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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

AIBU to want the cat put down?

112 replies

NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 09:28

:(

he is 18.

He has started to leave nuggets of poo about the place.He did do this about 18 months ago but I changed their diet and it stopped. It's started again.

I did a 'big clean' yesterday and but the baby found one and put it in her mouth this morning. :(
This has been my worst fear about him :(

We had to take him to the vet yesterday as he has something wrong with his mouth.

Today I want to take him back there and not let him come back. In general he has stopped grooming himself, I have to brush him. Also he seems a bit vacant. I know I am reacting to the poo thing but it was IN HER MOUTH.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 04/08/2012 12:36

He's off posting on catsnet.co.uk. "AIBU to poo where and when I like?"

So far he has 200 "yanbu" and a suggestion to try mediation.

yellowraincoat · 04/08/2012 12:48

BeeMyBaby I never said the cat in question had it, but there is a reason why we don't let babies put shite in their mouths.

GhostShip · 04/08/2012 12:50

If I lived close to you and didnt have 3 dogs I'd take him in myself.

When you've got an animal things can get tough, you have to take that on board. You can't just end their lives when that happens.

Original poster
NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 12:58

why not with 3 dogs ghostship? I'm sure you could make adjustments to your lifestyle? Hmm

It's not simple. I am asking for advice and I have had some help re: the metacam.

fluffy If he's on catsnet it's in 'chat' (smiles at involuntary pun) going on about his mortification when the owner found a nugget, posting under an unsuccessful NC. The cat-posters are sharing their Shat Shame stories, and reassuring him that the GP can help, while he ponders whether to de-reg.

OP posts:
yellowraincoat · 04/08/2012 13:01

OP, it's a bit different not taking on a new pet due to your lifestyle and contemplating putting down a pet you already have.

MrsAyrtonSenna · 04/08/2012 13:03

I think YOU need to take him to the vets as your DH is obviously too emotionally involved (and why shouldnt he be after 18 years) - but you need to find a vet that has a special interest in cats - which may mean going to another vetinary practice or seeing a different vet at your current one.

Ring your local cats protection to see if they can recommend one they use who is knowledgeable about older animals if you cant find one at your own vets and to get some advice on care. You need to find out what is really wrong with him before taking a judgement on any course of action. If it is something that can be relatively easily treated, then fair enough, if it is something more sinister which may need major surgery, at his age it may be too much to put him through.

I have been a cat owner for many years and faced a similar situation with our elderly cat when my children were baby/toddlers, so I understand your concerns re your daughter. Our cat was coming to the end of his life and was incontinent and unwell and we were back and forth to the vets with him but as a much loved family pet we thought he deserved the best care we could give him and I would have only considering having him put down if it was the only option.

Age is not a crime - you should be proud that he has got to this ripe old age as he has obviously been well looked after and cared for. I am sure you are feeling torn trying to take care of everyones best interests, but I think you need to have more information before making any final decisions.

GhostShip · 04/08/2012 13:05

I can see the point you're trying to make but failing.

Me not being able to take a new pet on because I have 3 dogs is nothing to do with this, it's a completely different comparison. I wouldn't take a new pet on if I couldn't look after it properly.

Whereas you have got the cat and from your OP alone you wanted to put it down as it was now posing you a problem. Really unfair.

GhostShip · 04/08/2012 13:06

Please take your cat to a vet that has an interest in them, and if your cat needs to be put down make sure it is in the best interest of the cat not your own

Good luck.

Samvet · 04/08/2012 13:07

Hi Nagoo
Right constructive not slagging off:

  1. Rehoming cats of this age is a welfare question as v stressful so I would not consider this
  2. Yes arthritis can cause dropping poo
  3. Toxo risk is very low. Cats rarely excrete it, especially an older fat who doesn't hunt. Plus the poo needs to be > 24 hrs old. Cats are a low risk of toxo to humans, undercooked meat is much more of a risk (I am an example - worked with cats since I was 11 and negative for toxo). The risk is to unborn babies, I would think it could cause a mild illness at worst. Docs usually know less than vets about this.
  4. The mouth thing sounds odd, a puncture from biting something? Far fetched, think dental disease or cancer (sorry). Your vet doesn't sound too inspiring if they didn't offer blood tests etc prior to using anti-inflammatory drugs at this age.
Conclusion - I agree, you sound v sensible, go back to vet and be pushy on metacam after bloods to check kidney function etc, re assess mouth and go from there.
ReallyTired · 04/08/2012 13:12

I think that it would be very traumatic to rehome such an elderly cat even if there was someone prepared to adopt him.

That cat is old and his health is detoriating. He is close the end of his natural life and being put to sleep will mean he dies with dignity in the company of those that he loves.

Sometimes modern medicine is not the best thing for cats or humans.

Original poster
NagooingForGold · 04/08/2012 13:30

Ghostship perhaps you should try reading more than the OP. I'm not engaging any more about this with you.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I have to go out now.

I will take him for the follow up appointment on monday (can't wait until Thurs) and report back.

samvet I haven't had a good look in his mouth, I don't want to hurt him.

I am hoping that I can medicate him for the arthritis and get some positive result on the nugget thing.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 04/08/2012 13:47

My old boy won't allow me to look inside his mouth. (He allows the vet to take all sorts of liberties though! I think he realizes that the quicker she does her business, the quicker he's out of there.)

Best of luck anyway, nagoo. Let us know how things go.

GhostShip · 04/08/2012 13:49

Generally the OP tells the persons true feelings, rather than those they chose to adopt once they've read people's replies :)

ReallyTired · 04/08/2012 14:04

Does it matter if she wants to put down an old cat? The OP knows her cat better than anyone else. It can't be an easy thing to consider putting down a beloved pet that you had for 18 years. Its not as if the OP is considering putting her cat to sleep lightly. The OP lives with this cat and it must almost feel like another child to her.

GhostShip you have never met the cat and its wrong to judge. Animals get put to sleep for all kinds of trival reasons.

GhostShip · 04/08/2012 14:21

I don't need to meet the cat to see the reasons why the OP wants to put it down. I've already said if its for the best interests of the cat ie health reasons affecting quality of life to a painful extent then that's reasonable. Putting it down because it has become inconvenient (which is basically what the OP says) is bloody disgusting.

GhostShip · 04/08/2012 14:22

And 'animals get put to sleep for all sorts of trival reasons'

Yes, they do but I doesn't mean it's right.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 04/08/2012 14:25

I love cats I love all animals but I honestly don't think I would put an 18yr old cat thru invasive treatments, courses of strong medication that will put huge pressure on organs that are probably already beginning to fail. If it's something simple that can be quickly and easily resolved then you should do that, not just give up BUT there's such a thing as loving an animal too much and putting them thru procedures that are painful dangerous and carry a high chance of failure and death under anaesthetic! Believe me I've seem many an animal go thru a surgery or treatment that the poor thing should ne er have been put thru and it's horrible and they die away from the owner surrounded by people who are caring for them but to the cat are complete strangers. See a vet get an honest opinion and do what's right for your cat ;(

AmberLeaf · 04/08/2012 14:48

I thought this was going to be one of those now I have a baby my cat is annoying me type threads.

Its not at all though.

OP your cat sounds like he's had a bloody good innings! 18 is ancient in cat years!

Sometimes having a cat PTS is a lot kinder than painful distressing surgery and the indignity of have medication shoved down your throat while wrapped in a tea towel.

In your position if my cat was ill/decrepit/senile at that age with no hope of getting better without the above. I'd have him PTS.

Actually I have been in your position and that's sadly what I did.

This is not about nuggets of cat turd- this is about your pet living painfully and without dignity.

Lucyellensmum99 · 04/08/2012 14:56

Am wondering - you say he leaves nuggets of poo (its not a great image i have to say!) are they hard? If so, do you think he actually might be really badly constipated? do you see him actually pooing? There could be so many reasons why he is incontinent. His sore mouth would explain why he isn't grooming. He is 18 though, thats old old old cat.

I couldn't let a pet go after 18 years JUST because he became incontinent, but he does have a lot of problems and i think you need to have a frank discussion with your vet about his quality of life.

LisaMed · 04/08/2012 22:39

Sometimes the first post is just a desperate cry in the dark. However, with the OP's post, it sounds like the pain killer will be just the thing. evil cat with the rickety and frail spine has been jumping two or three feet off the ground without problems. Before she went on metacam it was out of the question. It gave her a massive new lease of life. She was waking me at 4am this morning, because she could!

Good luck OP!

sunflowerseeds · 06/08/2012 11:54

Animals have no sense of time so it matters not at all to a cat whether he lives for another hour or 5 years. This one is very very old and a danger to your baby so say goodbye.

Original poster
NagooingForGold · 06/08/2012 12:18

Not sure I agree with your no sense of time thing, where did you get that idea sunflower?

Cat is much perkier today. I found a piece of a chicken bone that he picked up off the street, so I think that is the mouth injuring thing, rather than it being a dental disease or cancer. the swelling has gone right down and he is eating well. I had a look in his mouth when he was yawning and you can see a cut on the side, but the infection is definitely getting better.

I think the vacant thing might have been pain from his mouth as he definitely seems better today and was letting DS stroke him. Still not purring though. I will report back after vet check up x

OP posts:
Original poster
NagooingForGold · 06/08/2012 12:19

Actually, if I am reporting back, I'll start a new, less Torchy thread.

OP posts:
Original poster
NagooingForGold · 06/08/2012 12:26

ha just noticed the x.

Cat booked in for 6.30 tonight.

OP posts:
AmberLeaf · 06/08/2012 13:00

Good luck.