Making the phone call

[viques]

Been worried about the cat ,general slowing down ,not much bounce, but then again she is 17 and a bit.

Took her to the vets about two weeks ago for a check up, consensus was that her kidneys were slowlyworsening, she was diagnosed with poor kidney function a while ago and has a supplement to support them (put on food and she doesn't like it much). Vet suggested we keep an eye on things.

But things have deteriorated a lot.For the last five or six days she has barely eaten, can't be tempted by anything apart from dreamies. I don't want to get her started her on tablets (she is a nightmare to give them to) blood tests and stressful visits to the vet, to me it would be prolonging what has up to date been a long, happy and generally healthy life for the sake of possibly only a few extra months of relative health combined with a lot of stress.

So I need to make the call. Thanks for reading, I think writing it out has helped me to clarify it in my mind.

I think you know when your cat's life doesn't have quality any more, and making that call is absolutely the right thing to do. Not wanting to eat isn't a good sign, and I agree that vet visits, blood tests and tablets can be stressful. I have an elderly frail cat and think I will be in the same position at some point soon. Thinking of you.

I hope it went OK.

My own Darling Twoago died of kidney failure. I didn't intervene - mainly because I hadn't got the strength to deal with the loss - and I've always regretted it.

It sounds as if it's time. You are making a hard decision, but one that you shouldn't regret.

It's such a hard call to make but one that is so kind to your cat. I'm sure she will be grateful.
17 years of wonder love . Bet she's had a ball.
Sending you love

You are doing the right thing. Remember the good times and know that though this is hard for you it is the kindest thing for her and that's what matters. Sometimes it isn't the kindest thing to throw all the resources of vet medicine at an elderly cat.

I had exactly the same situation a few years ago with my lovely 18 year old cat. Sadly I left it just a bit too long before making that call & I still feel upset when thinking about her last 1 or 2 days. Better to make the call a week too early than a day too late.

I'm sitting at home waiting for the call from the vets to see what the hard lump is on my elderly boys ribs. I too am facing the day of the call

We have just had our elderly cat put to sleep today because of renal failure. Vet is a cat specialist who said that they rarely have a peaceful natural death & can get very distressed. We said goodbye while she was still purring. Even the most aggressive treatment wouldn't have kept her alive for long. Still horribly sad, though.

I'm very sorry, Auriga. It's a hard thing.

My boy has also gone to the big place today, with his forehead resting on mine as he went. Turns out it was aggressive lung cancer. For the best but just so utterly gutting.

I'm so sorry, Gonnagle. I know you were half expecting it but still........

Many thanks to everyone for their kind remarks, especially Gonnaglre and Auriga , sympathies for your loss.

She had a lovely morning, eating as many Dreamies as she wanted and posing for lots of photos.

she has left more stuff lying around than I realised that she owned, but I think I will leave all that until tomorrow to sort out.

I know we did the right thing, but how mean that doing the right thing is the thing that hurts the most. Thank you again for your kind thoughts.

Aww Viques, I'm sorry that you're in the same boat today too. My sofa feels so very empty without someone half sitting on me and dribbling all over my leg