17 year old cat, falls over, just eats and sleeps

[Mxflamingnoravera]

He's 17, not been out since his brother died 18mths ago. He eats, he sleeps, he falls over, he stumbles, his eye is half shut, but he purrs (and caterwauls) he uses his (new to him) litter tray, but has no quality of life apart from being cuddled. When do I decide he's had enough?

I use tray liners, but he misses, so the puppy pads go under the tray in the trug.

The falling over is quite recent (since the vet visit so yes, I think I need to take him back and prepare to come home without him. I'm really not keeping on just because of the company, it was just a comment on how empty the house will feel when he's no longer here.

I'll call the vet today. Thanks everyone. 😿

OP, my dearly loved cat was much younger than yours but had the same issues you describe.

I don’t want to worry you unduly, but my cat unfortunately was falling over and losing their balance due to a brain cancer. The vet surmised that wherever the tumour was growing, it was pressing on the cerebellum. We tried steroids to improve things but it worked for about a day only.

As others have said, cats mask pain very well. It’s a terribly difficult thing to do, to let them go.

Sorry i misunderstood - the house will feel empty but you'll know that you've done the right thing for your beloved pet.

So today at 3 we are taking him to the vet to PTS. My son (28) has come home to be with us.
He's the same, but the litter tray missing and the yowling have got worse. He's shaking his head in a weird way and no longer grooming himself. He sometimes smells of wee and my house smells of wee.

It's the better a week too soon than a day too late option. Heartbreaking but necessary. 😞

Oh I'm so sorry Mx.
I've been there 4 times, and it never gets any easier even though I've had cats for 40 odd years.
You are being a loving owner by helping him at the end
Good luck for today. Hope you're ok.

Big hugs. Sounds like the time has come and you are doing the right thing.

He's just tried to stand up and his back legs crumpled. It's definitely the right decision.

I've just given him a lovely brush which he adores and he's on my lap purring.

I'm going to miss this one. I've always had cats. I'm not rushing into getting another just yet. I'll need to live with the reality of no cat for a while.

I had three Siamese cats. All of them old but reasonably well for their great age. We lost the first one last year at 17 and a half. The second one - her son - died this year in January. He was 17. I found him dead on the bathroom floor one morning. He had been declining since his mum died - wandering around and crying a lot like a baby. I was grateful he died at home as I knew it would not be long before I had to make a decision. He made it for me.
Now we have the one remaining girl who is now 17. She eats and sleeps and howls just like the boy cat did. She gets under the covers with me at night and purrs. It's getting old and a bit demented I think brought on by loss of another pet and simply old age.
All you can do is to be kind and give lots of love.

ohh- I'm so sorry Mx

I'm dreading this- our old boy is 18 , thin and creaky and sleeps a lot (loves it when we light the fire as he toasts himself). He still enjoys his food though and grooms himself well but like you I still get worried going into living room first thing incase he has gone in the night

Will be thinking of you later today

Ours went last year at 17. He had underlying health conditions that had been managed with meds for many years but his quality of life had really started to go downhill. He started missing the litter tray and eventually abandoned it completely. Used to purr like a tractor and chat constantly but stopped making any sort of noise. Was constantly hungry and ate plenty but was dropping weight rapidly and tests for thyroid etc were all clear - vet blamed malabsorption due to underlying condition. Legs were hit and miss. Couldn't manage the stairs or sofa. And he was just so, so exhausted and not interested in anything, just really not himself. The real deciding factor was that we were moving and he would have had to ensure 12 hours in a car including several hours on a ferry, only to live in a house that was unfamiliar and if he survived the trip he wouldn't know where anything was. We knew it was the right thing to do for his sake but it broke my heart.

So sorry Mxflamingnoravera, I was where you are a while back and know how hard it is to make the decision. If it helps at all I look back now and feel I did the right thing at the right time for him, and the vet said the same on the day. It sounds as though your boy is at a very similar stage from what you've said and I think you've made the right decision. Thinking of you all this afternoon

Our cat was very similar and I didn't know when to make the call. Then she stopped grooming herself and her coat was getting matted but she didn't want to be brushed (I think it hurt her) and I knew deep down it was time 😔. Doesn't make it any easier though.

Just read your update. You've done right by him, hope you are all okay. Xx

I too wondered how I'd know - mine was 19. He stopped eating, his legs kept collapsing and he peed outside the tray which he had never done.

I hope it all goes smoothly later, you're doing the right thing.

he's at peace now Mx... far away from distress and any pain he might have had

He's had a lovely life with you and brought you joy

So sorry. It definitely sounds like it was time for him, but it's never time for us to let go.

Aww I'm so very sorry. You sound like you've given him the the best life x

❤️

Sending my thoughts. I had to do this two nights ago. Please take it easy.