Elderly cat , is it time?

[lessthanBeau]

My elderly cat is 21yrs old, she is now very unkempt and matted and a bit smelly. Obviously shes not as agile as she was, but can still get on the sofa, shes deaf as a post and yowls loudly (when she could hear herself she would meow very quietly)she still uses her litter box, she was never an energetic cat but now just goes from bed to bowl and back again, she vomits at least once a week. Her teeth are painful, I can tell by how she eats, and think she just doesn't look well and am dithering over taking her to be pts, however she still has a good appetite and eats and drinks well if she was off her food I'd take her straightaway. She has outlived her children who got to 16 and 18 and her grandchildren who all got to 18. They all ended up having a couple of days illness then full collapse then were pts. (All were out of hours emergency vets so the cost of that is also a consideration) I dont want to wait until its critical but dont know how much longer I should leave it. I knew when it was time for my other two cats, I just dont know about this one, I was all set to take her on Monday, but decided to wait, wwyd ? It's the good appetite that is clouding the issue.

Have you consulted a vet about teeth etc? What have you done to deal with her coat?

I recently had this discussion with my vet and she said her advice to owners is that you will know when it's time. She said mostly people regret waiting too long.

I'm also facing this decision soon (I think), and it's so tough... You know your cat best and will know if she is still enjoying her favourite things. 21 is a great age.

She was at the vets for a coat clip in the summer, shes had this done every 4-5 years as she has a very thick coat, she manages it for a while then it Matt's and shes clipped, this time she hasn't managed it at all and shes gone straight back to matted even her head which she always kept groomed herself. The vet said he cant see to her teeth as she would need full anasthetic and is unlikely to come round from it. Shes 21 and has never been Ill until now, they dont recommend tests due to age and costs and stresses caused by treatments, basically due to her age just said when you feel shes ready to go.

Why aren’t you grooming the coat? Can you change food to help teeth? The only real issue you’ve mentioned is teeth and age and I’m not sure that Is of itself a reason to Pts.

Bless her fancy outliving your kittens. If she’s got a prolonged poor quality of life due to pain or discomfort then it’s probably time.

Wolfie she wont allow it, and it stresses her too much, even when she was younger she hated it but I was able to manage it until it had to be clipped, this time it's gone way beyond my help and her food is already soft.

I had a cat that hated it but we managed to convince her by bribery. Bit late now.
You need to discuss issues with a vet. I can’t believe nothing can be done.

My friend was a vet nurse and runs a sanctuary. One of the very elderly cats was unhappy with grooming and the mats were simply cut off. I have also had to do this with my old girl, when they sleep in the same position they easily get matted, even when they are groomed and old cats often have discomfort in their bodies which makes grooming uncomfortable, snipping out the knots is the kindest way.

If a cat is still eating and not in pain she is not ready to go.

She doesn't sound ready to go yet. Is there any way you can just support her and maybe at least try and groom her? Have you tried one of those glove groomers? I'm sure every bit you do for her will help.

You sound a lovely and very caring cat owner. You obviously know the time is near. I'm sure she'll have a peaceful end.