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Original poster

Let cat die at home or take to vet?

58 replies

Cleebope · 15/12/2016 17:20

I am not really a cat person and need advice. Our wee tabby appeared at our back door 7 years ago and has stayed ever since. We think she was about 3 so maybe 9 or 10 now. She has stopped eating for 2 days and has just curled up on the sofa and can hardly lift her head. She has started to smell very bad. We think she is dying of natural causes. Should we take her to the vet to perhaps get put down or should we let her literally curl up and die in peace?

OP posts:
Veterinari · 15/12/2016 17:24

Please take her to be put to sleep. It's sounds as if she is showing signs of organ failure and will be experiencing severe dehydration, hunger and nausea.

'Dying naturally' sounds nice in paper but the reality is that toxins are building up in her body and slowly poisoning her, she'll be experiencing extreme thirst and unable to drink or keep water down, her mouth will be dry and the build up of urea as her kidneys fail will cause nausea. Dying 'naturally' with no palliative care can be horrific.

Please don't leave her to suffer

Trying2bgd · 15/12/2016 17:25

I took my little cat to the vets as she was in pain and it was just kinder to put her to sleep. They also sorted out the cremation for us. Also she may not be dying just unwell so worth going to check it out.

LivingInMidnight · 15/12/2016 17:27

Please take her to the vet. She doesn't need to be in pain.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 15/12/2016 17:32

I would call the vets she might not be dying 9/10 isn't that old for a cat. If you are certain she is dying some vets will come to you to pts if you don't want to distress her by taking her out of her home. Either way don't just do nothing.

chemenger · 15/12/2016 17:34

9 or 10 is not a natural lifespan for a cat. Take her to the vet, she is clearly very ill.

isadorable · 15/12/2016 17:55

Please dont leave her like that. She needs to see a vet pronto. She cant tell you what's happening so you need to do what's best for her.

FrickOnAStick · 15/12/2016 17:58

Take her to the vet. 'Allowing her to die naturally' is just stringing out her suffering. Or, alternatively (and admittedly it is a very slim chance), she could have something treatable.

Please take her to a vet.

FestiveBiscuits · 15/12/2016 18:06

Take to vet, if a relative stopped eating and lay around all day would you call a doctor?

RubbishMantra · 15/12/2016 18:49

Please take her to the vet. Or if that's too distressing for her, request they come to visit you at home.

It may well be something treatable, please don't let her just die without seeking veterinary help.

10 is not old for a cat, it's upper middle aged.

Cats are very good at hiding pain (but still feel it), and curling up and withdrawing is often the only way us humans can tell they're in pain.

Justputyourshoesonnow · 15/12/2016 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Littlemissindependent · 15/12/2016 20:37

Take her to the vet asap

QuestionableMouse · 15/12/2016 20:37

For fuck's sake. Of course you should take the poor thing to the vet!!!

gamerchick · 15/12/2016 20:37

Why didn't you take her to the vet the first sign of illness?

You don't ignore suffering and assume it's natural causes, take her to the vets!

Wolfiefan · 15/12/2016 20:38

Vets. ASAP. Poor thing is suffering.

gamerchick · 15/12/2016 20:39

Actually I'm pretty disgusted by your post. I'm not a cat person either but mine goes to the vet the first sign of trouble. Fuxache.

Catzpyjamas · 15/12/2016 20:41

Take her to the vet, as soon as possible. Poor wee cat.

SoftSheen · 15/12/2016 20:42

You must take your cat to the vet. She certainly sounds very ill, but is not necessarily dying, and it may be possible to treat her. The natural lifespan of a domestic cat is at least 12-14 years, and many cats live much longer, so she is not dying of old age.

shillwheeler · 15/12/2016 20:43

Vets. It may be treatable. If it isn't, it will prevent further suffering, and if you are concerned about the stress, many vets will visit and put to sleep at home, which is what I have done with most of ours when we knew they were on their way.

Floralnomad · 15/12/2016 20:46

Get her to a vet ASAP , preferably the emergency vet tonight what you are doing is causing unnecessary suffering , you have absolutely no idea what the matter is or if it's treatable . Poor cat .

Autumnchill · 15/12/2016 20:51

Vets! Hopefully you've rung them and are there now getting treatment. We've had 2 elderly cats put to sleep recently both at the vets and they were so sensitive to our needs (me bawling!). I took them a thank you card earlier today.

Fingers crossed its nothing too serious and your pussy cat just needs some medication.

PolterGoose · 15/12/2016 20:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Cleebope · 15/12/2016 21:45

Thanks for all that apart from gamer who is needlessly aggressive. She was tested for cats aids which I had never heard of and was put to sleep with all of us stroking her. Now home to be buried.

OP posts:
TimidLividyetagain · 15/12/2016 21:48

Hope ur okay is sad when a pet dies , glad the cat is no longer suffering

Original poster
Cleebope · 15/12/2016 21:57

Thank youTimid. She was much loved and had a brilliant wee life. My kids are cut up about it and we are missing her loads.I have never taken an animal to the vets before but the local vet was a dream. I just needed some experienced cat owners to tell me what to do.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 15/12/2016 21:57

You ignored and allowed an animal to suffer for 2 days whilst toying with the idea to just let it die. I was mild in response to that.

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