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Original poster

I think my cat is dying

30 replies

Cocopogo · 12/07/2021 22:46

My lovely soft cat seems to be ill. He’s lost half his body weight, his spine and pelvis are sticking out badly. The vet advises against tests as they’ll cost £700 and instead opted to try steroid injection, he thinks it’s lymphoma. I hate seeing my lovely boy waste away. He looks so sad and miserable.

OP posts:
Griffo123 · 12/07/2021 22:48

So very sorry to h

Ibizafun · 12/07/2021 22:50

I am so very sorry. How old is he? Not that it makes any difference. Is he eating? I would ask the vet if he thinks he’s in any pain.

DramaAlpaca · 12/07/2021 22:51

Please don't let him waste away. If he is so unwell the kindest thing to do is to have him PTS.

Griffo123 · 12/07/2021 22:54

So very sorry to hear this. This is what happened to my old boy although he went on for quite a while despite his weight loss. But there came a time in the end when I could see he was suffering and it was then I thought it was the right time to end end his suffering. I arranged a time at the end of the vets working day to bring Magnus in - together with my son who wanted to be there too, and we stayed with Magnus until he drifted peacefully into a forever sleep.

CatChant · 12/07/2021 22:56

I am so sorry. I, too, would ask the vet if it's time to let him go. Slipping away painlessly is the last gift you can give them.

StarlingsDarlings · 12/07/2021 23:18

I’m sorry. If the steroid hasn’t helped him you really must seek a diagnosis with tests or help him to pass away with dignity. Please don’t let him waste away naturally.

Original poster
Cocopogo · 14/07/2021 23:12

Sorry I didn’t get back to the thread sooner. He’s eating small amounts. He’s back at the vets in a couple of weeks to see if the steroids have had any effect. I wouldn’t want him PTS unless I’m sure of his diagnosis. What if it’s something else? Innocent and treatable? The steroids should help with other conditions too. Cat is 11. So not that old, or young.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cocopogo · 14/07/2021 23:16

He looks sad and miserable or am I imagining it because I feel so sad for him? He makes a noise when I pick him up, like it’s painful, but I don’t pick him up often now. Usually to move him as he doesn’t respond to being shooed or anything, the vet said to keep him indoors.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 14/07/2021 23:21

I would find another vet. You need to figure out what this is. And either treat it very sadly PTS. He’s too sore to go out or be picked up. He’s lost loads of weight.

Unreasonabubble · 14/07/2021 23:26

Oh I am so sorry for you. If he is making a sound, it is because he is in pain. I had a beautiful girl who made it to 19 years but the last month for her was hiding away from everyone and under the Christmas tree at the time. The vet gave her steroids but to no avail. We had her PTS.

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 14/07/2021 23:40

Sorry, Coco, I know how hard it is and how much we don't want to say goodbye, but you cannot wait 2 weeks for a vets appointment if he's in pain and uncomfortable. He should at least be on pain meds so he's comfortable, but even then the best thing might be to PTS sooner rather than later, it really is better a week early than a day late.

Schoolchoicesucks · 14/07/2021 23:46

OP, if he is wasting away, finding being picked up painful and reluctant to being shooed away, then I don't think you can wait 2 weeks to see if the steroids improve things.

How long has he been on steroids?
Better a week too soon than a day too late when it comes to PTS.

I had this with my cat a few years back. She was getting skinnier and skinnier. Nothing concrete on old tests or scans. She wasn't unhappy and would still come and sit with us, but was becoming weaker and less able to jump up. It's unfair for them to suffer.

JonahofArk · 14/07/2021 23:50

Please get a second opinion. The vet should at least be able to tell you what they would potentially test him for.

Is it not possible for you to cover the cost of the tests? If that's the case would you be eligible through the PDSA? Or any local charities? Please don't leave him to suffer for that length of time.

Furries · 15/07/2021 02:42

The vet thinks it’s lymphoma, but advises against tests? This is either bollocks, or you need to find a new vet bloody fast.

A full panel blood test will at least be a start and shouldn’t be more than £200. And if it’s lymphoma, you really don’t want to be waiting a couple of weeks.

Aside from that, you say your cat has lots half it’s body weight, it’s spine/pelvis are sticking out and that he makes a distressed sound when picked up.

Get to another vet ASAP and get bloody tests done. He is clearly not well.

PurpleSapphire · 15/07/2021 03:53

I would definately try another vet. I had a cat die because a vet didn't do the right investigations and sent him home saying he was fine when he clearly wasn't, he'd also stopped eating and lost a lot of weight. I took him to another vet who found the problem straight away, he'd eaten a piece of plastic which had caused a blockage. Unfortunately by then he was very weak and didn't survive the operation. They said he'd have had a pretty good chance if the problem was picked up earlier.

FlowerArranger · 15/07/2021 04:14

Better a week too soon than a day too late when it comes to PTS

Absolutely this.

Remember, cats have no perception of a future, they do not have a bucket list of things they want to do before they go.

Normally I'd be all for getting a second opinion, but given your description of his current state, I doubt very much that he will get better.

I'm so sorry, I know how hard this is, but I think you need to let him go. Flowers

Frazzle76 · 15/07/2021 05:11

Oh sweetie I wrote a thread on this a few weeks ago saying the same. (And no one replied humph).
The vet did some blood tests with markers for lymphoma- they were about £200. Like you she said we could investigate or could not. After a few days we decided to investigate. The sedation, ultrasound and biopsy were a further 700 but the good news is it came back as liver failure not lymphoma. So we have a few months not a few weeks. If they are too weak then maybe put to sleep but if you can access investigations then it might be worth it. He's on steroids too now and while he's still ill he's much much better. Can tell he's not well though still.
Lots of love, its so hard isn't it. My cat is my favourite child as he's the only one who doesn't ask anything of me.

longtompot · 15/07/2021 10:24

You need to think of quality of life over quantity and your cat does not sound like it is happy right now.
Please take it back to the vet, or see another one for a second opinion. They should run some bloods to see what shows up to be able to treat it properly.

viques · 15/07/2021 10:51

Cats , like most animals, are really good at hiding pain and illness, it’s a self protective instinct because the weakest in the pack/ herd/ whatever is a liability . So a cat who is showing visible signs of distress is a cat who is really very unwell.

You have given your cat 11 happy years of love, care, strokes , warm laps, good food and treats. Don’t negate all that love by making their last few weeks of life painful and distressing. And I mean for both of you, you don’t want to look back in a few months at the last photos and realise just how sick your cat has got. Because it will haunt you and upset you for ever. I speak from experience, looking at photos of one of my first cats I know that I put off the decision for too long, it still breaks my heart that I was so selfish towards a living creature that had only ever shown me love. I have never made the same mistake again.

Bryonyshcmyony · 15/07/2021 10:54

I had a cat last year who sounded identical same age as well. My vet suggested pts and we did. I am so glad as looking back at photos she was so unwell. It was a really awful week. Sympathies.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 15/07/2021 10:58

Sadly our dcat literally faded away last year. Due to Covid vet said he would be gone before any results came back and he was pts... He was 8.
Please take action today op...
Sad

longtompot · 15/07/2021 11:48

@viques

Cats , like most animals, are really good at hiding pain and illness, it’s a self protective instinct because the weakest in the pack/ herd/ whatever is a liability . So a cat who is showing visible signs of distress is a cat who is really very unwell.

You have given your cat 11 happy years of love, care, strokes , warm laps, good food and treats. Don’t negate all that love by making their last few weeks of life painful and distressing. And I mean for both of you, you don’t want to look back in a few months at the last photos and realise just how sick your cat has got. Because it will haunt you and upset you for ever. I speak from experience, looking at photos of one of my first cats I know that I put off the decision for too long, it still breaks my heart that I was so selfish towards a living creature that had only ever shown me love. I have never made the same mistake again.

I agree. We were due to have our cat pts but he died the night before. I really regret not taking him sooner. He lost loads of weight, and he was a big ginger tom cat. Turned out he had a tumour in his stomach and was given a steroid injection to help. It did, but for such a short time. We did it because it was just before Christmas and I didn't want that to be the memory the kids had. Now, with how he died, it would have been better to have had him pts then.
ZooKeeper19 · 15/07/2021 14:29

@Cocopogo let me know how you decided :( I have a 16yo boy that is exactly in the same situation, we did all the tests and the vet said tumour in his tummy but unable to say what kind (I opted for no invasive examination because he is too unwell). I am not sure if I am being selfish not PTS (the vet said once he stops eating it's the right time, he ate well for a few weeks and now it seems he is stopping). My heart is broken, and I read all this "better too soon than too late" and I just can't bring myself to phone the vet. He is walking skeleton, barely 3 pounds :(

longtompot · 15/07/2021 14:55

@ZooKeeper19 Im really sorry to say but I think it sounds like it might be time. He has stopped eating and has lost so much weight, please don't leave it until it's too late like I did. It's not a memory I'd wish on anyone.

Bryonyshcmyony · 15/07/2021 14:57

[quote ZooKeeper19]@Cocopogo let me know how you decided :( I have a 16yo boy that is exactly in the same situation, we did all the tests and the vet said tumour in his tummy but unable to say what kind (I opted for no invasive examination because he is too unwell). I am not sure if I am being selfish not PTS (the vet said once he stops eating it's the right time, he ate well for a few weeks and now it seems he is stopping). My heart is broken, and I read all this "better too soon than too late" and I just can't bring myself to phone the vet. He is walking skeleton, barely 3 pounds :([/quote]
What would you say to someone else if you read this post? You know what to do. It is part of being a kind pet owner.

In the nicest possible way - yes, of course you are being selfish