Our very old cat needs That Trip to the vet. But she's asleep. Talk sense into me.

[Lancelottie]

Poor old mog. She has hyperthyroidism, heart disease and dodgy kidneys. She was sick at the weekend and then escaped and went missing for two days.

Yesterday she came home looking so starved and tatty, won't eat (so won't have any of her pills) and has only drunk the bit of water I've put in with a syringe. Has licked a scrap of ham and sniffed a Dreamie.

I'll admit I was hoping she'd just snooze her way to oblivion last night, given how distressed she gets in the car, but she's still with us, occasionally pottering a few feet - slowly, but not staggering - and asking to go out.

Now she's asleep on the floor again. I know what I should do, but she looks so peaceful and calm.

Call your vet out. Most will do home visits for pts. It's so hard when they're so old and knackered, making that decision.

I don't know what to say, but I do. You know what this means and you know what you have to do.

Would your vet do a home visit for you? Many will, in this sort of situation.

I know how heartbreaking this time is all too well, so you better believe it when I say I am thinking of you and virtually 'there'.

Take care and love and kisses and head pats to mog.

I'm sort Lancelottie. Yes, see if the vet will come out.

Yes, I'll call them, good plan.

Only thing is - the kids are here. They're teenagers, but one has SEN and is in quite a rough way at the moment. Anyone know if it's likely to be distressing for the cat?

It won't upset the cat at all, she'll just fall asleep and she won't wake up. It's sad but it's in no way stressful for the animal

Ah bless old mog X but ditto what others have said - definitely call the vet to you in this situation.

I would definitely call out the vet in those circumstances. As cakes says, it won't be distressing for your cat, she will just fall asleep. When we had to have William put to sleep I wasn't sure what to expect but DH and I stayed with him stroking him until he went. It was just like he was sleeping.

Thinking of you all

Personally, I would not opt for a home visit. I think having your children around is a bad idea. Go to the vet. You can just leave your cat with them if you wish but do something before your cat goes off to die and then you can't find her. They will go away and die away from home. Having pets means you have to make the difficult decision and you do it for the cat. I am sure your cat has had a wonderful life - good luck.

Oh OP

Of my previous two cats, one I kept putting off taking to the vet to be pts, and she died naturally but not comfortably at home. It wasn't nice, poor thing.
The other I took to the vet when it was clearly necessary and it was much easier for her. I know what I will always be sure to do in the future.

That is very sad, but it's a good idea to bring the vet out. It is very sad but she is tired and needs to go. Your children. Can be in the other room, they often cope better than we do, but obviously I don't know the nature of the SN. Good luck.

But the cat is distressed in the car. I think it would be kinder for the cat if the vet could come out in these circumstances.

Also, the children don't have to be there when it happens if they don't want to. When my Mum's dog was PTS at home couldn't be there so my friend stayed with the dog and Mum waited in the other room. The vet then took the dog away so Mum didn't have to see her.

agree re not going in the car: cat basket etc. They hate it.

Lancelottie, I am sorry. My cat was the same with the vets so I understand why you don't want to take her. As it was, my girl started fitting and died in my arms on Monday. Would she wake if you picked her up and carried her?

Can the kids pop out whilst the vet comes? It was completely calm and not at all distressing when we had our old girl pts but I wouldn't want to have to worry about anyone other than your cat at that moment.

Thanks all. I've made that call, and the vet will come out to us later in the day.

She's still asleep by my feet. She's 20 and everything has clearly just worn out, poor old lass.

Poor thing, and poor all of you. Hope the visit goes as smoothly as it can

So sorry to hear this. Our vet came out to us which made things much easier. He gave the cat a sedative before the pts drug, so she was asleep in my arms and her breathing just slowed until it stopped. As for your kids, if they want to be there, then I don't think you should try to stop them. But if they'd rather not be, then don't try to make them either. Hugs to you on this sad day

Poor thing. Yes this is the right thing. It's heartbreaking but part and parcel of the love that has been between you over the years.

She won't find it distressing at all, she may not even notice and will just slip quietly from dream into bigger dream. Much much better than a visit to the vet. If the kids aren't up to understanding exactly what is happening you can just tell them that the vet is visiting to see if she can be made better, and sadly the answer is that no she can't be made better and then she died.

When we had this visit we were advised to get an old towel or something underneath because there can be a mess when everything relaxes (though this didn't happen in our case so it can't be every time) so you might try and slip something under her before the vet arrives so that you don't need to flap about finding something while they are waiting.

That's good advice, thanks.

My vet gave my dog a sedative then the injection,he just slept away..my kids didn't want to see him..I wrapped him in his favourite blanket when he was falling asleep, all cuddled up to me and left him wrapped in it when I left...I also took some pictures of him just before and just after- the kids knew about them and when they were ready ( one that day,one a few days later) they had a look at them..they were both settled by seeing how cosy he looked...it brought them a lot of comfort ( one of them has ASD)

I'm so sorry. We took my cat to the vet not a home visit but wrapped her in her favourite blanket and left her in it so she would be comfy.

Still asleep!

I'm so sorry for you all. You are doing to right thing for her, but I know it's still painful.

Will be thinking of you today and hope that it all goes peacefully Xx

Sorry OP - it's so sad when the time comes. Thinking of you all.

My cat was put down at home last year for very similar reasons. I couldn't bear the thought of her last afternoon including a horrible car visit that she hated. You're definitely doing the right thing. My vet gave a sedative first and then PTS and then wrapped her up in a lovely blanket. It was really very sad but very calm and stress free for everyone involved, most importantly lovely cat.

I hope you're all ok