Don't think that I can cope anymore

[ladybird69]

my old lady is 17 she is deaf and incontinent. She will not use a litter tray, so I've tried puppy pads which is fine for wee to use for No one but not for her little stinky parcels, so i'm forever cleaning up after her, even so my house still stinks of her and as Im disabled it is really difficult for me. She is an indoor cat as she was rescued from a feral mother and is very scared of everything so leaving her outside isnt an option
Anyone have any advice for me Tia

I don't think anyone would judge you if have her put down. Is it really incontinence though? If she will use puppy pads then it doesn't sound like it. It sounds as though she doesn't like the tray.

Has she always used a tray before? When did she stop? Perhaps she's a bit arthritic and it's too high to comfortably get into. You could try a much lower one.

Is she enjoying her life still?

What does vet say? Does she have kidney issues?

Oh she is 17 and quite old - if you can't cope I don't think it could be held against you if you said goodbye and had her PTS.

Why is she incontinent? What has vet said?

So has she seen a vet @ladybird69 ?

Sorry no I didn't mean incontinent she just tends to go wherever she wants. She has use of a low walled litter tray but I found that she was going next to it, missing it! She's happy in herself so I haven't visited vets yet, she just sleeps and gets up for something to eat then back to bed but like I said she is 17. It's just getting me down that I m having a struggle keeping up with her messing. If it was in a litter tray or at least on a pad I could clear it up easily. I just don't know what else to do.

I'm sure a vet would agree to have her put to sleep because of both of your circumstances and the fact she is probably very close to the end of her life anyway. Incontinence probably isn't something easily fixed without surgery and a lot of medication which would be unfair to put her through at such an old age.
It's very sad to lose your furry friends but maybe it's time

So she hasn't seen a vet but you're jumping straight to PTS? That's awful.
She isn't happy if she's messing all over the house. It could be arthritis, a UTI or any number of things. Vet ASAP. And not to PTS.
Also older cats can hate the feel of litter on their paws. Thinning skin I think. You need more than one tray and maybe try different litter.

I feel for you. My 20 year old boy was PTS 3 weeks ago and during the last stages of his life he sometimes peed beside his tray. He always pood on the floor, so I was used to that, but it was hard work, the constant tidying up and I have stone floors, although he did sometimes do it on the upstairs carpet little bugger! He did have the megacolon condition, so I was always relieved to see his parcels as the alternative of him not being able to go was so much worse. Very regular visits to the vet are really important when they're reaching the end of their lives, as you never know what else is going on. She could be in pain.

The vet may be able to give her some pain relief or anti-inflammatory drugs. Climbing in and out of the litter tray might be painful for her. Please take her to a vet, there may be ways to solve her issues and if PTS is the right option then the vet can advise.

I'm cognisant of her age, her symptoms - but also of your disability and difficulties. Do you think you could manage to vet her in case something is wrong which can be helped by treatment?

wolfie I haven't jumped straight to put her to sleep I came here to ask for advice. It's not helpful you getting on your high horse.
She is well in herself she can still jump onto her fav spot on the window cill so I don't think it's arthritis, it's been going on for over a year that's why I'm at my wits end I've tried different trays, litter positions etc. I've had cats all my life but I'm at a loss as to what to do with this old lady. Pls be kind. I'll make an appt for next week for her to have a check up. She's laying in the crook of my knees as I type this bless her

She sounds lovely. It could be that she's in pain or discomfort as cats are very good at hiding it. Mine had a bone infection and we didn't know until he actually broke his jaw. It's definitely worth getting her checked out.

Don't assume she hadn't got arthritis. Old girl could still jump and had bloody awful arthritis. Ended up on tramadol!
And I judge anyone who complains they are sick of their pet's incontinence and hasn't thought to get a vet check.

The stray pooing doesn't concern me as much as the stray peeing. I recall my very experienced vet saying that elderly cats tend not to 'dribble'. (Her - very loving - remarks about elderly dogs don't bear repeating.)

Good luck at the vet.

This has been going on for a year and she hasn't seen a vet in all that time? Inappropriate toileting is often the first sign that something is wrong with a cat, they hide pain well so it's their behaviour that changes usually. Poor thing could have been suffering with something all this time.

Feline dementia?

Just a catch up she's had the all clear from the vets he thinks that it probably her age. She's happy in herself so that's the main thing. Thanks for all your helpful replies

So glad for you. Hope you'll be ok coping with things.

My old boy is 20, and sounds similar to your old lady. He's a bit wobbly, pretty skinny, craps everywhere, has vile breath and is losing his eyesight. It is very difficult to know when to decide enough is enough. At our last visit to the vet she told us that she had put down healthier animals but since ours is still eating and drinking, still enjoys spending time outside in the sun and still interacts with us, her recommendation would be to keep him going.
She did make it clear however that it is our choice.

Whatever you decide OP has to be right for you as well as for your cat. An incontinent 17 year old nervous indoor cat would be -impossible- very difficult to rehome and if you did decide that having her pts is the right answer then I certainly wouldn't judge you on that.

Awh thanks want and Grumpy that reminded me of when we had our old Lab PTS the vet said I've been waiting for the last 4 years for you to come to me to put her to sleep!
My old lady is still going but deaf and daft. But she's still eating and drinking and enjoying her cuddles so for the time being I'll struggle on, that the deal! We're going to check up again in 3 months all being well.

My old girl like to shit in the bedroom and I am sick of aquavaccing it not to mention the SMELL in the middle of the night so she has to stay downstairs.
Luckily I can keep her in the dining room and kitchen with a cat flap to the outdoors and a hard floor.
She gets sudden diarrhoea which the vet says is down to mild colitis so she goes on to steroids from time to time but still has accidents.
I put out newspaper for her to go on and she is ok with that.
Can you keep your cat confined to a smaller area OP? As long as she has everything she needs she could be ok.
Like any old person she probably has urgency issues and these can normally be dealt with with medication.