Is it reasonable to put a cat down for this reason?

[Willow79]

Hi, my cat is 16 years old and I love her to bits. I've had her since I was an early teenager and therefore she lives with my parents still (I moved around a lot and lived abroad). She lives with me for stretches of time then returns home.

Anyway about 4 years ago she developed a skin problem. Constant scratching which resulted in a bloody face and eye, a bald head etc. She would get steroid shots which seemed to help.

But recent steroid shots havent worked. She is right back to scratching and she looks scabby again. She needed a neck thing and became deeply depressed in March time though she come through it with TLC when she lived with me. My mum has hinted twice recently that she doesnt know what to do because the cat seems miserable. Another line of treatment was suggested but we were told it may well lead to kidney failure. We tried hypoallergenic food and she refused to eat it. Anti histamines in food last a few hours.

I feel upset because I think my mum is hinting we may need to put her down. She hasnt said it yet, but I think that is what she is getting at. Is this a reasonable reason to consider putting a cat down?

Flea dermatitis has never been mentioned by any vet that has examined her.

Odd! This is one of the first things a vet would usually rule out. Tbh I would suspect your mum isn’t keeping up to date with flea treatments and the poor cat is being tortured with them. My boy has flea allergen dermatitis. He had the steroid shot when he initially was diagnosed but monthly flea treatment has kept him clear and happy.

In your shoes I would bring him to live with him and find a new vet.

It was the normal Holland and barret one he was using, its fairly low strength. Not a special cat brand or anything. It doesn't make them/us stoned.

Of course, it’s Webbox natural premium or something along those lines. £4 for 12x100g sachets at Sainsburys. It is in chunks similar to whiskas, so if you try it, it’s worth mashing it up especially as she’s older.

Mine seem to love it (one has even turned down dreamies in favour of it haha!), and the one who was poorly recently used to have an iffy stomach quite a bit, now she is a lot better in that sense and her fur is a lot softer and fuller too.

It sounds like it's time. So sorry, it is hard but it's about what's best for the cat. If she's permanently itchy she'll be feeling awful. But there's no harm trying her living with you for a while first. Daily brushing, plenty of fuss and ask about flea allergy.

Regarding long term steroids, if you were going to PTS anyway then you don't need to worry about kidney failure, you could have long term steroids and when kidney failure starts then PTS. Doesn't fix the problems just buys you more time. But no shame if you decide not to have long term steroids and just PTS, it would only be prolonging the inevitable and experiencing kidney failure probably wouldn't be much fun for your cat.

It's totally your decision what to do. But I don't think your cat can be left in her current condition, it's not adequate care or quality of life, so you must do something.

What antihistamines have you tried? My cat was scratching his face raw and pacing the floor obviously driven to distraction by itching. He had course after course of steroids but as soon as we stopped them the itch came back. He was put on a special exclusion diet and no change. Tried cetirizine and nothing. Local vet's last resort was Piriton/chlorphenamine or he was going to have to be sent to the vet school for extensive testing, and lo and behold the Piriton worked wonders. He started on 1 per day which made him drowsy, so we titrated it down to a quarter and it still cured the itch without turning him into a zombie. It's definitely worth discussing with your vet. I now buy a year's supply at a time from the chemist for pennies compared to what the vet charged.

@AmberItsACertainty

It sounds like it's time. So sorry, it is hard but it's about what's best for the cat. If she's permanently itchy she'll be feeling awful. But there's no harm trying her living with you for a while first. Daily brushing, plenty of fuss and ask about flea allergy.

Regarding long term steroids, if you were going to PTS anyway then you don't need to worry about kidney failure, you could have long term steroids and when kidney failure starts then PTS. Doesn't fix the problems just buys you more time. But no shame if you decide not to have long term steroids and just PTS, it would only be prolonging the inevitable and experiencing kidney failure probably wouldn't be much fun for your cat.

It's totally your decision what to do. But I don't think your cat can be left in her current condition, it's not adequate care or quality of life, so you must do something.

You can get medication for kidney disease.

Honestly, OP, it sounds like your mum has been neglecting your cat’s health needs and making it sound like she needs to be euthanised.

Bring her to live with you first please to see if she improves again. This is so sad

@FamilyOfAliens In fairness to my mum she is a carer for her very ill relative. Maybe she can't cope with looking after both.

I'm a bit worried about this now as I'm moving home in a month so I can't take her immediately. But worry about allowing it to drag out.

Yes she is on piriton, I put a quarter in her food. Works for a couple of hours. Used to work much better. I will be with her for a week soon at christmas.

So what actually is her flea treatment regime?

If you’ve been able to heal her, I would say to take her home with you. There’s every chance she’s not getting adequate care and attention with your parents and it’s led to her over grooming, which in turn is causing itching and then more grooming and scratching to soothe it, making it worse... vicious circle.
Taking her home into your care would be my first choice, and go from there. Hugs, it’s not easy.

@FamilyOfAliens the OP said kidney failure not disease, is it possible to medicate against an organ failing? I guess that's something OP can ask the vet about, it might help with her decision.

OP you can't leave the cat in her current state for a month. It's cruel.

I'm wondering if everything is getting too much for your mum and you mentioned the cat had a bacterial infection before, could it be the case that your mum's home is not very clean if she's struggling and that it could have something to do with the itching? I don't know if house dirt can cause bad skin. A human isn't as close to house dirt, we've got clothes on and we don't sit on the floor. I don't mean to sound horrible but it's sort of negligence really to leave the cat there too, knowing that there's poisonous plants around. It doesn't sound like you trust you mum that they're out of reach. This situation isn't only about whether the cat could be made comfortable, it's about whether anyone is prepared to do what is necessary to achieve that. I understand people's lives are different and I'm not judging on that score, but if nobody is going to do what is necessary for the cat's health then the only other options are rehoming (not that I'd recommend rehoming to a random stranger in this case) or PTS. Leaving the cat to suffer due to your own difficult circumstances, and because you don't want the pain of saying goodbye, just isn't on.

Have you tried a Feliway diffuser? We had one with a similar skin issue and stress was the biggest factor-alleviated by the Feliway. If it ran out and we didn’t notice it would some back. She did need a steroid injection 1-2 times a year too but she lived happily to a good age (20).
But definitely take her back with you to try first.

Zylkene is also good for cat stress. Vets supply it or you can order online.

The cat's home also needs to be flea free. That means regular washing and spraying of textiles and soft furnishings, cat beds, etc. Vets sell Indorex for this reason.

Also look at her diet again. Something like Science Plan is better than gourmet/whiskers/tuna in brine. Are her teeth all right? Not bothering her? Does she drink plenty of water?

Old cats do need a lot of care, tbh.

I think it's your mums decision. It's her cat as she takes care of it. I mean this kindly but it's a bit unfair of you to not look after the cat because you are off living life, but you critisize your mum for not brushing it daily, who is so busy with her caring responsibilities and has to watch this cat suffer as well.

Can Lillies ever be at an unacessible heights for a cat?
They are lethal.
I would go with PP suggestions OP. They all sound valid.
I think your Mum is just fed up with the cat tbh... That's no excuse to put it to sleep. It sounds thoroughly unhappy in its current environment. It's obviously something is very 'off' with you the cat thrives to a degree. It really does point to there being neglect on your mothers part.

We had a cat with exactly these symptoms. He was allergic to fleas and milk/milk derivatives, even the tiniest amount. Obviously we had a strict flea regime plus daily combing in case he picked up the odd one - that sorted the fleas. Then we had to find a milk product free cat food - you would not believe how much cat food contains milk derivatives, even the vet sold allergen food contains it.

I went to a local feed merchant (cows and horses) and explained the issue, their supplier went through all their brands to isolate safe ones then rang manufacturers to verify the food was clean. This way we eventually got him stable. It took time and dedication, we also had to keep it up because manufacturers change recipes regularly without any notice on the packaging so first sign of a reaction and off to a new food.

I do think a cat deserves a comfortable life and would argue it is selfish to keep an uncomfortable animal alive because it upsets us to take that decision - however it sounds like there is a solution available so first of all you need to try that.

I would take her to live with you and try and find solutions. Our cat is allergic to Whiskas since they changed the formula a few years ago, probably worth experimenting with taking things out of her diet and seeing if things improve. I would alwys do tuna in spring water rather thn brine as salt content is very high in brine. Regular flea treatment and get the vets help and hopefully she will improve.

Kitty doesn't need putting down kitty needs to live with you

OP, if she is your cat you need to take responsibility for her and have her live with you.

It is really unfair on both your Mum and cat at the moment.

It must be very upsetting for your Mum to see you cat unhappy and uncomfortable, and if you are the one with time, energy and cat-committment to sort her out then you need to do it and stop blaming your Mum.

I do hope your cat recovers.

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You could try adding fish oil to the food.

Hi OP. Flea allergy was my first thought and then stress because she is not living with you.
Move her in with you and start regular flea treatments whilst treating the scabs.
I think you need a better vet.

Advantage flea treatment will do the job. Same active ingredient as Advocate but gentler on the skin.

We had similar with our cat and it took several trips to the vet before I realised my husband had stopped flea treatment due to thinking the cat no longer needed it because she didn't go outside any more (16 yrs also). Restarted it and skin soon cleared up.

Anyway - I think if you have tried all reasonable treatments and your cat is suffering, then having the cat put to sleep is the right decision. Some Vets seem quite reluctant to give it as an option, and suggest what seem like very aggressive investigations for elderly pets. My husband asked the Vet what she would do if it was her cat when we took our 20yrs cat in following a stroke that left her unable to stand, and only then did she mention putting her to sleep - prior to that she was suggesting a drip to hydrate her and tests.

I think it's your mums decision. It's her cat as she takes care of it. I mean this kindly but it's a bit unfair of you to not look after the cat because you are off living life, but you critisize your mum for not brushing it daily, who is so busy with her caring responsibilities and has to watch this cat suffer as well.

Agree 100%

I agree also.