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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.

Original poster

Horrible decision

30 replies

dontforgettheyellowbird · 23/11/2020 14:39

My cat is 15 and much loved. A couple of months ago he had lots of blood in his litter tray. Took him to vet and was given anti biotics..all fine till I noticed he was losing weight. He has started having very loose stools in litter tray and occasional faecal incontinence. I try and clean him but you know what cats are like, we both end up miserable :( . Took him back to vets today and they said he has lost a LOT of weight. Took blood tests. I just don't know what to do. I work looong shifts so really don't want to come home to cat shit everywhere. Don't want to put him through lots of tests, he gets so stressed going to vet. I'm thinking it's the end of the road for him and better now before things deteriorate but it's such a horrible decision to make. Could change cat food to see if that works but I have other cats and leave food out when I'm working so wouldn't be able to guarantee he was eating it. Help!

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 23/11/2020 14:43

Your cat is very ill and suffering. I would have him put to sleep. It's the compassionate thing to do.

lljkk · 23/11/2020 14:47

It's kind to stop his suffering.

I gather that the vet doesn't have any easy suggestions for you to try.

PawsAndPhytoncides · 23/11/2020 14:47

I cannot help specifically with cats but we had a dog PTS recently after facing a similar dilemma. On of the things that helped was to realise it's perfectly posible to both not want to face daily mess AND think PTS is the best option for the animal.

For a while we resisted it because we were scared of being swayed by our own feelings re the mess. No one likes animal mess and wanting to live without it is perfectly normal. But it doesn't automatically man the decision to PTS is , in any way, caused by that specific factor.

Like your cat, our dog was old and had already had a number of the less invasive tests (bloods etc). The next step for tests were more invasive and we knew she would be miserable at the vets, struggle to recover from sedation (as she had previously) and even if the tests discovered something, it was likely to be something significant and she would not tolerate much intervention to cure or manage whatever they found. Se did not like having messed herself and, I can well imagine, a cat would find it even more stressful.

So we let her go. And I'm glad her last few days were spent at home, comfortable and surrounded by familiar people and love.

I hope you find a way forward that you are also at peace with.

Flowers
Original poster
dontforgettheyellowbird · 23/11/2020 14:49

Thank you. Just seems such an unbearable thought and he seems so happy and is so affectionate ( when he's not having to clean poo off himself) :(

OP posts:
Snooch12 · 23/11/2020 14:56

My nearly 19 year old cat had these symptoms about 5 years ago and after a scan he was diagnosed with IBD. His condition is managed by half a steriod pill every day and by eating Royal Canin Gastrointestinal. I have two other young cats who eat different food but luckily I work from home so am around to make sure that they don't all eat each other's food. So may be worth investigating further if you're up for it and not ready to let go yet.

ratha · 23/11/2020 15:00

My 16yo mog had similar in August and we had to PTS because she was suffering. I wouldn't consider anything else.

Snooch12 · 23/11/2020 15:10

Just to add that IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) can really be easily managed, even though the symptoms before treating appear horrendously beyond control . Even the diagnostic process wasn't such a big deal - it was blood tests followed by a scan. The steriods and change of diet drastically improve the symptoms and the medication (Prednisone) is really cheap - it costs me about £20 for 6 months worth. My cat is also a very stressed out geriatric ex-shelter guy to the point that he soils himself every time we go to the vet, however it was only two visits for this - one initial one and then another for the scan and blood tests.

Everyone's situation is different though and as mentioned I work from home and find it easier to manage my kitties needs as I'm always here, don't have young children, have pet insurance etc.

Original poster
dontforgettheyellowbird · 23/11/2020 15:15

Thanks for that info Snooch - I shall have a think about this :)

OP posts:
SlopesOff · 23/11/2020 15:20

It might be treatable as previous posters have said. If he is happy in himself I would have tests done before making the final decision.

You could try Pro Kolin until you find out but ask the vet first.

Snooch12 · 23/11/2020 15:21

You're welcome! Of course the scan may pick up on something more sinister (bowel cancer would have the same symptoms) however then at least you'll know. IBD is really common in elderly cats though.

pippapoo62 · 23/11/2020 15:33

I think the time as come for you to have your cat put to sleep. My cat was 15 years old and losing weight ,the vets put her on tablets and wanting to do tests, I found it unbearable watching her suffer. It turned out to be cancer . I have 4 more cats and I have told myself that if they get to 15 years old and they become ill I will make the decision to put them to sleep in the end . I will not see any of my girls suffer the way she did.

FrankieChips · 23/11/2020 16:41

Our cat was also diagnosed with IBD and we started on steroids and a change in cat food (Purina PRO Plus Vet Diet Feline HA Hypoallergenic Cat Food recommended by the vet). She improved really quickly but went off the Purina food.

We did a LOT of research and after finding a forum with a lot of amazing advice we decided to try a single protein food (James Wellbeloved Senior) and she's been great on it. Her poo became solid and no blood or vomit. You do have to be really strict though. No treats and no human food. If we even gave her roast chicken as a treat she would have the runs.

It's worth a shot but please do speak to your vet. They should be doing a few tests such as bloods, faeces and a scan on her stomach.

petforums.co.uk was such an excellent resource for us. IBD seems to be quite common.

37KAT · 23/11/2020 16:56

Ah this is sad. 15 is a grand age for a cat. He can't be happy cleaning poo off himself.
My cat was 14 and started to deteriorate, I was lucky to have a matter of fact vet who reassured me that considering having him put to sleep was kind as he was suffering, and having tests etc was prolonging his suffering. Made the decision easier.

Snooch12 · 23/11/2020 17:00

That's interesting FrankieChips - Ive been hearing more and more of people who put their cat on a decent single protein food and their symptoms vastly improving. I guess its a matter of finding which one will work. My boy was initially on Hills prescription diet but wasn't doing great with that (even though it was meant for IBD sufferers) but does great on the Royal Canin dry - not a fan myself as its packed full of wheat-filler but hey ho, anything to save the carpets (he was incontinent and would have the bloody (literally) runs all over the place).

TigerDrawers · 23/11/2020 17:31

I can't help on the bowel issue, but I can come with sympathy for the final journey. I've just been through exactly the same thing with my 15 year old today. She took a massive downturn last week after being pretty much well (a little weight loss and what appeared to be an ear infection) and last night was just dreadful - she was very distressed and struggling to breathe.

I took her in to the vet this morning and they said there wasn't anything more that could be done. I was allowed to go in and be with her when she went. I'm not going to lie - it was horrible and devastating. She was my little girl and I love her like I would my own child. I wouldn't have wanted her to have been there on her own though with strangers.

I've spent the day in floods of tears that come and go, but I know it was the right decision. She was so unhappy yesterday and although she seemed brighter this morning, she was still struggling and I know I would only have been keeping her going for my own benefit.

The decision to put her to sleep became very obvious in the end unfortunately, but is still absolutely heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you OP. xx

bodgeitandscarper · 23/11/2020 17:59

A microchip feeder may solve the issue of making sure only the right cat eats the food, I think its worth trying for a short time to see if things settle, then make the decision to let him go if no change. Its unfair to keep him miserable though.

Original poster
dontforgettheyellowbird · 23/11/2020 19:02

Yep, I'm going to try a change of food first. Thanks for all the help and kindness folks :) x

OP posts:
Clarich007 · 23/11/2020 19:59

Hi OP
Only you know your cat through and through.Is she still eating, seemingly happy and still reacting to you ? All these things point to quality of life to me.
It's very difficult.Cats are naturally very clean animals.It must be distressing for her to be constantly dirty.
What did the vet suggest, can they give you any advice at all ?

Clarich007 · 23/11/2020 20:00

I'm so sorry, he not she

GarlicSoup · 23/11/2020 20:04

@pippapoo62

I think the time as come for you to have your cat put to sleep. My cat was 15 years old and losing weight ,the vets put her on tablets and wanting to do tests, I found it unbearable watching her suffer. It turned out to be cancer . I have 4 more cats and I have told myself that if they get to 15 years old and they become ill I will make the decision to put them to sleep in the end . I will not see any of my girls suffer the way she did.
Bloody hell I’m sure my cats are glad they don’t belong to you they’re 19 and 21 and receive the best veterinary care as the need arises.
Original poster
dontforgettheyellowbird · 23/11/2020 20:44

The vet did blood tests which I should get results of tomorrow. That and to refer him for a scan which would pick up IBS or anything more sinister. I'm thinking of trying the food change and see if that's effective which would be great if it IS IBS. The fact that he's lost so much weight so quickly is worrying. He's very happy in himself but obviously not very nice for him to have recurring diarrhoea. Also aware that cats are very good at hiding symptoms and can go downhill very quickly.

OP posts:
Original poster
dontforgettheyellowbird · 23/11/2020 20:46

He does seem a wee bit confused and possibly a bit clingy but I might be projecting. We're maybe just following each other around 😂

OP posts:
Clarich007 · 23/11/2020 21:08

My old cat lived to be 20, and she lost loads of weight when she was about 16.I'm sure my neighbours thought I was starving her.
Vet did some blood tests and found she had thyroid problems.A daily tablet sorted her out for years.She regained the weight too.

pippapoo62 · 23/11/2020 22:50

Garlicsoup..sorry I didn't explain it well ,I meant if my other 4 cats get cancer I would let them sleep rather then see any of them suffer ,I love my cats and I have insurance to cover any illnesses they will get,just not terminal. I should have explained it better.

maybeIwillmaybeIwont · 23/11/2020 23:26

@TigerDrawers
So sorry to hear about your precious cat. You did the final act of kindness, she will have known how much she was loved 💐.