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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

Not sure what’s best to do

17 replies

immortalmarble · 19/10/2018 22:52

Dcat(18) has lost a lot of weight, going from nearly 6 kilos to 3.

He’s been to the vet and she has said he needs blood tests. He’s in pain and although he’s had some morphine I know that will wear off.

I suppose I’m just wondering what the best thing to do is. Is it best to let him go without repeated vet visits and tests that are expensive and just keep him alive for the sake of it?

I don’t know what to do.

OP posts:

DramaAlpaca · 19/10/2018 23:12

I'm sorry you are in this situation

What struck me immediately from your post is that you say he's in pain. That would be enough for me. An 18 year old cat, who's lost so much weight and is in pain - I simply wouldn't hesitate to do the right thing by him and PTS. Think about it, what good are blood tests going to do apart from prolong the inevitable? He clearly doesn't have much quality of life.

There's a saying you see a lot on here, better a week too soon than a day too late. I think in your heart you know what to do, OP.

Wolfiefan · 19/10/2018 23:16

If they want to do bloods because they suspect a particular problem (like thyroid issue) then I would say yes.
But if they haven’t got a clue and are suggesting blood tests as part of a series of tests then I wouldn’t be keen.
You have my sympathy. We lost old girl at 19. She was fine. Then she wasn’t. No clear reason. She did have a thyroid problem and arthritis but it wasn’t that.

Original poster

immortalmarble · 19/10/2018 23:51

Thanks.

He can’t walk properly. It’s heartbreaking.

I think it’s time.

OP posts:

CarryOnScreamingValenta · 19/10/2018 23:53

Original poster

immortalmarble · 21/10/2018 12:57

Really concerned now.

The cat is obviously seriously ill. I’m not a vet but even I can see that. The weight has fallen off him, he can’t walk (back legs keep collapsing) and his breathing is shallow and laboured.

Our vet are insisting he has costly tests before any other decisions are made.

Can this be right? I really don’t want people thinking that I won’t spend money so will have the cat PTS, it isn’t that at all, but I am genuinely concerned this is compromising his wellbeing and that i will quite considerably worse off when the outcome (being PTS) looks certain

OP posts:

isadorable · 21/10/2018 13:06

Can you go to another vets? I am so sorry you have reached this place but your instincts sound right. Trust them and do what's best for the cat. I pts my 18 year-old as soon as his little legs wobbled. i knew it was time. Be kind to yourselves and give him lots of love. I'd go elsewhere if he's so unwell.

isadorable · 21/10/2018 13:08

i should add he had had a long and lovely life with us and we'd managed his kidney disease for 10 years. my vet was great and agreed it was time. It made me so sad to do it but I didn't want to see him go a day too long...

MrsPMT · 21/10/2018 13:15

Aww, sounds like its time to let him go, IMO.

I had 2 cats that lived to elderly (16/17) and I happily had them treated at the vets for various things over the years, DNaughtyCat had overactive thyroid and was medicated for years until it got so bad that she was vomiting almost all the time, it was definitely time to let her go (17yrs).

DLovelyCat was healthy most of her life and started to fail at about 16, had difficulty walking some days, came down one morning and she was unable to get up and had soiled herself, that was time for her too

I think when they're younger its ok to put them through various interventions but when theyre elderly its better to let them go before they suffer too much.
Best wishes

Original poster

immortalmarble · 21/10/2018 13:19

Thanks, we will try another vet tomorrow. It’s time, I know it is

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 21/10/2018 13:26

You know him best. It's not fair to put him through more tweets if you know it's time. If I had t been waiting for blood results to come back to confirm kidney failure, I would have taken my cat back that night. As I just knew it was time.

Ollivander84 · 21/10/2018 13:29

That sounds really odd. But you know the cat better than the vet (I mean the more tests sounds odd from the vet)
I did once have to demand to have a hamster PTS, the vet said he was fine but he kept having fits and being incredibly distressed and violent when he woke up. The vet said no, and as I demanded, he went into a fit and started screaming, the vet looked shocked and agreed definitely time to PTS

VimFuego101 · 21/10/2018 13:37

I had to be fairly firm with my vet regarding our cat PTS, he kept suggesting more tests we could do. Like you, I knew it was time. I think they are used to owners pushing to keep their pet alive at all costs. Our cat struggled to even bounce back from his vaccinations the year before so there was no way he would cope with surgery and recovery. I hope the next vet you try is more helpful.

Toddlerteaplease · 21/10/2018 17:48

My vet said that Fattys kidney disease could be managed. But on top of her awful heart, I knew I couldn't do it too her. She wasn't suffering at that point but she was no longer My Fatty.

isadorable · 22/10/2018 21:58

Hope you're OK and you found the help and advice you needed.

Dodie66 · 22/10/2018 22:42

How did it go OP. Thinking of you

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 23/10/2018 14:54

When I took a previous cat to the vet to be pts he persuaded us (seriously against my better judgement - but DW was swayed) to keep her in overnight on a drip.
The cat died alone that night at the vets, but when we got the bill the vet had 'accidentally' added a charge for euthanasing her.
Trust your judgement (and if in doubt move to another vet.)

ChishandFips33 · 23/10/2018 15:10

That's not right, hope you tried another vet

My 19 yr old lost weight, though not so suddenly as yours. However she developed breathing issues very quickly one day and my vet let me take her down straight away.

It was the hardest but kindest thing to do - she'd had her time and I saw no sense in prolonging her time when she was obviously struggling

thinking of you at this difficult time - they are definitely very much part of the family

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