Palliative care

poorlittlecat · 2021-10-14T20:51:10+00:00

Our darling and much loved cat has just been diagnosed with advanced cancer, probably lymphoma. It happened very suddenly, get thought it was cat flu but then he deteriorated rapidly and ultra sound showed widespread tumours throughout his body. They have managed to stabilise his breathing and we have decided to try steroid treatment in order to be able to bring him home for the last few weeks of his life and spoil him. Has anyone been in a similar situation and can offer any advice on what to expect?

Mantlemoose · 14/10/2021 22:10

Please don't put your needs above your pet. You can't always know when they're in pain. Do the right thing and pts. I'm sorry.

Duchess379 · 14/10/2021 22:18

I had a 13yr old Chihuahua who had heart failure. He was first diagnosed at the age of 6 & with meds, we kept him going for another 7yrs. But that last day, I knew he wouldn't make it & took him to my brilliant vet, who said he was in organ failure & it was much kinder to put him to sleep. I cried for days but I was comforted that I put him out of his misery. He would have been scared & maybe in pain.
Good luck x🐾x

Original poster

poorlittlecat · 14/10/2021 22:59

@Mantlemoose yes I really agree with you, and that is very much our philosophy. Our prime concern is his comfort- the vet contacted us to say that they once they had got his breathing stabilised he was very settled and happy, playing with the staff at the hospital, eating and drinking as normal etc, and that with the help of the steroid treatment which will shrink the tumours somewhat, he felt that he could have a few very good quality weeks at home with us. He also said that putting him to sleep at that stage seemed premature. We will be keeping a very close eye on him and the plan is to spoil him and give him the best few days/weeks possible and the put him to sleep as soon as he shows any signs that his quality of life is deteriorating. He is such a loving and affectionate cat, and I would love for his last days to be surrounded by his home comforts instead of the trauma of emergency hospital treatment and scans etc which he has just had.

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Original poster

poorlittlecat · 14/10/2021 23:02

@Duchess379

I had a 13yr old Chihuahua who had heart failure. He was first diagnosed at the age of 6 & with meds, we kept him going for another 7yrs. But that last day, I knew he wouldn't make it & took him to my brilliant vet, who said he was in organ failure & it was much kinder to put him to sleep. I cried for days but I was comforted that I put him out of his misery. He would have been scared & maybe in pain. Good luck x🐾x

It's so sad isn't it, our poor little babies. All we want is what's best for him. We were offered chemotherapy as an option but we would have had to put him through biopsies of the tumors etc and we were told that the best case is scenario is that chemo might put him into remission for 6-12 months before a relapse but could also be a lot less so we have decided, given how widespread it is, to opt for palliative care and to put him to sleep as soon as he shows any signs of deterioration or discomfort. I'm sorry about your pet xx

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Mantlemoose · 15/10/2021 18:59

You sound like you're making decisions with your head not your heart which sadly so many people don't do. Right decision about Chemo too, having done the human version I wouldn't wish that on a poor animal.

BrilloPaddy · 15/10/2021 19:23

Our very elderly cat was dying of old age last year, and when I contacted the vet was told that I'd have to hand him over in the car park to have him PTS. He got so distressed going in the cat box let alone the car that I didn't want him to have those moments as his last ones

So we made our dining room into a warm cosy space for him. We put a huge deep soft rug in there, with a litter box and some soft food/water and his bed. He was with us for 2 more weeks, and even ate breakfast/purred when fussed on the day he passed away. I went to work and came home to find him curled up in a ball led in the sun on the rug. Took me a while to realise that he had gone.

I'd never be afraid again of having an animal pass away peacefully at home. We're conditioned to think that having the PTS is kinder but death is a natural process. I'm really sorry about your boy

thecatneuterer · 15/10/2021 19:55

Death may well be a natural process, Brillo, but it's also, usually a painful and traumatic one, particularly if it's from cancer.

OP, whatever you do make sure it's with the cat's best interests in mind and listen to the vet's advice. And, as always, better to PTS a day too early than a day too late.

Original poster

poorlittlecat · 16/10/2021 11:28

@BrilloPaddy I'm sorry about your cat. Handing him over in the car park seems awful. I very much want one of us to be with our boy when he goes.

@Mantlemoose @thecatneuterer thank you for your replies, they have made me feel better. I do want to make this decision with my head and not my heart, but then you hear of people going to the ends of the earth for their pets and I was starting to feel guilty that maybe we should be doing more, but you are right, it wouldn't be for him it would be for us. And I really agree that better a day too early than a day too late. He is enjoying cuddling up with us at the moment but I don't think we will get to have him around for too much longer ❤️

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stoneysongs · 17/10/2021 00:08

We are going through this at the moment, 12 yr old Dcat diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma. Surgery isn't on the cards so we are just looking after her and trying to make the end of her life happy and peaceful. At the moment she's ok - still eating, drinking and taking care of herself, but I'm not sure how much longer she will last. DD is her favourite and they have always been inseparable, I'm so sad for both of them.

stoneysongs · 17/10/2021 00:13

Like a PP I am dreading having to take her to the vet - not so much the PTS which is inevitable and the responsible and caring thing to do, but just that she gets very distressed in the carrier, always has. It seems so awful that she would be terrified in her last few moments and that none of us would be there to reassure her at the end. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know, otherwise I will carry on hoping that she just doesn't wake up one day

ditalini · 17/10/2021 00:20

We had this scenario with dcat and chose to pts as she really hated taking pills so we felt that the steroids was just putting her through additional trauma.

If your cat is ok with medication or it can be done via injection then its a different scenario.

I was with her when she died and it was peaceful and not difficult for her. I still miss her dreadfully 5 years on.

AmberLynn1536 · 17/10/2021 00:24

@singingstones

Like a PP I am dreading having to take her to the vet - not so much the PTS which is inevitable and the responsible and caring thing to do, but just that she gets very distressed in the carrier, always has. It seems so awful that she would be terrified in her last few moments and that none of us would be there to reassure her at the end. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know, otherwise I will carry on hoping that she just doesn't wake up one day

She can be put to sleep at home surrounded by her loved ones.

MountainDweller · 17/10/2021 00:37

We lost our oldest cat this summer to kidney cancer. The terminal diagnosis was a shock - she was a bit off her food, that was all. For 3 weeks we did palliative care at home - she took cortisone and we gave her subcutaneous fluids. She started eating again and pottered happily round the garden in the sun. She was PTS when her breathing deteriorated - the vet said hospitalisation was an option but we felt she'd had enough. I think you'll know when your cat needs to go. Have a hug and some - it's such a difficult time.

stoneysongs · 17/10/2021 00:52

Thank you Amber, I hope our vets will do this.

Original poster

poorlittlecat · 17/10/2021 06:42

@MountainDweller this sounds very similar to is. He has really settled back down since we brought him home and is eating well and spending the rest of his time on our laps but as soon as his breathing deteriorates we will let him go- more hospital isn't on the cards for us.

@ditalini yes that was one of our fears- he hates taking medicine, but the vet gave us some pill putty to hide the tablet in and he took it no problem yesterday so fingers crossed that continues. If not, then we won't force it. It seems like madness to cause him any extra distress- he has been through so much.

He has lost so much weight and seems so fragile, although funnily enough he is now just a fraction below the goal weight the vet set us a few years ago that, despite numerous diets, he never got anywhere near, so I guess now we are pretty glad he had the weight to lose! But very happy he has his appetite back and is enjoying his food and treats again!

Thank you all for your comments, they have really helped.

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ReviewingTheSituation · 17/10/2021 09:52

Our lovely cat was diagnosed with multiple tumours when we took her to the vet for being a bit under the weather. The vet said she probably had a few days, but that there was no reason she couldn't go home and have a few days there, with steroids. That was in February.

In November we finally had her PTS (the vet saw her every 6 weeks and was amazed each time) when her behaviour changed overnight. We took her to the vet that day. Maybe she had some time left in her, but probably only days.

In her case, steroids were a wonder drug (she took them easily in a bit of cheese or ham). She had a lovely summer, enjoying the garden, catching mice and being spoilt rotten. It helped us too- we almost did our grieving while she was still with us. It made the end much easier.

freeandfierce · 17/10/2021 10:11

My boy had cancer, vet told me to PTS then and there but I wanted to allow his brother and my step children to say goodbye. I took him back a few days later and saw a young, newly qualified vet who gave him a steroid injection rather than the pills. He asked to have 10 minutes with him alone. During that ten minutes he assessed his behaviour. He ate dreamies, he followed the vet out to the back to have a look around then was tempted into some playing. Vet advised the cat wasn't ready. We continued to go every month for his injection (no more pills!) He lasted another 18 months! He died at home, I called the vet but he didn't get to us in time. He lay down with myself and my husband stroking his head and he slipped away. The day before he had been out in the garden sunbathing and playing with his brother.

stoneysongs · 17/10/2021 13:05

This is what I want for our Dcat @freeandfierce - not necessarily the extra 18 months, although that would be amazing, but a gentle end at home, surrounded by love.

freeandfierce · 17/10/2021 13:42

@singingstones

This is what I want for our Dcat *@freeandfierce* - not necessarily the extra 18 months, although that would be amazing, but a gentle end at home, surrounded by love.

He would have been so stressed in the car, I think he would have died on the way. You can arrange for the vet to come out, it costs extra but your cat will be in familiar surroundings and you won't have that awful drive home. Enjoy every minute you have left

Beamur · 17/10/2021 13:48

Take your vets advice.
I'd take the chance of a lovely last few weeks at home if the vet advises it to be ok. I think you do know when it's the right time to let them go.

HalfpastFlea · 17/10/2021 14:03

Not with our cat but with our dog earlier on this year. Same, advanced cancer.

Vet said to take her home and enjoy her last few weeks. We had pain relief to keep her comfortable.

We just knew the day when it was time. I woke up, looked in her eyes and said it's time isn't it.

The vet did a home visit and she went off to sleep with me and dh cuddling and stroking her. It was a perfect ending to her life, at home with her favourite people with her.