Pts while they still have quality of life?

[TheJanitor]

My cat is a 16 year old burmese house cat. He's always been fit and healthy up till the last year when he developed arthritis. He's currently on a monthly injection for this which is meant to be done every 4 weeks but it stopped being effective at the end of the 3rd week so now he has it every 3 weeks. We can definitely tell when it's wearing off, he walks very stiffly, reluctant to jump onto things, sometimes has visible signs of pain. He spends most of his time sleeping but a couple of times a day he gets up for a wander and to mug us for pieces of ham.

We had blood tests done a month ago as he had lost weight despite an increased appetite (eating his own and the dogs food) and the vet was slightly concerned about his kidneys, but said get him tested again in a month or two to see if he's deteriorated. We are now 3 weeks since his last injection and i think it's worn off just before the three week mark. He's also spotting urine which suggests a UTI as he's had them regularly throughout his life.

So he's still got some quality of life, he's able to get around, enjoys his favourite food and interacts with us. But his injection is wearing off quicker, and it's only masking the pain. Sometimes i look at him and think he really doesn't look well (but then he's an old longhaired cat, so while he still grooms he's not as good at it as he was.)

He won't take oral meds at all and it's traumatic for him to be forced to take them which is why he's on this monthly injection as opposed to metacam. I've spoken to the vet and if there is any kidney issues, the medication that would be oral and it would be really really stressful for him to have that given every day - if he would even take it.

Cost isn't an issue, but I'm struggling with whether it's right to say goodbye to him now while he's still happy-ish and while the injections are still working, or to keep him going for a few months more. I think he's only going to deteriorate and I'm not sure where the line is. I am so conscious of leaving him too long and turning round one day and suddenly seeing I've let him get too bad. I've seen it happen with members of my family and i don't want to do it to my boy.

I don't know how i feel about waiting for "something" to happen to force my hand, or for him to get full blown kidney failure before i decide it's time. He may have a few more months left going along as he is but if I've waited till he's in a lot of pain, surely I've left it too long?

What would you do?

I want to thank you all for taking the time to reply and helping me come to a decision. He will have his injection tomorrow and then I'll book the final appointment for a few days later so he will be pain free and spoilt rotten and we get the chance to say goodbye.

Not sure how to break it to my dc (5 and 7) they love him so much.

'Better a day too soon than a day too late' is the lesson I learned the hard way with one of my cats. I just couldn't let him go, Id had him since I was 16 and I was 30 when he died, he'd moved all over with me, slept in my bed and was such a huge part of my life. But looking back he suffered because I loved him, and love makes us cowards sometimes.

The next cat I had it was very different, he had a very short and dramatic deterioration and he was pts within days of getting ill. I could not let him suffer a minute longer than he had to, and I've never regretted it.

I've got an old boy now (the brother of the one who died most recently) and he's still doing ok, but had an illness last year which set him back a bit. He's not as bad as yours, but not too far off and I will watch and wait until I know it's time to let him go. He's not my only cat, but he's my favourite and he's seen me through a divorce, a remarriage and the births of all my children. He's my soulmate really and he doesn't deserve a day of pain.

You've made the right choice, it's a kindness but it's the heaviest responsibility you have as a pet owner so I know how hard it is. I hope you have a lovely days with him, because of you he goes with love and peace, not pain and suffering.

Ah OP, I'm sorry to hear that but I believe you, as the person who knows and loves him best, are making the right decision. I wish you a lovely time together with your boy and a peaceful parting. Sending very unmumsnetty hugs.