Worried about 19.5 yr old cat...

[SchoolSurvey]

Long story short our very elderly neighbour passed away earlier this year and we ended up adopting her 19 year old female cat in June. She was vet checked in March and I took her again in August when she was depressed and off her food... The vet said she may have kidney failure but cats are stoic and it's hard to tell, but she's very old so it's very possible. Without running tests costing hundreds we wouldn't know. We don't want to put her through anything like that and have no insurance due to her age (she's probably 20 now in all fairness). We prepared the kids for the worst and spoilt the cat with lots of attention and let her sleep on our beds etc and she rallied!

We've never had a cat before, though I've house sat and looked after them for a few weeks many moons ago.

She's been a house cat all her life and although in the summer when the doors were open she'd occasionally wander out to sunbathe or eat some grass and regurgitate it, she mostly chooses to stay inside. She's usually brilliant with her litter tray.

She's become increasingly vocal these past few weeks, and has been sick a couple of times over the past two months. She's had poo accidents upstairs in the kids bedrooms (older children and they're brilliant with her) and this evening she's been sick on our bedroom carpet 😞

I think she's had a long life and been treated like a queen these past five months, and it's time we had her PTS... but husband and kids say it's OK for her to be sick now and then and they don't mind cleaning up after her. They want to keep her going as long as possible.

What do people on here think?

Yes, that's true. I don't have a problem with paying it every few months for peace of mind but dh does as he thinks I'm being over cautious and says nothing has changed since August (I believe differently...). Will see what they say when I take her later.

@jennyofthenorth I'll ask about giving her pumpkin baby food when I'm at the vets later, thanks. She's had a big poo this morning luckily.

I'm actually surprised at a lot of these answers.

She's twenty, has accidents outside of her litter box, is off her food and vomits frequently. She also gets confused and has clear signs of dementia.

What kind of life is that for a cat? They are notoriously clean animals and don't tend to have accidents unless there's a clear reason (stress or medical issues).

I look after a 20yo cat - he's deaf as a post and has a bit of dementia, but he eats his food, uses his litter box and is never sick. Yes, he's old and frail and you can see it, but he's doing very well otherwise.

I would be thinking, sadly, about having her PTS sooner rather than later. I don't think it's nice to leave animals alive when they're clearly unwell and struggling with basic tasks like eating and using the toilet.

But all cats are different. Some are prodigious vomiters anyway. Litter box: my old cat frequently goes outside his which is infuriating — but it’s because he won’t go downstairs to where it is if there’s too many people or too much noise or activity down there - performance anxiety; I don’t blame him really. Elderly cats do often have accidents but in itself that’s not a good reason to put them to sleep unless it’s part of a major illness.

The OPs cat could be vomiting and off food if she has nausea from kidney disease or thyroid issues, which a blood test would easily find out then she could have specialist food or meds to easily help. And if not, and if she has no quality of life left then yes: absolutely, don’t let her suffer. But it sounds like she does have quality of life? That she rallies & is affectionate etc. And needs a few tests to see if she might have nausea from any underlying common condition in elderly cats.

it’s not massively clear cut and I think that’s what the OP is getting at and asking advice on.

good luck at vet OP and so ask about kidney and thyroid blood test if you can.

@mowly77 but this is a cat who has numerous numerous symptoms of numerous problems and who is, in feline terms, ancient.

Each individual symptom may not be an issue on its' own, but put them all together and they hardly make for a happy existence.

She vomits regularly, has wee and poo accidents and has clear signs of dementia. She's also twenty years old so any kind of intervention is just going to be about symptom management at this point - it's prolonging the inevitable.

I'm not saying take her to the vet and have her PTS today, but there comes a point where you're prolonging their lives for your sake, not theirs, and that's not fair.

My experience with vets is that the younger they are the more willing to try to extend life with certain treatments whereas an older more experienced vet will be realistic and lay it out how it is once they are of a certain age.

I have to agree.

Prolonged treatment in elderly animals is rarely for their benefit - it's for ours, because saying goodbye is one of the hardest things you can do.

But it's not about us, it's about them and their quality of life. It's not fair to prolong the inevitable in an elderly animal who is clearly already struggling with numerous basic tasks.

Go with your gut op.

She is so lucky to be loved, safe and cared for. You will make the right decision when you feel the time is right.

Hello all, thanks for your words of advice and sharing your experiences with me again - much appreciated.

Went to the vet today and he says she has a slight heart murmur, could possibly have hypothyroidism and/or kidney failure, and agrees in cognitive function issues/dementia.

She also now weighs only 2.7kg. She was 3.7kg in mid August (and 4.2kg in March according to records from previous vets).

He's given us some anti-inflammatory medication for her mouth which looks a little sore. It's a 7-day course and then he said to call to review. But we had a frank and open discussion about the fact she is likely to be nearing the end now. He didn't suggest blood tests. I forgot to ask about pumpkin baby food! I had both the children with me and they were great (though have a feeling they believe this medication is going to mean she'll be around for longer than we think...).

As she's 96 in human years it's about maintaining her quality of life now, not trying to extend it. He agreed we should spoil her rotten this next week and then we'll have a chat next week (about pts I believe).

It's perfectly normal for a cat who is constipated to poop outside the litter tray. My 9 year old does this when she's constipated and has done anytime she's constipated since she was young. It's nothing to do with age.

Staring is also normal; my cats do it and always have done. Some cats just like to stare and watch what you're doing.

Some cats vomit frequently and it's not necessarily to do with age. They may do it when they've eaten too much, or when they've eaten and didn't drink enough water or to hack up furballs or sometimes they're just spewy in general (one of mine is spewy and there's nothing actually wrong with her according to the vet; she's just prone to upset tums).

The yowling may be that she's looking for her & calling previous owner. It can be a sign of dementia, but they can live years with that. I had one that lived a good quality of life for 3 years with dementia. They just need more tlc and reassurance when they get lost in the house. If she is not obviously getting lost in the house, then she may be grieving for her previous owner.

Hiding in a cupboard; she may be looking for a quiet spot if she's not used to being around kids so much. They will hide away for some quiet-time.

I would be more concerned about her drinking a lot and the weightloss. It's not unusual for old cats to lose weight, like humans. It doesn't necessarily mean it's time to pts, but it is worth watching closely. Drinking a lot could be kidney failure or diabetes as you know.

My older cat vomited unless given purina sensitive dry food so might be worth a try.

I've only just picked this thread up.
We have a nearly 20 yrs old female tuxedo coloured cat.
Her first Mum passed away when Muffin was 14.5 yrs and her daughter was made to promise that she wouldn't have Muffin PTS.Her daughter tried all ways to find Muffin a new home.
Obviously the first round was to ask her two siblings but both had family members with allergies to cats.Nicole herself couldn't have Muffin as she lived in a rental property where pets were banned.So faced with this huge problem Nicole put her into a type of cat 'hotel' which was to be for 2 yrs.Nicole had numerous enquires but when they learnt Muffin's age they lost interest.
So in a last ditch attempt to find Muffin she placed an advert on line through a big multi interests web site.
Hubby and I had had hundreds of cats over the years that have been strays,re-homes and rescues.
For us a home was not a home without a cat.My husband was a RAF serviceman signed up for 22 yrs.We met 2 yrs into his service we where a 'bonded' couple after two weeks!We have lived in three other countries before coming to Australia 33 yrs ago.All our three sons were born in different countries UK,Hong Kong and Germany.
I am a Registered Nurse by profession which has helped in regards to our cats care.
We've had some awful passings and nothing we could have changed but we've had many more lovely memories.I've worked out the average age for all the cats we've owned is 18 yrs.We've have some tragic situations but it's taught us so much and has given me the ability to sense and know when it's pain/ infection or upset the culprit for the state we find we are up against or whether it's time to let them go over the Rainbow Bridge.I've had cats who have died in my arms to the sudden passings.I don't believe in dragging on a life and if it ends with PTS then our cats have breathed their last with either hubby or I with them.
This poor old geriatric cat has had just a bit to much to take in all at once.She's lost her Mum and has had to move home.Then a different lifestyle and more people giving her her food& clearing up & changing her toilets,sleeping in a different bed,even where her water bowls are.
The yowling is probably nothing more than her aging brain and stiff joints and arthritis in her spine.
I really wouldn't be changing her diet or making her to go back and forwards to the vet.Which if we're honest has very limited experience in geriatric pets but I don't believe in forcing our old pets to be 'practice 'animals
for vets because basically everything in their little bodies is over its 'use by' date.Just let them spend their last days,weeks or months on easy street.
I can tell you that you'll know just by looking in their eyes that they are ready to go to sleep for the last time.Never let anyone tell you that is we do this or that it'll be better cause it won't Mother Nature is telling the animal they have reached the end of the road.Science doesn't know it all by any stretch of the imagination and probably never will as life is so complex with so many contributing factors.
Happy cat mummy times and memories of your pet.🥰😇

Hi @AussieCatMum sorry I've not been on here for a while so only just seen your message. Wow you're very experienced! Thanks for your lovely words.

We lost our lovely little cat back at the beginning of January 😪She went totally blind and was walking in to walls for a couple of days over a weekend, then started having major seizures that wouldn't stop so we had to have her PTS to put her out of her misery.

We definitely did spoil her rotten for her past few months of life, and miss her lots.

Very sorry for your loss @SchoolSurvey and from reading your previous posts you did the best to make her safe and secure. 19/20 years is some innings for a cat and you did yourself, your family and former neighbour proud. Thank you for taking on this caring and seeing it through to the sad ending - you should be very proud. Cats are a gift and always leave footprints in your heart - they choose you and this one was lucky to have you through the last few months of her life.

So sorry @SchoolSurvey but it sounds like you did a really fantastic thing & lovely she was spoiled rotten in her last innings.

@AussieCatMum that’s very comforting & useful, thank you for sharing that. I’ve had terrible deaths at vets of two beloved cats in my life and I don’t want it to happen again. My 15 yr old boy is nearing the end as vet says he very probably has lymphoma now. Because of his age & two pre-existing conditions I know not to try to prolong his life by any medical intervention. He’s fine & asymptomatic at the moment, & being pampered 24/7.