Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Is it time ?

53 replies

Vapeyvapevape · 18/12/2021 23:13

I’m in tears . Our lovely, nutty cat has suddenly gone downhill, she’s 14 ,she keeps asking for food even though there’s food in her bowl, she has stopped cleaning herself, her pupils are very dilated and tonight she can’t seem to jump onto the sofa or get down the stairs, she has also lost weight and (this evening) I’ve noticed blood in her poo .
I’m taking her to the emergency vet tomorrow, I can’t bear to think of her suffering.

OP posts:
Elieza · 18/12/2021 23:33

I’m sorry to hear about your dcat.

That’s good you can take her to the vet tomorrow. If she seems to be in pain now is there a vet hospital near you that you could take her to tonight? I did that with my cat as i was so worried at 1am.

Hope all goes well

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 18/12/2021 23:39

Thank you, she’s sleeping at the moment so don’t want to disturb her.

OP posts:
Want2beme · 19/12/2021 11:30

I hope she's better today. How did your vet visit go?

SilverHairedCat · 19/12/2021 11:42

Has she been seen before for anything? How is she today?

My 16yo puss is similar, and it is kidney disease. She's obsessive about food now. She's not tolerating the renal food, so she's eating anything she wants with our knowledge that it's going to shorten her life. The vet agreed better a fed cat than an anorexia one. However, she's eating three times what she did when she was well, and isn't getting the benefit of it - she's just getting thinner and thinner. Her ribs are so obvious, it's heartbreaking.

The dilated pupils and falling turned out to be a retinal hemorrhage due to high blood pressure (when she was still on the renal food). She's on daily blood pressure pills, but is still blind as a bat and frequently has to be rescued from trying to jump off high things or onto the dogs etc.

Right now, she's still eating and drinking, purrs on your lap, and can navigate the house on her own (she's an indoor cat anyway) so I think she has quality of life, but I'm worried about when to call it a day as well.

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 19/12/2021 12:08

I called the vet this morning and they said it can wait. She isn’t well at all, trying to give her any medication in the past has been a disaster, she gets so stressed and poos everywhere and we get scratched and bitten. I can’t bear to see her like this, dd and I (through many tears) have agreed that it’s maybe time to let her go 😢

OP posts:
Elieza · 19/12/2021 13:55

I’m sorry to hear that OP. I lost my elderly cat this year and feel your pain. Flowers

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 19/12/2021 14:36

Will the vet insist on treatment or will they listen to our wishes? It’s been the hardest decision ever.

OP posts:
SilverHairedCat · 19/12/2021 14:39

That'll Betty much depend on what's wrong. If it's a treatable UTI, then I'm sure they would recommend treatment. If it's much more serious than that, then I'm sure you'll have a conversation about it. I asked about quality of life for my puss as soon as we knew about the blood pressure and the retinal hemorrhage. She's not in any pain, she's just a bit old and doddery these days.

Everything is up for discussion - quality of life if what counts.

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 19/12/2021 15:14

Thank you xx I can cope with just about anything apart from my puss being unwell x

OP posts:
RandomMess · 19/12/2021 15:39

Wish I'd seen this earlier most cats will take ground up pills in sardines or mackerel in tomato sauce.

Very upsetting they wouldn't see her today Sad

Elieza · 19/12/2021 15:40

I think I misunderstood. So she’s not been seen yet? When are they going to see her?

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 19/12/2021 16:28

@RandomMess we’ve tried all that and she still won’t touch food if there’s a pill in it.

When I spoke to the emergency vet this morning he looked to see if he could book an appointment for tomorrow but they’re all taken so will have to phone at 8am to try and get the only emergency appointment they have .

OP posts:
Elieza · 19/12/2021 18:48

If they don’t see her I’d suggest you phone a different vets and get her in. I know you don’t want her to be in pain, and they do hide it well so it’s hard to know. Dilated pupils can be a sign. She’s clearly not right in herself.

They won’t insist on anything.

They will give you their recommendations. And let you think them over and ask questions. If she’s in pain they won’t let you make a bad choice to let her suffer though, they will want her medicated or to call it a day.

Depending on what it is, it could be that if you take her to them regularly she could get medicated by injection or something if it’s a temporary condition? I had a cat like that who needed a short course of pills that i couldn’t get into her. They gave her injections every few days and reduced the daily appointment price significantly. It was well prior to covid though so things may have changed. And we don’t know what’s wrong with your dcat so I don’t want to give you false hope, just suggesting in case it’s relevant.

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 19/12/2021 19:13

Thank you @Elieza my dd is taking the day off work to help me get her there and I will phone round until I can get her seen . I keep crying and hoping it’s not serious, I’m torn between being selfish and keeping her going and not wanting her to suffer.
I need to pull myself together and stop thinking the worse.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 19/12/2021 19:15

Our old girl is in slow decline and at some point I expect we will have to accept the inevitable. At the moment her quality of life is still good. Demands food and cuddles, tells young man cat to fuck of regularly, plays occasionally.

We are heartbroken already tbh but I need her to have dignity 😭

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 19/12/2021 19:25

I’m so sorry Random, it’s heartbreaking isn’t it? Dcat just lays about now and isn’t particularly friendly, which I understand if she’s unwell, it’s just been so sudden and hard to accept. She always been a bit of a porker so to see her skinny is really upsetting.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 19/12/2021 19:37

Yep ours is skin and bones 😭

Elieza · 19/12/2021 22:51

It’s awful watching them go downhill isn’t it. Heartbreaking 💔

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 19/12/2021 23:41

I can’t sleep, part of me can’t wait for tomorrow to get her seen and part of me dreading it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 20/12/2021 08:42

Taking her to the vets at 10:30 today

OP posts:
Elieza · 20/12/2021 09:10

I’m glad you got an appointment and I hope there is something they can do for her.

Saying a wee prayer for you both.

Original poster
Vapeyvapevape · 20/12/2021 11:16

She’s gone , I’m heartbroken

OP posts:
savemejebus · 20/12/2021 11:17

I'm so sorry @Vapeyvapevape ❤️ sending you lots of love

TroysMammy · 20/12/2021 11:18

I'm so sorry Flowers

Ithinkimalonenow24 · 20/12/2021 11:24

On I'm so sorry she's gone, I know it's hard but she is no longer suffering. You did the best for her. Thanks