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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

To PTS or not

61 replies

MrsMoggy · 02/10/2018 18:46

I know nobody can help me make a decision on this really, but just need to get it all out there.

We have a 4/5 year old rescue cat that we rescued a couple of years ago. We knew when we rescued him that he was FIV+ but he was in great health and a lovely cat so we adopted him. We also have two other cats, non FIV. Both those cats are
Insured but he can’t get insurance because of the FIV.

Earlier this year he started getting very skinny around his hip area, indicating a kidney
Problem. He was also getting sticky around the mouth area.

Took him to the vets and they did blood tests, results came back full of doom, kidneys very diseased and they were very close to putting him to sleep until the lead vet intervened. Secondary to that, his teeth were in very bad shape.

As a result he underwent a kidney flush out to get rid of toxins and has been on a renal diet since, all of which has cost a fortune as he’s not insured. He had a prognosis of making it to around Christmas time. There is no comeback from the kidney disease they could only slow it down.

Past few days he has declined again, but worse than before. He is very sleepy, not moving around the house as much, not greeting us and showing less interest in food. One of his teeth actually fell out the other day, and his chin is getting black from drooling. His fur is not in good condition.

I’ve made a vet appt for tomorrow to discuss but I feel there’s no way back
From this. We can’t afford to repeat the same fruitless procedures time and again.
Also if he is to carry on he is in desperate need of a dental, something that will cost hundreds of pounds, if it was even safe to give him the op.

I’m so stuck what to do. My husband is in denial about it all, and I also pay for all the cat expenses so it all falls on me to make these decisions. I’d be gutted to lose the cat at such a young age but I’m more concerned about his quality of life.

Thanks if you read all of that!

OP posts:

Thread gallery

ifonly4 · 03/10/2018 14:47

It really sounds like he's had enough. If he's up to eating any treats, just let him enjoy them. It's so hard making that final decision, but sometimes you know it's the right thing to do.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/10/2018 15:07

The waiting is the worst part. I was only waiting on blood results to confirm kidney failure. And I had already decided that it was the only thing I could do for her. I was at work the day I had to PTS. They were brilliant and let me go home early. But the clock watching was awful. I'm so glad I took her sister with her to the vets.
She climbed into her basket and sat on top of her. As she always did if she was scared. It was exactly how I wanted it to be.
Sending hugs and

Original poster

MrsMoggy · 03/10/2018 15:27

That’s lovely toddler that your other cat did that. What a great bond. I don’t think my two girl cats will be too bothered when he’s gone as they are opposite characters to him and he was usually fed up with their childish behaviour

I will miss him terribly. But in a way I already miss him, the cat he used to be. I don’t know how I will stay composed at work tomorrow, I work on a front desk so no choice but to put a face on

OP posts:

StartingGrid · 03/10/2018 18:35

Assuming you may be at the vets now, hoping for a miracle but if not wishing your beloved boy a peaceful passing.

SeraphinaDombegh · 03/10/2018 18:40

Thinking of you OP

fenneltea · 03/10/2018 18:42

Thinking of you here too

Original poster

MrsMoggy · 03/10/2018 19:50

He’s gone. His only options were to have pretty much all teeth out in an op he
Probably wouldn’t survive. Then the kidney disease would have killed him anyway.

It was heartbreaking because he perked up at the end, eating the vets dreamies and trying to get on his knee. More active than he’d been in days.

Worst moment and decision of my life. Horrid to say but him going has upset me more than most humans I’ve lost.

I’ve attached a picture of him in better days. Love and miss you Thomas

OP posts:

Want2beme · 03/10/2018 20:11

What a beautiful face. It's truly heartbreaking and such a difficult thing to have to do. You doubt yourself but he was very poorly. You've done a good thing for him

HoleyCoMoley · 03/10/2018 20:13

What a beautiful cat, looking so proud on his new stand. It is so sad when we have to say goodbye and he was a much loved member of your family.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/10/2018 20:14

What a beautiful boy.

fenneltea · 03/10/2018 20:14

Ah, what a beautiful boy, funnily enough we've always said that it is a knowing by them and feeling relief when they perk up before they go (probably the adrenaline making them feel better.) I do think it's nice that your last memory of him is happier though.

Run free Thomas, no more suffering now. xxx

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/10/2018 20:40

Oh that made me cry. You did the kindest thing for him, and you gave him a lovely life.

RIP Thomas, run free at the Rainbow Bridge.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 03/10/2018 20:55

Really sorry OP - horrible time for you but you"ve done the right thing.

Remember him in his prime.

Original poster

MrsMoggy · 03/10/2018 21:13

Thank you everyone.

I’m swinging between numbness and sobbing. My husband was in tears in the vet room and my 6 year old has finally realised the reality of what’s going on and had a cry before bed.

He’s buried in a nice spot in my mums
Garden. We will get a photo printed to have pride of place at home

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 03/10/2018 21:16

A colleague told me that Fatty would purr as the medication was being injected and she did.

Wolfiefan · 03/10/2018 21:26

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s not at all horrid to say you will miss him so much. And he was gorgeous.
You may find him having perked up at the vets heartbreaking but it would be so much worse if you had left it until he couldn’t rally even for a second. You preserved his dignity and gave him the peaceful passing he deserved.

SeraphinaDombegh · 03/10/2018 21:50

Oh bless you OP. What a beautiful boy. You did the right thing by him.

savagebaggagemaster · 03/10/2018 23:01

Oh OP, this has made me cry. You gave him a lovely life and he was lucky to have you. I had to let my lovely puss be pts last summer because of advancing kidney disease. It was heartbreaking for all of us (I'd had her for 20 years) but in particular for my dd who was 11 and loved her dearly. It's hard right now, but I promise you'll find it less painful over time and the fond memories will be the ones you think of first. to you.

Original poster

MrsMoggy · 04/10/2018 07:09

Feel empty today. The other two cats are restless and hovering around the doors expecting him to come in.

I keep replaying the put down process. Thinking I should have cuddled him more. Remembering how happy he was eating the dreamies and fussing the vet.

Feels like things won’t be right again

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 04/10/2018 07:32

You’re suffering. He isn’t. You say you felt you should have cuddled him more but you also said you wanted to cuddle him at home earlier and he didn’t want it. So you did what he wanted. Not what you wanted. When my girl was pts I gently stroked her head. Because that’s what she liked. A cuddle would’ve been about her least favourite thing.
The fact he was happy and cuddling the vet and eating dreamies? Think of it from his point of view. Treats and a cuddle and sleep.
Kidney disease is a truly awful way to go. You saved him from that. It would be beyond terrible to leave it too long and have to pts as an emergency as he was suffering too much.

Want2beme · 04/10/2018 09:57

I felt exactly the same as you when my lovely old boy was PTS. I wasn't convinced that he was 100% ready to go, but my lovely vet reassured me that it was his time. She was the one who'd been checking him during the last month of his life, so my faith in her was unquestioned. I just stroked and kissed him during the procedure and was so glad that I was there with him.

carbuckety · 04/10/2018 14:04

I'm so sorry. Heartbreaking to lose him but you did right by him. Hugs

Rudgie47 · 04/10/2018 21:23

Very sorry for your loss OP. Your cat was obviously very loved and you did your best for him. What more can a person do?

Benji13 · 05/10/2018 13:31

Sending you big hugs. You gave him a lovely life and he sounds much loved.
It will get better honestly but you will
never forget your special boy.
So nice that you took in a fiv positive lad too so many are pts. We took a stray lad in earlier this year who was fiv positive no rescues would take him. So he's stayed with my 2. He's a big cuddly teddy
Sending you love xx

Original poster

MrsMoggy · 05/10/2018 14:52

Had this lovely plant and message from the vets come today. Made me well up, but so grateful for their support

OP posts:

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