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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.

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Original poster

I think we have to put our old cat down

37 replies

Geckos48 · 01/01/2014 21:41

She keeps vomiting all over the house, shes started shitting everywhere and she is really quite old now. I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old and really, really can't have her just puking and shitting everywhere :(

Bit sad about it really

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 01/01/2014 21:44

Oh Geckos I am sorry. Have you spoken to the vet yet?

cozietoesie · 01/01/2014 21:47

Yes - what did the vet say about her? And how old is quite old?

Original poster

Geckos48 · 01/01/2014 21:50

We haven't spoken to the vet yet. We dont know exactly how old she is, she was stray and adopted us around 12 years ago. She was at least 3 when we got her.

Unfortunately the vet costs £70 a time and we just cannot afford to keep an old cat who is on the way out. I am not sure I would want that to myself anyway to be honest so I think a graceful end would be kindest.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 01/01/2014 21:53

Can you speak to the pdsA? Or ask your vet if they will do a payment plan of some kind. It could be her kidneys. We lost two cats to kidney failure as a kid and the first symptoms I remember were puking.

It could also be something that's fixable you really do need to get her to a vets to find out.

Original poster

Geckos48 · 01/01/2014 21:57

PDSA wont touch us because we dont get housing benefit.
Last time I contacted three vets about payment plans and they all spoke to me like I was mad.

OP posts:

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/01/2014 22:03

Is there anyone you can borrow money from? Another vet you can register with who might be more helpful?

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/01/2014 22:04

Surely they have to treat a sick pet if they see it?

Original poster

Geckos48 · 01/01/2014 22:13

I dont know, I just phoned them up and they said they didnt do anything like payment plans. We were desperate so I sold my digital camera to pay for her care. We literally have No money. Nobody to borrow money from.

No way of paying for ongoing care.

OP posts:

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/01/2014 22:19

When do you think you can get her to a vet? :( even if it was just to have her PTS?

Original poster

Geckos48 · 01/01/2014 22:20

Friday.

OP posts:

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/01/2014 22:23

Is she on wet or dry food?

A vet once told us to mix a bit of water with the wet food to help make sure our cat was drinking enough. Maybe you could do the same, just to help keep her hydrated?

2kidsintow · 01/01/2014 22:28

Why does the vets cost £70 each time? A checkup around here sometimes doesn't cost anything. When our cat is checked over annually and given his jabs too it only costs about £30.

Can you phone and ask what the cost of just a consultation would be and go from there?

Sorry to hear your pet is poorly.

OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 01/01/2014 22:31

We have an elderly cat nearing the end due to kidney failure, she seems happy in herself currently so its hard to know when the decision should be but one line in the sand we've drawn is if she becomes incontinent. Not because of our inconvenience but because I think it's a sign they can't look after themselves any more.

I think you need to draw your own line but hugs, it's really hard.

DwellsUndertheSink · 01/01/2014 22:39

Our old boy is 18. Starting to poop in bedrooms, wanders around the house meowing in the middle of the night, sometimes find him staring blankly at eg the radiator.

I think he's gone senile. I dont know if I can bear to keep him in this state. Can they do anything for mogs with alzeimers? I feel it might be kinder to get him PTS rather than let him just bimble about in confusion and fear.

Original poster

Geckos48 · 01/01/2014 23:22

Yes it is about drawing a line and with such young children I have to prioritise :(

OP posts:

OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 01/01/2014 23:26

You clearly love her and wouldn't be doing it unless you thought it was right. It's never an easy decision but a few people have told me recently better too early than too late because inevitably they suddenly deteriorate at the worst possible time.

Original poster

Geckos48 · 01/01/2014 23:41

I do love her, shes an odd old cat that just adopted us one day, shes got a male name because the very first house I ever lived in on my own, the very first day we moved in she ran between the agents legs and up the stairs, the agent wanted to throw her out and I said - oh no thats Jeffery' and she was called that ever since. There will never be another cat like her, she is half blue cat and half tabby, she was stunted from a young age so has always been kitten like and very very playful. It took us around a year to get her used to us because she was so scared of people.

I've had her for 12 years and lots of people have fallen in love with her, she is a wonderful cat.

I will miss her so much but I can't have her pooing everywhere :(

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thecatneuterer · 02/01/2014 00:15

It may just be a one-off easily treatable illness. She could have years left in her yet. I think you should get her diagnosed before you jump to having her put to sleep.

soundevenfruity · 02/01/2014 00:33

So if you don't have any money how you going to pay for putting her to sleep? Try calling around vets, it certainly doesn't cost £70 for a check up here.

Original poster

Geckos48 · 02/01/2014 07:15

Obviously we will find the money to put her down. It's the onward care we can't justify. She's an old cat, I think it's more dignified than getting her treated more and more for illnesses until she is in so much pain we don't have a choice.

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Original poster

Geckos48 · 02/01/2014 10:28

I've made the appointment for either tomorrow or next Friday.

Husband is off tomorrow but it depends on how much cash we have

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thecatneuterer · 02/01/2014 11:32

But as I said before - what if it's not the start of an inevitable decline - but just a one-off illness she can recover from and go on to live for years?

Original poster

Geckos48 · 02/01/2014 12:03

It's clear that she is senile, crying for food when it's infront if her and yowling through the night.

She is not happy or healthy and we are in no position to care for an elderly and crazy cat.

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timtam23 · 02/01/2014 22:18

I wonder if she has an overactive thyroid - very common in older cats

The symptoms would fit, the yowling, vomiting, frequent pooing

Is she eating/drinking loads but losing weight?

My old cat had this a couple of years ago, he is still with us (now 17) but yes it has cost us a fair bit in vet's bills over that time (tablets then an op)

Sorry to hear you have this dilemma and I hope you are able to come to the right decision for you with your vet's help

Original poster

Geckos48 · 02/01/2014 22:23

Yes she eats and drinks a ridiculous amount and has always been thin and scraggly.

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