Very old and very poorly boy.

[SandunesAndRainclouds]

DCat is 18+ and I’ve known for a while now that he probably hadn’t got long left with us, but I thought we’d at least have this summer with him.

He’s really slowed down in the last 3 days or so. Over the last 6 months he’s lost weight and looks very old. Now he looks old and poorly.

I’m sure there’s something going on in his mouth - maybe a dental problem or an abscess? He turned away from tuna this morning so definitely something wrong.

I’ve already decided that if it’s anything needing a general anaesthetic then I won’t go ahead, I’m certain he’s too frail to survive it. I want him to have the best end of life care possible.

Poor boy.

Has he had a check up at the vet's in the past 6 months? Senior cats should ideally have check ups twice a year, ideally with blood and urine tests. Weight loss is related to many of the health issues that are common for older cats - for example kidney disease.

If he hasn't seen a vet in the last few months, do get him checked ASAP. If the vet can't see anything obvious, ask for a blood test as that could indicate health problems which could be treatable with medication,they lose weight with hyperthyoridism, kidney disease, but treatment can support the condition, maintain a better standard of living. Something like an abscess might just need ABs.

I agree re anaesthetic, I had two who lived to be 17 and 18 and I certainly wasn't willing to put them through it. Better to have a dignified death surrounded by people you love than the risk involved in an operation.

It's such a hard decision to make at the end, but you get to the stage where you know it's right. In case you have to make that decision, think about what you want - burial, cremation, it sounds silly, but I didn't want mine pts on a cold vet's table, so took something from home they liked lying on.

He was seen by the vet this morning.

Home with opiates so the children can say goodbye. As I said, I knew he probably didn’t have long with us but wasn’t clear that I knew he had age related problems which we’ve been managing.

He’s just been deteriorating slowly (but not in pain or anything) but he’s taken a turn for the worst over last few days.

We’ve been to the vets this morning and they confirmed his kidneys have finally had enough and a mouth infection is quite a common indication of this.

Euthanasia is planned at home. So sad.

So sorry to hear this, but it sounds like you know the time is right. It's a really hard decision to make but you know it's right. The next few days won't be easy, but knowing he could be yours and gave you lots of precious memories in time will help

He deteriorated rapidly this afternoon and I couldn’t leave my boy to suffer.

He’s gone.

I’m so sorry💐. What a gift you gave your boy to be with him til the end. He was with those that loved him. Sending hugs from Secret and her cats.

Oh sweetie I am so sorry, that must have been difficult. He was so loved by you all and I bet he had a wonderful life. He will always be in your hearts. Are you having a little service for him, it's nice to keep some fur if you can.

He was an absolute menace of a cat. Everything was very much on his terms - which included sitting in wait for someone to walk past so he could launch an unprovoked attack on your ankle, or toes if he could get them.

DH said to me that DCat’s story would’ve been very different without me - not many people would’ve tolerated him. Which is a kind thing to say. He was unique, aggressive at times but I loved him for being unique and not a standard fluffy, loving lap cat.

My girl kept sniffing him and nudging him with her head today. She knew something was wrong too. I had to listen to both of them and give him the pain free ending he deserved. Even if he was the grumpiest old git, he deserved the best.

Gosh this hurts.

Un-Mumsnetty hug to you, OP. He sounds like he was quite a character. I'm glad he had you to love him. ❤️

So sorry .

I'm sorry.
I let my old boy go at the end of November (at approximately 21), and I still occasionally think to myself I need to let him out, or whatever.
He got to the point where he was very frail, skinny and really not enjoying life anymore.
As much as I miss him (I howled after he was PTS), I will never regret it - it was his time to go.
Any pet leaves a huge hole in your heart, but cats seem to burrow all the deeper for all of their stand-offishness.
My sympathies to you.

Old fella here - I didn't know it at the time, but it was the last picture I took of him.

Thank you all.

My boy was also a black cat, he had the brightest green eyes. Like a cartoon witch cat...

All the firsts this morning have been hard. He wasn’t sitting at the top of the stairs waiting for me, he didn’t greet me on the drive as I came home from the school run... he was a huge part of my daily routine.

Bless him, but he was surrounded by love to the end. We had to let our old boy go last month which was heartbreaking but reading about your boy pouncing on ankles just made me smile - that was one of his tricks when younger, and he always knew when our hands full so couldn't fight him off - he played on his own terms too!