really helpful to hear this directly from a vet. We are taking her to our vet shortly.

[Scweltish]

Good luck op

[villainousbroodmare]

Big hug Pollyell that read back a bit harsh.

[Pollyell]

Thanks everyone, she was put down this evening. Both heartbroken but relieved that she didn't continue to decline.

[zatarontoast]

So sorry for your loss OP, but much better to let her go when she is still comfortable. Our 13 year old cat was diagnosed with a brain tumour at a routine appointment and we kept thinking she was ok, even after completely slowing down. The day she went was like something out of a horror film, she was making a terrible screeching sound and running head first into the wall repeatedly. The get wouldn't come out to the house and she was horrendous to get into the carrier, she was extremely aggressive which was so unlike her. We all cried years of relief when she was pts and looked so relaxed. I will never make that mistake again.

[Pollyell]

@zatarontoast

So sorry for your loss OP, but much better to let her go when she is still comfortable. Our 13 year old cat was diagnosed with a brain tumour at a routine appointment and we kept thinking she was ok, even after completely slowing down. The day she went was like something out of a horror film, she was making a terrible screeching sound and running head first into the wall repeatedly. The get wouldn't come out to the house and she was horrendous to get into the carrier, she was extremely aggressive which was so unlike her. We all cried years of relief when she was pts and looked so relaxed. I will never make that mistake again.

Oh no, this sounds so awful for you and your cat, but it is so difficult to know what the right thing is to do. Glad your girl is at peace too.

[MyJustFatball]

My cat still wanted to eat up until the end of her life. She was put down by vet at home. She was suffering . Had trouble breathing