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Original poster

Help. 15 year old cat dying (we think). Should we take her to the vets. We don't want to move her.

44 replies

indignatio · 18/01/2009 10:01

My wonderful elderly cat was under the weather and (throwing up) sick on Thursday and Friday. Saturday, all day and night, she spend under a futon barely moving. She isn't herself at all. As far as I am aware, she hasn't eaten or drunk anything since Friday. DH has put water on his finger, but she hasn't licked it off. She iscurrently twitching a lot.

I am sure she is dying and would ideally like her just to quietly pass away at home where she is comfortable (in her own good time). However, I do not know whether she is in pain (she isn't saying she it IYKWIM). The thought of taking her to the vets and putting her through all that trauma does not seem fair.

Oh wise mners, what is best for my cat ?

OP posts:

bella29 · 18/01/2009 10:03

Call your vet & explain. Some vets will come out & put your cat to sleep at home but in any case they will be best able to advise you whether it's best just to let her be.

Good luck x

petrovia · 18/01/2009 10:12

If it was mine, I'd be worried about pain as well but if she isn't making a fuss I'd let her be tbh - have had a few put down and it isn't always quick or kind - one screamed for about a minute I think

Poor old puss xx

fryalot · 18/01/2009 10:14

ring the vet, explain that you do not want to disturb her, and ask for advice.

mysterymoniker · 18/01/2009 10:15

yes, call the vet

best of luck, let us know

nickschick · 18/01/2009 10:24

When my fils dog was ill i called the vet and he was lovely he said its only early evening if shes going to pass away I cant stop it unfortunately shes very old shes not in pain-if you feel she is in pain call me and I will open the surgery day or night for you, as it stands to open now for your dog who is peaceful it will cost as much money as it would if i open at 3am,he listened to the dog breathing over the phone and said it might not be long her breathing was shallow- he assured me he would be there for us if needed.

Judy seemed a little better and my dh drove her and fil home...at 3am she was howling fil rang dh so he could get them,i rang the vet who immediately answered -my dh and fil were welcomed into the surgery Judy was sedated and given oxygen and passed away 5 hours later- animals die all the time in the wild if shes at peace -let her be xxxx

thirtysomething · 18/01/2009 10:29

deffo call the vet for advice. they should have 24hr emergency help number. Cats have a very high pain threshold and do seem to know how to look after themselves in such circumstances so would 2nd your instinct that she's better off at home but if it's a kidney or liver issue it nay be long-winded (have had this with 2 dogs and 1 cat) and in the long run it could be much kinder to have her put to sleep - most vets will come to your house to do so if preferred.

Best wishes for puss and hope you are ok - it's so very sad when a beloved animal goes

fluster · 18/01/2009 10:35

this happened to us december 09,our vet seemed quite reluctant to see us on the sunday ,so we left it until the monday and that is our biggest regret .if you can get her seen today if only for peace of mind.

fluster · 18/01/2009 10:37

ooops december 07.

happychappy · 18/01/2009 10:37

Call the vet, my vet lives near so would pop in.

Original poster

indignatio · 18/01/2009 10:43

DH has just spoken to the vet. They don't have enough staff for a home visit, but are open all day and night if we choose to take her in.

Their suggestion was that because of the twitching, she was de-hydrated and it may not be long now. They understood our reluctance to move her. However, they also said that we know her better than them and so to bring her in if we think that she is in pain.

Thank you to everyone who has posted.

OP posts:

happychappy · 18/01/2009 11:01

good luck and I'm sorry

differentID · 18/01/2009 11:04

so sorry for you. I hope she isn't in pain and just nods off rather than you have to move her.

pushchair · 18/01/2009 11:08

Horrible time for you. Hope she is peaceful.

piratecat · 18/01/2009 11:12

is there anyway you could try and make her have some drops of water, as the dehydration could be very uncomfortable for her. at least until you can take her in. if my vets was open on sunday, i think i'd go.

annoyingdevil · 18/01/2009 11:15

Can I just say, that I have an elderly cat who had a tummy bug just before Xmas. She was so dehydrated and had lost so much weight, we thought she wouldn't survive.

However, the vet put her on drip overnight and the following day, we syringed food and water into her mouth.

She survived, so may be worth a trip to the vet to see if this is an option.

petrovia · 18/01/2009 11:22

That's true Piratecat. Perhaps she might be more comfy on a drip.

Poor thing. If only she could tell you what she wanted.

nelix2000 · 18/01/2009 11:47

my old cat died a few years ago. he was being sick etc. Cats are stoic about pain unlike dogs or other animals that yepl or let out noise. Please call teh vet and best of luck

NewAmazingBeginning · 18/01/2009 11:49

Have you got a syringe to put water into her mouth a drop at a time?

countingto10 · 18/01/2009 12:10

We had to have our dear old cat put to sleep last week - he was nearly 20 .

We didn't think he would make the night, his breathing was bad and his kidneys were failing. He was also diabetic and was not eating/drinking.

On the Thursday morning he was struggling to stand and was in obvious distress. I settled him under the raditor and called the vet to take him in as I felt I was being cruel to keep him going (for the time it would take him to die). I took the kids to school and then came back, put a big pillow in his basket and lifted him into it. I settled him and he was as comfortable as could be, lying down, asleep.

We didn't take him out of his basket (the top lifted off) and the vet injected him into his stomach. My dear old cat just looked up and then went, without being disturb with me stroking his head. It was as good as it could have been. I could not have left him to die as he was, it could have been a couple of hours or much, much longer.

You will have to do what you feel is best - you will know in your heart.

It was very upsetting for all our family as we had had him so long - it was the end of an era for me.

Original poster

indignatio · 18/01/2009 12:53

We have spent the last hour using a syringe to drop water into her mouth. We think it has helped her. We have further advice from the vet re sugar, salt water solution, which I shall start giving her slowly.

We moved the sofa off the top of her and she is now on several blankets on top of it, with a light blanket on top of her. Hopefully she is as comfortable as possible. The twitching has reduced, but she has the look of a dead cat IYKWIM.

OP posts:

DisasterArea · 18/01/2009 12:58

Pannacotta · 18/01/2009 13:05

Is there not another vet on call who can come and see you? If not then I woudl take her in. 15 is not that ancient for a cat.
I do think it is worth getting the opinion of a vet - it may be that the dehdration is killing her rather than anything else?

Pannacotta · 18/01/2009 13:06

Meant to say that she might be saved if given a drip, worth a try?

Original poster

indignatio · 18/01/2009 13:12

She has just died. We will miss her so much.

OP posts:

NewAmazingBeginning · 18/01/2009 13:13

Oh lovie.

I am so sorry.

Take comfort that she was at home.

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