Old boy not eating

[ravenousbugblatterbeast]

Our old boy, who is about 17 (he was a stray before he adopted us) has been up and down, mainly down, since December. He lost loads of weight, eventually went onto antibiotics even though the vet wasn't sure what was wrong, he perked up, but has got ever so fussy about his food, to the point of not eating raw steak unless it was freshly opened (a touch of oxidisation meant he wouldn't eat it, so we had it for stew instead , then he stopped eating roast turkey and then fresh heart [vom]

He's barely eaten for almost a week, but he's drinking normally. He's ever so thin, obviously, and walks like a cowboy.. He gave us a huge scare today by going out and not coming back - DH found him an hour or so later in a neighbour's garden, just curled up. Since then he's been upstairs on a comfy chair, or on DS's lap.

Any psychics out there? What should I do? Will he die peacefully, if he's not eating, just fade away, or should I take him to the vet for a final decision. I'm not having him messed around with, no tests. Would it be kindest just to say goodbye? So far in the last 12 months I've had one cat PTS and watched one die suddenly in the middle of the night of (undiagnosed) heart failure, and I know which one was less traumatic, for both of us..

Can anyone advise?

I would get the vet's opinion TBH. It does sound like he's not good.

I'd find a vets open today and have him PTS he disappeared to die but who knows how long it will actually take

My first cat had a stomach tumour, steroids gave him an extra 9 months, he disappeared one day, came back the next but wouldn't eat tuna or anything so I knew it was time.

Very very sad for you

Thanks. I KNOW this is the right thing to do, but DH is adamantly opposed, he wants the "easy" option, falls asleep at home etc. But it probably won't happen, will it? So I'm going to have to go it alone I guess, and take him tomorrow, and pretend he fell asleep..

What a hard, horrible decision for you . It does sound like he may be coming to the end of his life. Would you consider a home visit from a vet to pts? Poor old man but I bet you've given him a fantastic life.

We couldn't wait as we had 2 young toddlers and a baby so there was nowhere we could go and sit with him in peace for as long as it took IYSWIM.

I was just so glad he came home to be with us I had had visions of hunting all the neighbourhood gardens finding him

He's had a fantastic life big hugs x

Bloody vet! Closed between 11am and 4pm on weekdays!!? And tomorrow's the only day I'm working, until 11... I can't sneak him off...

A home visit would probably be best, albeit even more expensive, but I can't even talk on the phone at the mo without dissolving, I'm trying to be strong. I hate being an adult...

I would take him to the vet. He might have a blockage or tumour and cats hide their pain well.

Deep breath, and phone. You are doing it for your cat.

Have you phoned them, they must have an out of hours service?

Ours gave us all the essential info about what they could do (I think they're supposed to) when I just wanted it done quickly whilst he was still a handsome ginga boy

Our old vets used to meet you at the surgery rather than a home visit.

We have a sort of emergency vet centre that is open much longer hours than the ordinary vet. Might be worth phoning your usual vet out of hours to see who/where they put you through to in case you have similar? sympathy, its very hard when a cat is poorly and a decision has to be made

How are you Ravenous? Did you get hold of a vet?

Yes. I took him to another vet this afternoon, as our usual one could only give a home visit some time between 12 and 6.. Not good enough for DS coming home from school, DH ready to have a nervous breakdown and still refusing to call the vet, nor poorly old boy. New vet was really helpful. Shame I won't be needing a vet again..

:( xx

Ravenous

God it's quiet here now. I've locked the cat flap for the first time ever.. It was bloody difficult but it was so the right thing to do, we really owe it to our guys and gals to make the decision. Why can't we do this for humans, it seems so, in-human, not to be able to just end it..

Right, off for a quiet blub now.. Thanks for your support..

Ahhh, your last post has just made me cry.

We were in your position in August and had to have our 16 year old pts. He'd wasted away too.

It's so hard but you've done the best thing I'm sure.

Ahhh, your last post has just made me cry.

We were in your position in August and had to have our 16 year old pts. He'd wasted away too.

It's so hard but you've done the best thing I'm sure.

:(

You did the right thing for your cat, it's the hardest but kindest decision that we can make. I had my beautiful 20 yr old little man put to sleep 5 weeks ago after a short illness.