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Original poster

Sensitive question for those who have lost cats

28 replies

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 07:48

Apologies for asking this.

My cat is nearly 15 and has an illness that shouldn't kill her but I am aware that she is getting older.

Do cats generally get obviously ill before they die or have to be put to sleep? Or is it quite sudden? Is that as stupid a wuestion as how long is a piece of string?

My cat seems fine at the moment - if sleeping a lot - but I worry so much about losing her.

OP posts:

whooosh · 03/06/2009 08:07

Sometimes they do,and sometimes they don't-sorry.
Bit like old people,some just get slower and slower and slip away peacefully and sadly others go down rapidly or become obviously ill.
You would know (having loved your cat for 15yrs) if she was suffering I am sure.
We had one who lasted to 19 and sadly had a stroke,it was very obvious and he had to be pts the same day.However,he had been fine right up till then,if a little slow.

Just enjoy your lovely cat

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 08:10

Thank you.

I knew it was a stupid question but I am having a bit of a day today and being stupid.
Said cat has just been rolling around in the garden.

OP posts:

whooosh · 03/06/2009 08:18

It's not a stupid question

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 09:34

thank you

OP posts:

Ripeberry · 03/06/2009 09:38

My mum had two cats (sister and brother) and they lived to a good age 18yrs and they died within 2 days of each other.

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 09:45

at their long life and to loose both so close together.

I feel a wreck today.

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ouchitreallyhurts · 03/06/2009 10:31

Hello Fabulousbakergirl

we lost our cat a few weeks ago (you were lovely and really supported me at the time so a big thank you for that )

Molly became unwell for about a week before the vet put her to sleep but another cat who died 2 years ago lost weight but was still happy - then she stepped under the car as I drove into the driveway, we still maintain that she 'knew' that she was becoming more poorly and did this it was awful because I had all the children in the car.

I think they all vary in how it happens and from what you have said your lovely girl is still very happy and enjoying life - make sure you enjoy it with her there has been a spate of us who have had our cats put to sleep lately and maybe that has made you feel a bit vulnerable with regard to your own cat who you obviously love to bits.

take care
Ouch xxx

Doodle2U · 03/06/2009 10:45

I've got a 21 year old cat here, who has had various illnesses etc but manages to defy the odds time and again.

Assume nothing where cats are concerned.

poopscoop · 03/06/2009 10:47

21 that is fabulous. We are just starting to worry about ours as he will be 16 in couple of months. Full of life, but I read so much about people losing their mogs around this age. I cant bear the thought.

My tesco man said he had one that lived to 25!!And has another one on the go at 19 !

somewhathorrified · 03/06/2009 11:01

I've always found that cats tell you when they're ready to go, they stop enjoying anything (including that favourite tibits). A cat that is rolling around is still enjoying life and will most likely continue to do so for a while yet.

OrmIrian · 03/06/2009 11:05

Mine got very ill and had to be put to sleep. But my mum has had cats who get very old and simply don't wake up one morning.

It's not a stupid question. We all like to know as much as we can to perpare. But I'm afraid it depends on so many factors.

BTW 15 isn't all that old. Mine was 17. I know a mog who reached 20. It's not that unusual.

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 11:26

I think I feel vunerable becasue it seems like lots of cats are being put to sleep at the moment and I also had a big row with DH last night and so I am feeling very tearful. My cat got me through some tough times before I met DH and I love her so much.

Thank you for not thinking me stupid.

Cat curled up on the kitchen chair, fast asleep.

OP posts:

girlywhirly · 03/06/2009 11:50

Make sure you have lots of photos to look back on.

I think they get more picky about their food when they are elderly, and sleep a lot more, their teeth get mankier and they start to have trouble grooming due to arthritis making them less flexible.

I always said I would know when mine was not long for this world, when he stopped scrounging for cat treats and our food, and I was right. I think you will know when the quality of life deteriorates.

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 11:57

She starts asking for tea about 3.30pm and won't eat beef or tuna. Madam.

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alisha29 · 03/06/2009 13:17

my cat was healthly never had anything wrong with him fit as a fiddle then in two days he was ill and had to be put to sleep so it can come on all of a sudden i am still heartbrokenyes i agree make sure you have lots of photos in mycase i was really not prepared and make sure that you know what you want if he gets ill and has to go to the vet it can all happen so quick im not saying this is going to happen to your cat im just saying be prepared.

citronella · 03/06/2009 13:32

I lost one of my cats yesterday . Well I made the agonizing decision to have him put to sleep after him being unwell (but strangely happy) for about 9months. By the end he looked like a ghost of his former self even though he was always hungry. He was weak and had bowel problems) The vet ( a friend) said it was what she would do given that he had barely responded to treatment.

I am torn between knowing it was the right thing to do and wondering what right I had to decide his time and date of death as he wasn't in perceptible pain (maybe he was). He leaves behind his best mate (they used to sleep curled up together) who is going around the house seaching for him. He was 13(apparently a good age for a bred cat).

Enjoy yours while she is here. She may be around for quite a bit longer as others said. You just never know with cats. Some are slow to use up their nine lives.

alisha29 · 03/06/2009 14:00

i had to decide what to do with my cat to it is an awful decison to make mine had a tumour and cause he was old they didnt operate i know what your saying who are we to decide the fate im still coming to terms with was it the right descion to make mine had had a fit and was walking round in circles the meds wouldnt of made him better so it was a matter of do i take him home in pain and wait for him to die it is heartwrenching words can not describe how heartbroken i was and still am i feel for anyone who has lost a cat or had to make the descion i have a another cat months before he died if i hadnt of had her i wouldnt of been able to cope

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 14:03

I am so sorry to have upset you all by posting such a stupid thread.

Mine hasn't moved from the chair and now I am worrying that she might be in pain/ill and I don't know.

She has been playing with her kitten substitute toy though and crying over it.

I am so off the planet today.

OP posts:

alisha29 · 03/06/2009 14:06

with my beautiful angel he would not move at all so i think playing and eating are a good sign

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 14:13

Thank you

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LovelyTinOfSpam · 03/06/2009 14:26

I agree with somewhathorrified.

We had our family cat put down.

He went deaf, then senile, and his fur fell out a bit, but that was fine as he was cheerful.

But then it was as if a spark went out of him. He stopped purring when you smoothed him, and just sat slumped on the sofa looking miserable. Nothing could tempt him out of his gloom. He was utterly not enjoying life at all. So in the end we decided to have him put down. The family went along to the vet and he was buried in the back garden in the cover from his favourite cushion, under a bench. When we sit there we always talk about him. He was nearly 19.

bumptwitknocker · 03/06/2009 16:06

We had a cat who lived very healthily to 19 years, and was very happy until only maybe a month before he died. He just got slow and tired and stiff, and were told by the vet just to bring him in to be put down when the time was right.
His nose was runny all the time, and was eventually taken as soon as he became, as he had very little quality of life. We just made him comfortable for the last week or so, with our sheepskin blanket in a basket for him to rest on. He wasn't in pain, but just got too old.
You can tell when something's not right with cats. They tell you somehow.

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 16:10

Thank you.

Seems at nearly 15 mine has a few years yet.

OP posts:

HeadFairy · 03/06/2009 16:11

I think they can go either way. I had one cat die at 22, she was really active and practically wild and over the last couple of years of her life she would just sleep in the garage all day and night, eventually she disappeared and we assume she crawled somewhere and fell asleep forever.

My other cat had high blood pressure and kidney problems which were controlled with medication. The vet said it wouldn't kill her but eventually her heart wouldn't be able to cope and she would just fade away (or we could decide to have her put to sleep). Two weeks later she had a heart attack in front of me as I bf'd a week old ds. Dh had popped out for a couple of hours and I just sat there and cried looking at her body. I couldn't move as ds was latched on and I'd had such problems feeding him I could bear to take him off. She was there for an hour before dh came home and took her away. Horrible. Wish I'd just had her put to sleep when the vet diagnosed her high blood pressure.

Original poster

FabulousBakerGirl · 03/06/2009 16:27

Oh HF

You weren't to know.

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