How do you know if they are suffering?

[Dodie66]

I posted yesterday about my cat and blood pressure tablets. I don’t think her problems are anything to do with them now. She is slowly fading away. Yesterday she ate and drank a bit, today just a few licks of some pate food and a couple of sips of water. She doesn’t want to sit next to me on the sofa just prefers sleeping in her basket. She looks comfortable and I don’t think she is suffering but how will I know? The vet said there is nothing we can do just support her till the time comes.
When should I take her to the vet? Feeling sad ☹️

I’m sorry, whenever I’ve had a cat go off their food it’s always been a very bad sign. Not always an end of life situation but a sign they are very unwell. I would take her to the vet first thing tomorrow or sooner as an emergency if she deteriorates.

Our dcat purred continuously which the vet said can be a sign of being in pain.

Cats are buggers for it. Our Dcat was way past intervention by the time she started looking peaky. After seeing the scans the vet said PTS was really the only sensible option, too much damage to repair for an older cat. It was astonishing she was alive at all with the blocked bile duct, gall stones and leaking gall duct, kidney and liver failure. She seemed pretty happy, just off her food a little and a bit slow moving around. A younger cat they might have gone in and cleared the stones, repaired the ducts - but she was fifteen and probably wouldn't ever be right after if she survived the surgery.

One of our cats when I was little just curled up next to me seeming fine while I was reading, and after a couple of hours I noticed she wasn't breathing. She was about 14.

As long as she seems comfortable, book an urgent one tomorrow morning. If she starts looking awful, call the emergency vets tonight. Good luck to her

She’s been to the vet twice in the last few days. The vet said there is nothing they can do, just support her and let them know how she is tomorrow. She is nearly 18.
I asked the vet if she was suffering and she said no she didn’t think she was. I will ring first thing in the morning. If she deteriorates I will do it sooner. The only thing is getting somebody to take me to the emergency vet which is a long way. Our vet is closed at the weekend. Do vets come out in an emergency? I can pay if that is needed

I'm not quite (but nearly) at that stage with my old girl.

My friends vet told her the same and she decided that as her girl didn't seem to be in pain (she'd had a pain jag) she decided that she would spend one last night with hers and then go to the vet the next day. So she got some of her favourite treats (cat only had a couple really as she wasn't well enough to want food) she got a lovely cosy blanket on the bed with her and spent the night having cuddles until they both fell asleep then called the vet the next morning and said she didn't want to put her through any more.

I'm sorry dodie it's horrible knowing when the time is right.

Thinking of you this morning, as I took our older girl in for a checkup after some teeth out a month ago.

She is still the same. I’m going to phone the vet shortly and see what she says. She had a bit of food, had a drink and peed in her litter tray then went back to sleep

Aw bloody hell
I really feel for you both.
This has got to be the hardest part of pet ownership.
I hope she pops off snuggled in her basket

Thinking of you Dodie

Just to say if you think she’s poorly enough to pass away it would be much kinder to preempt that and have her put to sleep. A natural death is not always kind.

I phoned the vet this morning and she said to keep doing what we are doing. Small amounts of food and drink and keep her comfortable. She said I will know if she needs to go and be put to sleep and that she might die naturally. She seems comfortable and sleeping all the time
How did you get on SpoonBlender ? Hope your cat is ok

Our checkup was fine - mouth has all healed up nicely, no trouble, and she's back on crunchies again. Her flea allergy resulting in her tearing half her own fur off has been succesfully handled with twice-as-often flea drops on everyone and very low dose steroid pills for her.

I say old... she's only 8 but she's a rescue who's had a hard life (broken teeth, dubiously set broken hip and some balance or possibly brain damage issues, plus this insanely sensitive flea allergy) and she acts about 18. She's sat behind me occasionaly softly yowping at nothing.

Good luck with your girl!